Singer-actress Kim Sejeong shared her heartfelt thoughts on working with Kang Tae Oh on the MBC drama Friday-Saturday The River of the Moonwhich concluded its 14-episode run on December 20. The historical fantasy romance follows Crown Prince Lee Kang (played by Kang Tae Oh), who has lost his smile, and street vendor Park Dal-i (played by Kim Sejeong), who has lost his memories, as their souls are mysteriously switched, leading to a story of empathy, growth and love.
In the drama, Kim Sejeong played the lively and witty street vendor Park Dal-i, giving a down-to-earth and funny performance highlighted by his use of a rustic dialect. She also played the dual role of Crown Princess Kang Yeonwol, showing her range by playing two contrasting characters within the same narrative.
Previously, Kim Sejeong revealed that she had seriously thought about taking on her first historical drama and the thought-provoking “soul change” premise. Ultimately, he chose the project for this reason “different narratives” AND “the presence of Kang Tae Oh as a co-star.”
Recalling his first meeting with Kang Tae Oh, Kim Sejeong said, “Just watching him on screen, I thought he would be a witty, idea-filled actor. He’s really like that in real life, and he’s incredibly thoughtful without ever forcing his opinions. He always told me, ‘Do whatever you want to try.’ And when there were scenes where I felt unsure, he gently guided me.”
She went on to explain that the visual and emotional compatibility between the actors was important to her, adding: “One of the reasons I thought it would be great to work with him is that I think actors should look alike in some way. When I first saw him, I had the feeling that we were really similar: not just our faces, but our overall vibe. I thought we would create a good synergy together, and in fact, as time went on, that synergy continued to get stronger. We constantly shared positive feedback with each other.”
Kang Tae Oh previously mentioned in his interview that the two discussed their performances extensively, especially during the scenes involving soul swapping, to accurately capture Dal-i’s charm. Some viewers even joked online, asking “How did they manage to change their faces too?” because of how convincing their portrayals were.
Kim Sejeong also revealed that the two went so far as to exchange phones and study each other’s recorded voices. “At the beginning we shared our habits” he explained. “I tend to clasp my hands behind my back a lot, while he noticed that I roll my eyes when I say something interesting. I worked hard to capture the way he speaks. But I didn’t want to just imitate his appearance. I asked him how Lee Kang sees the world and what kind of mentality he lives with. I wanted to build the character from the inside out.”
He added that the director encouraged their ideas rather than imposing strict instructions. “I was worried that if Yeonwol suddenly reappeared after recovering her memory, she might seem like an awkward and inconsistent character. I thought it would be better if Yeonwol and Dal-i felt fused together, and the director loved that idea and even expanded on it. Once we shared that vision, everything became so cohesive and the set became a very comfortable place to work in.”
Kim Sejeong also fondly recalled that filming Yeonwol’s past scenes initially helped her emotionally. “Watching five years of happiness unfold like a panorama made it even more painful to see how that once beautiful person suffered afterwards, even appearing in dreams. The confusion and overwhelming love made the tears fall naturally.” he said. “From now on, if I do a story-driven project, I will definitely ask to film the past scenes first. Once the emotions are organized, those memories will carry much more weight in the subsequent scenes.”
Meanwhile, Kim Sejeong and Kang Tae Oh have been nominated for the Best Couple Award in 2025. MBC Theater Awardswhich will take place on December 30th. Kim Sejeong admitted: “I expect to win” before adding warmly, “But our chemistry wasn’t just created by the two of us. The staff worked incredibly hard. I really want to thank them once again and share this sense of pride with everyone.”
Sources: Nate
