[INTERVIEW] Kim Young-kwang satisfied with his psychotic killer role in 'Somebody'

The Korea Times

The Korea Times

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Wed, November 29, 2023 | 20:38

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INTERVIEWKim Young-kwang satisfied with his psychotic killer role in 'Somebody'

Posted : 2022-11-30 14:54

Updated : 2022-11-30 14:54

Actor Kim Young-kwang plays the role of a serial killer in Netflix's new series "Somebody." Courtesy of Netflix

By Lee Gyu-lee

Actor Kim Young-kwang has spent most of his career as a heartthrob, starring in romantic comedies like the 2018 film "On Your Wedding Day" and the 2021 series "Hello, Me!"

Actor Kim Young-kwang / Courtesy of Netflix

But with Netflix's latest Korean original series "Somebody," the actor steps out of his comfort zone to broaden his repertoire, playing a psychotic serial killer.

"When I joined 'Somebody,' it felt like a challenge. I really wanted to complete this mission successfully," Kim said during an interview with The Korea Times, Thursday, at a cafe in Jongno District, central Seoul. "I've always wanted to play diverse roles and take part in different genres … And I'm pleased to show a new persona with 'Somebody.'"

Led by filmmaker Jung Ji-woo, whose previous work includes the romance film "Eungyo" and "Tune in for Love," the eight-part suspense series released on Nov. 18 revolves around a dating app developer, Sum (Kang Hae-lim), who has trouble socializing with other people due to her Asperger's syndrome. One day, she comes across a mysterious but irresistibly attractive architectural designer, Yoon-oh (Kim Young-kwang), through her app.

As she develops a deeper relationship with him, she suspects him of being the ruthless serial killer who finds his victims via her app.

The actor expressed satisfaction about working on the project, revealing he decided to take part mainly so he could work with director Jung.

"I've had such a great pleasure in creating my character, and I learned to handle problems myself when I face difficulties, which gave me a sense of confidence," he said, adding that he would give a score of 95 out of 100 to how satisfied he was to work on the series.

"Director Jung and I met up several times to talk about the series and created Yoon-oh together. And I came to like and trust him more. I was happy that he gave me faith. The process of creating (the series) was really fun and that made me become closer to the character and find him more attractive."

A scene from the series "Somebody" / Courtesy of Netflix

The actor shared that he wanted Yoon-oh to be an unconventional serial killer character.

"I've had a long time to prepare for my character. So at first, since he's a serial killer, I've given a lot of thought to the character and was very eager. But as time passed, I felt that it would not be scary if the way he creates suspense is predictable," he said.

"I thought it would be much scarier if viewers can't predict what he's going to do next, or what he's thinking. So I tried to empty the character I'd built earlier."

He added that he thanked the director after watching all of the episodes.

"Watching the series, with music and detailed sound, I was very satisfied to see the tension and suspense surrounding Yoon-oh intensify even more. After finishing the last episode, I realized that the director had it all planned and I sent him a text saying 'thank you.'"

Kim expressed his hopes that this is the beginning of more diverse roles in his career. "I hope to continually take on more diverse genre projects. Showing a new image doesn't come as pressure; I am more eager to show more," he said.

gyulee@koreatimes.co.kr