Ex-4Minute member talks about her transition from singing to acting

Actress Heo Ga-yoon poses for a photo after an interview with The Korea Times at a cafe in Seoul, April 9. / Courtesy of D&Y

By Kwak Yeon-soo

Despite numerous films that have delayed their opening as the COVID-19 pandemic has drastically diminished the number of moviegoers, “Search Out” will hit the big screen on April 15.

Inspired by the deadly “Blue Whale Challenge” that incited participants to commit suicide, the story follows Joon-hyuk (Kim Seong-cheol) and Sung-min (Lee Si-eon) investigating their neighbor's apparent suicide.

The two later discover that the deceased had been suffering from depression and had been groomed online by a mysterious perpetrator. With the help of a skilled hacker, they dig through the victim's social media account to uncover the truth behind her death and the mystery behind the deadly game.

Former 4Minute member Heo Ga-yoon plays one of the main roles in this film, appearing as a skilled hacker, named Nu-ri, to track down cybercriminals on social media.

“Nowadays, it's hard to find a person who does not have a social media presence. I was attracted to the fact that the story involves risks that we face on the internet and is based on an actual event,” Heo said during a recent interview with The Korea Times.

“Above all, it was nice to play a more prominent role in the film compared to past appearances.”

In an interview, Heo opened up about her transition from idol singer to actor.

“I think there are both pros and cons to being an idol-turned-actor. The directors I've worked with told me I learn quickly and am less hesitant when trying out new things,” she said.

“However, people still see me as a singer rather than an actor. That is something I need to work on.”

Heo confessed that although being in 4Minute was a hugely important part of her life, she wants to focus on acting in the future.

“As a member of 4Minute for seven years, I gained valuable experience and friends. But I prefer life as an actor who can play multiple roles and express oneself more freely. As an idol, I had to stand in front of the public with the image and concept created by the company,” she said.

The 30-year-old added that her original dream was to become an actor.

“I've wanted to be an actor since I was 19. Regrettably, I couldn't pursue both acting and singing at that time because I was the main vocalist of 4Minute. I could only shift to acting after the group disbanded,” she said.

Heo shared that her role model is Seo Hyun-jin, who also started as an idol and then successfully transitioned into acting. “Seo is good at singing, but she's good at acting too,” she said.

“I want to follow in her footsteps ― starting from supporting roles through to lead roles ― and I'd also like to participate in the soundtrack of a TV series or a film I'm part of.”

On where she sees herself 10 years from now, Heo said, “I'm not sure, but one thing I'm sure of is that I will never give up acting. I will continue to stay as positive as possible.”