A safe space dedicated to Kang Hanna and her Pogeunies. For Hanna, by Pogeunies.
Your energetic and lively disposition throughout the entire shoot left a huge impact on me. You mentioned that this is your first schedule for the new year?
I'm in a good mood today! Although I didn't have many opportunities, I've always wanted to be part of a pictorial. Because I am able to show off a different image of me through pictorials. I am also able to discover new sides of myself while shooting. Although I was a little worried because I haven't been part of many pictorials. I made sure to receive skincare yesterday, did a toning mask pack today and also a self-massage before coming.
You once mentioned that you cringe at yourself sometimes when shooting for pictorials?
I've always thought that acting and shooting pictorials were rather different. But as I did the shoot, the expressions that I'm comfortable with and usually make start surfacing and I become bolder. Being told earlier that I didn't have to look pretty all the time really helped as well. Hope that I am able to be bolder next time!
Has it been a long time since you’ve done an interview?
I prefer doing interviews over taking pictures. Especially after I finish a movie or drama. While I'm filming, I have a lot of thoughts in my head but viewers can only see (and understand) me through what they see on screen. That's why I like interviews, because I am able to communicate with the public about different genres/topics other than my drama/movie. Interviews also allow me to gather and process my thoughts properly.
Indeed, it does help one to capture and internalise them of the past. What thoughts fill your mind currently?
I thought that things were still the same, but as the countdown to the new year started, I had this unexplainable feeling. It's 2019 already? It felt as if 2019 had suddenly started. In 2018, I tried a lot of characters through variety shows that I have yet to show the viewers and I thought to myself that I should live an occupied and enjoyable life this year as well. Looking back, 2018 went past in a flash. The thought of living an even more fulfilling life also crossed my mind.
To be fulfilled? There seems to be a diversity of ways to interpret it?
I want to participate actively in many productions. There seems to be a change. Previously I used to think that my personal life and acting were split half each and that affording leisure in my life was important; but now, there is a drive in me to try out a diversity of things and constantly challenge myself. I did feel that my break between Moon Lovers and Just Between Lovers was a little too long.
You tend to play modern and cold characters; such as a princess or chaebol’s daughter.
That's why I do wish to take on roles other than chaebol daughters and princesses. I hope to show a less dolled up, less showy and more natural side of me through a character. If not, it feels as if I'm constantly stuck with a certain genre of characters.
Of all your works so far, which character left the biggest impression on you?
Gahee from Empire of Lust. Although I'm not sure how well I expressed Gahee's charms, I thought that Gahee was a very admirable and charming character. I was actually sad when I had to let go of Gahee as a character. I really gave my all into Gahee and that's why it'll always have a special place in my heart.
The role of Gahee was what made Kang Hanna’s name known. Kang Hanna stands out when talking about the movie.
I'm very grateful for that but it was a little disappointing that the movie did not do well commercially. My heart hurts whenever I think of Gahee. Although I'm not sure how the viewers took to Gahee, she was a really precious character to me.
How do you feel when people pay more attention to the exposure rather than the plot of the movie itself?
I can't force or dictate the way viewers watch the movie and neither can I ask them to skip the intimate scenes. That's the responsibility and decision of the viewers and I'm grateful if they react well to it. It wasn't easy to film such scenes, however acting means expressing the emotions of a character. It means to express the interpersonal relations and emotions of a character and if it is necessary to portray a certain scene for this purpose, I have always believed that it is my responsibility to do so since the start. That was what gave me the courage to film. (laughs)
Was there a trigger that led you to hold this philosophy and outlook towards acting?
In university, I played that role of Masha in Anton Chekhov's The Seagull and it was a challenging role as the character was suicidal. At that time, a senior had told me that among the audience, someone like Masha exists and that I should try to express what it is like to always be depressed and suicidal, as if I'm the character at hand. He said that it was an important and valuable responsibility for me to comfort that audience or individual experiencing the same emotions as Masha. It was then I realised that being an actress meant that people could find comfort and empathy through my acting. This realisation encouraged me to put more sincerity into portraying my characters. Whereas before this, acting was just something fun to me. It was no longer about just finishing a performance, but also bearing the responsibility of being able to influence as well as touch and comfort the audience.
<Just Between Lovers> is a really well-produced drama and I watched while it was airing; but the ratings were rather low. Did it affect you negatively?
Both the CP (Chief Producer), PD and staff mentioned that JBL wasn't a production aimed to garner viewership. That's why our goal was to do our best to create a beautiful and good production. We were more concerned about how to create a good production rather than stressing over the ratings. The production was good in the sense that it conveyed many messages and focused on the characters and their daily lives. Even the set was really warm and friendly.
It was indeed a realistic narrative of our daily lives. No character was overlooked and everyone had their own story.
Everything about it was good. That's why even after filming ended, the cast gathered for tea sometimes. Together with Moon Lovers, JBL had one of the best filming atmospheres. In Moon Lovers, since everyone was around the same age, it was really difficult to not burst out into laughter.
You did play the role of a mesmerising lady (in Moon Lovers).
I guess that's when the pressure of needing to be beautiful started (laughs). I've always liked historical dramas. There is a special charm about the historical times; since there were no mobile phones, people had to meet face to face.
You’re currently living with your sisters, do you have any plans of moving out?
I'm currently living with my unnies. I do harbour the thoughts of moving out when I get married but I enjoy the comfort and happiness that my family provides. I forget the fact that I'm a celebrity. Everytime I have a schedule, I tell my family 'I'm going to dress up and have fun as a celebrity'.
Have you ever regretted becoming an actress?
Never once so far. I did ballet as a child and after quitting and trying acting, I realised how fun acting was and how much I liked it. I grew more greedy as I started acting. I always desire to become a better actress; my desire to be an actress with skills and to constantly improve is always growing.
Are there times when you get worried or uncertain?
Acting is a profession when we express characters with our body, so as long as we take good care of our body, there is no age-barrier. Although I don't see myself as cute as I was in my 20s, neither do I feel mature enough yet; it's an ambiguous feeling. Though I do like that as we age, the spectrum of age ranges we can take on widens.
When you choose a project, do you have anything you look for?
Something new that I haven't tried. There are a lot of characters that I haven't played; such as action, horror and melo. Neither have I had a role where my love story has a happy ending. Rather than the 'size' of the role (ie. Being 1st/2nd lead), I tend to focus on the thoughts of the character and the extent of flexibility to which I can portray the character in a three-dimensional and lively way.
Is that why you mentioned that there are no clear cut evil or good people? What is your thought process when portraying characters?
I believe that no one is totally evil or kind in this world. This belief provides me with the substantiation to portray a character through a diversity of dimensions to the viewers. Although I also desire to play an evil character without any reason. I also want to chase after criminals, since I have the energy now, I want to put the energy into chasing after criminals.
Energy to run? It reminds me of Running Man. Your appearance was rather unexpected.
About that, I was surprised and amused by myself as well. I usually enjoy sitting down but Running Man was really really fun. I had so much fun that time passed so quickly and I didn’t want it to end. I showed a different side of myself there and perhaps opened the door to my child-like and bright character in <Familiar Wife> as Hyewon.
What do you usually do to relieve stress?
No matter the stress I’m under, once I overcome it and reflect, I realise that it was a small issue. I see them as stumbling stones that are part of life and try to make ‘big’ stones become ‘small’ stones instead. <무소유> (Simatiga) is a book I read in middle school and also my life-changing book.
In the eyes of many, being an actress seems like a highly enviable and flamboyant occupation?
I don’t own much clothes or shoes. I don’t have much interest in fancy things either from the get-go. I have been like that since young. I tried my best to respect the preferences of others and get along happily with my peers as much as possible. It’s become somewhat a habit to not be too bothered about things that I cannot control or don’t go my way. Although when it comes to dating, I do wish for the other person to express their feelings for me outrightly.
So what do you spend on?
I spend most of my money on food. I’m someone with a relatively high Engel Coefficient. I don’t mind spending a lot of money on tasty and healthy food; food is life to me.
What are you going to do after this?
Probably go home and take some selfies. Remove my makeup and have dinner.
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