logo
Gong Seung-yeon thought her male disguise 'quite handsome'

Gong Seung-yeon thought her male disguise 'quite handsome'

Korea Herald07-03-2025
Gong makes stage debut as the town's beauty in 'Secret of Flowers'
Actress Gong Seung-yeon shared her thoughts on making her stage debut in the play "The Secret of Flowers" during a recent interview with reporters.
"It feels surreal to finally be on a stage I've long dreamed of performing on," she said.
"I've always admired the theater because it's a genre I never imagined myself doing. Actors on stage always seemed to shine."
Gong, 32, who began her acting career in 2012, has starred in series such as "The Master of Revenge," "Flower Crew: Joseon Marriage Agency" and "The First Responders," as well as the film "Handsome Guys."
She admitted to feeling anxious before the show opened, having nightmares about forgetting her lines. 'But now, I step on stage every day with excitement and fully enjoy each and every performance,' she said.
"The Secret of Flowers" is a comedy written and directed by filmmaker Jang Jin. Set in a small rural town in Italy, it follows four housewives who, after their soccer-obsessed and neglectful husbands suddenly disappear in an accident, devise a bizarre and hilarious scheme to claim their husbands' life insurance.
Gong plays Monica, the town's beauty, in a triple cast alongside Lee Yeon-hee and Ahn So-hee. To deceive the townspeople, they disguise themselves as men and Monica's performance includes several comedic moments.
"It's my first time playing a character in disguise as a man, and I think I look quite handsome," Gong said with a laugh. "At first, I felt awkward with the wig and everything, and I wondered if it would work. But once I got on stage, it felt just fine.'
Gong said she found the script so entertaining that she laughed out loud while reading it at home. She also thanked her younger sister, Jeongyeon of Twice, for helping her practice lines.
"Rather than focusing on trying to be funny, I trust that if I deliver the lines faithfully, the humor will come naturally because the situation itself is already very funny,' she said. 'It's fascinating to see the audience react in real-time, and I feel happiest when they laugh."
"The Secret of Flowers" runs until May 11.
Gong also stars in the crime thriller "Karma," co-starring Park Hae-soo and Shin Min-a, which is set to premiere on Netflix, April 4.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Seoul beckons ‘KPop Demon Hunters' lovers with special merchandise shop
Seoul beckons ‘KPop Demon Hunters' lovers with special merchandise shop

Korea Herald

time44 minutes ago

  • Korea Herald

Seoul beckons ‘KPop Demon Hunters' lovers with special merchandise shop

The Seoul Tourism Organization announced Monday that a special shopping zone featuring Netflix's latest hit animated film 'KPop Demon Hunters' is available at the Seoul My Soul Shop at Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in Jongno-gu, central Seoul. According to the Seoul Metropolitan Government and the travel organization, the shopping space was created in recognition of the global interest not only in "KPop Demon Hunters," but also in Seoul. At KCON LA 2025 last week, multiple Seoul-themed items sold out, including Hang River bookmarks and a Namsan picnic blanket. The organization said Sejong Center's new shopping space is created based on Seoul's go-to tourist destinations — the Han River, Namsan, Bukchon Hanok Village and Seoul Forest — which were heavily featured in the animated film. A variety of Seoul landmark-inspired items, ranging from scenic magnets, mugs, reed diffusers, to coin purses and candles, are available for both local and foreign visitors. The organization shared that those who buy 'KPop Demon Hunters'-related merchandise can also receive gifts, including popular tattoo stickers and a "Haechi' fan that caught visitors' attention at KCON LA. Haechi is Seoul's mascot that is based on Haetae, the mythical, lion-like creature in Korean folklore. The city's travel organization added that new merchandise inspired by traditional Korean foods — gimbap, cup noodles and more — that are enjoyed by 'KPop Demon Hunters' main characters Rumi, Mira and Zoey, will be available in October. 'We will continue our efforts to promote tourism in Seoul by developing programs and merchandise that can allow the overseas visitors to experience Seoul — which they saw in TV series or films — in real life and create a memory that they can treasure,' Kil Ki-yon, head of the Seoul Tourism Organization, said in a press release Monday.

From boo to boohoo: Korean ghosts tug at heartstrings worldwide
From boo to boohoo: Korean ghosts tug at heartstrings worldwide

Korea Herald

time2 days ago

  • Korea Herald

From boo to boohoo: Korean ghosts tug at heartstrings worldwide

From K-pop demons to grim reapers, Korean ghost lore captivates audiences with emotionally rich tales of sorrow, justice and healing Korea's traditional grim reapers, known as jeoseung saja, are gaining global recognition following their portrayal as key antagonists in the Netflix hit "Kpop Demon Hunters." The film follows shaman heroines who battle demons while performing as K-pop idols. Within two months of its release, it soared to become the fourth most-streamed movie on the platform, propelled by sustained global buzz. 'There's a growing sense that traditional Korean imagery feels more approachable and enjoyable, largely because Korean culture is now viewed so favorably and familiarly worldwide,' said culture critic Jung Duk-hyun. 'This positive perception plays a major role in making Korean folklore feel trendy and hip to global audiences.' Clad in dark robes and high-brimmed hats, these grim reapers exude a unique presence and emotional complexity, earning popularity rivaling the protagonists. Far from being purely malevolent, they are portrayed as tormented figures — a reflection of han, a uniquely Korean concept of unresolved sorrow that permeates much of the country's ghost lore. Han is the emotional pain that lingers after a traumatic experience, preventing one from moving on. In Korean supernatural tales, this sentiment explains why spirits remain earthbound — not to terrorize, but to seek closure for injustices or deep regrets. This emotional nuance distinguishes Korean folklore from some of the more dualistic ghost narratives in the West. Rather than evil for evil's sake, Korean spirits are often driven by sorrow, guilt, or betrayal. In "Kpop Demon Hunters," Jinu — the leader of the K-pop boy band Saja Boys — embodies this layered grief. Though transformed into a demon after abandoning his family, his actions stem from guilt and pain, not malice. 'The reapers, especially Jinu, show characteristics of Korean ghosts,' said Jung. 'Korean spirits are often defined not by violence, but by han — a sorrow that compels them to seek understanding from the living rather than inflict harm without reason.' This storytelling tradition casts the supernatural not as monstrous, but as deeply human. In the 'Legend of Arang' from Miryang, for example, a young woman's ghost haunts magistrates not to frighten them, but to seek justice for her death during an attempted assault. Adaptations of such folklore in modern dramas and films often preserve this emotional complexity, blending traditional themes with contemporary storytelling. TvN's 2016 hit series "Dokkaebi (Goblin)" reimagines Korean mythology in a modern setting, exploring han through two central figures: the Goblin, cursed with immortality, and the Reaper, who guides souls to the afterlife. Both characters are burdened by past sins. The Goblin is haunted by those he failed to save, while the Reaper is tormented by having ordered the Goblin's execution in a past life. Their inability to move on mirrors the unresolved sorrow central to Korean ghost stories. This emotional depth continues to shape contemporary content. The SBS series "The Haunted Palace" received praise for portraying diverse spirits shaped by the circumstances of their deaths. The show achieved an 11 percent viewership rating by focusing on the living engaging with spirits' emotional wounds, not just confronting the supernatural. At the heart of Korean ghost narratives is the idea that spirits find peace through communication, not confrontation. In "Kpop Demon Hunters," even in his demon form, Jinu seeks to share his pain, not inflict it. 'Unlike Western fantasy, which often resolves conflict through exorcism, Korean stories are about listening to the dead and helping them release unresolved sorrow,' Jung noted. This storytelling approach invites audiences to empathize with the supernatural and participate in a journey toward healing. Culture critic Kim Heon-sik attributed the growing global fascination with Korea's supernatural traditions to their unique visual and emotional elements. 'Their distinct Korean identity makes them more intriguing,' he said. 'And by integrating ghostly elements into pop culture, especially K-pop, they've become even more appealing.' Kim also emphasized that the success stems in part from subtlety. 'When nationalism or symbolic depth is overemphasized, it can alienate audiences. What made these stories resonate is that they left room for interpretation — letting viewers explore and connect on their own terms.'

Interview: Ahn Bo-hyun trades tough for tender
Interview: Ahn Bo-hyun trades tough for tender

Korea Herald

time3 days ago

  • Korea Herald

Interview: Ahn Bo-hyun trades tough for tender

K-drama heavyweight embraces vulnerability in 'Pretty Crazy,' playing unemployed softie who tends to demon-possessed woman Ahn Bo-hyun has played his share of tough guys. An alpha male par excellence of Korean dramas, he has terrorized Park Seo-jun as the sneering chaebol heir in "Itaewon Class" and thrown punches alongside Han So-hee in Netflix's "My Name." On the big screen, Ahn has nearly battled Jung Hae-in to the death in "I, Executioner." Meeting him at a Samcheong-dong cafe on Thursday, it's clear why he gets cast this way. The guy stands nearly 190 centimeters tall with a muscular and imposing boxer's frame — he was one, winning gold medals as a teenager before pivoting to modeling, then acting. His hands are cartoonishly huge. But it's his eyes that captivate: set deep beneath heavy brows, they carry an intensity that doesn't translate on screen. "People think I'm intimidating when I don't smile because of how I look," he says, laughing. "But when I do smile, they say I have this dopey charm." "Pretty Crazy," the upcoming fantasy rom-com pairing Ahn with Girls' Generation's Lim Yoona, is an interesting specimen in a number of ways. For one, it bills itself as a romantic comedy in an industry where the genre's virtually extinct. Its premise is drenched in comic-book silliness about a beauty who transforms into a demon every night with no memory the next morning. The film can't decide what it wants to be, and it shows. More interesting is how it throws its A-list leads into completely unexpected territory: Yoona as a jabbering woman wreaking havoc, and Ahn as Gil-goo, a clueless unemployed loser tasked with her nightly care. The role screams pitiful. Gil-goo tails his crush around town, staging "accidental" meetings after falling for her at first sight. When he takes the gig babysitting her possessed alter ego, he mothers her with obsessive care. Gil-goo is a vanilla nice guy, worlds apart from the masculinity Ahn typically projects. "Watching myself on the big screen, I realized I'm really good at looking pathetic," he says. "Like, genuinely wronged and pitiful." He found surprising common ground with the character, though. "I don't talk like him, but I could definitely sympathize. People have a hard time believing it because I look so tough and all, but Gil-goo exists inside me too. I've had my own periods of deep uncertainty, times when I cared too much about what others thought." "I'm actually really detail-oriented," he continues. "I know it doesn't match how I look, but I love cooking elaborate meals for myself, arranging things just so. I like cute little things to the point where you'd question my testosterone levels. I clean obsessively, do laundry religiously." For Ahn, the role was something deeper than comic relief; he saw a narrative about a loser maturing through caring for someone else for the first time. Gil-goo goes to absurd lengths to save Seon-ji from her curse, digging up backyards, stealing phones and racing to the middle of nowhere on Jeju Island. He's awkward in these missions but utterly sincere. "It's a coming-of-age story. This broken guy who can't stand up to anyone meets Seon-ji and her demon side, accepts this insane situation as truth, and realizes he can actually help someone, that he can matter." This understanding allowed him to sink deeply into the character. During the film's tearjerker finale, when Gil-goo finally addresses the demon by her real name, Ahn found himself overwhelmed. "I cried so hard shooting that scene. I wasn't supposed to — if I cry, it looks like romantic love. But I'd developed such affection for the demon character. My eyes swelled up so badly we had to pause filming until they went down." After all, for Ahn, playing someone so gentle turned out to be a revelation. "When Gil-goo's unintentional actions or way of speaking made people laugh, the feedback was immediate — the crew cracking up, the director smiling.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store