Kim Young Dae Dishes On His Acting Career, Upcoming Drama, Goals for 2025, And More

Oct 24, 2024

Kim Young Dae has joined Allure Korea for a pictorial and interview!

In the interview, Kim Young Dae discussed various topics. Reflecting on his most recent drama “No Gain No Love,” the actor revealed, “I watched the reruns alone. I managed to catch the initial broadcasts up to episode 6, but then the filming for [my upcoming drama] ‘Dear X‘ started, so after work, I would watch the reruns.”

When asked if he diligently monitors his work, Kim Young Dae commented, “Yes, I do. Even though I always find things that leave me unsatisfied, I still make sure to watch.” When asked what exactly makes him feel unsatisfied, he explained, “I feel disappointed in the areas where my acting falls short, and it makes me sad that I won’t get another chance to revisit the character.”

Kim Young Dae once mentioned that he learns about life through the characters he plays. When asked what he learned from Ji Wook, his character in “No Gain No Love,” he responded, “I learned calmness. If life is like the ocean, there are countless waves. The person named Kim Young Dae gets shaken by those waves, reacting to every up and down, but Ji Wook is more steadfast. He’s always the same. Even though he has been through storms since childhood, he maintains his composure on the surface, which is something I wanted to learn.”

When asked if he is like Shin Min Ah’s character in “No Gain No Love,” who makes decisions only after weighing the pros and cons, Kim Young Dae commented, “Not really. So far, I’ve been following my heart and going with the flow.”

He further elaborated on his personality saying, “I tend to forget things quickly rather than dwell on them. I might be in pain, suffer, and feel sad for a moment, but after a few days, I start to see things to be grateful for, and I find joy again. The more I experience disappointment, the more opportunities for happiness arise. I’ve come to realize that the saying ‘time heals all wounds’ is true.”

When asked if he feels proud of steadily building his filmography without taking a break since his debut in 2017, he remarked, “There’s nothing as certain as experience. I never hesitated or turned down any acting opportunities. I’ve always believed that my 20s were a time to gain experience.”

On his acting career in his 30s, Kim Young Dae shared, “I am looking forward to it, but everyone tells me there’s nothing particularly special about it. Personally, I hope to have fewer emotional ups and downs and find more peace of mind. I feel like I’ve gone through enough highs and lows already. I have a clear vision of the kind of career and life I want, and someday, I hope to speak about it with confidence.”

When asked when he feels proud of his acting, Kim Young Dae shared, “I feel proud when I’m praised for my work. For me, acting isn’t complete until it resonates with the viewers. When someone resonates with my performance or feels inspired by it, that’s when I feel like I’ve done well. That’s why I prefer being called by my character names like Kim Ji Wook, Joo Seok Hoon, Oh Nam Joo, or Gong Tae Sung rather than my real name.”

Speaking about his upcoming drama “Dear X,” Kim Young Dae revealed that he plays the character Yoon Joon Seo and elaborated, “The story revolves around Baek Ah Jin (Kim Yoo Jung). Joon Seo is like a ‘guardian angel’ in her life, amidst all the tough men surrounding her. Director Lee Eung Bok is trying something new with this drama, so I think it’s going to be quite complex.”

As for the goal he set for himself at the beginning of this year, the actor shared, “I just wanted to get through the year without any major issues.” When asked if he thinks he achieved that goal, he replied, “I think so. It’s been an eventful year, but here I am, still standing.”

Regarding goals he still wants to achieve this year, Kim Young Dae shared, “I want to get back into reading. I feel like I need to detox my mind and spirit. In my early 20s, I loved reading and did it often, but these days, I just end up watching Reels when I could be reading. That’s probably the cause of my emotional highs and lows, right?”

When asked about his goals for 2025, he commented, “I want to get rid of all the things I see as problems—like sleeping in, binge-watching Reels, and overeating. I want to resist the impulse to make unhealthy choices as a way of dealing with stress.”