Actress Kim Go-eun shared happy new year wishes with Ilgan Sports readers during a recent interview at the BH Entertainment building in Gangnam-gu, Seoul. Reflecting on his hopes for the year, he said: “My hope this year is that nothing extraordinary happens. I know better than anyone how precious it is. So I sincerely hope that this year passes without any problems.”
Last year, Kim Go-eun emerged as one of the leading figures in Korean cinema. He broke new ground in the K-occult genre with “Exhuma” and helped mainstream queer films with “Love in the Big City.” Notably, “Exhuma” attracted a whopping 11.91 million viewers, even with its release in February, a traditionally slow season. The film not only marked a career high for Kim Go-eun, but also earned her numerous Best Actress awards at prestigious film festivals, solidifying her position in the Korean film industry.
“When the crowd numbers started to pick up, it felt surreal. During the greeting on stage someone told me that the film had been seen by 850,000 people and I had a moment of mental emptiness. It was a number I had never encountered before. It seemed like the weekly audience numbers mattered and it amazed me. Later, when the numbers reached 7, 8 million and beyond, it was both exhilarating and slightly terrifying. I kept asking myself, ‘Can this happen to me again?’ It was like a once-in-a-lifetime experience.”
Although it now has the distinction of being “the highest-grossing film of 2024” and “the first occult film to surpass 10 million viewers,” “Exhuma” faced skepticism during its production. Concerns ranged from the niche nature of the occult genre in the Korean film market to other industry challenges. Kim Go-eun was aware of these problems but decided to accept the role due to her trust in director Jang Jae-hyun.
“The reason I signed up was simple: I loved director Jang Jae-hyun’s works. His debut short film “12th Assistant Deacon” left a lasting impression on me, and I was equally enthralled by his subsequent films, “The Priests” and “Svaha: The Sixth Finger.” He struck me as a tenacious and deeply knowledgeable person. When we met and talked for the first time, my thoughts were confirmed. That trust was fundamental.”
Kim Go-eun highlighted her distaste for taking anything lightly, saying: “I don’t like to approach things casually. Doing something “just to try it” seems incredibly disrespectful to the people who dedicate their lives to their craft.” This mindset was evident in his meticulous preparation to play Hwarim in “Exhuma.”
“Hwarim from the script was a consummate professional with an aura and depth. I thought, “If I don’t do this correctly, it’s going to look ridiculous.” It had to feel authentic. So I focused intensely on details, such as gestures. I watched numerous rituals and related videos, noticing differences in touches and rhythms based on individual styles. So I developed my own moves and consulted shamans for guidance.
While “Exhuma” was directed by director Jang, Kim Go-eun chose “Love in the Big City” for its gripping script. This queer-themed film faced significant challenges during its four-year journey to completion.
“A script that reads effortlessly is a rare find, and this one was. However, I didn’t expect it to take this long to hit the screens. At one point production stopped completely even though the staff was ready. I remember feeling so happy when filming finally started. That period of waiting strengthened and united us, fostering a sense of urgency and camaraderie.”
Although “Love in the Big City” received critical acclaim and won awards, including best director, best new actor and best music, it did not achieve commercial success. Kim Go-eun joked “This type of achievement is not new to me, so I became the team’s cheerleader“before adding”The film has great meaning to me despite its box office performance.“
For Kim Go-eun, balancing critical acclaim with commercial success has been a challenge and a thirst. While prioritizing artistic and meaningful projects often meant underperforming at the box office, he avoided chasing guarantees of success. He revealed: “In the past, my main criterion when choosing projects was the involvement of senior actors. This was very important.His filmography includes collaborations with esteemed actors such as Youn Yuh-jung, Kim Hye-soo, Lee Byung-hun and Jeon Do-yeon.
“I was very aware of my shortcomings and eager to learn. During my debut with ‘Eungyo’, ignorance was forgivable, but as expectations grew, I realized that I couldn’t stay the same. I shadowed the senior actors diligently, learning as much as I could while still being able to say, ‘I’m just a newbie.'”
Turning 30 marked a turning point for Kim Go-eun, who decided it was time to move beyond the shadow of her mentors. He took a bold step with the 2021 drama “Yumi’s Cells.” “I got involved with that drama. As the protagonist, I appeared in 98% of the scenes. My mindset was, ‘If you can’t do it now, what are you going to do?’ Sure, I still have regrets, but I use them as stepping stones to constantly grow.”
Kim Go-eun’s journey of reflection and growth continues as she prepares for her next projects: the Netflix series “Two Women” and “The Price of Confession.” The former is expected to be released in early 2025, while the latter is still in production.
“After finishing ‘The Price of Confession’, I would like to take a break for three months. I don’t think I’ve had more than a month off in the last 4-5 years. I rowed non-stop (laughs). I’ll recharge briefly and then dive in again with full energy.
Looking back at 2024, Kim Go-eun described it as a year of “rewards.” Reflecting on a particularly challenging 2023, he shared: “I wondered how every day could seem so difficult. I felt like I was surviving day after day. On January 1, 2024, I made a wish: “Please, let nothing bad happen this year.”“
“As I reflect on 2024, I feel like I’ve been showered with all the good things to make up for the hardships. It was as if the universe was replenishing me, giving me what I needed to recharge. I will carry these precious memories with me into 2024 as motivation to persevere through the challenges ahead.
