Lim Ji-Yeon, who played the main role of Ok Tae-Young in the drama of the JTBC “The Tale of Lady OK”, recently reflected on his acting career in recent years. Known for having interpreted strong and impactful characters in shows such as “The Glory” (2022), “Lies Hidden in my garden” (2023) and “Revolver” (2024), Lim Ji-Yeon has left a profound impression on the spectators .
Return to historical drama: a personal challenge
Lim ji-yeon explained, “I have not chosen impactful characters indeed, but now I feel that it is time to take more ordinary and neutral roles and perform in a more monotonous way. I want to be a character to whom spectators can relate easily and comfortably. “
“The Tale of Lady OK” tells the intense Survival story of Ok Tae-Young (Lim Ji-Yeon), who, after having had everything, including his name, status and husband-Fasi, joins Cheon Seung-Hwi (Choo Young-Woo), who risked life to protect it. Lim Ji-Yeon plays the role of Ok Tae-Young, born as a slave named Gu-deok, who lives a second life with a false identity.
This marks his return to the historical drama after a ten -year gap from “The Nelderius” (2015) and “The Royal Gambler” (2016). Has reflected, “At that time I was young and inexperienced, so I had many shortcomings. I had no idea how difficult historical dramas would have been and I had a prejudice against them. “ He continued, “However, after reading the script for” The Tale of Lady OK “, I realized that I was too afraid of trying things outside my comfort area. I was ashamed of myself for not challenging it before. So I have I decided to face this challenge with a big heart, and that’s why I have so much affection for this project.
Taking the command in a historical drama was a great responsibility and Lim Ji-Yeon felt its weight. “I missed the trust in myself, above all because this was the first time that I brought a historical drama and the entire cast put so much energy. I had to manage both my mental and physical strength to avoid exhausting because of the amount of time on the screen “, He explained. “But above all, I loved my role.”
Lim Ji-Yeon on the impact of his character and on the reception of the public
Lim Ji-Yeon has obtained recognition for her acting in “The Glory”, with many even that they called her “Park Yeon-Jin” in real life, reflecting the profound connection that her character had with the public. Recently, in “The Tale of Lady OK”, it was called “GU-DOOK” or “Tae-Young” more often. “When I go to restaurants, the elderly people tell me I like it. I called myself Yeon-Jin, but now I’m GU-DOOK and TAE-YOUNG. “Lim Ji-Yeon” is rarely mentioned “, He said with a laugh.
He added, “I am happy to be called by the name of my character in work. It is a happy thing that an actor is faced by the name of the character. I didn’t realize it at that moment, but I still like to be called Yeon-Jin, GU-DOOK or TAE-YOUNG. I hope they continue to call me these names for a long time. “
Support and chemistry with co-protagonists
Lim Ji-Yeon has fascinated spectators with its touching romantic scenes with Choo Young-Woo, which has played both Seung-Hwi and Yeon-Gyeom, in “The Tale of Lady OK”. As for Choo Young-Woo’s performance, Lim Ji-Yon commented, “It was not difficult to distinguish between the two roles he interpreted. I just thought of him as a different person. He did an excellent job and it was fantastic the way he thinly differentiated the characters without exaggerating. I was struck by the way he managed such difficult roles. “ He also spoke a lot about Choo Young-Woo as an actor.
“The Tale of Lady OK” holds a special meaning for IM Ji-Yeon, as it marks his first leading role and also his first romantic project since his public relationship with the actor Lee Do-Hyun. Lim ji-yeon shared, “Lee Do-Hyun diligently looks at the story of Lady OK” and his feedback was consistent. It is always encouraging me. He knows how much love and effort I have put in this project, and we support and rely on each other. “
The co-protagonist of Lim Ji-Yeon of “The Glory”, Cha Joo-Yung, also recites in his first historical drama “The Queen Who Crowns”, where he plays the main role. Lim ji-yeon recalled, “The times were really similar when we were choosing our projects. So we shared a lot during that process. When “the queen who crowns” for the first time, I was nervous. But she did very well and I received a lot of positive energy from her. We continue to share our concerns and help each other. “
Lim Ji-Yeon will also appear in the show of TVn varieties “Fresh off the Sea 2” this year. “I was a fan of” Fresh off the Sea “and I had fun watching him. I expect chemistry in season 2 will be even more fun. We are all close”, he said. “We haven’t turned yet, but I think we’ll start soon.”
