The new drama “The Hundred Days' Lie” (백일의 謊言), starring Kim Yoo-jung (김유정), Park Jin-young (박진영), Kim Hyun-joo (김현주), Lee Mu-saeng (이무생), and Jin Seon-kyu (진선규), premiered last weekend to critical acclaim for its cinematic production quality and gripping plot, quickly becoming a hot topic. Kim Hyun-joo, in particular, has garnered praise for her sharp and powerful portrayal of Yu So-ran, a sniper in the anti-Japanese organization “Salvation Corps,” once again showcasing her talent as a seasoned actress.
Approaching 50, Kim Hyun-joo has built a strong reputation over her many years in the industry with her exceptional acting. Today, she not only masters diverse roles but also earns widespread recognition for her acting prowess. Recently, Kim Hyun-joo uncharacteristically opened up about her challenging early career, revealing dissatisfaction with her agency's work arrangements and candidly admitting to her past ungrateful and hot-tempered personality, acknowledging the resentment she harbored at the time.
On November 11, Kim Hyun-joo appeared on Jung Jae-hyung's (정재형) YouTube show “Fairy Jaehyung” (요정재형) alongside Lee Mu-saeng and Jin Seon-kyu to promote the new tvN drama “The Hundred Days' Lie.” During the program, she shared how she entered the entertainment industry and unexpectedly unveiled little-known aspects of her rookie period.
Kim Hyun-joo admitted that she initially didn't have a clear dream of becoming an actress. At the time, magazine modeling was popular, and she simply thought she should find a job that could earn money, so she decided to pursue modeling opportunities. Unexpectedly, she failed to get selected in a magazine model audition but later received an unexpected opportunity to appear in a music video, thus entering the entertainment industry.
However, despite her seemingly smooth debut, Kim Hyun-joo confessed that she faced many hardships when she first entered the industry. She revealed that for a period, she didn't even have an agency. Even after signing with a company, as a rookie, she still had to handle some simple work schedules on her own and didn't receive the comprehensive care she had imagined.
Furthermore, Kim Hyun-joo also discussed the reasons behind her frequent appearances on variety shows during her rookie days. She explained that whenever senior artists at her company couldn't participate in certain variety programs, she would have to step in as a last-minute replacement.
Recalling her feelings at the time, Kim Hyun-joo admitted that she not only failed to recognize these arrangements as potential opportunities but was instead filled with resentment. She stated directly, "At that time, I had a lot of dissatisfaction. I felt that the company wasn't properly nurturing me, but just throwing me around, sending me wherever they needed someone."
Kim Hyun-joo also didn't shy away from discussing her personality back then, admitting that she was indeed very short-tempered. "I don't deny that I was easily angered during that period." This self-deprecating remark revealed her honest side today. Hearing this, Jin Seon-kyu couldn't help but laugh and ask if she had calmed down by more than 90% now. Kim Hyun-joo, to his surprise, simply laughed and replied, "I have absolutely no temper now." Her humorous response brought a lighthearted end to the story of her difficult rookie days.
In her early career, Kim Hyun-joo gained popularity with her lively, sweet, and endearing image, but she didn't want to be confined to a single type of role forever. As her acting experience grew, she actively began to challenge herself with more distinct and darker characters, gradually expanding her range and striving to break free from the public's preconceived notions of her.
When discussing significant turning points in her acting career, Kim Hyun-joo specifically mentioned the K-drama “WATCHER” (왓쳐). She expressed gratitude to director Ahn Gil-ho (안길호) for allowing her to take on a role she had never imagined before, and the opportunity to work with the highly respected actor Han Suk-kyu (한석규) was also a crucial reason for her decision to accept the part.
Afterward, Kim Hyun-joo showcased a completely different side of herself through the Netflix series “Hellbound” (지옥). She stated that after appearing in “WATCHER,” production teams began to see another side of her that she hadn't previously shown, and they started offering her different types of roles. She also believes that director Yeon Sang-ho (연상호) seemed to recognize her potential for action roles, giving her another opportunity to break existing molds and demonstrate more possibilities.
From a popular actress known for her sweet and lovely image to a versatile performer who can now effortlessly tackle various genres, Kim Hyun-joo has continuously challenged herself throughout her journey, gradually forging her own path in the entertainment industry. She continues to work on new projects, including Yeon Sang-ho's film “The Children of Paradise” (樂園的孩子), and will also meet audiences through the new tvN drama “The Hundred Days' Lie.” Her future performances are highly anticipated.
