Lee Gyu-lee is a business writer at The Korea Times, focusing primarily on IT & telecommunications, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and KOTRA. Prior to this, she has covered a wide range of cultural news, from film, television and K-pop to lifestyle and fashion.
INTERVIEW Go Hyun-jung feels 'lucky' about role in Netflix's 'Mask Girl'
Actress Go Hyun-jung plays the role of Kim Mo-mi in Netflix's thriller series “Mask Girl.” Courtesy of Netflix
By Lee Gyu-lee
By Lee Gyu-lee
Actress Go Hyun-jung said she felt lucky to get the lead character role in the dark crime thriller series, “Mask Girl,” stepping outside her usual characters and breaking her sophisticated, classy image.
Actress Go Hyun-jung / Courtesy of Netflix
“I really enjoy dark genre works … But I usually don't have many opportunities to show my real self in my private life and I've never shared my thoughts publicly. So I thought I would never have a chance to do such a genre,” she said in an interview with The Korea Times, held at a cafe in Gangnam District.
“With 'Mask Girl,' I once again realized that appearance isn't very important. How lucky am I to have joined this series.”
Netflix's latest Korean original series, which debuted on Aug. 18, revolves around the turbulent life of an office worker named Kim Mo-mi ― played by actors Lee Han-byeol, Nana, and Go.
She grows to be insecure about her looks, failing to realize her dream as a celebrity because of her appearance. While working at an ordinary desk job, she invents a double life, putting on a mask as an internet personality every night. Her life takes a horrific turn when a chain of ill-fated events overtakes her.
The 7-part series, based on the webcomic of the same name, is scripted and directed by filmmaker Kim Yong-hoon, who previously led the 2020 crime thriller film "Beasts Clawing at Straws."
Netflix series “Mask Girl” released on Aug. 18. Courtesy of Netflix
Go plays the character in the latter part of her life after she gets plastic surgery but ends up in prison for murder. Kim has been living in prison for over a decade, finding her own peace, until she gets a letter that triggers her to escape to save her daughter.
The actress shared that working on this role, played by three different actors, has taught her the pleasure of teamwork.
“I have been yearning to take on the project. After a series of incidents, I kept thinking 'Will I ever meet a piece where I can just focus on acting?' And that's when I was offered 'Mask Girl,” which was truly wonderful for me,” she said.
“I liked how the series was structured to work together with various people. Rather than leading the story by myself, I had to join hands with many people to explain and listen to each other. And within this (structure), I had to fit into this as a piece of puzzle without standing out … I learned the joy of coming together.”
A scene from the thriller series “Mask Girl” / Courtesy of Netflix
The series throws in a vague message about deficits and flaws in humans through Kim's strong insecurity about her appearance.
The actress said she felt the series was trying to portray the personal, deep weakness people have.
“I don't think 'Mask Girl' is all about motherly love, but is also about a lack of love. I think (the series) is trying to collectively depict different things like the concerns anyone can come across, the deep-rooted duplicity of those who can't open up to others about their flaws, unresolved personal attachments and self-esteem and self-identification of their own,” she said.
When asked what appearance means to her, she noted that she has put extra effort into proving herself beyond looks.
“In a way, I made it in (to entertainment) with my appearance. I thought I looked nice. Even when I left and came back to the industry, I thought it was because of my looks because a lot of people praised it. But as I hit bumps along the way, I realized appearance is just something that everyone has and it's not any different for me. I've learned that I've been very lucky,” she said.
“To be frank, appearance helped a lot as an actor. But I've also tried really hard to not be an empty shell. 'Mask Girl' made me realize the importance of what effort I'm actually putting in and if I have earnest desires.”