MANILA, Philippines — Kim Ji Won can stake a claim as “queen of the screen” through her string of standout roles, with her starring opposite Kim Soo Hyun in the South Korean megahit "Queen of Tears" being a defining achievement.
And if you ask Ji Won, "Queen of Tears,” which shattered viewership records when it aired or streamed early this year, was one of her hardest projects ever.
"One of the most challenging projects lately probably would have to be 'Queen of Tears,'” she said through an interpreter at the presscon yesterday organized by PULP Live World ahead of her “Be My One” fan meet at the New Frontier Theater in Quezon City.
The hard work started from how Ji Won prepared for her role — an heiress dealing with a rare illness and a crumbling marriage — in the series that went on to become the highest rated tvN drama, dethroning “Crash Landing On You.”
As in the past, she said much effort went into studying the script and communicating with her director.
“When I got the script around three months prior to my filming of the drama, I really studied it every day. And not only that, actually, I had to meet the directors, talk to them," she said.
"And when we were doing the script reading with my co-actors and actresses, I felt (it was) a lot easier to understand and relate and portray my character very well.
“So that's what I do. I really study my script," she added.
Ji Won, who channeled her Hong Hae In character at the presscon with her chic pastel green ensemble, also picked out her favorite outfit from the series.
“Viewers might remember the suit (look) I wore in the hunting scene, holding a gun. That was when Baek Hyun Woo (Kim Soo Hyun) rescued me from a wild boar. I really like that look,” she said.
Even prior to “Queen of Tears,” Ji Won had already taken on emotionally charged, crying scenes in shows like the historical fantasy-drama “Arthdal Chronicles” and the slice-of-life family drama “My Liberation Notes.” She could likewise handle romantic comedies and characters overflowing with aego (cuteness) like in “Fight for My Way.”
But whatever the genre, she deemed her preparation for each role as “nothing special.” Again, she just makes sure to study her character and collaborate with other creatives on set.
"The preparation that I've been doing is every time I'm confronted with those kinds of scenes, where I have to pour out a lot of my emotions on it, I do think a lot about portraying well and carrying out (the scenes) very well," she shared.
"I'm very blessed because I have good staff, good directors, and good partner actors that when I go on the scene, (get) ready for the shooting itself, they really do help and talk to me a lot about how to carry on smoothly and pour out everything that I can to make that scene (turn out) very well," she noted.
Ji Won’s career took off with her role in the 2013 high school-themed romantic drama "The Heirs," where she played second lead to Park Shin Hye and Lee Min Ho.
"Probably, it will be 'The Heirs' because that was the first time I portrayed a very strong character,” she said when asked about the project that left the biggest mark on her.
“(She was) a little bit of an antagonist character as well. And I think it was the drama that people started knowing me — after I played (Rachel Yoo) in 'The Heirs,’” she said. She was only 22 at that time.
Romance will always be her favorite genre, but she's open to exploring different things. "If I could be given a chance to pick another genre, (I want it to be) something very different, like a thriller maybe," she shared.
Outside of acting, Ji Won apparently de-stresses with hobbies like completing LEGO sets. As someone who started in showbiz as an idol trainee, she also enjoys listening nowadays to the music of K-pop groups Aespa and NewJeans.
She also revealed that if she didn't venture into acting, she might have pursued her childhood dream of being a kindergarten teacher — or, become an “emoticon” creator.
The press conference was a preview of sorts for her meet-and-greet in the Philippines. This being part of her first fan meet tour to touch base with followers across Asia — after more than a decade in the entertainment business — her ultimate goal is to just make happy and fun memories with her supporters.
“It's probably the fans’ first time to see me, but it's also my first time to meet my fans. It's as if I'm meeting finally those who I was like, sending my letters to, (like) penpals. It’s very surprising. I'm very thrilled. It's touching,” she said.
“I've seen a lot of banners being waved (at me) and welcoming me. And also some of the fans were shouting my screen names… it was very touching,” she reiterated.
For her, it’s her greatest achievement as an actress when people remember her characters. “It's very fulfilling that… a lot of the fans have remembered the names of the characters or roles that I've played in my previous dramas…(It means) that you're appreciating all the different roles I've been portraying. It makes me fulfilled as an actress.”
Meanwhile, there was no confirmation or mention of new projects or collaborations, as she said she's focused on completing her international fan meeting tour.
Nevertheless, she readily admitted that she will always feel pressure every time a new project or drama lands on her lap.
“I always feel pressure. But I take it as a very positive kind of pressure. Because of this, I get more responsibility to try harder, to show the best of me. So, it's a positive thing,” she said.
When asked to recommend a drama to watch from her body of work, she was quick to suggest her most recent series, “Queen of Tears.”
“If you’ve seen it, I suggest watching it again,” she quipped.