My Name is Kim Soo Hyun

My name is Kim Soo-hyun. Some people are curious to know why I didn't make a stage name since my name is the same as that of the great scenarist Kim Soo-hyun...... What would be good? Kim Soo-gyum? Kim... Carley? Hahahaha.
I was born on February 16, 1988. I major in acting at Joongang University.
I'm an only child but a brusque son at home. I still do call out for my mom though when I get startled.
My first part-time job was at a fastfood restaurant when I was in high school. But I got fired in the first three days because I couldn't get there on time after school. I still got paid for those three days though and how I was happy when I saw the money wired into my account. I heard that you're supposed to buy a pair of socks for your parents when you get paid for the first time so that's what I did... My mom never wore them though. I think I should've bought her socks with lace on it instead.
I once learned how to do mountain climbing. It was back when I was in high school and I used to climb boulders and even took part in competitions. I didn't win because I fell during the second course...... But I've also learned how to scuba dive. I put in an effort to learn sports that aren't usually easy to learn.


The scene I have the strongest attachment to in "Will It Snow on Christmas?" is when my character says to say to Yoon-joo, "I'm not interested (in you), but I keep noticing you." The director and lighting director made fun of me when I did that scene, calling me veteran actor Shin Sung-il, but it felt good.
When we shot the scene where my character Kang-jin walks barefoot, the director laid pebbles on the ground intentionally. He wanted me to step on them and be in pain. I know he meant to catch the moment when my face twists up naturally from the pain but my manager got so nervous that I might get hurt.
I wish I could have done better in the scene where Kang-jin looks up into the moon after rubbing on his feet. The camera got a full-shot of me from behind but I noticed my back was hunched in the way usually do when I'm sitting. I watched it at home and thought to myself, "No! Why!"


I was very scared before going into shoot for drama "Father's House." I didn't know if I'd even be able to breathe having to act amongst veteran actors Park Won-sook, Baek Il-seop and Choi Min-soo. But they took very good care of me and Mr. Baek in particular, helped me out a lot by explaining the situation my character Jae-il was in rather than showing me how to act. I really learned a lot.
Actor Choi Min-soo knew I'd become stiff with nervousness so he put in a lot of effort to help me loosen up. He would come up and talk to me, asking if I would want to learn fencing, and when I'm talking to the director, he'd come and poke me from the back but pretend not to have. He really focuses when he's acting though. From the very start he had declared, "I will not show my acting as an actor, but by becoming that person."


When I'm at home, I mostly think various thoughts. I'm not good but I also try writing. And I also watch movies. I like actors Cho Seung-woo, Ha Jung-woo and Ryoo Seung-beom in particular -- they have many aspects to them that I like in them as actors.
I actually don't think I have a set taste. I don't favor a particular genre over another. I like hip-hop because it's fun in this way, trans for another reason and I like ballad songs too. I switch amongst genres when I'm singing too. Haha.
I'm usually quite moody but whether I'm happy or sad, I like to let out those emotions rather than conceal them. That's why when I'm happy, I'll give a beggar on the street all the money that I have in my pocket but when I'm sad, feel like I almost want to die. I really like it when I'm crying so it's great when the script reads 'tears fall.' I can burn out my emotions.


I like to take photographs. I learned a lot of things from actor Lee Byung-jin while shooting sitcom "Kimchi, Cheese, Smile." He had a great camera which I looked at all the time. I got my second-hand Nikon D800 I'm using right now for a very cheap thanks to him.
It's great taking photos these days because of all the snow. I can easily express sentimental thoughts by simply getting a shot of a footprint.
But doesn't it always know on Christmas? I think it should always be a White Christmas. What did I do last Christmas? Hmm... That... Well... I went to a karaoke bar with my friends. (laugh)

Reporter : Yoon Hee-Seong nine@10asia.co.kr
Photographer : Lee Jin-hyuk eleven@10asia.co.kr
Editor : Jessica Kim jesskim@asiae.co.kr, Jang Kyung-Jin three@10asia.co.kr
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