'Curiosity is my driving force,' actress Kang Ye-won says

Actress Kang Ye-won poses during an interview with The Korea Times at a cafe in Samcheong-dong, Seoul, May 3. / Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk

By Baek Byung-yeul

It is not easy for an actress to choose to be in “sex talk” scenes in Korea.

Actress Kang Ye-won, who stars in the upcoming adult comedy film “Love Clinic,” denied such notions, saying that she didn’t hesitate to be featured as a female urologist who falls in love with a male gynecologist.

“Looking back upon my career, it is curiosity that drove me moving forward,” Kang said in an interview with The Korea Times at a cafe in Samcheong-dong, Seoul, May 3.

“My old friends have always said that I am extraordinarily inquisitive, which I completely agree with,” she said, rolling her eyes.

“This time, my curiosity headed to this rather erotic but also convivial romantic comedy, a genre which so far has remained unpopular,” Kang said.

The 35-year-old actress also stressed that “Love Cinic” will help bring back a renaissance for romantic comedy films.

Poster for “Love Clinic” Courtesy of Waw Pictures

“In Korea’s cinema scene, many romantic comedy films have been released after the box office success in 2002 of Sex Is Zero. But there have been no hit flicks since then. This is why I decided to appear in Love Clinic,” Kang said.

Kang said being a female urologist in the film is not as bad as people think.

“When filming, I was allowed to bring up any kind of sexual innuendo because I am a doctor who takes care of male’s urinary system. As it is not possible in my real life, it was an interesting and different experience,” she said.

In the film, Gil Sin-seol (played by Kang) touches her male patients’ genital area without scruples and gives counseling to male high school students who are full of sexual desire and curiosity.

Gil is destined to meet male gynecologist Wang Sung-gi (played by actor Oh Ji-ho) who moves into the upper floor of her apartment building and opens his own clinic right next to her.

The two characters specialize in the genitals of the opposite sex but are unskilled at dating, and begin bickering like a feuding brother and sister at first, but later fall in love with each other.

Kang said she was satisfied with the film as director Kim A-ron fully accepted her ideas she suggested while shooting the film.

“One thing I most liked about shooting this film was that I was always able to communicate with the director. And as I said at the press premiere that he partially adopted my suggestions for the movie. For me, that was one of the best moments of filming Love Clinic,” Kang said.

Although Kang debuted in 2001 through SBS TV’s sitcom “Honey Honey,” it was only recently that she has emerged in the showbiz industry.

Kang, who has been putting more emphasis on films, featured in hits such as “Miracle on 1st Street” (2007), “Haeundae” (2009) and “Hello Ghost” (2010), recently featured in the female edition of MBC TV’s military comedy show “Real Men” earlier this year. In the show, which puts a group of entertainers into military boot camps and draws laughs from their misadventures, Kang was well received by the public thanks to her funny reactions.

When asked what she thinks of the pros and cons of appearing in television shows, the actress stated her opinion in a steady, even voice.

“Before Real Men, appearing on TV shows for the purpose of promoting my films was an extremely scary experience because I am a bit introvert,” she said.

“However, when my management company decided to put me in Real Men, I resigned myself to my fate … I don’t know why but I just hardened my heart to God and luckily the viewers took me positively.

“Frankly, I don’t really feel my soaring popularity as others say, but I would rather prefer to focus my energy on my next job. I don’t like to look back on the past personally,” she said.

“Love Clinic” will be screened nationwide starting May 7.