INTERVIEW Kim Da-mi opens up about skipping romance subplot in ‘Nine Puzzles’
Actor Kim Da-mi / Courtesy of UAA
Actor Kim Da-mi said she and co-star Son Suk-ku ultimately decided against including a romantic element in their characters’ relationship in the Disney+ original series “Nine Puzzles,” even though they initially considered it.
In a recent interview at a cafe in Seoul, Kim reflected on her role in the mystery thriller, which follows criminal profiler Ena (played by Kim) as she reopens a decade-old unsolved case. The story revolves around Ena, the only witness to the original crime, and detective Hansaem (Son Suk-ku), who continues to suspect her. As new puzzle pieces emerge, the two are drawn back into a string of murders.
Kim said she was captivated by the script upon first reading. “I couldn’t stop. At the time, the cast hadn’t been finalized, so I had even more room to imagine. I had never done a mystery before, and when I heard director Yoon Jong-bin was involved, I couldn’t help but be intrigued,” she said.
Describing her character, Kim said, “Ena is someone you want to comfort. She’s a person who wants to believe in people. It hurt my heart to play her.”
Portraying a character who blends realism with comic book flair posed challenges. “Because she’s such a stylized character, it was difficult,” Kim admitted. “I wanted to show her childlike side, someone who only expresses her own feelings. When she profiles, I wanted her genius side to come through effortlessly, so I paid special attention to the speed of my lines.”
Director Yoon encouraged Kim to balance realism with a slightly exaggerated, manga-inspired tone.
To enhance that, Kim gave Ena a distinctive look. “I thought maybe I should give her nail art, since she’s into fashion. When she wears glasses while profiling, it helps emphasize her character,” she said. Some viewers even likened Ena to the anime detective “Conan.”
Asked about her chemistry with Son, Kim praised him for his creativity. “He has a lot of ideas. He sees things from various perspectives, and his interpretations are interesting and refreshing.”
Kim Da-mi as Ena and Son Suk-ku as Hansaem in "Nine Puzzles" / Courtesy of Disney+
Open to different challenges
Some viewers expressed disappointment that there was no romance between their characters.
“We considered giving it a romantic nuance,” Kim said. “We tried it, but it didn’t work. It felt awkward. We realized that we needed to keep their dynamic open-ended.”
She added with a laugh that even a classic “wall-push” scene attempt didn’t succeed.
Kim has built a strong filmography with titles like the 2018 film “The Witch” and dramas “Itaewon Class” (2020), “Our Beloved Summer” (2021) and now “Nine Puzzles.”
On her career choices, she said, “I believe in doing what I enjoy so I have no regrets. Every time I choose a project, I focus on what genuinely interests me.”
Kim is set to return to screens soon with the drama “A Hundred Memories” and the film “The Great Flood.”
“I hope people see that I’m open to different challenges,” she said. “My goal this year is to have fun with promoting my work and enjoy the process.”
With “Nine Puzzles” behind her, her momentum shows no signs of slowing down.
This article from the Hankook Ilbo, a sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.