Kim Myung-min 'Tried to Pull Intimidating Vibe Solely Through Facial Expression'

연합뉴스 / 2024-09-06 07:07:10

▲ This image, provided by Simstory, shows Korean actor Kim Myung-min. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

SEOUL, Sept. 6 (Yonhap) -- "Instead of using words, I had to express intimidation through just my appearance and expressions. It wasn't easy, especially since my counterpart was Hyun-joo hyung."

In Genie TV's drama "Your Honor," Kim Kang-heon, portrayed by Kim Myung-min, is a former gangster turned businessman, described as a figure wielding fearsome, absolute power. Without many lines, he creates an overwhelming sense of terror with his cold charisma. This demanding character was brought to life through Kim Myung-min's interpretation and exceptional acting.

Meeting with Kim Myung-min on September 5th in Sangam-dong, Seoul, he reflected, "My role had more stage directions than dialogue. I envisioned the character as somewhere between Marlon Brando and Al Pacino from The Godfather."

▲ This still photo of Genie TV's series "Your Honor," provided by the broadcaster, shows lead actor Kim Myung-min. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

Kim Kang-heon is the ruthless boss of a criminal organization with a cold heart and overwhelming presence. He takes matters into his own hands to find the hit-and-run driver who killed his second son. Kim Myung-min commented, "As a father myself, and with a son around the same age, I could easily immerse myself in the role. If I had the same power as Kim Kang-heon, I might have acted similarly."

He continued, "Kim Kang-heon doesn't express his emotions outwardly; instead, he holds everything inside. I realized how difficult it is to act with 'repressed' or 'contained' emotions. Every time I went home, I felt unsettled. These subtle performances can easily go unnoticed, which left me constantly worried about whether I did well."

Although Kim Kang-heon is a character willing to bloody his hands to punish the person responsible for his son's death, Kim Myung-min didn't approach him as a villain. "Kim Kang-heon is a character with inner conflicts. While he is capable of anything, he's also determined to clean up his past and live a more righteous life, which means he’s not as free as he once was."

He added, "Your Honor doesn't draw clear lines between good and evil. Kim Kang-heon is a much more complex character. I feel a bit disappointed that some of the scenes we shot were edited out."

▲ This still photo of Genie TV's series "Your Honor," provided by the broadcaster, shows lead actor Kim Myung-min. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

Debuting in 1996 as part of SBS's 6th talent group, Kim Myung-min built a reputation as a versatile actor through roles in dramas like Immortal Admiral Yi Sun-sin, White Tower, and Beethoven Virus. Known for his method acting, he immerses himself completely in his roles, paying attention to even the smallest details. In Immortal Admiral Yi Sun-sin, he adjusted his voice to reflect the admiral's age progression from his 20s to 50s and lowered his left shoulder after his character was shot, a detail that drew attention.

In Closer to Heaven, where he played a patient with ALS, he wore down one of his shoes to create a height imbalance to portray the physical condition accurately. Known for such thorough preparation, his fellow actors often marvel at his dedication. However, Kim Myung-min admitted that, for this role, he tried to let go of the pressure of method acting and take a more relaxed approach.

"I've been told that locking myself up and obsessively focusing on my acting can be hard on those around me. Though I believed I was doing my best in every moment, I realized it might come off differently to others. So, this time, I tried to approach it with more ease."

He concluded, "For this role, I focused primarily on the character's physical presence. I don't usually like talking about weight because it shifts the focus, but I needed to build a certain image for Kim Kang-heon. I think I ate a lifetime’s worth of hamburgers to gain the necessary weight. (laughs)"