With her new bob for her upcoming TV drama role with writer Noh Hee Kyung, Song Hye Kyo makes an unprecedented appearance on Jung Jae Hyung’s YouTube talk show, spilling detailed behind-the-scenes stories about her illustrious career.
After winning the school-uniform contest, Song Hye Kyo got connected to an agency and went for numerous acting auditions. She debuted through the family sitcom ‘Soonpoong Clinic’, which became a household name, propelling her into stardom. Then still a high-schooler, she played the role of a cheeky and loud college student, receiving much love.
Song Hye Kyo’s next role was the terminally ill Eun Suh in the mega-hit romance melodrama ‘Autumn in My Heart’, co-starring Song Seung Heon and Won Bin. The TV drama averaged a rating of about 40% domestically, and was also one of the first dramas to lead the Korean ‘Hallyu’ wave internationally. However, she reveals that the public were initially averse to her casting, worried that an actress with just a sitcom background would not have the acting chops to pull this off. Personally, she also attests to putting in much work to adjust her acting style as she had to speak at a much slower pace for this melodrama. Then 20 years of age, she felt even more determined to prove her dissenters wrong, and evidently, she succeeded.
Song Hye Kyo even reveals the funny anecdote that the ‘Autumn in My Heart’ trio once filmed for three days straight, which prompted the director to ask them to get a shower because they looked disheveled on screen. Since they were filming in the countryside, she went to a public bathhouse, but was surprised when a grandmother slapped her back, asking Eun Suh not to die.
The public backlash about her casting did not stop there. When Song Hye Kyo accepted to star in the romance drama ‘Full House’, which is based on a Korean comics, she received another wave of objections. She explained that the original comics featured a tall female protagonist, and fans were displeased by the supposed miscasting. Similarly, she was able to deliver a convincing performance with varied charms, as the drama co-starring Rain was a huge success too.
Song Hye Kyo also talks about the struggles and honor of participating in Wong Kar Wai’s 2013 film ‘The Grandmaster’. What she initially thought was a brief collaboration ended up being a three-year filming period despite her role not being a main one. Also, due to the location being away from the city, all she could do on her downtime was to play badminton with the staff on set. She reflected on the experience, highlighting that she was envious of Chinese film production system where filming was done within a set time period, as opposed to Korean filming that goes on without limits.
Amid anticipation, Song Hye Kyo returned with the revenge drama ‘The Glory’, wanting to make a breakthrough with a role that showcased a different side. She mentions that the film crew would prioritize filming her first due to seniority, but she would ask for her juniors to be filmed first when the scenes are focused on the other character’s emotions, so as to get the best work out. She adds on that this also benefits her, as she would receive the energy from her co-stars, which would then bring out better performances from her. She praises her co-actors, stating that it was satisfying to work with them as they were all fully immersed in their roles. And once again, the drama was a global hit and one of the success stories that revolutionized Korean productions’ presence on international platforms.
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