From Rom-Com Queen to Thriller Pro! Shin Min-a Practiced So Hard for ‘Pupils’ She Got Headaches

Shin Min-a, who has captured hearts with her signature lovely charm, is returning with a chilling thriller! After expanding her acting range and proving her skills in various thriller genres, including the movie ‘Diva’ and the recent drama ‘Bad Relationship’, she is now raising expectations by taking on a dual role.

On the 26th, Shin Min-a attended the production briefing for the movie ‘Pupils’ (directed by Yeom Ji-ho) held at CGV Yongsan I-Park Mall in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, where she shared her passion for the project and her bold transformation.

‘Pupils’ is a thriller about Seo-jin, a photographer who is gradually losing her sight due to a genetic disease and begins to uncover secrets surrounding the mysterious death of her sister, Seo-in. Shin Min-a delivers a multi-layered performance, playing both the sister losing her sight, Seo-jin, and the blind but successful potter, Seo-in.

Regarding her decision to join the project, Shin Min-a said, “The fear of being chased by someone while gradually losing my sight felt intriguing. I was curious to see how I would portray that, so I decided to take on the challenge.” Discussing the complex relationship between the sisters, she explained, “Seo-jin takes care of Seo-in, but she also feels a sense of inferiority toward her, making her emotions complicated. I tried to express the subtle points of conflict that arise after Seo-in disappears.”

She put in an immense amount of effort to capture the details of a character losing their vision. After meticulously researching materials like YouTube, she shared, “I tried to capture the frustration and fear that Seo-jin would feel from not being able to see. I practiced my eye movements so much that I even got headaches. I gave it my all and hope those expressions are well-captured in the movie.”

She also mentioned what sets this thriller apart. Recalling her experience acting with her eyes actually covered, she added, “It was fascinating how my hearing became more sensitive when my eyes were covered with bandages,” heightening anticipation for the psychological horror experienced when sight is blocked.

Joining the cast is actor Kim Nam-hee, making his first commercial film debut as the cool and rational detective Do-hyeok. Kim Nam-hee pointed out a key viewing point, saying, “Every character has a wound and a sickness in their heart. I hope you look at how these wounded individuals struggle to survive.” Additionally, Lee Seung-ryong joins as the model Hyun-min, who is obsessed with Seo-jin, and Kim Young-ah as the detective Mi-kyung, who protects Seo-jin, adding more tension to the plot.

‘Pupils’ will be released on the 24th of next month.