Exclusive: Kim Jae Joong And Jin Se Yeon Talk First Impressions, Their "Bad Memory Eraser" Characters, And More

Aug 08, 2024

Kim Jae Joong and Jin Se Yeon have dished with Soompi about their latest drama “Bad Memory Eraser”!

“Bad Memory Eraser” is a romance drama about Lee Kun (Kim Jae Joong), once a promising tennis player whose life changes due to a memory eraser, and neuropsychiatrist Kyung Joo Yeon (Jin Se Yeon), who unintentionally winds up becoming Lee Kun’s fake first love through memory manipulation.

Along with the drama’s recent premiere, the two actors took time to chat with Soompi about their drama and reveal more about themselves.

Read the full interview below!

What were your first impressions of the “Bad Memory Eraser” script?

Kim Jae Joong: I was greatly attracted to being able to play a character with two completely different personalities in one project. Also, the script was fun and touching at the same time.

Jin Se Yeon: I really enjoyed reading the script the first time and was completely immersed without analyzing at all. Then I read it again, concentrating on the characters, and I felt like I really wanted to give it a try. I didn’t want to miss this project because I thought it’s not just a typical rom-com but one with distinctive characters.

What were your first impressions of each other, and what are your current impressions?

Kim Jae Joong: My first impression of Jin Se Yeon was that she was like an angel. As I got to know her better, I realized that she truly is an angel-like person.

Jin Se Yeon: Kim Jae Joong was a huge top star in Korea and overseas when I was in middle school, so I was nervous but excited to work with him! I could feel his bright energy right away when he greeted me at the script reading. When I saw how he took care of everyone in such a short period of time, I thought he was a really nice person, and even now, that impression is still the same!

What did you especially focus on or prepare for your role in “Bad Memory Eraser”?

Kim Jae Joong: I had to manage significant fluctuations in tension. Depending on the scenes I was filming, I had to portray Lee Kun both before and after losing his memory several times a day, which was quite challenging. I had to change everything from my posture to my gaze, facial expressions, and even my way of speaking.

Jin Se Yeon: When working, Kyung Joo Yeon is rational and stern to the point where she might seem harsh and cold. However, she is clumsy when it comes to love. I wanted to portray this lovable character in a multi-dimensional way. I focused most on ensuring that the transition between her different sides appears natural, reducing the gap between these traits. If not done carefully, it could make her seem like a different character. My biggest hope was that Kyung Joo Yeon’s journey of learning about love would come across as endearing.

What do you think is the MBTI of your character?

Jin Se Yeon: I think she might be a complete INTJ! She is always poker-faced, feels more comfortable being alone, and is a workaholic who is a professional at what she does!

What do you think is the greatest charm of each other’s character?

Kim Jae Joong: Kyung Joo Yeon is a person with clear personal beliefs and values goodwill. The moments when she occasionally expresses her genuine heart are especially endearing. She is like a traffic light, making you wait while maintaining distance but then pulling you in in an instant.

Jin Se Yeon: Starting from episode 2, Lee Kun appears with overflowing confidence, and that self-assured and bold demeanor comes across as truly charming. And since he loves Joo Yeon as much as he loves himself, this adds to the heart-fluttering moments. It must be because Jae Joong did such a great job portraying the character, right?

What was the most difficult scene to film?

Kim Jae Joong: When portraying the dark side of Lee Kun, I almost shed tears as many times as I took breaths. He is an incredibly heartbreaking character. The emotional scene with Lee Shin (Lee Jong Won) on the Han River bridge also took a very long time to film. It was an extremely tough shoot, both emotionally and due to the cold weather.

Jin Se Yeon: There was a time when we went by the sea for filming in the winter. The weather was cold, the wind was blowing hard, and I had to convey sad emotions, so there were so many aspects I needed to pay attention to. On top of that, I had to slap Jae Joong’s cheek, so I was really worried because getting slapped on such a cold winter day must have been extremely painful.

What would you think if an actual “bad memory eraser” existed?

Kim Jae Joong: For someone suffering from excessive trauma, it might be a grateful medical solution, but the idea of completely erasing bad memories seems too fantasy-like.

Jin Se Yeon: I think it might be a bit unfortunate. While the idea of erasing painful or bad memories might seem ideal, I worry that eventually, people might start wanting to erase even the smallest of inconveniences in the future. There are certainly memories among them that, despite being failures, help us grow more mature and wiser. If people start erasing even those experiences, it would indeed be quite unfortunate.

What is your own way of overcoming bad memories?

Kim Jae Joong: I gradually overwrite them with good memories.

Jin Se Yeon: Since I started believing that wasting time on unnecessary emotions is pointless, I’ve been trying not to let them bother me. My way of overcoming bad memories is to make an effort not to think about them at all.

What is a role you haven’t tried yet that you would like to try acting in the future?

Kim Jae Joong: I want to try a father role.

Jin Se Yeon: I’ve played many characters who wear suits, so I’d actually like to try portraying someone without a job or maybe a college student role. When I wear a suit, I unconsciously become more rigid, and my acting can become stiff, too. I’d like to break free from those constraints and try a more relaxed style of acting.

Do you monitor your own acting a lot?

Kim Jae Joong: I have trouble doing so a lot because it feels embarrassing.

Jin Se Yeon: I always monitor my acting but still feel a bit embarrassed when watching. I tend to focus a lot on analyzing expressions and lines, thinking about how I could have done better.

What have you enjoyed watching the most on YouTube recently?

Kim Jae Joong: I still enjoy watching “Infinite Challenge.” I also like content related to science and history. And of course, anything related to food.

Jin Se Yeon: I usually enjoy watching videos of puppies. I also like watching videos of factories making snacks or cakes because these kinds of videos are so addicting. I also occasionally watch channels that create good music videos set to music.

What do you usually drink at cafes?

Kim Jae Joong: I drink Iced Americano.

Jin Se Yeon: In the summer, I often drink ade or blended beverages, and in the winter, I drink a lot of tea. I especially enjoy beverages with fruit.

Please share any TMI with fans!

Kim Jae Joong: I haven’t had a single meal yet today. For the record, I feel the greatest happiness when I’m eating.

Jin Se Yeon: Coincidentally, there was a question about what I usually drink at cafes. Lately, I’ve been drinking an ade every day, so I was delighted to receive a question about what I drink!

Please share a message for international fans tuning in to “Bad Memory Eraser”!

Kim Jae Joong: It’s a drama that gets more captivating and lovable the more you watch. Please make sure to watch closely as the unpredictable plot unfolds.

Jin Se Yeon: Since this is my first project in a while, I’m both excited and nervous. However, the atmosphere on set was fantastic, and the chemistry among the actors was also great. While our drama is a rom-com, I would also describe it as a healing drama that addresses and helps heal trauma and worries. Please tune in!