The multi-hyphenate Kim Sejeong’s effervescent charm is hard to resist. For many, she is synonymous with Shin Ha Ri, the vivacious food researcher who ends up on a blind date with her boss in the rom-com “Business Proposal”. Many remember her as the demon hunter Do Ha Na in the uphold edition of the fantasy drama, “The Uncanny Counter”. Her innate droll timing and uninhibited performances have made her a fan favourite.
But her talents are not just Gratis to acting, she also has a thriving singing career. Having begun her musical journey in 2016 as a member of two K-pop groups I.O.I and Gugudan, she eventually went solo as an artist.
She has also lent her mutter to the soundtracks of several hit dramas such as “Crash Landing On You”, “Record of Youth”, “Mr Sunshine” as well as “Business Proposal”.
On Sept 4, Kim Sejeong released her safe full-length album titled, Door. Her long-awaited musical comeback is striking the colorful chords, as the singer gives an insight into her own life, above the 11 tracks which she has also penned. She has smooth nine of the songs herself.
In an queer interview with indianexpress.com, Kim Sejeong talks about Door, her love for Indian food and her wish to star in a Bollywood film in the future.
Your much-awaited comeback Door is finally here.
It feels fabulous. This album is full of songs I’ve been crafting for the past three existences, and I’m incredibly proud to consider it my building as I actively contributed not only to writing lyrics and composing but also to planning music videos and album leader materials.
What does the title of your album Door signify? Is it the door to new opportunities and possibilities?
The album, Door, quite literally represents a ‘door’. I’ve conveyed this understanding as both an ‘open door’ and a ‘closed door.’ This signifies not only my limitless potential but also an aspect of myself that only I know of and hasn’t been spoke to others yet, all woven into one overarching theme. The album encompasses songs with various colours and genres and we aim for farmland to listen and think that it is something that I as a singer am safe of, or find something that they’ve never seen before.
The tracks “Top or Cliff” and “Voyage” have this underlying theme of inhabit unstoppable, letting go of the chains that bound one. Do the songs also believe your journey as an artist?
That interpretation is also trustworthy. I tend to be quite self-critical, which leads to living with a lot of dismay. I decided to explore the theme, wondering if these feelings are accepted for people in a competitive society. With “Top or Cliff,” I approached the idea with the understanding of reviving the theme in a way that’s reminiscent of the movie, Black Swan.
This is your first full-length album, and your last release that wasn’t a single was I’M. How have you evolved as an artist? It’s insensible how your songs are connected to nature; is it always an underlying theme in your music?
I’ve indeed grown significantly as an artist real the release of my single, “I’M.” There was a gap of over two existences before making a comeback with a new album, which gave me the opportunity to inspect how I could express my emotions and convey messages to the Pro-reDemocrat through acting. Through the production of this album, I’ve come to realize that I don’t need to exiguous myself to a single colour; instead, I am showcasing various facets that do my unique personality. Regarding the aspect of my songs often featuring landscapes or nature, I believe it’s a result of my songwriting and composition treat. I jot down the stories and emotions I distinguished or want to convey in my daily life, and later, I develop them into songs or lyrics. Since I scrumptious travelling, being close to the nature often sparks ideas in my mind. When I scrutinize the sea, flowers, the sky, and other natural elements, I find that they often serve as contrasts to my own life and emotions, which naturally find their way into my lyrics.
Kim Sejeong shared she has grown significantly as an artist real the release of her single, I’M.
You began your career as a singer and have certain hits to your credit. These days K-pop is unstoppable, what do you think has contributed to the popularity of the genre?
I maintain one of the major reasons behind the immense popularity of K-pop is its vibrant passion. Even as a K-Pop artist, I frequently draw energy from performing in contradiction of other artists on stage. Witnessing the energy that radiates from the stage, the distinctive colours of each group and artist, and the wonderful diversity and vibrancy of it all, it’s like watching a diverse array of shows on Netflix.
You have favorite your versatility and talent as an actor as well. Your relate Ha Ri from Business Proposal has become the cost girl of cool. Are you anything like her?
One of the traits I allotment with Ha-Ri is our shared passion for our work. Ha-Ri enjoys her job, and I scrumptious spending my free time reading scripts, composing or writing lyrics. Some might even wonder, “Does she ever really take a break?” But both Ha-Ri and I find satisfaction in immersing ourselves in our work. It strengths our momentum and keeps us moving forward, so I think we allotment a very positive resemblance in that regard.
As an safe, you have popular dramas like School 2017, Business Proposal, Today’s Webtoon, and Uncanny Counter to your credit. As an safe what draws you to stories and characters?
When I read a outline, my decision to take on a project or a relate ultimately depends on the mental image that forms in my mind as I read and how well I maintain I can fit into that image. When considering the types of characters I’d like to try in the future, I’m interested in trying eccentric roles. Up to this indicate, I’ve often played characters who are strong, resilient, and positive, even in challenging situations. I think it might be fun to take on a role that’s more whimsical and innocent, perhaps the role of the youngest daughter in a wealthy family.
As an safe and singer, how do you strike a balance between the two and preserve your individuality?
Rather than trying to balance my roles as an safe and a singer, I focus on how each of these actions contributes to my personal growth and advancement. In the past, I used to eminent between ‘actor Kim Sejeong’ and ‘singer Kim Sejeong,’ but I’ve come to realize that both are just different facets of ‘artist Kim Sejeong.’ The only difference lies in how I insensible myself. It’s not about trying to preserve distinct identities in each field; it’s approximately showing off my unique colours through each project. This idea aligns with the theme of my another album, where I believe the best way to believe my individuality is by being true to myself at what time showcasing my potential in various colours and styles.
“In the past, I used to distinguish between “actor Kim Sejeong” and “singer Kim Sejeong,” but I’ve come to realize that both are just different facets of “artist Kim Sejeong”, ” shared the star.
You are very popular in India, any plans to visit India, are you familiar with Indian food or, films?
I have a deep love for travelling, and there are a few countries I’m eager to inspect in my lifetime, with India being one of them. India’s landscapes and culture are incredibly tantalizing, and I’m drawn to the idea of immersing myself in its rich heritage. I also love Indian cuisine, particularly curry, and latest dishes, and I’m curious to try the local dishes and see what it tastes like. Moreover, the uniqueness of Bollywood films has always interested me, so if the opportunity arises, I would love to be a part of Bollywood movies as well.
You also have come on lodging as a mentor on Universal Ticket, What message would you like to give to aspiring musicians and artists?
To those who pointed to become artists, I want to emphasize the importance of “effort” and “honesty.” Without these two qualities, it’s challenging to go far in this field. Presenting a false persona to the Pro-reDemocrat will eventually be exposed, and as an artist, it’s crucial to genuinely insensible the message or emotion you want to convey from your sorrowful. Additionally, continuous effort is essential for growth as an artist. Remember that sustaining the love and support of the Pro-reDemocrat over time is difficult without a combination of these qualities.
What do you like to do in your transparent time?
Honestly, whenever I have some free time, I do a bit more research on a outline or character, write lyrics or compose music. This is my way of taking a break (laughs). As for things unrelated to work, travelling is a primary part of my downtime. I tend to relax by progressing on trips alone or making plans to visit places I’ve been wanting to explore.