Actress Kyung Soo-jin (37) is coming to theaters as a nosy jobless hero. This is through her first leading role in the movie 'Jobless Apartment'.
On the 25th, a day before the movie's release, I met Kyung Soo-jin at a cafe in Samcheong-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul. Kyung Soo-jin smiled brightly, saying, "Many people who saw the various previews held before the release laughed a lot and showed good reactions, and they supported me a lot, so I'm proud."
"Since this is my first leading role in a feature film, I am quite nervous and feel the pressure. Fortunately, our movie emphasizes 'ensemble', and I think that part has been captured well as intended. I believe in the small but strong power of the film."
The movie 'Jobless Apartment' (written and directed by Lee Ru-da) is a mystery comedy tracking the story of 'Mirror' (played by Kyung Soo-jin), who tries to implement justice while stirring up the neighborhood, investigating the source of the noise that echoes through the apartment at 4 AM. Actor Ma Dong-seok participated as a producer.
Kyung Soo-jin expressed her affection, saying, "The energy of senior Ma Dong-seok is undeniable, and director Lee Ru-da's ambition was considerable. The script itself was fun to read, and all the characters felt vibrant," adding, "Overall, it felt bright, fun, and substantial, which made it very appealing."
"Senior Ma Dong-seok said he must have seen my face about 1800 times. (laughs) After working together on 'Holy Night: Demon Hunters' and now 'Jobless Apartment', he said he has really seen a lot of me. Since everyone worked hard and had fun filming, he infused us with confidence, saying that the synergy was good and that it would do well. I feel reassured. Haha!"
From morning to evening, the nosy jobless character Mirror handles all neighborhood complaints. After a big fight with her younger brother 'Doo-on' (played by Lee Ji-hoon), she gets kicked out of her home. On her first night in the Jobless Apartment, she is disturbed by an unknown noise at 4 AM and learns from a resident 'Ji-won' (played by Kim Joo-ryeong) that the problematic noise has been heard every day for six months, but they cannot find the culprit. With her nosy energy surging, Mirror teams up with the residents to find the source of the noise and confronts dangerous secrets.
Kyung Soo-jin discussed her acting focus on the likable, nosy, and good-hearted character 'Mirror', saying, "I pondered deeply about how to express her more realistically, without exaggeration, yet vividly and seriously. Controlling the pace was important, and I concentrated on the hidden emotional lines of this character."
"Since the image of 'Captain Kyung' from the variety show 'I Live Alone' is quite strong, I think 'Mirror' naturally blended into that extension. Perhaps that's why, rather than showing something completely new, I aimed to infuse the charm of 'human Kyung Soo-jin' more strongly into 'Mirror' to create synergy. I poured my passion and sincerity into it."
She laughed, saying, "I have experienced the issue of 'inter-floor noise' myself." She continued, "In today's world, it might seem strange, but I often found it endearing. There were children in the apartment above, and sometimes I could hear piano sounds, and during the day, there were certainly thumping noises. I genuinely didn't mind it; it felt cute and gave a sense of people living together."
"Not only 'inter-floor noise', but many things that fall under the category of privacy invasion are sensitive and cautious in society. While it may be dangerous to talk directly and face-to-face, I believe we should bond more healthily, especially in such situations. I think being overly cautious and having preconceived notions can make the harsh world even harsher. I hope our movie can approach that aspect with a warm message and a nostalgic feeling."
'Human Kyung Soo-jin' is as charming as 'Actress Kyung Soo-jin'. She actively clarified misunderstandings surrounding her, saying, "I need to address this."
She said, "Many people keep saying 'no makeup', but I do wear makeup. I spend an hour fully doing it." This revelation brought laughter. "In this project, people ask if I come out 'in one outfit' or 'without makeup', but that's not true. I wore several outfits, changed my hairstyle, and did my makeup delicately. I did it all!" (laughs)
Kyung Soo-jin continued, "Many people keep asking when I rest, but I do take a good break. After resting, I start doing things again," which made everyone laugh once more.
She explained, "Everyone doesn't believe me, but I am actually a 'homebody'. After finishing a project, there are often several months without a schedule. I spend almost a month just lying at home and resting. After fully recharging, I get bored and start doing things again. That's how I became a hobby enthusiast."
"YouTube is a space where I can truly express what I love and my real self, so it has become more enjoyable. Nowadays, I work as hard on it as I do on my main job. Since I capture things as they are, I feel more affection for it, and it doesn't feel like work. I'm grateful that many people like that side of me." (laughs)
Finally, she concluded, "Perhaps 'human Kyung Soo-jin' and 'actress Kyung Soo-jin' are not that different. No, they shouldn't be. I want to be a transparent, glass-like actress. I believe that if I, as a person, fill and refine myself sincerely and remain consistent, I can shine as an actress. I want to move forward without distinction."
