Actors Park Ji-hyun, Seo Hyun-jin reflect on challenges of explicit scenes

Park Ji-hyun takes on a bold role with explicit scenes in "Hidden Face." Still from "Hidden Face"

Explicit content, such as nudity and sex scenes, are common in TV series and films, presenting significant challenges for actors.

Despite the difficulties, many actors have taken on the challenge for the sake of their projects. But what considerations should go into these scenes to prevent the reckless consumption of an actor’s image?

Actor Park Ji-hyun recently attempted a bold image transformation with "Hidden Face," which premiered on Nov. 20.

During a press screening before the film's release, she discussed the experience, saying, "If you call it a challenge, it was definitely a significant challenge as an actor. When I look at a project or a script, the main thing I consider is, ‘Can I fully embody this character?’ I didn’t calculate aspects like nudity."

She candidly admitted, "It would be a lie to say I felt no burden at all. But the burden wasn’t about the nudity itself. What weighed on me more was the uncertainty about whether I could properly express the character, Mi-joo, in those scenes."

Actor Seo Hyun-jin poses during the press conference for the Netflix series "Trunk" at Raum Art Center in Gangnam District, Seoul, Nov. 2. Yonhap

Striking balance

The Netflix series "Trunk," released Friday, also includes sex scenes involving actors Seo Hyun-jin and Gong Yoo.

Seo, speaking at a press conference, expressed her thoughts on such scenes.

"If a scene is necessary to explain the character, then I’m OK with it. I trusted the director not to demand anything excessive or unnecessary. I believed he would adjust things appropriately if it wasn’t needed. So, it wasn’t a big issue for me."

Director Kim Kyu-tae explained the necessity of the scenes, saying, "The sex scenes were essential for expressing the characters’ emotions and the situations they were in. It was about building narrative plausibility, not about adding provocative elements. We approached the filming with moderation and careful consideration."

In "Trunk," the characters’ emotions are revealed through subtle moments, including a scene where Seo and Gong share a kiss while lying in bed. Other actors in the series also participated in such scenes, with some moments depicting partial nudity.

The burden of nudity and explicit scenes is a recurring topic in interviews and press events. Many actors say that such scenes are acceptable when they are necessary for the story and not included solely for shock value. However, there is no denying that actors must make careful decisions before taking on such roles.

Actor Ahn So-young shared her struggles with the public reception of her explicit scenes in "Madam Aema" during an appearance on MBC’s Talk Club Actors.

"I was deeply hurt by people’s perceptions of me after the movie. Its popularity ended up being more harmful to me than helpful," she said.

Actor Park Ji-hyun speaks during the press conference and media screening of the movie "Hidden Face" at Megabox Coex in Gangnam District, Seoul, Nov. 13. Yonhap

Insights on avoiding pitfalls

Culture critic Jung Duk-hyun stressed that "nudity for nudity’s sake" should be avoided to prevent the exploitation of actors.

"For nudity to hold meaning, the work itself must take precedence. Nudity should align with the project’s message and the character’s narrative. If done this way, there’s no reason for actors to shy away from it," he said. "However, proper respect and care for the actor’s well-being must be a prerequisite during filming. The industry must prioritize the actor's dignity over any scene."

Both the production team and actors must have clear convictions regarding explicit scenes, stressed Kim Dae-woo, director of "Hidden Face."

In an interview, Kim said, “Mi-joo (in 'Hidden Face') is a character that requires nudity. When portraying such a role, if the actor thinks, ‘I’m in a movie with nudity,’ it will come across as pitifully insignificant. However, an actor who believes, ‘This is part of my unique presence and stature,’ will not appear diminished.”

Kim praised Park Ji-hyun, who played Mi-joo, for her confidence and strong sense of self-worth, qualities that made her portrayal powerful.

Explicit scenes can be crucial to a work’s narrative. At times, an actor’s brave decision to take on such challenges elevates the overall quality of the project. However, critics say that to ensure the well-being of the actors involved, production teams must engage in thorough and thoughtful planning.

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.