Kim Jae-kyung stars in the drama series "DREAM STAGE" (TBS, Fridays at 10 PM). She plays Park Ji-soo, a charismatic producer at the major music agency Bouquet Music who leads NAZE's rival group TORINNER. We spoke to Jae-kyung, who debuted as the leader of the girl group RAINBOW in 2009 and has since become active as an actor, about her experiences filming this drama.
K-POP is a special world. "The reality is even harsher than the dramas."
"DREAM STAGE" is the story of Jun Azuma (played by Nakamura), a former genius music producer who was expelled from the industry for causing trouble, and seven dropout trainees from a small Korean entertainment agency who form a boy group called "NAZE" and work together to pursue their dreams.
-First, please tell us about yourself.
Nice to meet you! I'm Kim Jae Kyung, an actor from Korea. I previously had a brief stint in Japan as a K-pop singer with the group "RAINBOW." This time, I'm in Japan not as a singer but as an actor, and I'm very excited to be able to greet everyone through a drama. I look forward to working with you all!
-What were your thoughts when you read the script for this film?
When I was active as a singer, there was an incredible K-POP boom in Japan. As part of that trend, I was also warmly accepted by many people in Japan. Now, K-POP has been adapted into a drama, and I have been given the opportunity to appear in it. Having been in the industry at a time when K-POP was attracting worldwide attention, I feel a stronger sense of responsibility.
There are some parts of the drama that are inevitably portrayed dramatically for production purposes, but in reality, the reality is even harsher than what is shown on TV. That's why I think my role in this drama is to convey those real aspects to the viewers. K-POP is a special world. I would be happy if this drama gives you an opportunity to experience that special world as well.
--What kind of response have you received about this work?
Through the drama, I have been able to meet my Japanese fans for the first time in a long time. After the broadcast, I received messages from fans saying things like, "I was moved by your acting in Japanese."
I always receive letters and messages from my fans in Korean, so I'm really happy to be able to perform in Japanese this time. I still have a lot to learn, but I'll do my best for the sake of the production and my fans.
-Up until now, TORINNER has been harassing their rivals, including NAZE, in various ways under Choi Ki-young's (Lee Yi-kyung) orders. Please tell us what you have prepared for and what you keep in mind when playing the role of Park Ji-soo.
Perhaps Park Ji-soo appears to be a very passive character because of Choi Ki-young. However, when it comes to carrying out his instructions, she is more proactive than anyone else. Ji-soo loves her job so much that she wants to carry out her boss Choi Ki-young's instructions properly. That's why, when I act, I think, "Choi Ki-young's words are absolute."
--As filming progressed, did the producer or director make any requests regarding the role? Also, were there any suggestions you made yourself?
When I first read the script for this film, I was worried because the Korean and Japanese lines were a bit stiff in tone, so I prepared various revisions of my own for my first meeting with the director. At our first meeting, the director requested that I use the character Kushana from the anime Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind as a reference for Ji-soo.
At that moment, Ji-soo's lines, which I had previously found stiff, suddenly made sense to me. The director also told me, "I want Ji-soo to speak and act like a soldier," so I tried to act in a way that reflected that. I also asked for a simpler costume to better portray Ji-soo's character and give off a workaholic vibe. The costume team then took my advice into consideration and prepared an outfit that was perfect for Ji-soo.
◇My favorite character is Monchhichi. What Japanese word have you become obsessed with recently?
--Have you spoken to Nakamura-san, who plays Azuma, Ikeda Eliza, who plays Endo Suisei, and Ha Yeon-soo, who plays Nam Ha-yoon? Please tell us what your impressions were of them.
I always practice my Japanese lines on set, and one day, Tomoya saw me struggling with a very long line and said, "I feel sorry for you." So I asked him to add "i" instead of "sou" (laugh). Tomoya is always available to give me advice if there's anything I'm struggling with in pronunciation or intonation. He's really reliable.
My favorite character is Monchhichi, and I have Monchhichi stuffed toys attached to everything, including my smartphone and bag. Eliza seemed to remember me when she saw them, and one day she gave me an eco bag with Monchhichi on it. I've been carrying that bag with me whenever I go to the filming location recently. Thank you so much, Eliza!
Yongsoo is a senior who has already been acting in Japan for several years, so he gave me a lot of advice based on his own experience. So when I'm in a scene with Yongsoo, I feel reassured without even realizing it. I promised to arrange for Dubai mochi cookies the next time I go to Korea, but I haven't been able to go to Korea yet due to filming. I want to give him some Ducheongku (Korean sweets) as a gift soon...!
--Please tell us if there are any other memorable scenes or behind-the-scenes stories.
We ate a variety of dishes during the scenes, and they were all delicious, so I remember having a lot of fun filming. In particular, Azuma's special hotpot was delicious, despite its appearance!
-Did you learn any Japanese through filming this movie?
Recently, I've become obsessed with the word "shigodeki." I learned it from my director, and if I had to sum up Jisoo in one word, it would be "shigodeki." That's because she's a talented and passionate K-pop producer. She loves her job more than anyone else, and her life is truly dedicated to work. I would also like to be a "shigodeki" on set.
Another one is an expression that came up on a love reality show: "~ha yabee daro (is that crazy?)." I often use it on set, incorporating various other words. For example, when filming has to stop because of the sound of an airplane, I'll say, "Airplanes are crazy!" (laughs).
-During your breaks from filming in Japan, did you enjoy any Japanese food or sightseeing?
This was the first time I tried "monjayaki" since coming to Japan. I tried the mentaiko mochi monjayaki that the drama staff recommended, and when I added green chili peppers and shiso leaves to it, it was really delicious. I was so taken with how good it was that I ended up eating monjayaki two days in a row. I definitely plan to go back and eat monjayaki again before filming ends. Monjayaki is so addictive. "Monjayaki is crazy, isn't it?" (laughs).
--Kim Jae Kyung, what do you think is most important when pursuing your dreams?
I think the dreams I paint are more like rough sketches than precise drawings. I just decide on the big picture of where I want to go and live my life focused on the moment. By doing this, instead of feeling despair for not being able to achieve my dreams or blaming myself for not reaching my goals, I have been able to find more happiness in the unexpected moments I encounter while walking towards my dreams.
Life doesn't always go as planned, and the rewards don't always correspond to the efforts you put in. However, every step of the way becomes an experience for me, and ultimately, it gives me the strength to move in the direction I want. My dream right now is to have a long and enjoyable career in acting. So, I'm trying to enjoy each and every day and each and every production.
-Finally, please give a message to the viewers, including some highlights from the final part.
The actors' performances and the story itself are of course fascinating, but the special points that could be said to be the "highest points" of "DREAM STAGE" are "NAZE" and "TORINNER." Everyone has been practicing singing and dancing hard in parallel with filming, so we hope you will support them. Also, from episode 7, Ji-soo, who is tired of Choi Ki-young's demands, seems to be undergoing a change of heart, so please look forward to it.
