- How did you get involved in acting?
The role of Ungbi was supposed to be played by a nine-year-old child. Although I was only six years old, my mother saw the opening for the role and decided to apply for me through an e-mail. I had the opportunity to audition, and the director, Damin Kim, decided to cast me. My mother and I thought the auditioning chance would never come because Ungbi was about nine years old, based on the script.
- How different is it to act in a movie and to act in a theater play? And which one do you prefer?
I have no experience in theater act. I’ve frequently watched plays for children but not many movies. Some movies seemed sad and boring, but I prefer plays for children because their exaggerated performances are hilarious. I hope to do some humorous acting.
- What are your weak points when it comes to acting? How do you try to improve them?
I have a habit of playing with my hands and scratching my face and body. I decided to scratch as much as possible before I start shooting and avoid scratching while the camera rolls.
- What are your strong points as an actor?
I think I’m talented overall. According to other people, my strength is my powerful and confident personality, and that I don’t worry about my performance during the shooting.
- What have you learned from the directors that you have worked with throughout your career?
Director Geunyoung Park of <A Far Place> taught me how to act with my fellow actor in the long-take style when I had no acting experience, and I learned how to be of ‘good nature’ and to ‘team-play’ from the director of <Ungbi and Non-Human Friends> Damin Kim, which was my next piece. There were several unexpected situations where I couldn’t have been in the movie, but they were all immediately solved due to the staff and the director’s fantastic team-play. There wasn’t a single person who showed anger.
- What makes a good scene partner?
A good scene partner empathizes and waits even though it’s not his or her turn. Once, my mother scolded me because I didn’t maintain my composure even though there was no okay sign after my fellow casts, who were adults, completed a difficult and emotional scene beside me.
- What are some of the difficulties of the acting business?
I believe it’s obtaining the opportunity to act. The auditioning “opportunity” comes readily to young girls who have light skin with cute and adorable faces, and seem to need protection. So, instead of such a role, I wait for a screenplay with the part of an independent and mischievous child.
- What’s challenging about bringing a script to life?
It’s challenging when I have to act out thoughts and emotions that I’ve not experienced yet because I’m a child. For example, Ungbi has no friends and is usually alone at home, but I’ve never been alone at home and I have many friends!
- What do you do when you’re not doing theatre/film?
I always play around. I play with my friends and kids that I don’t know who is in the playground because I don’t enjoy playing alone.
- If someone is going to make your life into a movie, who would play you?
I don’t know many actors yet because I only see actors when my grandmother is watching her K-dramas during the weekend. I think Masha from the animation “Masha and the Bear” is very similar to my personality.
