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| Actor Kim Yo-han played the lead role of Gong Ki-joon in the KBS series, "School 2021," which ended Thursday. Image courtesy of Oui Entertainment |
By Lee Gyu-lee
Actor and singer Kim Yo-han, who is also known as Yohan of K-pop boy group WEi, talked about his experience playing his first lead role in the TV series, "School 2021," after making his acting debut with the short-form web series, "A Love So Beautiful," in 2020.
"Filming during the hot summer all the way into the cold winter was not easy but I had such a fun and memorable time on set," the actor said in a written interview with The Korea Times, Wednesday.
The latest installment of KBS' popular franchise, "School," followed four classmates in a vocational high school ― played by Kim, Jo Yi-hyun, Choo Young-woo and Hwang Boreumbyeol ― seeking to find their own path in life, while exploring their adolescence and romances.
The series is directed by Kim Min-tae, whose previous work includes the romance series, "Cheat on Me If You Can," and is co-written by Dong Hee-seon, who co-scripted the comedy film, "Miss Granny," with writer Jo Ah-ra.
Despite the reputation of the franchise, the series had a rather disappointing performance, ending with a 1.6-percent viewership rating, Thursday.
Kim played the character of Gong Ki-joon, who used to be a promising taekwondo athlete who won a medal in the national league. However, his aspiring life falls apart after a serious injury leads him to quit the sport.
After quitting taekwondo, he enrolls in a vocational high school, where he meets a strong-willed girl, Jin Ji-won (Jo), a new transfer student, Jung Young-joo (Choo), and an ambitious model student, Kang Seo-young (Hwang).
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| Scenes from the series / Courtesy of KBS |
Kim shares many similarities with his character, as he also used to be a taekwondo athlete before making his way into the entertainment scene. The actor also won the national junior league twice.
He said that his previous background in the sport helped him in portraying his character.
"My past experience gave me a strong foundation for expressing the complex emotions that Ki-joon went through (during the transition)," Kim said. "I tried to study the background of the character closely from the script. I felt that I could get into the character better if I had a better understanding of the character and his situation through learning about his relationship with his surroundings. Ki-joon is very similar to me, but also somewhat different at the same time. So I needed to prepare well for the role."
He added that he was able to grow as an actor through the series.
"'School 2021' has allowed me to grow a stronger interest in acting. And thanks to everyone who has supported me and my character, I was able to become more mature. This series will stay with me for a long time, as it has offered me so many experiences," he said.
Kim has also made a comeback as a solo artist with the mini-album, "Illusion," this Monday. He said that he hopes to strive for success as both a singer and actor.
"I wrapped up 2021 with 'School 2021,'" and kicked off 2022 as a singer. I hope to present diverse acts as both a singer and as an actor," he said. "I still have a lot to show, so I ask for a lot of support. Thank you."
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