[Photo&] Kim Hyang-gi Interview for “The Absolute Value of Romance”: First Comedy Challenge…A Perfect Transformation into a High-School BL Writer

A Bold Transformation after 20 Years Since Debut, Taking on Comedy for the First Time

Actress “Kim Hyang-gi” is opening up a new horizon in acting by taking on the comedy genre for the first time since her debut. Through the Coupang Play original series “The Absolute Value of Romance”, she perfectly brings to life the precarious double life of Yeo-ju, who leads an ordinary high school girl routine by day and works as a BL novel writer at night. With a mindset starting from zero, she is expected to leave a strong impression on audiences through a three-dimensional teen romance character that is honest about her emotions and desires.

She said, “When I imagined Woo-ju, I thought a short hairstyle that sticks out and is slightly messy would suit her better than a calmly styled, neat look,” adding, “I wanted to bring the comedic elements to life visually as well, so I cut my bangs decisively.”

Unwavering Acting Passion Even with Messy Hair, Perfect Character Fusion

To maximize the completeness of the character, she didn’t hesitate with an external transformation either. To highlight the comedic elements, she cut her bangs decisively and chose a short, tousled hairstyle that sticks out. She repeated thorough rehearsals so that a character with an enormous amount of dialogue wouldn’t come across as forced. In particular, the deep bond she formed while freely exchanging ideas on set with “Cha Hak-yeon”, who plays a math teacher, serves as a key driving force that elevates the show’s immersion even further.

Kim Hyang-gi said, “I originally had a big respect for comedians. Since Yoo-ju has a lot of lines, I wanted them to come out naturally rather than forced, so I practiced a lot. While the director monitored it, they helped me nail it.”

Acting Is a Lifelong Friend, A Perfect Turning Point for Expanding Her Spectrum

This work is a major turning point, one that has been focusing on genre material and is now imprinting a whole new appeal on the public. Now in her mid-20s and marking 20 years since her debut, she defines the present as the most important period as an actress. She proved her mature acting philosophy by likening it to “a lifelong friend,” building friendships while protecting the lines with each other through acting. With her continued journey of carving out her own solid territory through constant challenges, expectations are only growing.

Kim Hyang-gi said, “I’m not ‘that’ grown-up, but since it’s been a long time since I debuted, there are moments when I feel that my current position is a bit ambiguous.” Still, she added, “If you work hard at the role you’re given, the worries disappear before you know it.”