Kim Jung-yeon (25), a former child actor, showcased her presence in her first lead role in 'Chohon'.
The film 'Chohon: A Song Called Again', which will be released on the 19th, tells the story of the student song group Dalkwosori, who passionately shouted alongside the workers of Samhyung Industrial during their strike for survival rights in 1992.
This is the new work of director Jo Jung-rae, who attracted 3.58 million viewers with 'Return', based on the true story of Japanese military comfort women. This project was also produced through community funding before production, with investments from citizens.
Kim Jung-yeon joined 'Chohon' through auditions and played the role of Min-young, a new member of Dalkwosori and the protagonist.
In an interview conducted ahead of the release, Kim Jung-yeon recalled, "I had been auditioning for a while, and even after passing, there were times when the project fell through, so I tried to let go of my expectations and approach it comfortably. I thought, 'If it's destiny, it will be me,' and I ended up with a good result."
She continued, "When I first read the script, I felt a warm heart. I entered university during the COVID era and took classes via Zoom, and I thought activities like farming work or club activities would be fun. I felt a strong emotional connection to family love and the bond with my mother and cousin. Min-young's heart, which shares someone else's pain, also resonated with me," expressing her affection for the work.
She mentioned that she received the script for the first time in September 2023, saying, "Director Jo Jung-rae said it would be a low-budget and tough shoot, but everyone was really close during 'Return', and he said we became good colleagues now. It would be hard, but he believed everyone could be happy on set, and it really became that kind of film."
She added, "There is a really warm atmosphere on set. Everyone takes care of each other and encourages one another, which was nice. Maybe that's why, when we were filming the last scene, I felt like I was moving as if I were someone else. It was a fascinating experience."
To become Min-young, she diligently learned the folk songs she was unfamiliar with.
Kim Jung-yeon said, "The director doesn't give many comments, but he trusted and entrusted the actors. Since it was my first lead role, I felt a lot of pressure and wanted to portray Min-young well, especially in the last scene. I often tell people that I seem like someone from the 1990s, but instead of studying that era specifically, I heard stories from my aunt, who graduated in '92. I tried to express as much as possible as it was written in the script. I created a PPT of Min-young's emotional lines and tried to follow that flow."
She also confessed, "The power of music is great. At first, I was unfamiliar with folk songs, but while listening to the songs, there were moments when I naturally blended into the atmosphere and felt my heart racing."
When asked about her synchronization with Min-young, she said, "I think we are similar in valuing family and relationships. In reality, I am bold and daring, but I tried to cultivate a shy side for Min-young."
Regarding her co-star Yoon Dong-won, she expressed gratitude, saying, "He is a really bright and fun person. I jokingly called him 'Geumjok-i', and he took it well and brightened the atmosphere on set. He would ask me if I wanted to try something first, and since we both shared the goal of wanting to create a good work, we talked a lot about acting."
Kim Jung-yeon, a former child actor, has appeared in films such as 'The Taste of Sarubia', 'Girl Delivery', 'Yeonji', 'Vacation', and dramas like 'Queen's Classroom'. She also played the role of young Kwon So-hyun in the film 'Madonna'.
When asked about how she started acting, she recalled, "I won an award in a model contest with a photo taken like a growth diary at the age of 5. After that, people around me suggested I try acting. At first, I said I wouldn't do it, but in the second grade of elementary school, I expressed my desire to try it. That's how I started learning acting, and it was so much fun. Then, in the third year of middle school, while filming 'Madonna', I began to think seriously about acting. I gradually developed a desire to improve, so I went to an arts high school and majored in acting in college."
She continued, "Acting is so much fun. I have a lot of interest in people. I think about what emotions someone might feel based on their expressions and what kind of person they are. When I receive a script and work on following a character, I feel like many people I've seen and many emotions I've felt come together like puzzle pieces. I also search for reasons why I need to act at every moment. I ask myself why I want to do this work and what kind of acting I want to pursue as I move forward."
Kim Jung-yeon stated that 'Chohon' has become a 'gift' for herself and hopes it will also be a source of 'comfort' for the audience.
"‘Chohon’ is a gift-like work for me. After graduating from university, when I was trying out various jobs other than acting, this work came to me, and I wanted to test if I could do this. It became an opportunity for me and a work I could answer for myself. There are times in life when you feel alone, and it seems like a world where that feeling is often felt. I hope the songs from our movie can be a source of strength during those times. I hope people feel the comfort and support of having someone to share their lives with."
[Yang So-young, Star Today Reporter]
