growing-cosmos

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Du Sik appreciation 03/∞

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KIM SEONHO for Vogue Man Hong Kong | September 2024

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KIM SEONHO for Vogue Man Hong Kong | September 2024

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It's my 3 year anniversary on Tumblr 🥳

oh it was started when homcha was still airing. 🥹

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KIM SEON-HO as Director Choe

The Tyrant (폭군) 2024 | still cuts

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KIM SEON-HO as DIRECTOR CHOE

The Tyrant (폭군) 2024 | Ep. 01

dir. Park Hoon-jung

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Don't worry. You can rest assured. I'll take care of it.

KIM SEON-HO as DIRECTOR CHOE

The Tyrant (폭군) 2024 | Ep. 01

dir. Park Hoon-jung

[growing-cosmos]

240819 - Kim Seonho Press Interview for Series ‘The Tyrant’

Actor Kim Seonho met with journalists for a round interview regarding the release of the series 'The Tyrant' (director Park Hoonjung) at a cafe in Samcheong-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul on the morning of the 19th.

Kim Seonho plays the role of 'Director Choe', the designer who has been operating the 'Tyrant Program', and he caught people's attention by showing a cool character unlike before.

Kim Seonho said, "Usually when I see a character, I can roughly picture how to say the lines and plan in my head. But what I felt this time was, I needed to focus more on and emphasize the inner self."

He continued, "I was actually scared. Since I've always played characters who focus on expressing themselves externally, I wondered how I could express the things internally. How could I challenge myself and be seen as the character? I said I would do my best, but what if I failed? I was afraid."

However, he recalled, "But an actor can't just stand still like that. I have to keep trying, so I had to do it even though I was scared. Fortunately, I had seniors actor and the director, so they helped me a lot."

This is his second time working with director Park Hoonjung after 'The Childe'. In 'The Childe', he played the role of a mysterious killer, a nobleman who showed off his colorful colors and overwhelming action scenes. This time, he once again shows off his irreplaceable presence with a completely different determination, cool and sharp charisma.

“Whenever I was scared or didn’t understand, I talked a lot with my seniors and the director. I received a lot of acting advice from Kim Kangwoo, and I also relied on him a lot mentally. Cha Seungwon was also a source of inspiration and support just by his presence. Since they all have such great energy, I was able to survive along with them.”

[01]

Kim Seonhho recalled the last scene, saying, "I remember it very clearly. The last scene was when I fired a blank bullet on the podium. If you shoot it outside, the sound can be heard easily, but indoors, it can be heard twice as loud. I shot Kangwoo sunbae, and I absolutely did not want to close my eyes, but I said, 'Oh, I'm sorry.' I asked for one more chance, but they said there weren't many bullets. I tried to concentrate as much as I could. If you wear earplugs, you might not be able to hear the sound, but if you can't hear the other person and check your own voice, it was difficult to act."

Regarding the fact that it was described as an internal action rather than a physical action, he said, "To be honest, there were parts that I felt really sorry about. That's because I mostly filmed while sitting down, and the scenes where we went outside were all filmed in one day, or we had to move by car, and the rest was all indoors. That's why I felt sorry (to my seniors). That's why I thought, 'You must be really tired~' when I went to the set to cheer them on later," and laughed. I knew how it felt, and I said it must have been really hard. But that's what happened. There was that feeling of satisfaction from the action scenes when the results came out, right? When I watched Seungwon's or Kangwoo's sunbaenims action scenes, I thought they were really cool, I was jealous. It was comfortable at the time, but thinking back now, I feel regretful, and I think the two things coexist."

As it is a work that connects the world of 'The Witch', expectations for season 2 are also high. When asked what he thought about the unconventional ending, Kim Seon-ho said, "I don't know how this will sound, but I think Director Choe was perfect. I think that's what made Director Choe memorable until the end." He also smiled, saying, "If there's a season 2, I think there will be some kind of flashback or scene."

Kim Seonho, who has shown a new side of himself through the noir genre back-to-back said, "(While filming), I did think that I would do better if I had three more chances. Now, rather than saying that I'm definitely doing well, I think it's a point where certain areas where I'm lacking are more evident. Rather than saying that I've grown as an actor, I think it's more accurate to say that I now know what's important. I think it was film noir that made me feel that moments of silence are more powerful than moments when an actor speaks. This kind of silent acting became a lesson for me to study more, develop, and build up as an actor."

[02a & b]

The character of Director Choe, played by Kim Seonho, is set to be younger than the typical national agency director character in movies. When asked how he analyzed this, he said, "That's what I thought. Even though he's the youngest director, I couldn't change that setting, so the only way was to find something I could do well as Director Choe."

In particular, he transformed into a cool character that he had never seen before through 'Director Choe', and also told the story of transformation his acting. "Of course, I can't change my habit or tone completely. But in the past, if the tempo was fast or it was a character to make a scene smooth. This time I felt like I was the character who was supposed to be the center of the scene. I thought this scene would look light if I took a sense of tempo as well. So when I saw those things, they were different (from before), but there were times when I wasn't sure, he said. "In fact, while acting, I didn't have anything to change and try that much. But while I was acting, the hyungs who were acting as agents came to watch, and sometimes they laughed and cheered me on, so I felt good and thought, 'I guess it's not so bad.' Actually, I'm the type who regrets going home. But this time, I don't think that happened. I got a lot of help, and my fear disappeared," he recalled.

He continued, "I tried to not be too disheveled or light-hearted. I tried to show that I was subtly aware of it without reacting too much and with a straight face. Even when someone was shooting a gun next to me, I tried to express it as minimally as possible with my eyes and hand movements. I thought that would be the way to build the character and establish the focus." "If I usually tried to fill in the blanks by giving meaning to my acting, I tried to 'subtract' them in this work. He said, "I tried to express the weight of silence through my gaze, trembling hands, and sitting posture," and "I didn't try to fill it up so much for this role."

He, a non-smoker, said with a laugh, "I can't actually smoke. I practiced for about three months for the scene where Director Choe smokes. The director said, 'If you had smoked more naturally in 'The Childe,' wouldn't the cut have been longer?' Fortunately, I smoked well and quit this time."

As a high-ranking agent of National Intelligence Service and a person who struggles to protect 'the tyrant program', he said he lost about 6~7kg to fit the character's appearance. "I worked out and went on a diet because I didn't want to look like 'the childe'. There were always lines in the script saying he looked tired and haggard. I thought Director Choe was pushed to the limit. I thought it would be like if i had to get rid of the people who were on the same team as me to protect that program. It must have been painful inside. I went on a diet with those things in mind, and I think I succeeded a lot. The director didn't really ask me to diet. He just told me to come prepared so that I could express myself on screen. When he first saw me on set, he said, 'Huh? You've lost weight' (laughs). When I told him that I lost weight because Director Choe seemed to be like that, he said frankly that it was okay."

The rough skin expression was also intentional. Kim Seonho said, “I intentionally created blemishes and dark circles under my eyes. On days when I looked really tired, I didn’t wear makeup (on some parts of my face). I sometimes let my beard unshaved, and it seems like I didn’t wear any makeup at all.”

After a series of noir genre, Kim Seonho is ready for his next work and the next after that. When asked about his thirst for comedies and romantic comedies where his unique acting skills stand out, he said, "I thought I would continue to be greedy. But since I'm busy with the work in front of me right now, I think it's important to work on and develop my shortcomings a little more rather than wanting to do a certain genre. But since I'm doing it consistently, rather than feeling thirsty, I wonder why some shortcomings aren't getting better. Strangely, I only see my shortcomings when people say it's okay. Actors are greedy, but I don't think I improve quickly."

"The most fundamental reason is that I find acting enjoyable. When things aren’t going well, it’s tough and frustrating, and three days can feel difficult. But when things go well, those three days are enjoyable. When a work is completed, I feel a mix of emotions, but the most primal feeling is joy and happiness. I also believe that I am here because of the people who watch me. In order not to disappoint them, I think I need to bravely challenge myself with various genres and show that I’m studying to stand in the role, at least like the character I portray."

"It may be both a strength and a weakness to others, but for me, for example, my voice was husky in 'The Tyrant,' but this time I wanted to try a stronger sound, change my pronunciation, and become a bit more organized. But as I became more organized, each and every one of my gestures seemed too big. I wanted to organize them because I wanted to exert a lot of power with each gesture, but I kept worrying about it. I think this is an area where I still need to develop and study."

He said, "When it comes to acting, I think there are people are born with it. I don't think such a person would do like I did. I wasn't born with anything in the first place. I've heard a lot that I can't act. The only thing that's keeping me going and allows me to live as an actor like I do now is my desire for acting. It's fun to be able to expect that my acting will improve little by little. I think that desire has become an obsession. What I'm feeling more and more is that I have to be competent as an actor. In fact, there's no answer to how to get better at acting. In a way, this job is an art, and it is said that acting is something that changes with just one mindset. That's my concern. "

In particular, Kim Seonho strongly expressed his will to continue to challenge himself, saying, "It may sound clichéd, but the phrase that 'I will repay you with acting' is true." "It's obvious to say, 'I'll repay you with my acting,' but I think it's right. There are times when I think it's scary, but I want to show you that my acting is improving without stopping. But that's not something you can find in textbooks, so I think I have to keep trying various methods. If I keep challenging myself in different ways, I think my fans will feel rewarded for supporting me thinking, 'It seems like he has improved at some point."

[03a b c d & e]

Regarding the recent release of the fan song 'Miracle', Kim Seonho said, "I took on the challenge after a lot of thought and effort," adding, "I'm not good at that kind of thing because I'm clumsy. Still, I thought that if I tried, they would recognize."

When asked about how passionate the fans are, he said, "That's right. Because of that passion, I am where I am today. Thank you," he said, adding, "Please write that i love them in the article," which brought laughter.[04]

On the same day, Kim Seonho commented on his recent appearance on the variety show 'Mukbo Brothers 2' for the first time in a long time, saying, "It's been a long time since I appeared in a variety show and had a lot of fun filming. I appeared because of Moon Seyoon hyung."

When asked if he would be willing to go on variety shows, he said, "If they call me, I will go at any time," but added, "I don't have a lot of work that has been released (as an actor) yet, and I have a lot of things to do, so I don't have much time. But I definitely want to work again with good people."[05]

Since its release, 'The Tyrant' has ranked first in the overall ranking of Korean Disney+ content for three consecutive days on FlixPatrol. Also, it ranked first in the Hong Kong Disney+ TV show category for three consecutive days, second in Singapore, second in Taiwan, and fifth in Japan, ranking in the top 5 in five countries for three consecutive days.

In response to this reaction, Kim Seonho said, "I'm currently filming a drama, so I couldn't find the reaction of 'The Tyrant' at first. I love 'The Tyrant' and we had a lot of fun and happy filming it, but the audience sees it differently, so I was scared. Of course, I expected a good result, but I feared that I would be swayed or I might lose my mind, so I held back for a while, but the PR team collected it and sent it to me." "I felt better than I thought I would, so I thought, 'What's going on?' It felt so good that I sat down for two hours and saw the reaction. Of course, I think I should be humble about the results, but when I see these results, my heart races." He said with a smile. [06]

He said about director Park Hoonjung, "I enjoyed spending even my daily time with the director, When he called me to his next work I felt good that he kept me in mind, he is a good director and a good older brother during my breaks, I liked going to restaurants and walking with him, and I was so grateful." "It's definitely a different role and character from 'The Childe,' so I didn't think there would be a sense of awkwardness. I started to realize it when people around me started talking about it around the time 'The Tyrant' was released. I think I had faith that the director wouldn't make it similar to his previous work."

When asked which part fits well, Kim Seonho then revealed the behind-the-scenes story of the brunch scene in the series, saying, "The director has come to the point where he definitely has put trust in me since 'The Childe', and I dare not express whether how I fit with the director or not."

He said, "Even in the brunch scene, He said, 'Can't it be more fun? You can make that scene richer, try it,' 'Oh, what should I do? I didn't think about that,' 'No, you can do it,' and I went in and acted without any other comment, and after that, the director said, 'See. You can do it, right? '" He explained, "I think the director's faith in me worked well. Since the director trusted me, I felt proud of myself as an actor and I enjoyed the filming more. I think I got along well with him because we had similar hobbies like taking walks and going to good restaurants." [07]

Kim Seonho said, "It's really hard to set goals as an actor, but I still like the goal of 'I want to become an actor people want to work with.' Even now if there are times when I'm filming and things don't go well, it's understandable for a person to be sensitive. That goal keeps me going. I just think let's smile and move on. That's why I try not to lose that goal; 'an actor I want to work with again in the future. Not just acting, but attitude as well.' If my small comments or actions can improve the atmosphere on set, I believe that’s also a valuable trait for an actor. Therefore, I always strive to do my best. There may be times when I feel uncertain, but I try to keep this mindset going forward." "There are many meanings to wanting to work again with saying. First of all, it means that you are an actor who gets along well with anyone on set. It means that you are an actor who has enough charm as an actor as well as a human being. At least for now, I think i am on the right track toward that goal."

Kim Seonho, who is currently busy with various upcoming works including Netflix's "Can This Love Be Translated?", and "Mangnaein" said, "Those who find me an attractive actor, and those who know me, don't we all know each other? The people involved in making projects continue to move on. Even in my case, when I started the next project, I sometimes encountered staff members I worked with years ago. Just like that, I hear stories about me. No matter how much they say I do well on set, I don't think they will call me if I don't have charm as an actor. I think they wanted to try to use me as an actor and checked me out, so maybe that's why." and added with a smile, "In fact, I think the reason I'm here until now is thanks to the passion of my fans. I definitely want to tell them that I love them."

Kim Seonho said he hopes to show his growth through repeated doubts, frustrations, and joys.

"I'm working hard on filming with good people. As I work diligently, I'm experiencing cycled doubts, frustrations, and joys, but I will show you my good and improved self. Please look forward to seeing actor Kim Seonho in this way and as this kind of person."

[08]

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⛱☀︎ Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha ☀︎⛱

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Kim SeonHo | Color+full Official MD design challenge 🖌

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On May 4th, Kim Seonho prepared two coffee trucks to express his gratitude to the fans on the day of his fanmeet at KBS Arena. Each attendee of the '2024 Kim Seon Ho Asia Tour in Seoul <Color+Full>' was given one free drink of their choice that was served in a reusable cup.

[growing-cosmos]

Miracle : 기적 by Kim Seon Ho lyrics (Korean, Romanized & English)

Vocal by Kim Seonho

Composed by Seo Jungjin, Kim Doohyun, Keeproots

Lyrics by Kim Jihyang, Kim Seonho

나보다 나를 더 늘 헤아려준 너

내 일에 나처럼 늘 기뻐해준 너

세상 그 누구도 never know

(Never know never know)

매 순간 이어진 느낌

얼마만일까 이런 확신 함께한 시간만큼 행복해

나의 모든 건 너로부터 시작되고 있어

You're my miracle

넌 내 wonderful

너는 내게 단 하나의 기적이야

You're my only one

You're the only one

특별할 것 없는 날 특별하게 해

la la la la la

la la la la la

la la la la la la la la la

너의 그 미소에 나는 안심이 돼

아픈 건 슬픈 건 너에게 주기 싫어서

얼마만일까 이런 다짐 나 항상 너의 자랑이 될게

나의 정원은 너로 인해 피어나고 있어

You're my miracle

넌 내 wonderful

너는 내게 단 하나의 기적이야

You're my only one

You're the only one

특별할 것 없는 날 특별하게 해

넌 내 사랑이야

넌 내 행복이야

서로 맘에 깃들 추억이야

늘 고마운 너야

많이 서툴고 어리숙한

날 사랑해 준 너

시간이 가도 변치 않는 건

너와 내가 주고 받는 진심이야

고맙다는 말

사랑한단 말

하나하나 네 삶에 그려가는 나

la la la la la

la la la la la

la la la la la la la la la

la la la la la

la la la la la

la la la la la la la la la

———

Romanized lyrics

Naboda nareul deo neul hearyeojun neo

Nae ire nacheoreom neul gippeohaejun neo

Sesang geu nugudo never know

(Never know, never know)

Mae sungan ieojin neukkim

Eolmamanilkka ireon hwakssin

Hamkkehan siganmankeum haengbokhae

Naye modeun geon neorobuteo sijakttwego isseo

You're my miracle

Neon nae wonderful

Neoneun naege dan hanaye gijeogiya

You're my only one

You're the only one

Teukppyeolhal kkeot eomneun nal

Teukppyeolhage hae

la la la la la

la la la la la

la la la la la la la la la

Neoye geu misoe naneun ansimi dwae

Apeun geon seulpeun geon neoege jugi sireoseo

Eolmamanilkka ireon dajim

Na hangsang neoye jarangi dwelkke

Naye jeongwoneun neoro inhae pieonago isseo

You're my miracle

Neon nae wonderful

Neoneun naege dan hanaye gijeogiya

You're my only one

You're the only one

Teukppyeolhal kkeot eomneun nal

Teukppyeolhage hae

Neon nae sarangiya

Neon nae haengbeogiya

Seoro mame gittteul chueogiya

Neul gomaun noya

Mani seotulgo eorisukhan

Nal saranghae jun neo

Sigani gado byeonchi anneun geon

Neowa naega jugo banneun jinsimiya

Gomapttaneun mal

Saranghandan mal

Hanahana ni salme geuryeoganeun na

la la la la la

la la la la la

la la la la la la la la la

la la la la la

la la la la la

la la la la la la la la la

———

English translation

You always cared about me more than me

You were always happy with my works like me

No one in the world never knows

(Never know, never know)

Feeling connected every moment

How long will it be? I am as happy as the time we spent together with this confident

My everything starts with you

You're my miracle

You are my wonderful

You are my only miracle

You’re my only one

You’re the only one

Make me special even though I have nothing special

la la la la la

la la la la la

la la la la la la la la la

I feel reassured by your smile

I don't want to give it to you, the hurts and makes you sad

How long will it take for me to make this promise? I will always be your pride

My garden is blooming because of you

You're my miracle

You are my wonderful

You are my only miracle

You’re my only one

You’re the only one

Make me special even though I have nothing special

You are my person

You are my happiness

It's a memory that will stay in each other's hearts

I'm always grateful to you

Very clumsy and immature

You who loved me

What doesn't change over time

This is the sincerity between you and me

Say thank you

Saying I love you

I am drawing into your life one by one

la la  la la la

la la  la la la

la la la la  la la  la la la

Watch Official MV Kim Seon Ho - Miracle here

la la  la la la

la la  la la la

la la la la  la la  la la la

Stream to Miracle on Spotify here

Hangeul/Korean lyrics are provided by Bugs

Lyrics English translation is transcribed from Color+Full Fanmeet in Manila clip

[growing-cosmos]

KIM SEONHO for Manifesto Issue 100 April 2024

Read the full interview “THE STORY OF: Kim Seon-ho” here

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KIM SEONHO for Manifesto Issue 100 April 2024

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KIM SEONHO for Harper's BAZAAR MEN Taiwan 2024 SS

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KIM SEONHO for Harper's BAZAAR MEN Taiwan 2024 SS

Read the full interview here

The interview's English translation by Bel_in_da_t here

[growing-cosmos]

Kim SeonHo for ELLE MEN Singapore Issue 05 2023 - Full Interview

Kim Seon Ho Keeps Going On

Farisia Thang

The beloved South Korean actor is back and taking things one day at a time — starting with his debut as a villain.

Every movie needs a good villain — but that's a role that not just anyone can pull it off. Especially when the cards are not stacked in your favour. Kim Seon Ho knows this well.

Having always played heroic roles (Hong Du Sik, literally the neighbourhood hero in Hometown Cha Cha Cha or charming second leads who win over the audience's affection, Han Ji Pyeong in Start-Up and Jung Jae Yoon in 100 Days My Prince), there was a certain image that became expected of the South Korean actor. Before taking on the Nobleman in The Childe, it would have been irreconcilable to picture him as a villain, much less an antagonist. Not because there was any doubt in his acting skills, but because it never would have occurred to the masses to cast a man who has been given the endearing nickname "good boy" to play a Machiavellian assassin. Even the director of The Childe Park Hoon Jung didn't see the fit when he first looked at the actor's profile as he thought, "This face is not for noir."

But Kim has always been one to rise to the challenge. Let us not forget that before he was a TV actor, he was a familiar face in the theatre industry. And though it was only at 31-years-old that he debuted in his first TV drama, his so-called big break came three years later with shows like Start-Up and Hometown Cha Cha Cha. This is the way things go: Just when you think he has reached the height of his career, he keeps proving otherwise.

And that is exactly what he's done in The Childe.

Even if it wasn't a comeback role from his two-year hiatus, it still stands as an impressive film debut on its own. This marks Kim's first big screen role and for that reason alone, the Nobleman remains one of his favourite characters. "All of the characters I've played are special to me and I cherish them all, but a memorable character would be my most recent role in The Childe as Nobleman since it was my film debut," says Kim. "I still vividly remember the excitement and nerves I felt seeing my character on the big screen for the first time."

As it is with most of his roles, he runs through a routine. "I usually take a fairly long time to understand one character. I would choose about three or four lines that I like from a script, and then repeat them over and over again in my head. This could be when I'm walking, when I'm in the shower, or when I'm eating." Kim adds, "Sometimes I also make use of music. would put on some good music, put myself in front of a stunning view, and then read out the lines. And as I do that, there would be moments where I realise, 'This is it. This is how this character would say it. From that point onwards, everything else falls into place itself. For this method to work and in order to get closer to a character, studying the script in detail has to come first. It's important to have a good grasp of a character's language and habits.

With the Nobleman, details maketh man. He says, "I developed my character by studying the lead character from A Clockwork Orange, and I spent plenty of time trying to understand my character as Nobleman." Just like he had done many times before, Kim learned new skills to better embody his character. "I got to learn about using handguns for acting for the first time. I did some practice at a shooting range in Myeongdong and I was given a dummy too, so I was able to practice and have a feel of it. That helped me a lot during the actual filming."

To simply call the Nobleman a villain would reduce the character to a flat trope, but Kim's performance and interpretation of him are actually for more nuanced. This is a character who gets imitated by his shoes being dirtied with blood after killing a room full of people, curses with a sadistic smile in an American accent and British accent, chases after the hero while hollering — and yet manages to confuse the audience with whose side he is actually on. Ultimately, Kim's portrayal of the Nobleman brings to life a brutal yet whimsical anti-hero.

And yet, the actor still struggles to pinpoint a moment during The Childe's filming process that he felt proud of himself for. In past interviews, he scrutinised his performance for the movie. Even now, he laughs as he says, "To be honest, it's hard for me to point out areas that I did well in. In my eyes, I mostly see only my shortcomings. Thankfully enough, people who went to see the movie had lots of positive feedback. I was glad and thankful to be praised as a fluid actor."

Fluid is the perfect word here, and yet it still feels like an understatement to the actor's performance. If his previous roles solidified his expected trajectory as an actor, then this character turned it all around - reminding us all that Kim has been honing his craft for over a decade now. He has been finessing this duality for almost 14 years, and while others may rest on their laurels and rely on their experience in the industry to get by, Kim is always looking for ways to better himself.

His recent projects have been movies and because of that "I'm not as pressured having to film a large amount of scenes in a short time as compared to other mediums. The directors told me to take my time between lines, which showed me the art of slowing down." He goes on to say, "When I was younger, I was also taught to enjoy the pauses between each line. I did think that I was already doing so with my acting for dramas, but the mechanics of movies and dramas are still very much different. So I've recently been working on how I can savour those pauses even more." Looking back at the Kim Seon Ho who started acting 14 years ago, the 37-year-old feels envious of his past self. "I'm envious of the experience and how raw my acting was back then. I recently rewatched some of my previous work. In the past, if I were to rewatch something a year later, all I could think about was how inadequate my acting was before. But seeing it again after 10 years makes me realise that that kind of raw acting was something I could do only back then."

Now, what he is able to appreciate about his approach to acting is. that "I'm a lot more composed and poised. My acting was often carried away by emotions in the past, but I think that my acting now has become more rational. I feel that this kind of rationality is also what makes me grow. After all, Kim knows a thing or two about alchemising patience into gold. While he started acting in plays at the age of 23, it was only eight years later that he made his debut on the small screens. But he has never been one to measure his trajectory against his counterparts in the industry. Waiting has always been a welcomed ritual for the actor, and Kim knows it's to that good things take time.

It's like his Hometown Cha Cha Cha character Hong Du Sik said, "Life isn't so fair for all of us. Some spend their whole lives on unpaved roads, while some run at full speed only to reach the edge of a cliff." It's a line that hits close to home for Kim too. "Coincidentally enough, I happened to re-watch that scene just three days before this interview, I searched for the scene randomly one day because I suddenly got curious about the kind of expression and tone I shot that scene with. Through that scene, rather than discovering elements about myself, I focused more on how I could get closer to Chief Hong. But there were moments where I did feel that I was becoming a better version of myself, like when I was preparing for the drama, after wrapping up the filming, and when I met other great characters." He adds, "People say that each word you say and each action you do creates one's character and personality. I think I got to learn a lot through the lines of my past characters like Han Ji Pyeong and Chief Hong, and thanks to them, I am the person I am now."

During his two-year break from acting on-screen, he remained loyal to his earlier comforts — stage acting. While he stayed off social media and film projects, he went back to his roots and performed in the theatre with Touching the Void. In that period of time, "I found comfort in the fact that one has the ability to create a change if they could just think a little differently in times of trouble." He continues, "I felt grateful to be able to share a stage with other talented actors, and I had fun. Touching The Void was a project where I discovered that the results of something can be very different depending on my perspective on a particular situation and on the support I receive. Most of all, I was moved and comforted by the audience members who came to watch the play even though things were difficult due to the pandemic. I was honoured to be able to perform such a remarkable piece of work for the audience, and it inspired me to become an even better actor."

In life and in work, Kim believes himself to be a dreamer. "I am someone who thinks that we must dream big, and I'm happiest when I come close to the goals I've set. Rather than setting a realistic goal but still feeling unsatisfied even after accomplishing it, I find more joy when I set big goals and accomplish it to a certain extent. When he considers his dreams for the distant future, "My goal is for people to remember me as a skilled actor and to be an actor that people want to work with a second time." But for now, his ambitions are straightforward — "I want to try a role that feels real and warm, one that others can relate to."

When he looks back at his career, there is only one thing he can really say he's proud of over the years. "Instead of feeling proud of my own accomplishments, I feel a stronger sense of pride towards the people that have been there for me since the days before I became an actor. Seniors, juniors and directors who gave me advice so I could pass the audition for my first project, agency colleagues who worked tirelessly until I got my first lead role, and my fans who supported my career as an actor. These are people that I'm thankful for and proud of every moment." He continues, "I often have thoughts like, 'How was I able to meet such incredible people?', 'How did I get so lucky to receive such advice from my seniors at this timing?', 'How is it that all these great people. are rooting for me?' Thanks to these people, there have been so many moments in my career that have made me proud that I cannot single out a specific achievement."

His gratitude grounds him because if there's one thing Kim has leamed, it's to take nothing for granted. With the love he's received from fans and friends in the industry, he hopes to return it tenfold. "I hope to repay the love with my acting and to successfully wrap up current projects. By doing so, I think I would be able to welcome 2024 with a happy heart." What that looks like these days is a running list of plays, dramas, and films. And while he's busy with his ongoing projects, for now, "I will be focusing on the upcoming mystery drama Mangnaein. Although I don't know what the future has in store for me, I will work hard to live my best each day."

When he thinks about the actor he wants to be remembered for, he considers the weight of his answer. "Not too long ago, I felt that I was on a plateau so I reflected a lot on it and I'm getting back on my feet again now." He goes on to say, "I hope to be remembered as an actor who constantly improves. (Of course, for that to happen, a lot of effort is needed on my part.) And I hope people think of me as an actor who is always growing, and as an actor who has the potential for even more growth. I hope to refine my craft a little more."

Because at the end of the day, Kim Seon Ho knows when to walk away from comparison. He's never bothered to measure himself to others, and he has no plans to start now. Instead, he holds himself to his own standards. And the version of him today is content to take things as they come, to better himself with every passing day. After all, if there's one thing we know for certain, it's that whatever accomplishments he's made so far are only a step to greater things to come.

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special thanks to seonhojoy & preferredalways