Kim So Hyun recently sat down for a COSMOPOLITAN Korea pictorial shortly after her latest drama Between Steps was released.
Between Steps tells the story of Park Min Jae (Choo Young Woo), who was a swimmer in high school but lost one of his legs due to an illness, and Im Yoo Jin (Kim So Hyun), who, after losing her way and wandering, embarks on a new path.
Talking to COSMOPOLITAN Korea, Kim So Hyun said, "When you watch the two of them, it feels a bit like a relationship between an avoidant and an anxious type (laughs). In fact, our drama leaves a lot of room for interpretation. The actors, director Ahn Pan Seok, and the cinematographer all had different perspectives. It's a work that we brought to completion by constantly searching for a middle ground where our different interpretations could meet," Kim added, sharing her thoughts on the characters.
"When I first received the script, I first thought, 'If I'm not careful, she might come across as a little unlikeable.' So I also shared my concerns with director Ahn Pan Seok. But he actually advised me to portray her just as she is. He said that the moment I tried to sugarcoat things, Yoo Jin's individuality would disappear.
So I tried to act while experiencing Yoo Jin's emotions just as they were. Honestly, even I have aspects of myself that I don't like — personal insecurities I don't show anyone. Everyone has such sides to themselves, and I think it's perfectly natural that Yoo Jin would, too. So I thought I shouldn't judge Yoo Jin by my own standards, but instead accept and portray her as she is. I think that allowed her to become a much more multi-dimensional character," the actress explained, discussing her approach to portraying Yoo Jin.
Kim So Hyun also consistently receives praise from co-stars and crew members she has worked with. When asked to comment, she said, "Haha. Since we actors are constantly being chosen [for roles], I sometimes wonder why people cast me. The first thing that comes to mind is that I'm a fairly steady person. Even when I'm extremely nervous or anxious, it doesn't really show on the outside (laughs). I maintain my composure in any situation, and I think people appreciate the fact. Also, since I have quite a bit of experience in my career, I guess the staff feel a sense of stability when working with me. I think that might be one of the aspects people personally like about me."
She was also asked about her on-screen chemistry with fellow actor Choo Young Woo. "We're actually the same age in real life, but in the drama, Min Jae is Yoo Jin's senior, and Yoo Jin follows him respectfully. So I thought it would be fine for there to be a little distance between us. If we got too close, that casual, comfortable side of our relationship could gradually seep into our performances. We didn't do many rehearsals, either. The director preferred it when genuine emotions and reactions just popped out in the moment. Fortunately, we had really good chemistry. Even without discussing it beforehand, we were naturally playing off each other's ad-libs. It was a fascinating experience," Kim expressed.
The November 2026 issue of COSMOPOLITAN, featuring Kim So Hyun, can be found on COSMOPOLITAN Korea's website and social media.
Source: COSMOPOLITAN Korea
