[On the Record] Im Ji-yeon "Yeon-jin, No Forgiveness... Regret and Reflection"

Actor Lim Ji-yeon Interview

'The Glory' School Violence Leader Park Yeon-jin Role
Rising Star Overcoming Acting Skill Controversy

"Yeonjin, there is no forgiveness. I hope you pay for your sins for the rest of your life and regret and reflect on what you have done."

These were the words spoken by actress Lim Ji-yeon (32) as she bid farewell to Park Yeon-jin, the character she played in The Glory. Park Yeon-jin, during her high school years, bullied a classmate by burning her with a hair iron and felt no guilt. With a calm face, she incited friends to trample on one person's soul with cruelty. Despite doing such things, she shamelessly lived her daily life with a sparkling smile, which angered viewers. The more viewers were outraged, the more popular Lim Ji-yeon became.

Recently, when meeting Lim Ji-yeon at a cafe in Jongno-gu, Seoul, she said, "While reading the script of The Glory, I hated Yeonjin," adding, "I thought it would be good if everyone in the world hated me." She hoped that Yeonjin being hated would better convey Lim Ji-yeon's sincerity.

Bullying, Swearing, Smoking: "Not an Easy Villain"

Lim Ji-yeon [Photo by Netflix]

The Netflix original series The Glory, released on December 30 last year (Part 1) and on the 10th of this month (Part 2), depicts Moon Dong-eun (played by Song Hye-kyo), who suffered violence in her childhood and plans and executes a desperate revenge. Lim Ji-yeon portrayed Park Yeon-jin, a weathercaster who bullied Dong-eun in high school and inflicted unforgettable pain. In Part 2, as Dong-eun embarks on her revenge, Yeon-jin tries to prevent her misdeeds from being exposed.

She expressed deep trust in the writer Kim Eun-sook. Lim Ji-yeon recalled, "When I first received and read the script, it felt like reading a well-crafted novel." She added, "I would have participated in the work regardless of the character I was assigned."

She continued, "The role that appealed to me the most was Yeonjin. I always wanted to play a villain, and The Glory gave me the chance to challenge that. I vaguely expected that when I became an experienced actor in my 40s or 50s, I would get a proper villain role, but a villain I liked came to me at a young age, so I thought it was definitely mine."

There were many scenes where she bullied others. She also handled emotionally challenging acting such as swearing and smoking. Lim Ji-yeon laughed, "I didn't expect the scene where I smoked in front of the car to become such a hot topic." She said, "I wanted to smoke deliciously if I was going to do it. The staff said that seeing Yeonjin smoke made them want to smoke too. I wanted to smoke like Yeonjin, so I paid attention to the details."

"There was a day when I was overwhelmed with emotional scenes. After filming the prison scene all day and coming home, I noticed wrinkles on my forehead. I felt like the whole world was annoying. Maybe because I shouted a lot, I became irritable. I jokingly said on set, 'Next time, I'll play a really nice role.' Thanks to that, Yeonjin became more famous than Lim Ji-yeon. Even at home, my mom calls me 'Yeonjin.'"

No Verification of School Violence History... "Perpetrators Should Apologize"

Lim Ji-yeon [Photo by Netflix]

The Glory centers on school violence as a major theme. Since it is a significant social issue recently, it required a considerable sense of responsibility. The actors also needed to be responsible. Lim Ji-yeon emphasized, "It is absolutely impossible and should never happen." She added, "Think about perpetrators sincerely apologizing to victims and asking for forgiveness."

"Park Yeon-jin is a person who cannot empathize with the victim's feelings. I approached the role thinking she wouldn't feel guilt. Since she doesn't know remorse, I thought she wouldn't ask for forgiveness either. That was my starting point, but there were many difficult scenes to act."

Previously, Cha Ju-young revealed that they checked the school violence history before casting and filming. Lim Ji-yeon's stance was different. She said, "There was no particular verification or separate discussion about school days." She added, "We talked a lot about the character."

The Greatest Glory is My Mother... Dreaming of Being a Skilled Actress

Lim Ji-yeon debuted in the film Disaster Movie (2011) and gained recognition for her bold acting in Obsessed (2014). She then moved to the small screen, appearing in the drama Blow Breeze (2016), building her reputation. She also appeared in films such as The Treacherous (2015), Luck-Key (2016), and Tazza: One Eyed Jack (2019).

At one point, she suffered from acting controversies due to inaccurate pronunciation and artificial acting. Lim Ji-yeon said, "I never expected a day when I would receive so much praise." She confessed, "I am scared and anxious, but I have a strong desire to do better."

'The Glory' stills [Photo by Netflix]

"I am not a naturally gifted actress. In college, there were many talented actors around me, but I didn't have much, so I always vowed to work hard. Thanks to having a good face, I was cast early in commercial films and attracted attention with bold scenes. Debuting like that had many difficulties. Sometimes I got scolded and cried, but I kept trying to grow little by little. I have walked this path thinking I would act even when I become a grandmother, and now there is a day when I receive praise."

Lim Ji-yeon continued, "There will definitely be tough moments ahead." She added, "Acting controversies may arise again. But I want to live with the sense of accomplishment of overcoming them. That is a big reason why I love my job as an actress."

When asked about the greatest glory in her life, she recalled the moment she met her mother at the premiere of her first commercial film Obsessed. Lim Ji-yeon said, "I remember the moment my mom gave me a big, beautiful bouquet and called me 'Ji-yeon' on the day of the premiere. It was an unforgettable moment." She added, "It was the greatest moment of glory," and recalled, "I vowed to become a passionate and skilled actress with perseverance and passion."