Actor Kim Ji-hoon (44) showcased a new life character through ‘Gwigung’, presenting the aura of a benevolent king and the charisma of a villain possessed by an eight-legged ghost.
The SBS Friday-Saturday drama ‘Gwigung’ (written by Yoon Soo-jung, directed by Yoon Sung-sik and Kim Ji-yeon), which ended on the 7th, depicts the story of a shaman, Yeori (played by Kim Ji-yeon), who rejects the fate of a medium, and the Imugi, Kang Cheol (played by Yook Sung-jae), trapped in the body of Yeori's first love, facing the eight-legged ghost with a grudge against the royal family. It is a fantasy romantic comedy.
In a post-finale interview, Kim Ji-hoon expressed, “Filming takes a long time and is tough, but the broadcast always passes quickly, so I feel a great sense of regret. However, I feel rewarded as I received a lot of love for the hard work I put in, and I am grateful to the viewers.”
Starting with a viewership rating of 9.2% (according to Nielsen Korea, nationwide) for its first episode, ‘Gwigung’ ended with its highest rating of 11% for the final episode, thanks to its fresh storyline of the love between the Imugi and the shaman and the actors' performances.
When asked if he expected the high viewership ratings of ‘Gwigung’, Kim Ji-hoon replied, “It wasn’t an expectation, but I had a hope. I poured everything into it without leaving a single regret, so I hoped it would be well received.” He added, “After the broadcast, when I walk down the street, people say not ‘I’m a fan’ but ‘I’m watching Gwigung well.’ That’s when I feel the popularity,” he smiled.
Portraying the reformist monarch Lee Jeong, who dreams of a strong nation, Kim Ji-hoon attracted attention with a trendy portrayal that breaks the mold of traditional royal characters in historical dramas. Even in Kang Cheol's rebellion, he built trust with his unique charm, and when looking at the queen (played by Han So-eun), he acted as if honey was dripping from his eyes.
“At first, I thought of the king's solemn and serious demeanor, so I set the tone to a traditional historical drama. However, as I read the script, I realized he was a very three-dimensional character. So, I tried to find a natural tone for today’s viewers. The king is just one of Lee Jeong's personas. I tried to express the image of a father who loves his child, a man who loves the queen, and a weak human overwhelmed by a ghost.”
In this work, Kim Ji-hoon performed a dual role. After being possessed by the eight-legged ghost, he erased the face of the righteous king Lee Jeong and transformed into a ‘tyrant’ continuing a frenzy of madness.
When asked what differences he wanted to establish between the two characters, Kim Ji-hoon said, “I thought the voice shouldn’t be the same from the start. Since the grudge and anger are the driving forces of the eight-legged ghost, I used a deep voice when portraying the ghost.”
He continued, “I also thought expressions were important, so I practiced. My previous experiences playing psychopathic or intense roles unknowingly helped. However, since this character is different from those I played before, I wanted to show a state where reason is consumed, leaving only anger and resentment.”
Since he poured a lot of emotions into his performance, managing his physical strength was essential. He said, “I feel like I went on a nationwide bathhouse tour. I received a lot of help for my stamina by alternating between hot and cold baths, and I took 10,000mg of vitamins daily. I usually exercise regularly, so I can finish most works comfortably, but this time it was tough.”
Nevertheless, he reflected that participating in ‘Gwigung’ was a good choice. Kim Ji-hoon stated, “It’s not easy to find a work where I can pour everything I have like this. Even if you have the ability, if the situation doesn’t support it, you can’t show it. I met a work and character that comes around once every few years. I really think I was lucky as an actor.”
An ideal monarch dreaming of a strong nation, a father worried about his sick son, and a tyrant revealing madness after being consumed by the eight-legged ghost. Veteran actor Kim Ji-hoon received praise for delicately expressing the various faces of Lee Jeong. When asked if he has any desire to win an award at the year-end ceremony, he replied.
“Having acted for a long time, I feel like I’m emptying my heart. I would be grateful if I received an award, but I don’t dwell on it too much. I’m really okay, but my mother seems to be different. She keeps saying, ‘Son, you have to win an award this year.’ (laughs) I’m actually more interested in the Best Couple Award. Is it okay to aim for the Best Couple Award with Yook Sung-jae?”
[Lee Da-gyeom, Star Today Reporter]
