Kim Jae-kyung from tvN's 'The Devil Judge' hopes to take on new challenges as an actress

연합뉴스 / 2021-08-23 16:16:21

▲ This photo, provided by Namoo Actors, shows actress Kim Jae-kyung from tvN's weekend drama "The Devil's Judge." (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

SEOUL, Aug. 23 (Yonhap) -- Actress Kim Jae-kyung (33), who played Oh Jin-joo, an associate judge on tvN's recently ended weekend drama "The Devil Judge," met with Yonhap News Agency for a video interview

"The atmosphere of 'The Devil Judge' is very serious, but Jin-joo has a bright personality, so I had to constantly think of ways to blend her into the drama. At the time, author Moon Yu-sok told me he hoped my real-life personality and energy would be delivered into Jin-joo. Those words cheered me up," Kim said.

Regarding Jin-joo's increasingly ambitious and dramatic character change, the actress said, "Jin-joo wanted to do her best as a judge and help many people, but felt left out within the courtroom. When Sun-ah (Kim Min-jung) suggests a new job to Jin-joo, I wanted to prove that my character was able to work hard and achieve something."

"The best thing about Jin-joo was her attitude in facing reality and admitting her wrongdoings. I have personally worked in groups for a long time, so I learned relatively quickly on how much it helps to admit my mistakes and move forward. In that sense, I felt connected to my character. However, if it were me, I would rather actively request for more work rather than feeling isolated and guilty of my lack of skills," Kim said laughing.

"The Devil Judge," a follow-up work of judge-turned-writer Moon Yoo-seok, who also wrote the screenplay for drama "Ms. Hammurabi," presents an unconventional setting in which a live court show involving the entire nation is held in a virtual dystopian version of South Korea.

The 33-year-old actress said, "When I first received the script, I thought it was a really imaginative piece of writing. Since the screenwriter for 'The Devil Judge' was a former judge, the story seemed so realistic yet creative which made me really wanted to star in the drama."

Several shocking sentences given in the drama such as, giving a 235-year prison term for the head of a large company who released wastewater without permission or a death sentence for someone with a silver spoon who had committed several assaults, drew attention from the public.

"I remember every ruling made in the drama. When I read the script, I wondered if it was realistically possible, but then writer Moon said, 'Trust me, I was a judge,'" Kim recalled while laughing. "In fact, some countries actually give hundred-year long prison sentences, so I thought the story line was more exciting since it crosses over reality and fiction several times."

As for actor Ji Sung and singer Jin-young, who Kim worked together as co-stars, she said, "I was able to rely a lot on my fellow costars because we always communicated and shared our concerns in between scenes," adding, "In particular, I was very grateful to Ji-sung for giving advice from such a open perspective and widening my eyes to things I haven't thought about myself."

As for actress Kim Min-jung, who showcased great chemistry with Kim, the actress said, "Since Kim Min-jung is a veteran actress, she seemed to be skilled in creating 'chemistry' between characters. It was also amazing to see her displaying a completely different and unpredictable performance of Sun-ah than I had imagined when I first read the script."

Kim Jae-kyung, who took her first step in the entertainment industry as the leader of girl group Rainbow, is now in her 10th year as an actress.

"Every moment is new, and it's so fun to take on new challenges. It makes me happy to imagine feeling passionate for a job that I love even when I become old like a grandma. I've lived contentedly for the past 10 years, so I'm looking forward to working on another great work in the future."

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