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| ▲ This image of actress Park Ji-hyeon, cast in film "Hidden Face," is provided by Studio New. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
SEOUL, Nov. 20 (Yonhap) -- Film The Hidden Face, Directed by Kim Dae-woo, known for The Servant (2010) and Obsessed (2014), leans more toward the thriller genre despite its initial buzz as a "19+ rated" film.
The movie, set for release on Wednesday, centers around conductor Seong-jin (played by Song Seung-heon), whose fiancée Soo-yeon (Jo Yeo-jeong) vanishes unexpectedly. He begins an affair with cellist Mi-joo (Park Ji-hyun), only to discover that Soo-yeon has been secretly watching them from a hidden room in the house.
The shocking setup, coupled with a series of unexpected twists, heightens the suspense. The actors’ intense performances amplify the film's impact, with Park Ji-hyun shining as the enigmatic Mi-joo. Despite sharing the screen with industry veterans Song Seung-heon and Jo Yeo-jeong, Park held her own, earning Jo’s praise: “If I were her age, I don’t think I could have pulled off such a performance.”
“Mi-joo is a character who lives unapologetically in pursuit of her desires,” Park said in an interview on November 19 at a café in Jongno-gu, Seoul. “Playing her allowed me to vicariously experience a freedom that felt cathartic. She acts and speaks as her consciousness flows, something that’s both enviable and satisfying.”
Park explained that Mi-joo’s storyline, where she crosses boundaries for her desires, intrigued her. “Ordinary people are bound by social norms, but Mi-joo is free to chase choices others might not even consider. That made her incredibly appealing to me.”
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| ▲ Mi-joo, portrayed by Park Ji-hyeon, is shown in this still from "Hidden Face," provided by NEW. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
When she first read the script for The Hidden Face, Park immediately envisioned herself as Mi-joo. “I just had this unshakable feeling that I was meant to play her. It felt like fate,” she said with a laugh.
The filming process posed its challenges, particularly a pivotal early scene where Mi-joo is in bed with Seong-jin while Soo-yeon secretly observes them through a glass wall. Reflecting on the experience, Park said, “I wasn’t overly concerned about the nudity. What excites me about acting is getting to experience things you can’t in real life. Accomplishing that gives me a sense of exhilaration. Rather than feeling burdened, I approached the project with anticipation.”
She credited director Kim Dae-woo for creating a supportive environment on set. A fan of his earlier films, Park said, “Meeting him in person, I saw how he unites everyone with his gentle charisma.”
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| ▲ Mi-joo, portrayed by Park Ji-hyeon, is shown in this still from "Hidden Face," provided by NEW. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
Although her career now seems destined for acting, Park shared that she was an ordinary student focused on academics until high school. It wasn’t until she took a break from college that she pursued her childhood dream of acting, debuting in the 2017 drama The King in Love. Since then, she has taken on diverse roles, from a paranormal investigator in Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum to a manipulative chaebol daughter-in-law in Reborn Rich, and a gritty detective in The Chaebol X Detective.
Despite her growing portfolio, Park remains humble about her career.
“I still feel like I’m just starting. Every project feels like an audition for the audience, and I plan to keep acting with that mindset until the end.”
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