Kim Hyang-gi has spent 20 years in front of the camera, starting her acting journey at the age of seven in the 2006 film ‘Maeumi’. While she is highly respected on set, with staff naturally calling her “Teacher” due to her deep experience, she has chosen to put on a school uniform once again and embrace the fun of being silly.
Meeting at a cafe in Jongno-gu, Seoul on the 11th, Kim Hyang-gi shared her excitement about tackling the comedy genre for the first time in her life through the Coupang Play original series ‘Absolute Value of Romance’.
Kim Hyang-gi plays Yeo Ui-ju, a quirky high school student who leads a chaotic double life writing web novels starring handsome teachers. She revealed that the spiky short bob and bold choppy bangs were her own ideas. Appearing at the interview in character, she laughed, saying, “I wondered what I could do with my hair, so I boldly cut my bangs to enhance the visual comedy elements.”
Since it was her first comedy challenge, she had plenty of worries. Kim Hyang-gi shared, “I hoped that the honest, unfiltered image of an 18-year-old girl who is sincere about everything would bring natural laughter.”
When asked about wearing a school uniform after a long time, she said, “I’m glad people around me say it still suits me.” She added, “I think it’s a good thing for an actor to be able to move freely between different ages. If given the role, I want to wear it as enthusiastically as possible.”
This production had a particularly young cast. Kim Hyang-gi noted, “There were many peers, so it felt like I was actually back in high school. During breaks, we chatted and shared snacks.”
For Kim Hyang-gi, acting is “like a lifelong friend with whom you build a long-lasting friendship while maintaining proper courtesy.” She teased future transformations, stating, “This challenge, where I had to learn everything from scratch and receive help, feels like a very good turning point.”
