"Lobby" actor Kang Hae-rim shared her thoughts on the story within the film and her future goals.

On the 7th, an interview with Kang Hae-rim, the actor from the film "Lobby," took place at the OSEN office located in Hapjeong-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul.

The movie "Lobby" (directed by Ha Jung-woo, produced by WORKHOUSE COMPANY and FILM MOMENTUM, provided by Michigan Venture Capital and WYSIWYG STUDIOS, distributed by SHOWBOX) tells the story of startup CEO Chang-wook (Ha Jung-woo), who knows nothing but research, beginning his first lobbying golf game to secure a 4 trillion won national project. Particularly, it has garnered expectations as Ha Jung-woo's third directorial challenge following his debut with "Rollercoaster."

On that day, when asked about her thoughts on the film's release, Kang Hae-rim said, "I have been actively attending stage greetings over the weekend. I have been visiting 17 theaters a day. It’s fascinating to see that there seem to be specific people designated for stage greetings. I continue to see familiar faces," and smiled while adding, "Before the release, I was very scared and worried. However, after the release, I searched for my name to find articles related to the film. I feel very grateful because it seems everyone appreciates it more than expected."

She also described the reactions of those around her: "Many of my acquaintances have contacted me. They said, 'Famous actors are there, and it’s fascinating that you are also there.' I have a younger sister who is 4 years younger, and her friends didn’t know I was an actor. They asked, 'Why is your sister there?' My sister originally didn’t like comedy films, but she said she enjoyed it after watching it because I was in it. My mom seemed to like it too, and she talked about it for a long time over the phone. I heard she watched it alone and also went to see it with church friends."

Kang Hae-rim, who made her screen debut as the pro golfer Jin-pro, who falls into a slump in "Lobby," joked, "I actually had no pressure because the character does not have to showcase superb acting skills. It’s a character that is relatively normal in the film and isn't someone who makes strange comments," and added, "I thought my character just needed to exist calmly within the movie. Director Ha Jung-woo also wanted that."

Having received the offer to join the film, Kang Hae-rim recalled, "I met Director Ha Jung-woo for the first time after receiving the offer. I think he saw me as resembling the image he had in mind quite closely," and she continued, "When I first read the script, the lines were very meticulously written. The people in the film chat and throw jokes, and I thought it was essential for me to just receive that energy and react. I didn’t think I needed to stand out."

Kang Hae-rim also talked about her experiences gained from her screen debut. She said, "This is something that the director and many others have mentioned, but (the film) is highly dependent on teamwork, and everyone becomes close, friendly. I realized how strong the sense of community is when everyone gathers to celebrate after filming. I really like being alone and am introverted, so it was tough at first. But later, I saw all the staff gathering for post-project gatherings, and I learned, 'So this is how movies are made.'"

Kang Hae-rim shared her thoughts on working with renowned actors such as Ha Jung-woo, Kim Ui-sung, Lee Dong-hwi, Park Byeong-eun, Kang Mal-geum, Choi Si-won, and Cha Joo-young. She expressed, "It was fascinating. What was written in the script came to life as situations and scenes, and I was drawn into it without realizing. Even if I just stay still, they perform. I was completely immersed and focused on my reactions."

She also reminisced about working with Kim Ui-sung, who plays her "superfan" character Choi Sil-jang, stating, "Ui-sung sunbae really is a person everyone misses if he doesn’t come to the set, and he treats everyone extremely well, including the staff and even juniors. He’s such a good person that I couldn’t harbor any hard feelings even if I wanted to. Then, she shared about the infamous 'vomiting scene' shown at the golf course, saying, "At that time, Jin-pro did not eat morning food. Because of that, we made a mixture of vomit with powder and some food. The original setup was that Jin-pro was a character who often vomits in uncomfortable situations. It’s a deleted scene, but during a therapy session, the teacher asked Jin-pro, 'Are you still vomiting?'"

Kang Hae-rim was able to share her preparations and perspectives regarding the character Jin-pro. She explained, "Jin-pro is a character who has always lived by his father’s instructions. Because of that, he is not very worldly-wise and doesn’t even know what kind of setting he is in." Continuing, she mentioned, "I believe Jin-pro's age in the film is around the late 20s to early 30s. Watching this character, I also found it relatable. I feel quite sorry for him. In situations like that, who can respond flexibly? Still, I think Jin-pro manages to endure and cope quite well."

Outside of her work, Kang Hae-rim's story was shared. Before entering the entertainment industry, she won the title of Miss Korea Busan-Ulsan in 2016, advancing to the finals and making it into the top 15. Kang Hae-rim explained, "I participated in the Miss Korea contest mainly because my mom wanted me to. I felt so shy and embarrassed. However, my mom really wanted it. My mother is now older, and at her generation, Miss Korea was a big event. I felt I wanted to show filial piety by participating. At that time, I didn’t have dreams of becoming an actress; I was preparing to enter a music college and had been playing the piano. Since my mother specialized in piano, she taught me from a young age. However, I didn't want to continue playing the piano in the future and even thought I would stop after getting to college. Eventually, when I stopped playing the piano, I had the opportunity to learn acting. I thought, 'Should I give it a try? Should I challenge myself?' and began then."

Afterwards, Kang Hae-rim walked the path of an actress, debuting in the web drama 'Idol Authority' and honing her acting skills by appearing as a reenactment actor in KBS's entertainment program 'The Critique of Love.' She was subsequently cast in the Netflix drama 'Somebody' after competing against a staggering 600:1 ratio, a remarkable eye for talent from director Jeong Ji-woo, who discovered actor Kim Goeun. In the show, she played the role of ‘Kim Seom,’ a developer who cannot understand others' emotions, leaving a notable impression on many viewers. However, after 'Somebody' in 2022, she found herself with an unintended hiatus of about three years.

In relation to this, Kang Hae-rim shared, "'Lobby' is the work that was filmed right after 'Somebody' came out. After that, the drama I originally prepared was also canceled, and I took another year off. The memorable part is that after 'Somebody,' I received quite a few project offers, but there were certain things the company wanted. I don’t think I made decisions easily. Because of that, I ended up giving up a lot of projects, and naturally, the industry situation became difficult, leading to a lack of work, and I had to take a break. I was just staying home all day, playing on my phone. Just living like that, I filmed an independent film last year, and that’s how time passed. I looked back and said.

Now in her eighth year since her debut, Kang Hae-rim, born in 1996, is entering her 30s this year. She stated, "I think I've changed positively about turning thirty. In my late 20s, I really disliked the idea of turning thirty and hoped it wouldn’t happen. But after turning thirty, those thoughts disappeared. In the past, I wanted to achieve things and had so many ambitions, but even if what I wanted didn’t happen as I wished, I want to live comfortably. I’ve heard people say that you 'whiz by' in your 30s. I’ve become less ambitious than before, feel more at ease, and want to walk the path laid out before me," adding, "I am constantly studying acting, and like the other seniors in 'Lobby,' I want to continue training technically in acting. I think it can be difficult to create a character that is very different from me. In such cases, I believe that I need technical skills, and I want to continuously train to become an actor."

Kang Hae-rim also shared her future aspirations, stating that she is considering her next projects. Regarding genres she'd like to challenge, she said, "Jin-pro had a rather sad aspect, didn’t he? Having to vomit while playing lobby golf and facing humiliating situations. Next, I want to take on much happier roles. Campus stories sound good. I’d like to do some romance while attending school. I usually enjoy exercising, so action films would be great. I also really like horror movies, so if I was given a role in that genre, a sad character would also be welcome," she laughed.

In conclusion, Kang Hae-rim expressed about her own charm, stating, "Director Ha Jung-woo also said that I seem to have the strength to carry out my genuine self rather than excelling in technical or acting prowess, and I think that's my strength," and she added, "Watching senior actor Kang Mal-geum, I felt that, in various and very different situations, her performances were natural. She expresses as if she is living somewhere, and I think it’s great, so I want to become that kind of person. I want to perform in a way that makes people feel, 'Such a person could exist.'"

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