(Following Interview①) On the 18th, as the final episode of ‘Lighting Store’ was released, discussions arose among viewers. This was because Kang Hyun-min woke up from a coma but did not remember Lee Ji-young. Some interpreted that unlike other characters, Kang Hyun-min did not truly love Lee Ji-young. In response, Kim Seolhyun said, “From Ji-young's perspective, it’s not that ‘Hyun-min didn’t love me,’ but rather that ‘the size of love was definitely different.’” She added, “It may not seem that way when viewed through the script, but it doesn’t look fake in the video. Since it’s Um Tae-goo sunbae’s acting, it might feel more genuine, but that love doesn’t seem fake to me.”
Regarding the scene where Kim Hyun-min cries, saying, “Why can’t I remember?” she expressed surprise at viewers’ opinions that he was pretending not to remember, stating, “There was no such setting when we filmed that scene. Rather, at that time, I was thinking as Ji-young, ‘Hyun-min might not want to go, so how can I send him to the lighting store?’”
On the topic of Lee Ji-young visiting the awakened Kim Hyun-min as a ghost, she explained, “After achieving the goal of ‘sending Hyun-min back,’ Ji-young feels empty and lost, thinking, ‘What should I do now?’ Nevertheless, I believe she went to see him because she missed him.” She clarified that the main emotion was longing rather than resentment.
Kim Seolhyun also shared, “If I were in the same situation, I might have made a similar choice, even if the method would be different. Some may not understand Ji-young, but I thought, ‘What else can I do besides this choice?’” She expressed deep empathy, adding, “I tend to give my all in everything. I’m the type who wants to do things without regrets, and I think that’s how I feel.”
What was it like to work with Um Tae-goo? Kim Seolhyun said, “Um Tae-goo sunbae always seems to act sincerely. Rather than just acting, when I look into his eyes, I feel his sincerity, which allows me to immerse myself more. He has great concentration.” She continued, “When he has self-awareness, he shows shyness and doesn’t express himself well, but once the shoot starts, he focuses completely.”
Did Um Tae-goo give any advice on acting as a senior? Kim Seolhyun replied, “He was cautious. When I asked him how he felt, he was careful about evaluating others, so he only said something like, ‘That line was really good.’” She added, “We have some similarities in personality. I’m not the type to forcefully break down walls, and as a result, those walls naturally crumbled. I didn’t try to create an atmosphere or force conversations to get closer, which made it comfortable.”
What did Kim Seolhyun gain the most from this project? She said, “A good connection.”
“Director Kim Hee-won is an adult with whom I can comfortably talk about acting. He explains things in an easy-to-understand way. I believe that good acting starts with finding something, and he shared a lot of such insights, which changed my attitude towards acting. I’m glad to have formed good connections through ‘Lighting Store.’ Also, I’ve never received good evaluations for my acting, so receiving positive feedback was rewarding.”
‘Lighting Store’ is being discussed on social media and online communities. Impressive scenes have been made into shorts (short-form videos of about 60 seconds) and uploaded to YouTube. It seems similar to the process of gaining word-of-mouth after the release of writer Kang Full’s previous work ‘Moving,’ which was loved worldwide. From the perspective of the cast, how much success does Kim Seolhyun expect for ‘Lighting Store’? She said, “I’m not good at predicting.” She added, “While working on a project, I often feel that once it’s out of my hands, there’s nothing more I can do, so I try not to have expectations. The public will judge it, and for me, I worked hard, so I wait with the mindset that ‘it would be nice if it does well, but if it doesn’t, it can’t be helped.’”
Kim Seolhyun mentioned that she is not greatly influenced by public evaluations, stating, “Since I’ve been active since I was young, I’ve become accustomed to receiving various evaluations. Regardless of the feedback, I think, ‘There are people who think that way.’ Even if it differs from my thoughts, I don’t plan to change what I do or how I do it. I live my life my way, and others live theirs. That’s how I’ve changed.”
Recently, many idol groups like 2NE1, Big Bang, and Kara have reunited for activities. Is there a possibility for AOA as well? Kim Seolhyun said, “If I get the chance, I would like to (do it). I’m keeping the door open for AOA activities.” She added, “I’m not a very planned person. I live as things come and try to engage earnestly with the opportunities given to me. There’s nothing planned for AOA activities, but if the opportunity arises, I would like to do it.”
If ‘Lighting Store’ is the tentpole work that will close out Disney+ this year, Netflix’s most anticipated work for 2024 is ‘Squid Game 2,’ which will be released on the 26th. When asked why viewers should choose ‘Lighting Store’ over ‘Squid Game 2,’ Kim Seolhyun replied, “I think ‘Lighting Store’ is a drama that delicately handles human emotions. I believe it will be a warm drama that resonates with viewers.” She added, “I think ‘Squid Game 2’ will also be interesting,” expressing her hope that Korean content will be recognized worldwide and that both works will succeed.
Finally, Kim Seolhyun said, “I feel sorry that I can’t meet my fans often through my works. I always want to be a proud artist…” expressing her affection for her fans, “I want to meet my fans more often through many works in the future.”
[Kim So-yeon, Star Today Reporter]
