'Shooting Star' Kim Yeji "No Intention to Start Acting Career"

"Just thought it would be good to announce shooting"
"Shooting is an unpopular sport... Can't enjoy many things"

Silver medalist Kim Yeji (31, Imsil County Office), who gained 'star'-level popularity with her unique shooting stance at the 2024 Paris Olympics, recently explained why she signed a contract with an entertainment management company. She emphasized the need for 'public interest' in the less popular sport of shooting.

In an interview with JTBC's 'Newsroom' on the 27th, Kim Yeji said, "(After the Olympics) I didn't really feel the popularity," adding, "Now, when I go out, there are people asking for autographs or to take pictures, and that's when I realize it."

Silver medalist in shooting at the 2024 Paris Olympics, Kim Yeji. [Image source=JTBC broadcast capture]

Earlier, it was reported that Kim Yeji signed an agent contract with the entertainer management company 'Pulpil' on the 19th. At that time, she explained that she signed with the management company because she wanted to promote the less popular sport of shooting more. In the Newsroom interview that day, Kim Yeji also emphasized, "I never thought about starting a movie career," saying, "I just thought it would be good for promoting shooting." Regarding the praise from netizens worldwide, such as "She looks like a movie star" and "She looks like a killer character," she said, "I've always been shooting like that, so I don't really know," but added, "I just feel like I'm 'shooting a gun.' I'm grateful that people see it as cool."

She said that her mindset toward shooting changed after getting married and having children, stating, "During the unknown period, I had no particular ambition. I was just a talented athlete," and added, "After having a child, my sense of responsibility grew, and as my records started to improve, my ambition grew. After trying a bit more, I became a national representative, and when I thought I could do better and go to the Olympics, I eventually went to the Olympics."

She also revealed her goal for the next Olympics. Kim Yeji said, "I plan to work harder to achieve my goal," adding, "(Shooting) is such a less popular sport that it needs the public's interest. We haven't received much of what athletes in popular sports enjoy, so I hope shooting becomes a popular sport." After watching Kim Yeji's performance at the last Olympics, netizens worldwide praised her as looking like a movie star. Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, also commented on her shooting stance video, saying, "Kim Yeji should star in an action movie. She wouldn't even need to act."

Kim Yeji also expressed her willingness to consider limited media activities to promote the shooting sport. At a press conference held on the 20th at the Jeollanam-do International Shooting Range in Naju, Jeollanam-do, she explained, "If it doesn't interfere with training and competitions, I am willing to try (acting)," adding, "I decided this because I thought it could help the public pay more attention to shooting. However, filming will be done only to the extent that it does not burden training and competitions."