'Radio Star' Lim Eun-kyung "Scared to Go Outside After Harsh Criticism of My First Work"

Actress Lim Eun-kyung is appearing on MBC's 'Radio Star' for an interview. Photo by MBC 'Radio Star' broadcast screen capture.

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kim Sung-yeol] Actress Im Eun-kyung spoke about her 10-year hiatus.

On the 19th, the MBC entertainment program 'Radio Star' aired a special episode titled 'Eoljuka~ttang!' featuring actors Kim Bo-sung, Kim Kwang-gyu, Im Eun-kyung, and Jang Soo-won.

During the broadcast, Im Eun-kyung confessed that she had lived in seclusion since the release of the 2002 film 'Seongnyangpali Sonyeoui Jaerim' (The Rebirth of the Matchstick Girl).

Im Eun-kyung stated, "I think the movie was too ahead of its time. If it were released now, I think it would be a film like 'The Matrix' or 'The Fifth Element.'"

She continued, "At that time, I was a high school student and it was my first work. After receiving tremendous criticism, I was afraid to go outside."

Im Eun-kyung revealed that she took a 10-year break after 2004.

She said, "I received many scripts, but the projects kept falling through," and added, "In 2005, I briefly worked in China."

She also said, "I tried to return to acting after coming back to Korea, but as projects kept falling through, it was hard to regain my resolve," and "At that time, I felt self-loathing and suffered from depression. So I regained my energy through exercise."