From the U.S. to Taiwan, 'Weak Hero' takes over Netflix worldwide upon Season 2's release
"I chose Karma because the script was so interesting. The twists just kept coming, and I was curious to see which direction the story would take. Of course, the character I play, Ju Yeon, is the only righteous one and appears later in the series, so she doesn't have a huge impact. But I believed there must be a reason for her to be written into the story, and that's why I agreed to take the role. I also found it interesting to carry the project forward with so many actors. I'd never done a piece like this before, and I thought it would be a good addition to my filmography as well."
In an interview with local media, Shin Min Ah shared her feelings about taking on thriller genre and expressed her thoughts on her latest K-drama.
Karma is a crime thriller that follows the intertwined stories of six individuals trapped in a fateful connection, which they cannot escape from despite their desperate efforts.
Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha actress Shin Min Ah plays the role of Ju Yeon, a doctor who carries the trauma of being a victim of sexual violence. Although she is the only righteous character among the six main, she comes in the latter half of the series, which could understandably lead to some dissatisfaction regarding her screen time.
"Well… of course, it'd be a lie to say I didn't feel that way at all, but that burden was there from the moment I received the script. Ju Yeon is a character who overcomes her trauma on her own, so at first glance, she might come off as frustrating. But when the director explained that that was her role within the story, I completely agreed. When a victim faces their perpetrator, turning away might be the most realistic reaction. That's what I thought. Instead of portraying the trauma in a one-dimensional way, I chose to perform in a way that shows her emotional arc being gradually built — because I was worried that otherwise, it might ruin the [intricacy of the] depth of the character's wounds."
Karma closes out with a showdown between Ju Yeon and the Witness (Park Hae Soo). "I joined the set pretty late. Everyone was already familiar with each other, so I was nervous about whether I'd be able to fit in. But not just the director, Park Hae Soo also treated me like an angel, so I was able to adjust quickly."
Having shown a charming side in many of her previous works, this time she strips away all traces of her "lovely" charm. "I'm grateful, of course, that people describe me that way. But actually, I really love thrillers. I often imagine how I could be used in those kinds of stories. But scripts like that haven't come my way very often. That's part of why I was so drawn to Karma. Going forward, regardless of genre, I'd like to work harder to show more surprising sides of myself."
Shin Min Ah also expressed a desire to take on villain roles: "Even before I started working on this project, I really wanted to play a villain. As soon as I received the script for Karma, I thought to myself, 'Will I [be playing] a villain too?' I hope there will be an opportunity to play a villainous character like the ones in Karma."
At the K-drama's press conference, unlike the other cast members who wore black, Shin Min Ah appeared in a white dress, which prompted playful remarks that she had given a spoiler that she's the only good character in the series.
"It was totally unintentional. That day, we were shooting content for Netflix, so everyone had their outfits prepared, and most of them were flashy clothes. But for some reason, only at the press conference did everyone end up wearing black. I just wore a white dress without thinking, but it was surprising! Even the director asked, 'Did you do that on purpose?' (laughs)."
She continued, "They don't give me those [kinds of] roles. But if they offer me one, I think they might keep offering them. Directors have their own idea and vision of what kind of performance they want, but if the opportunity arises, I'd love to try playing a villain."
Her next project is the new Disney+ series The Remarried Empress. Based on the popular web novel of the same name, it tells the story of Navier (played by Shin Min Ah), who was once the empress of the Eastern Empire. Divorcing her husband and emperor, Sovieshu, after he brought a mistress, she marries Prince Heinrey and becomes empress once again.
"I don't set specific criteria when choosing a project. I just choose the ones that I'm clearly drawn to. I haven't read many webtoons yet, but these days, if there are any interesting ones, I ask for recommendations and I'm looking into them. If the opportunity arises, I might suggest characters or stories I'd like to do to the production companies. Moving forward, I plan to actively challenge myself with more diverse roles."
Shin Min Ah is also known for her philanthropy as she constantly makes donations to spread good influence. "When I first started donating, I thought good deeds should be done quietly. But I've heard that when influential people donate, many others join in. I believe it's right for those who are well-off to help those who are struggling."
