[INTERVIEW] Ko Hyun-joung - Part 1

Two unforgettable roles -- Hye-rin in 1995 mega-hit TV series "Sandglass" and Mi-shil in MBC's "Queen Seon-deok" this year -- throned Ko Hyun-joung as the actress with the strongest presence in the history South Korean TV dramas. 10Asia met with the actress who recently starred in film "Actresses", in which Ko and several other top actresses play characters based on their true selves.

10: It has been five years since you made a comeback to the screen in 2005 with SBS TV series "Spring Days" but it seems you've finally really told the world 'Ko Hyun-joung is back' with your recent role in MBC drama "Queen Seon-deok". Had you expected to see such success when you first made a comeback five years ago?
Ko Hyun-joung (Ko): Of course not. How would I, when I don't even know what lies ahead for me tomorrow. What I've learned about life so far is that nothing works out as planned. And I think dealing with people is the most difficult task of all -- I just hope that I won't be misunderstood. When I first made my comeback, I think I was under the pressure that I had to do something... anything. I couldn't just stay put at home without any work. But it wasn't like there was anything else I knew how to do other than acting. I was very scared and my future seemed bleak back then but I realized at one point that I'm not doing acting to fulfill a certain huge greed of mine so I decided to go through the process of being scolded for what I've done wrong.

10: It seems that you did not hesitate to venture in choosing your roles since making a comeback. You starred in director Hong Sang-soo's film, in MBC's detective drama "Hit" and also took on a historical drama for the first time with "Queen Seon-deok". You continuously expanded your realm of acting but this could have not been planned.
Ko: I think that's why "Magazine t" picked me as one of the top players of 2006 but I definitely didn't plan on anything. Like I said, in life, things don't work out according to plan.

10: You said you weren't the main character in "Queen Seon-deok" but you ended up becoming the representative character of the drama. Had you predicted that your character would be such a hit?
Ko: How could have I? I don't go on the Internet often and I don't look up people's responses so I actually really known about the response when I was in shooting.

10: Then what do you take into consideration in choosing a role?
Ko: I ask the director who he would ask to take on the role if I didn't do it.

10: Is that an expression of your confidence? (laugh)
Ko: No. (laugh) Taking on a role is not about how confident your are or how well you convey your thoughts to the director. It's a job you promise to take on for several months alongside many others while spending all day and all night in shoot. Other actors probably feel this way too but in my case, I believe I'm 50 percent responsible for the film or drama. As long as the director sets me on the right direction, I'll take on a new role thinking that I'll do my best within my capability, whether it ends up being a success or failure. And when it does well, even better.

10: You've only taken on experimental or charismatic roles since "Spring Days". Do you have thoughts of going back to acting in traditional love stories?
Ko: I think I'm waiting for the right timing to. And even if I do take on romance, I don't want my acting to be too sweet. I know it'll end up seeming sweet because I have a sweet-looking face but at least with my acting.

10: In "Actresses", it seems a strong hierarchy exists in the world of actresses. Have you ever fought with another actress in real life like you did with Choi Ji-woo in "Actresses"?
Ko: I'm the type that gets scolded or will scold rather than fight with someone. (laugh) I scold actors for various reasons and although grown-ups these days tend not to scold younger actors, I'm the type that will have more to say the more I care for them.

10: Then what are your thoughts of younger actors these days?
Ko: I envy them... the fact that they're better 'well-made' than I was when I debuted. Back in the days, my mom drove for me and I did my own make-up but conditions have improved now. I also envy their courage and determination.

10: Do you think you had lacked in courage and determination?
Ko: During the earlier years of my career -- from 1989 to 1991 -- I think everyone was under the conception that they have to seem like a 'good person'. What people thought of you more important than your individual character, the same applied for relationships between older and younger actors and you had to go to school even if you were in shooting for a film or drama. We didn't have managers either so we had do deal with everyone directly. We lived in pretty primitive ages.

Reporter : Choi Ji-Eun five@10asia.co.kr
Photographer : Chae ki-won ten@10asia.co.kr
Editor : Jessica Kim jesskim@asiae.co.kr, Lee Ji-Hye seven@10asia.co.kr