Kim Hye Yoon On Working With 2PM's Taecyeon In "Secret Royal Inspector & Joy," 1st Impression Of Her Character, And More
Kim Hye Yoon recently participated in an interview to discuss her latest drama “Secret Royal Inspector & Joy!”
tvN’s “Secret Royal Inspector & Joy” is a historical comedy drama starring 2PM’s Taecyeon as Ra Yi Eon, a young gourmand who is appointed a secret royal inspector (a government official who travels undercover to local provinces to inspect them and uncover corruption) against his will. Kim Hye Yoon stars as Kim Jo Yi, a divorced woman searching for happiness who winds up joining forces with him to investigate and battle corruption. The drama aired its finale on December 28 and achieved an average nationwide viewership rating of 3.8 percent.
In her interview with Newsen, Kim Hye Yoon shared, “As it was my first attempt at the historical genre, it was unfamiliar and I was really nervous. I wanted to do a perfect job, but I feel like I wasn’t able to, so I’m very regretful. It feels like completing a diary.”
The reason Kim Hye Yoon chose to star in the drama was one particular line in the script. She explained, “Among Jo Yi’s lines, there’s one that goes, ‘What’s wrong is wrong, and I’m going to say what needs to be said.’ When I was reading the script, I saw that line and thought that Jo Yi was a very independent and cool person.”
She added, “When I first read the script, I felt that it was a really new and refreshing premise. I did wonder whether viewers would be sold on this premise for a historical drama, but as I kept reading the script, I thought, ‘There could be people like this in the Joseon Dynasty.'” Kim Hye Yoon continued, “As I was building the character, I continuously thought, ‘Let’s make her bold, but not mean.”
Kim Hye Yoon also spoke about her chemistry with co-star Taecyeon, who played Ra Yi Eon. She shared, “Actor Ok Taecyeon was the mood maker [on set]. That’s why I relied on Ok Taecyeon in a lot of aspects, and since he has a lot of acting experience, I learned a lot from him.”
She continued, “One memorable anecdote is from near the end [of the drama], when Yi Eon and I had a lot of hugging scenes. Since the weather was cold, we would intentionally search for the hot packs the other person had on their bodies. I remember we would ask each other, ‘You’re looking for a hot pack, right?’ and laugh.”
Another person with whom Kim Hye Yoon worked closely was actress Bae Jong Ok, who played Jo Yi’s mother. Kim Hye Yoon commented, “It was really such an honor to be able to act alongside her. She’s an energetic actress. There was one scene where we silently communicated with our eyes, and her acting then was so impressive. I was also unfamiliar with sewing, but Bae Jong Ok kindly taught me.”
Kim Hye Yoon revealed that she was about 50 percent similar to her character of Jo Yi, explaining, “Jo Yi is bright and overflowing with energy. Her cheerful image seems to be similar to me, but there were also times when she was so bright that I had a hard time. However, I think these sides to Jo Yi are ones I can learn from.”
In terms of how she will remember the drama, Kim Hye Yoon commented, “Since it was my first attempt at the historical genre, I was really nervous, but the atmosphere was so great, as if family members had gathered to film together. That’s why I think it’ll be a project that I think about every holiday season.”
With 2022 soon approaching, Kim Hye Yoon took time to reflect on her busy year. She commented, “For the whole year, all I did was act. Although I experienced films, dramas, and various genres, there are still a lot of things I want to try in the future. In order to achieve an image that I’m personally satisfied with, there are a lot of aspects that I need to think about and work towards.”
Kim Hye Yoon added, “My driving force is my ambition for acting. I’ve attempted variety shows thinking it’d be a fun experience, and I’m also greedy to try lots of different kinds of roles in dramas and films. To achieve that dream, I have no choice but to diligently move forward.”
Watch “Secret Royal Inspector & Joy” below!
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