Dahyun (27, Kim Dahyun), a member of the group TWICE, has embarked on a new journey as an actress through 'The Girl We Loved That Year'.
The film 'The Girl We Loved That Year' (directed by Cho Young-myung) is a remake of the Taiwanese film of the same name and tells the story of Jinwoo (played by Jin Young), who spent countless days before confessing to Sunah (played by Dahyun), his first love at eighteen.
Jin Young, who has shown unique performances in various works including the Netflix series 'Sweet Home' starting from the movie 'The Dude in Me', plays the carefree Jinwoo, while TWICE's Dahyun plays Sunah, a model student and everyone's first love.
When Dahyun met with us at a café in Samcheong-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul on the 27th, she expressed her feelings about the release, saying, "I am just grateful to be able to see my first movie on the screen. I am happy just to have it released."
Dahyun added, "It was meaningful just to attend the Busan Film Festival last year, and I enjoyed the time talking with the audience and fans. Receiving the Rising Star Award was also an unforgettable memory for me. Today, we have a stage greeting, and I feel so precious and grateful. The weather is cold and it’s not easy, but it means a lot that people come to see our movie, and I feel so grateful and happy."
As the lead in her first acting debut, she confessed, "I can't say there is no pressure. The first time requires courage and challenge, and there is tension and excitement. I feel the same way. Since it's my first time, I want to do well, and I am grateful just to have started. I know this opportunity is precious."
She continued, "I have had a dream of being an actress for a long time. Before my debut, when I was in elementary school, I went to the movies with my family, and my mom asked, 'Will we ever see our daughter on the screen?' I had forgotten about it, but it suddenly came to mind while preparing for the movie. I nurtured my dream of being a singer while living as a trainee, and we continued our group activities, and it was only recently that individual activities were released. At that time, a precious opportunity came to me, and I really wanted to try it."
Starting 'The Girl We Loved That Year' with both pressure and excitement, Dahyun, who became the first love girl Sunah, revealed that she received a lot of help from director Cho Young-myung and senior Jin Young.
Dahyun explained, "The movie progresses from Jinwoo's perspective, so not much is revealed about Sunah. Before filming, I had many discussions with the director about Sunah's backstory. Sunah's mother runs a vegetable shop, her father is a police officer, and she is the eldest daughter. She has younger siblings, a brother and a sister, and since her parents are busy, she plays the role of a mother to her siblings. So, there might be a feeling of nagging towards Jinwoo as well. It was enjoyable to create Sunah by specifying things that were not in the script."
She also mentioned the significant help from Jin Young, a former member of B1A4, saying, "It's a great fortune to meet a good senior in my first work. He was very considerate and provided a lot of help. Since it was my first time, I had many things I didn't know, but he explained everything one by one. In the film, he appears as a friend, and I was worried about how to approach him comfortably, but he came to me first and was considerate. Thanks to my senior, I was able to create a 'true friend vibe' with the other rookie friends. Even outside of filming, we created a comfortable atmosphere by eating together."
She continued, "While I was busy preparing for the next album and TWICE fan concert during filming, he understood everything. Since my senior has experience in both group and acting activities, he checked my condition and helped me with the script. I was nervous about the kissing scene since it was my first time, but he was very considerate. Through this project, I worked on the OST with my senior. I have done songwriting during TWICE activities, but this was my first time composing. I wanted to try it since TWICE, but I didn't know how. However, thanks to my wonderful senior, I was able to compose for the first time, and I was very satisfied."
Park Jin-young, the head of JYP Entertainment and producer, also sent his support for Dahyun's acting challenge.
Dahyun said about Park Jin-young, "He couldn't come to the premiere due to a schedule. Later, he watched the movie with me. He watched my first acting challenge with full concentration in the theater. When the ending credits rolled, I told him that I worked on the OST for the first time, and he said he would give me feedback after a moment because of the movie's lingering effect. That day, I also heard his first love story, which was interesting. He encouraged me, saying I did well for my first acting, and he liked that I appeared as Sunah, not as TWICE's Dahyun."
The support from TWICE members cannot be overlooked. They touched her heart by coming to the premiere with a bouquet and handwritten letters they prepared.
Dahyun shared, "The TWICE members came to see the premiere and gave me a bouquet and a cute keyring. They sent me support with a cake made for me and a handwritten letter. Just coming to see it was a great strength, and they sent me long messages individually. They said they were proud of me for my first acting and gave me many encouraging words. I was so grateful that they sincerely supported my challenge."
She added, "I met Tzuyu when she was in middle school, and I went to support her when she had a solo stage on KBS2 'Music Bank'. I was proud and impressed to see her fill the stage alone. Knowing how she prepared for the stage alone was amazing. I think the other members feel the same way. TWICE loves TWICE. When preparing for TWICE albums, everyone actively shares their opinions and works passionately. I sincerely support the individual activities of the members," expressing her affection.
When asked about her first love memories, Dahyun joked, "I have been busy living as a trainee since I was young, so I don't even remember yesterday," but added, "I do remember the feelings of first love." She shyly mentioned her popularity during school days, saying, "I remember receiving chocolates on Valentine's Day," which brought laughter.
Dahyun, who is grateful for this moment and everything, expressed her desire to work hard in both TWICE and acting.
She said, "When living life, it can be frustrating when unexpected moments or things don't go as planned. If you keep holding onto that feeling, it becomes harder. When I look for things to be grateful for during those times, I feel happy. So I always try to be grateful. We filmed our movie last summer, and now it is being released, and I am so grateful. I am very thankful to each and every audience member who came to see our movie. I know how precious this opportunity is. Since I have started acting, I want to work hard. I want to keep challenging myself. I know I have a long way to go, but I want to be someone who gives good energy and comfort like the seniors I saw in the dramas and movies."
[Yang So-young, Star Today Reporter]
