Kim Jae Young Opens Up About Youth, His Character In "The Judge From Hell," Chemistry With Park Shin Hye, And More

Sep 24, 2024

Kim Jae Young joined Singles Korea for a captivating pictorial and interview!

In his interview, Kim Jae Young chose a youthful outfit as his favorite from the shoot because it reminded him of his younger days. When asked what he thought it meant to be young, he said, “Being young means being open to communication and relationships. As I get older, I sometimes feel like I’m holding onto fixed ideas when connecting or conversing with others. I often become the center of these conversations, and if I can’t step back, it can lead to conflicts. However, when I’m filming and talking with younger friends who are 15 to 17 years my junior, I discover many similarities and learn many valuable lessons from them. I strive to accept that, despite superficial differences, there are shared experiences that everyone can relate to.”

Regarding his character in “The Judge from Hell,” Kim Jae Young explained, “Although I’m described as a passionate detective, my character, Han Da On, is actually very sensitive. This drama is a sci-fi fantasy in which a judge named Kang Bit Na is possessed by a demon and, after meeting Han Da On, punishes wrongdoers. Because of this, Park Shin Hye’s character, Kang Bit Na, must avoid empathizing with humans. In contrast, Han Da On has to empathize deeply with the victims, which turned out to be more challenging than I expected. When I watch the news, I feel sadness, but unless it directly involves me, I don’t usually engage deeply. Typically, people are more empathetic toward topics they are interested in, right?”

When asked about any other challenges he faced while filming the drama, Kim Jae Young said, “The biggest challenge was accepting the existence of a demon. At first, the director and I struggled with how to acknowledge the demon’s existence as a human and connect emotionally with it. Honestly, it was a bit overwhelming. How can you believe in something you can’t actually see? Nevertheless, it turned out well, and I think Han Da On will serve as a bridge between the audience and the fantasy setting. My role involves explaining the unbelievable through human psychology.”

Discussing his chemistry with Park Shin Hye, with whom he is working for the first time, Kim Jae Young said, “She’s two years younger than me but has much more experience, because she started as a child actor. At first, I felt a bit awkward, but after talking to her, I realized she felt like a younger sister to me. What I learned most from her during filming was her professionalism. Despite the long hours of shooting, which can be tough and frustrating, she managed her emotions very well and didn’t show any signs of struggle. Seeing that motivated me as her co-star. She has been a huge help in moving this project forward, and I learned a lot from her.”

In a previous interview, Kim Jae Young expressed his appreciation for the wide spectrum of experiences and challenges involved in the profession of acting. Regarding his eagerness to grow in this field, he said, “I still think that way [about acting]. It takes about seven to eight months to complete a project. During that time, I focus on understanding my character and fully becoming that role. I also enjoy the chance to indirectly live various lives. In this project, Han Da On is a warm-hearted person. He pursues his goals until the end and takes responsibility, which I find very admirable. When faced with difficulties, it’s natural to doubt oneself, but Han Da On persistently moves toward his dreams. Watching that encourages me to reflect on myself, and I appreciate the organic connection between the character and me.”

The interviewer noted that Kim Jae Young appears to be someone who is always learning and evolving. Kim Jae Young responded, “I’ve done a lot in my life, but there are still many things I haven’t experienced. I especially feel this as I pursue acting. Recently, I’ve been thinking about challenging myself in a human romance drama because I haven’t done much romance.”