Actress Kang Mi-na is currently captivating viewers in the Netflix series ‘Kirigo’. Since its release on the 24th of last month, the drama recorded 2.8 million views in just three days, ranking 4th in the Global Top 10 TV Shows (Non-English) for the fourth week of April. In an interview with Ilgan Sports after the release, Kang Mi-na shyly smiled, saying, “I saw the ranking news, but it still doesn’t feel real.”
‘Kirigo’ is Netflix’s first K-YA (Young Adult) series, depicting the struggles of high school students who are predicted to die due to a curse from a wish-granting app called ‘Kirigo’. In the series, Kang Mi-na plays Im Na-ri, a daughter of a wealthy family who always draws attention at school thanks to her idol-like visuals.
“When I first read the script, I felt sorry for Na-ri. In life, there are moments when you have to make selfish choices. I don’t think that’s necessarily a bad thing. Especially since Na-ri is only an 18-year-old student facing an extreme situation, I could understand her choices. More than anything, I was drawn to the role because I felt I could show a side of myself different from the Kang Mi-na the public knows.”
“I don’t think Na-ri is a villain. She has her own reasons and a strong desire to be loved. While preparing for the character, I watched a lot of horror movies. The most helpful work was ‘The Substance’. I studied how Margaret Qualley, who played Sue, used her eyes and facial expressions. I even bought a digital copy to practice in front of the mirror (laughs).”
She also paid attention to her appearance. Kang Mi-na joked with a laugh, “Since it’s a high school role, I got bangs to look as young as possible.” She then shared a behind-the-scenes story, “To create an image reversal later on, I appear with a hime cut that covers my ears until episode 5. But because my ears are large, I had to tape them down before filming.”
As the oldest among the cast, Kang Mi-na fully embraced her role as the “big sister” on set. Recalling those times, she said, “Since we needed to build intimacy, I gathered everyone to eat together not only before filming but also after we finished. The atmosphere on set was really great.”
“I’m still on great terms with the other actors. Especially (Jeon) So-young, who still visits my house very often. Since both of us have other schedules, there are days we can’t drink. On those days, we just keep refilling our coffee and chatting or discussing our worries.”
“I believe they started preparing for it in the second half of last year. I just finished filming a drama a month ago and have another one coming up. So, I told the members that it might be difficult for me. That was the best I could do. My relationship with the members is still great, and I’m always grateful to them. I’m also cheering them on.”
Having started with I.O.I, Kang Mi-na has already reached her 10th anniversary since debut. Now focusing more on the future than the past, she said, “I’m striving to become an actress who lives up to the number 10.”
“I feel like acting gets harder the more I do it. But the sense of achievement is immense when something other than ‘me’—something inside me—comes out on set. To be honest, until a few years ago, I felt a lot of urgency. But I think I grow through that anxiety. Now, all that’s left is the desire to become more solid in my acting. I want to move beyond unrealistic characters and aim for the title of the next ‘Melo Queen’ (laughs).”
The first step toward becoming a ‘Melo Queen’ is the drama ‘Tomorrow, I’m Going to Work!’, which is scheduled to air within the year. Starring alongside Seo In-guk and Park Ji-hyun, ‘Tomorrow, I’m Going to Work!’ is an office romance where Kang Mi-na plays Yoon No-ah, who finds a new love after ending a long-term relationship where she was devoted to her boyfriend.
Kang Mi-na revealed she lost 13kg for this project. “There’s a scene where I wear a swimsuit, so I managed my weight a bit. I lost it slowly over two to three months. I didn’t use any (diet) injections. I’m mentioning this just in case there’s any misunderstanding,” she joked. She then gave a thumbs-up, playfully adding, “The swimsuit scene came out well,” teasing another acting transformation.
