Kim Hye-jun Says Her 'Ordinary Face' Is Key to Landing Diverse Roles

The popular K-drama A Shop for Killers 2, starring Lee Dong-wook (이동욱) and Kim Hye-jun (김혜준), has finally returned after a two-year hiatus, much to the delight of fans. In a recent interview, Kim Hye-jun surprisingly revealed that her “ordinary appearance” has become an advantage in her acting career, even playing a crucial role in her frequent casting in genre productions.

On Dec. 13, Kim Hye-jun spoke with iMBC Entertainment about the second season of the Disney+ original series A Shop for Killers. With approximately 10 years in the industry, she recently took on her first romantic comedy challenge in Rebound. In contrast, A Shop for Killers aligns more with her past work in genre productions such as Kingdom and Connect, where her performances garnered significant attention.

When asked why she consistently takes on genre roles, Kim Hye-jun playfully attributed it to her appearance, stating that she doesn't have a particularly strong or striking look. She laughed, saying, “I have a very ordinary face, like someone you could see anywhere. People often tell me I look like their cousin or sister.”

Kim Hye-jun believes that this everyday, girl-next-door image creates an unexpected contrasting charm. “I think people might find an unpredictable charm in a girl with such an ordinary face,” she speculated.

She further analyzed that when an actress who looks like an ordinary girl suddenly picks up a gun or finds herself in a bloody scene, the strong visual contrast can become a reason for production teams to cast her. “Perhaps that's why they keep calling me for these roles,” she said with a smile.

Additionally, Kim Hye-jun shared her unique experience of having A Shop for Killers and Rebound air simultaneously. The starkly different personalities of her characters in both works, coupled with their overlapping broadcast times, made the situation feel “very surreal” to her.

She joked that on days Rebound aired, she felt “pink and lovely,” embodying the romantic comedy character. Conversely, when A Shop for Killers was broadcast, she would turn “black,” reflecting the darker genre. “It feels like I'm living two completely different lives,” she described.

The final episode of A Shop for Killers season 2 aired on Dec. 12, while Rebound is still ongoing. Kim Hye-jun is thus active on screen in vastly different roles, showcasing her versatile acting range from romantic comedy to action and thriller genres.