51

Kim So-eun wraps drama: “It’s like taking off a winter coat”

For the past nine months, Kim So-eun has been acting in a KBS daily drama, Fine Windy Day (or Good Day For the Wind to Blow). With that drama coming to a close last week, the 21-year-old actress talks in the following interview about how it felt to bear the burden of her first leading role.

“I felt the pressure,” she says. “Now that it’s over, it feels like I’ve just taken off a winter coat. More than disappointment, I feel refreshed.” Though being the lead was difficult, when asked if she’d like to take the lead in her next project as well, she promptly answered, “Of course!” with a laugh.

Kim made a splash with her acting in Boys Before Flowers, and has shot to stardom in a relatively short period of time. Since early 2009, she’s been contracted for numerous CFs and taken on several dramas, including Iron Empress and the remake of Japanese drama The Man Who Can’t Marry.

For a daily drama on KBS, the viewership ratings weren’t great. As the lead actress, did that bother you?

“It would be a lie to say I didn’t feel any pressure. However, if I got too hung up on it, I didn’t think I could immerse myself into the drama properly, so I purposely tried not to let it bother me. Whenever the topic of ratings would come up among the actors, we would say, ‘Let’s not talk about that’ and change the topic. I’m disappointed that they started to rise just as we finished. We joked among ourselves, ‘Since the ratings rose, should we get an extension?'”

Note on the ratings: Fine Windy Day started off with a 22% premiere. Though it hit a high of 29.3%, the numbers average out to a rating of 20.5% for the entirety of its run. They came back up slightly for the 22.6% finale.

As you may figure, 20% is a strong showing, so the key phrase in the question is “for a daily drama on KBS.” Dailies tend to have very solid ratings, and they usually draw a consistent viewership who tunes in every day. It’s much more likely for a daily to hit 30 or 40% ratings than a shorter prime-time miniseries, which has stiff competition and a shorter time to engage audiences. So while I wouldn’t call this drama’s ratings bad, it’s true that they were expected to be higher.

Is there anything you were disappointed with in this drama?

“With time chasing us, I wasn’t able to express 100% of what I could. Shooting was so tight that I didn’t even have time to change my clothes and with the script coming out pages at a time, the overall quality couldn’t help but fall.”

Playing a young bride, you weren’t able to wear fine clothes or makeup. For your next project, what kind of role do you want to play?

“I haven’t fixed upon a particular character or part. I want to try all kinds of roles. I want to do a youth melodrama. I’d really like to try the kind of melodrama acting that tugs at the heart while also being cheery.”

Then what do you think about villain roles or femme fatales?

“I think those might have to come later. I’d like to hang on to my nice, innocent image for a little longer… But I think I have to try a villain at least once. Aren’t those roles much more difficult than nice ones? When it’s done well, it’s very impressive.”

You happened to be in a timeslot rivalry with a fellow actor from your management company, Jo Yoon-hee. Goldfish also did well — did it weigh on your mind?

“Hahaha. I’m friendly with Yoon-hee unni and we keep in touch regularly, but with our dramas going up against each other things have become distant. (Joke) It would be a lie to say I didn’t think about it. Sensing a rival made me very anxious. Now that my drama’s over, I’ll have to call her again. Hahaha.”

 
As the interview closed, I asked what she’d like to do now that she has some free time, and she responded, “Travel.” With drama shoots, Kim So-eun has never had time to travel on her summer vacation, and said she’d like to fly off somewhere. She said in a voice full of playfulness so that her manager, seated next to her, would hear her say, “I’ll have to keep it a secret from oppa [manager] and sneak off secretly.”

Via OSEN

RELATED POSTS

Tags: ,

51

Required fields are marked *

I love So Eun! :) She's adorable, and i'm glad she's in this drama! Will watch :D
And it premiered with such high ratings!

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

so. pretty.
i saw her drama while in LA.
not so bad. :) but i miss her spunky acting from BOF_< hahaha

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

wow javabeans! did you actually interview her yourself??

0
1
reply

Required fields are marked *

No, she just translated it from OSEN: http://osen.mt.co.kr/news/view.html?gid=G1010030039

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

She is awesome and deserves great success!

I wondered about the ratings too, I saw they were regularly in the 20s and thought that was great. I didn't know daily dramas were such high raters.

Still, the show was good and So Eun was awesome. Can't wait to see what she does next!

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

She is one of Korea's prettiest actresses. She is very talented as well. I do hope she'll be given more projects and she becomes a bigger star :)

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

What a supper cute unnie! I agree she should stick with her innocent image for the time being. She is still very young and it can be hard to go back if she takes on a villian role too soon.

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

I'd love to see her in a mini-series- she's so cute!

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

hope to see her in another drama soon, and she looks really pretty.
Have a good rest So Eun Unni.

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

lol.
Kim so eun is funny... her answers kind of remind me of ga eul actually. XD
I actually enjoyed good windy day. Granted, i didn't watch every single episode but the ones i watched were enjoyable. It's true that her pairing with jang dae han was a bit off in term of age BUT they looked cute together. plus it's nice to see the guy be not the evil character he was in who are you. I also liked her character ok bok.
I have seen the finale and it wasn't excellent but it was satisfying (which i can't say about high kick 2.)
I'm really looking forward to her next project and yes, i don't mind if she keeps her good image.

0
1
reply

Required fields are marked *

Man .. I was happy until I read highkick2. /mood totally ruined lol

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

so the drama is over now!!..yay!! she's free!!...cant wait to see her take up new roles now

0
1
reply

Required fields are marked *

Yeah, Can she be in a rom-com with SHINee's Onew next? They have loads of chemistry in their cf photos. I know most people want Kim Bum but no.... I want Onew and SoEun. (haha). I don't even think Onew's thought about TV acting yet..haha

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

cute , talented young actress

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

"the overall quality couldn’t help but fall.”

The things I do for Jin Yi Han...

0
1
reply

Required fields are marked *

T_T yeah.........
I always felt so bad for the actors. How did they deal with the psychotic ring-around-the-rosy plot? They could've done much more with the talents of Jin Yi Han and Kim So Eun. Instead they chose to focus on Miran-who cannot act. Sigh.

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

This was a great drama until they married and then it went to the dumps, even the ending was awful. But I don't blame her. Kim was great in this. It was because of the writers. They move the story from being focus on her and her husband to her husband and his ex-girlfriend. Kim's character changed overnight from a strong, fighting young lady to a stupid and weak woman who would not fight for her marriage or family. Again, not Kim's fault but that of the writers.
I hope I can see her in another drama soon as the lead. She was so good and cute in this. Just hope the next one is better written.

0
1
reply

Required fields are marked *

omg, I totally agree! It was really sad how indecisive she was, and I pretty much stopped watching after it started going downhill. Maybe I'll go back and catch the ending.

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

AHH! I'm still awaiting her & Yoo Seung Ho to reunite once again! I fell in love with the two of them in SAD LOVE STORY/Sad Sonata! :D

0
2
reply

Required fields are marked *

they weren't in sad love story. they were meant to be in 4th period murder mystery but she dropped out.

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

They weren't even in sad love story together o_O ysh was only in the actual drama while kse was only in the music video for the drama

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

I hope she will have another drama with Kim Bum ala Playful Kiss...lol That will be something to look forward too esp they got great chemistry....

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

Kim so seun was amazing in this drama and so was jin yi han. The writers were horrible though. Ugh, so much understanding, no one really liked it.
Some of the characters were annoying so that could explain the low viewership.
The ending was too quick.

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

she looks like park min young. both beautiful

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

She's a cute girl, but she has that anonymous-kind of beauty - nothing particularly striking/distinctive about her.

0
3
reply

Required fields are marked *

I prefer cute girl than sexy woman though. Cute girls tend to not age too quickly. Look how Jang Nara looks in her 30's now. I always think her still in her 20 something.

I read in some of Kim So Eun's interviews she always mentions Kim Bum several times. LOL. That must be something right? :D

0
2
reply

Required fields are marked *

I'm not talking about the diff. btwn "cute" and "sexy" which has more to do w/ make-up, hairstyle and facial expressions, but rather facial features.

Rather that KSE has no particularly striking features which makes her blend in w/ other look-alike beauties.

0
1
reply

Required fields are marked *

"I’m not talking about the diff. btwn “cute” and “sexy” which has more to do w/ make-up, hairstyle and facial expressions, but rather facial features."

This is where you're wrong. You simply can't turn a cute girl into a sexy girl (and vice versa) just by applying some make-up, changing her hairdo and telling her to look at the camera in a certain way. Difference between cute and sexy is something deep inside a person; ingrained in their personality.

"Rather that KSE has no particularly striking features which makes her blend in w/ other look-alike beauties."

KSE has the most mesmerizing eyes and infectious smile out of anyone in k-dramas.

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

A tv series as long as this one might be tiring. Having a rating of 20% is good enough.

I'd like to see her do another tv drama with Kim Bum.

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

it wasn't that great but i did enjoy it. kim so eun and jin yi han looked good together. so-so ending ..

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

damn all i can say is about time...i was excited for this drama because of kim so-eun, i just fell in love with her in BFF (like everyone else) so when this drama aired i would watch it on KBS world but then it just got BORING.
TOO Long, Too draggy, too many things going on. I get daily dramas are usually long but I seen other daily dramas that were okay but this one just so tune me out.
I hope to see her in a different (shorter) prime-time drama next time..lol
It's still showing here in America because we usually get the dramas two wks or so, so I'll watch it still but I'll only tune in for the finale on KBS World other than that I'll skip..lol

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

I LOVED the chemistry between Kim So Seun and Jin Yi Han (plus he is hot and has a voice to rival "The Voice")(we'll just forget crazy ex-girlfriend and annoying grandmother).

0
1
reply

Required fields are marked *

I TOTALLY agree with you. I loved their chemistry in this drama. Jin Yi Han became one of my new favorite actors.
And I do agree that his voice is as hot and sexy as The Voice's, that's one of the reasons why I never missed an episode since it started.

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

I like this actress! She was great in "Boys over Flowers"! I'm glad to read that she's becoming popular and that she's been in other series since! :)

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

Thank God! Finally JB translated this interview! Thanks thanks JB xD
Well, I really love her even though I'm a girl. (but hey! I'm straight! HAHA)
This idol of mine is such a cute person. I hope she will take new projects ASAP! well, enjoy ur break!

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

She is so pretty , so cute and natural pure. She will become a great actree in the future. Yes I love her very much

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

i love Kim So-eun!!! I hope she lands a main role in a prime time slot.. Her talents and charm call for it.. She's just a great actress with a great personality.

Would it be too much to ask if she can be paired with Bummie (Kim Bum) again? And maybe this time they will be the main couple? I think they would just be the biggest hit. Right? Absolutely.

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

i can't wait to see what kind of project she does next.
she's so pretty!

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

I've liked Kim So Eun since I first saw her with Ku Hye Sun in Boys over Flowers. She's a beautiful and talented actress. I also believe that she should team up with Kim Bum as the leads in a new drama where they play lovers. Their chemistry in BOF was powerful and it would carry over well in whatever they do.

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

she could pass as Park Minyoung's sister..she should be added in Sungkyunkwan Scandal as love interest for Yoo Ah In :D

0
2
reply

Required fields are marked *

I AGREEE!!!! Yoo Ah In deserves a love interest!!!

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

That would be funny---they did get to play each other's love interest in Man Who Can't Get Married (for a while in the drama).

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

i like this young actress

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

when they announced that she will be staring in this drama, i was anticipating it. but then there where so many casts changes, specifically, her male lead. i was disappointed after finding out that kang ji sub won't be her lead in the drama. saw it a couple of times, the male lead and kim so eun don't have any chemistry at all. and then the plot got so weird.

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

I think she did really well . Although I'm still on Ep. 19 (I'm so behind, LOL) I think her acting is pretty solid and the drama didn't do that bad. 20% average is pretty good, for an actress that debuted not too long ago. Hope to see SoEun in another drama sometime soon!

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

Oh gosh, I really really LOOVVVER her! (I rarely watched her in that drama "Boys Before Flowers", yupz!

Ooooh, I can't wait to see her in another incoming drama, of coouurrrssseee!!!!

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

Eu r soooooooo... Kiyute!!

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

mmm... she s my favourite actress

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

yes..i luv too kim so eun.i hope will have a new drama or movie that pair KIM SO EUN and KIM BUM as main couple. they have gud chemistry..........

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

안녕하세요 안녕하세요 잘 지내셨어요 네. 잘 지냈어요. 은/는요
그저 그래요. 잘 지냈어요 이름이 어떻게 되세요 만나서 반갑습니다
실례하겠습니다! 축하드립니다

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

I love kim so eun. She is my favourite actress too. She is very cute girl. otherwise kim so n kim bum are good.... She is very pretty in "Boys over flowers" n "horse doctor".

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *