[Interview①] 'Jongi-kkot' Kim Hye-sung "An Seong-gi's Lines Changed the Atmosphere, My Respect Grew"

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Isul] Actor Kim Hye-sung shared his thoughts on working alongside veteran seniors such as Lee Soon-jae and Ahn Sung-ki.

On the afternoon of the 21st, Kim Hye-sung gave an interview at a cafe in Samcheong-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, ahead of the release of the film Paper Flower (director Ko Hoon), sharing various stories about the project.

Paper Flower is a film about Seong-gil, a mortician living with his son who has become physically disabled due to an accident, who meets a mother and daughter who move in next door and begins to regain hope for life he had forgotten.

Kim Hye-sung returns to the screen after five years since The Priests (2015). He said, “When I read the script, I liked the warm, bright, and positive atmosphere. It flowed smoothly without any obstacles, and above all, I joined because I heard that Ahn Sung-ki would be appearing.”

He added, “Acting alongside seniors like Ahn Sung-ki and Lee Soon-jae is a dream for junior actors. There was no reason to refuse.”

In Paper Flower, Kim Hye-sung plays Ji-hyeok, the son of Seong-gil, whose life was shattered by an accident, acting alongside Ahn Sung-ki who plays the mortician Seong-gil. Previously, from November 2016 to July 2007, he acted as the grandson of Lee Soon-jae and Na Moon-hee in the popular sitcom High Kick Through the Roof, working closely with them. He said, “Everyone around me is envious that I worked with such seniors. It happened by chance, but it’s an honor,” expressing his special feelings.

He continued, “I felt through Paper Flower that actors who have been acting for a long time have a unique strength. The energy or aura that comes from them. I felt it while working with senior Ahn Sung-ki as well.”

Kim Hye-sung also said, “Ahn Sung-ki is a senior who does not impose or have a sense of authority in acting. He takes the lead in making the atmosphere on set comfortable. He jokes and plays around with child actors on set, setting an example so juniors can feel at ease. I felt that was experience and consideration.”

The cast of Paper Flower unanimously said the atmosphere on set was good. The close-knit atmosphere on set is fully reflected in the work. The warm energy of the actors is captured in the film. Kim Hye-sung recalled, “It was good from the script reading. I was very nervous, but I felt the excited atmosphere.”

He expressed special affection, saying, “From the moment senior Ahn Sung-ki spoke his lines, the atmosphere, the air changed. How can a person be like that? How can even the air be different? My respect grew, and every moment during filming was great.”

Paper Flower received great attention domestically and internationally by winning the Platinum Award, equivalent to Best Foreign Language Film, and Best Actor at the 53rd Houston International Film Festival. Kim Hye-sung said with a smile, “Senior Ahn Sung-ki was the first Korean to receive the Platinum Award. I feel proud to have been lucky enough to participate in a work recognized by many.”

He added, “Now, ahead of the release, it gives me confidence and becomes a driving force that makes me feel half expectation and half excitement.”

Also, Kim Hye-sung went through numerous worries and efforts to portray a character with lower body paralysis. He said, “Since movement was limited, I expressed the facial expressions and psychological state on my face.”

He continued, “To immerse myself in the role, I hardly talked with other actors. For a month, I stayed in a corner alone to control my emotions. After each cut, I went back to the corner. Apart from greetings, I didn’t really have conversations. It was more comfortable for me to control my emotions and get into character that way. The production company representative saw that and said, ‘Who does that these days?’ and scolded me,” he said with a hearty laugh.

He also made external changes such as losing weight and growing a beard to bring the character to life. Kim Hye-sung joked, “I never want to grow a beard again.”

He said, “I thought no one would be there to wash Ji-hyeok, so I grew a beard for about two months. It would have been nice if the beard grew thick and cool, but it was just a few strands like a scraggly beard. I was very conscious of it when going out. Everyone I met told me to shave off the beard that wasn’t even really a beard,” making everyone laugh.

He added, “I thought I would lose a lot of weight living in a wheelchair, so I lost weight. I lost 3kg at first, and during filming, I lost another 3kg, reaching the weight of someone in their late 50s.”

Paper Flower will be released on October 22.

Photo = Road Pictures