Due to the raging coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, people all around the world have been actively utilizing the Internet as a replacement for outdoor activities. Responding to the trend, entertainment companies and streaming services such as Naver Television (TV), Netflix, and Watcha have been producing numerous television shows and movies. As the platform for dramas become more diversified, many actors are granted more opportunities to pursue their careers. Kim Hyeon Mok (’11, Environmental Science and Ecological Engineering) is an actor who is also currently gaining attention through his films and dramas. The Granite Tower (GT) interviewed Kim to discuss his acting career and his advice to Korea University (KU) students.

About Kim Hyeon Mok

Kim Hyeon Mok is an actor who made appearances in several TV drama series, web dramas, and films. He debuted in 2015 with the musical Flower Shoes and has been active in various web dramas and independent films ever since. In 2016, he received a special mention from judges at the 10th Seoul International Extreme-Short Image and Film Festival for his lead role in the independent film Best Cut. He also won an acting award at the 2017 Chung-Ang University Film Festival.

GT: What motivated you to pursue a career in acting, and what did you do to reach your goal?

Kim: To be honest, I had been interested in singing longer than acting. When I was in middle school, I happened to watch an American music contest program, “American Idol.” It motivated me to devote my interest in music and eventually led me to dream of becoming a singer. Before entering KU, I planned to enter a university with a department of theater and film in order to build on my interests. However, my parents were adamant about it. They wanted me to enter one of the top three universities in Seoul. After entering KU, I had ambitious plans to go busking near Hongik University.

At KU, I was a part of the actor team of the creative musical club Soulmate. I believe Soulmate was sincerely like a soulmate for me. The club’s specialized system and activities acted as a great stage for me to prepare for my future goal. I prepared for auditions for dramas and films, talked about the production process with club members, and practiced with other actors to find out what I really wanted to do. Whenever I felt that my acting needed improvement, I went to private academies to work on such parts. By the time I graduated, I had performed two successful shows through *Soulmate* and had found what I genuinely wanted to do. I then joined a theatrical troupe after graduation. After participating in plays and musicals, I expanded my performance to media acting, and now I mainly star in dramas and movies.

GT: What were some of the achievements or challenges you encountered since becoming an actor?

Kim: I enjoyed every moment, from the process of preparing for the stage to the moment of acting on stage. Nevertheless, I still found myself worrying about my economic situation. As I had become financially independent from my parents, I naturally came to look for extra income other than acting. However, I was determined to fill up the insufficient income only through acting instead of taking on part-time jobs. This decision motivated me to move from the stage to be in front of cameras for the first time.

Of course, it was tough to immediately succeed in the field of TV and film. As a non-professional, I did not have anything to write on my profile to apply for auditions. I sometimes did not even get a chance to audition. Shifting directions, I set a goal of gaining pure experience in media building up my filmography, which led me to apply for acting positions in high school projects and short films of university clubs without receiving any payment. As I built up my own filmography and consistently gave myself critical feedback, I naturally started to get opportunities. I was able to appear in more than 100 independent short films and was invited to various film festivals, including the Jeonju International Film Festival.

Numerous independent films supported me to gather a reputation within the acting industry, which brought me greater opportunities to join commercial films. These valuable experiences helped me to make a contract with my current agency, ASP Company. However, I believe it is slightly early to express my experiences as an accomplishment. There are still several works that I have not auditioned for yet, and there are a lot of roles that I did not get a chance to play. I am planning to do my best in order to get a chance to challenge certain areas that I have not reached yet.

GT: Do you have any advice you would like to deliver to KU students who want to pursue acting?

Kim: I believe the reason why I have been able to continue acting is because it was a challenge within my own scope of responsibility. I came to realize that both my level of sincerity towards my goal and the purity of my dream might have limitations of providing me with definite opportunities.

After narrowing the scope of the challenge to the extent that I can control, my goals seemed to become more reachable. This gave me confidence, which motivated me to keep challenging myself. I want to emphasize that these constant challenges and corresponding achievements have provided me with greater confidence.

It is important to keep moving forward in life, no matter what your goals are. Although you may not notice any immediate achievements, do not rush; rather, try to move on step by step. If you are having a hard time, take a rest—and if you realize you took a wrong path, step back without any hesitation. Then, one day, you will be able to reach your precious goal.