Actor Kim Sun-min confessed that he practiced to the point of getting blisters on his hands for his role as a genius drummer in 'Spring of Youth.'
On the 2nd, an interview with actor Kim Sun-min about the conclusion of 'Spring of Youth' (written by Kim Min-cheol, directed by Kim Sung-yong, produced by Studio S, FNC Entertainment, FNC Story, and Monster Union) took place at the OSEN building located in Hapjeong-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul. As the conclusion approached, Kim Sun-min met with OSEN and shared insights about the process of preparing for the project and behind-the-scenes stories from the shoot.
Kim Sun-min demonstrated impactful acting as Gong Jin-goo, the core member of the band called 'Tusa-gye' and a genius drummer in the series. From the first scene, Gong Jin-goo appeared as an indispensable genius drummer of the band, playing a role as a psychological supporter who comforts the members during the band's crisis, while also providing chemistry with characters from Kyuri (played by Seo Hye-won) to Ja-young (played by Cha Cheong-hwa), producing both excitement and laughter.
When asked if he practiced drumming to fit the role of a 'drum genius,' he said, 'I briefly learned the drums for about three months when I was in middle school, so I can play the basics. In 'Spring of Youth,' Jin-goo is a genius drummer, so I practiced really hard. I practiced three to four days a week for about four months. I practiced so hard that I got blisters on my hands.'
'Spring of Youth' was a drama where music was an important element. When asked if he usually has a lot of interest in music, he revealed, 'I have a lot of interest. When I go to karaoke, I sing rock band music and I like to sing band songs.' He added, 'I like songs that move my heart. I feel good when there's a strong beat followed by a punch,' and continued, 'So this time, when N.Flying's senior appeared on Kader Garden's YouTube, wow... I was speechless after hearing that.'
Kim Sun-min also expressed, 'I always loved it, but through 'Spring of Youth,' as I learned the drums properly, Senior Lee Seung-hyub invited me to N.Flying's concert, and it was so great. At that moment, I only saw the drums. I thought they played so well. I felt once again how amazing musicians are.'
When asked what position he would want to take if he could actually become a band member, Kim Sun-min replied, 'I would obviously want to be the drummer. No matter how much I like to scream, the drums are the heart of the band, so it looks cool to be the one holding the rhythm from behind, so even if I have to go back, I think I would still play the drums.' He added about the charm of drumming, 'It's refreshing. When I hold the drumsticks and hit, all the accumulated anger is released. I think that's what I enjoyed the most while practicing.'
Kim Sun-min especially felt the essence of drumming through 'Spring of Youth,' saying, 'If what I liked before was 10%, now it has changed to 100%. I was that serious about the drums. While filming, I think I listened to 'Fever' a lot. I practiced hitting hard a lot when I was practicing in 'Spring of Youth,' and I relieved a lot of stress from that. Along with that, I also liked 'There's Heat in My Head.'
When asked how he planned to portray Gong Jin-goo in 'Spring of Youth' compared to Ji Hyun-jun in his previous work 'Undercover High School,' Kim Sun-min expressed, 'I think the characters are completely opposite. I thought Hyun-jun from 'Undercover High School' is a very exemplary, chic, and respected character, so I wondered how to make Hyun-jun seem chic. I thought about how to portray a character that is chic and exemplary,' he said, adding, 'Jin-goo is very lively and a mood maker. There's a love line between him and Kyuri. I pondered how to convey that emotion, which was entirely different from the former one. If I assume my brightness is at 80%, Jin-goo is above 120%. The tension doubled on set. In the love line with Kyuri, I lowered the tension to convey the sincerity of love; I think I was considering that through my eyes.'
He revealed that he usually pays attention while monitoring, stating, 'I look at viewer reactions a lot. I check how my acting turns out and see the responses to my acting. Some responses I remember include, 'Jin-goo is my type' and 'Jin-goo's physique is so good.' I wanted to hear something acting-related, but receiving comments about my physique was a bit disappointing.' He also mentioned that what he enjoyed during filming were the comments, particularly the phrase 'exciting height difference', indicating that he liked when there was a line about being excited when standing next to Kyuri.
When asked if there is an acting genre he wants to showcase or a specific role he wants to take on in the future, he responded, 'My first priority is to try romantic comedy. There's a reason for that; while working on 'Spring of Youth,' since I have scenes with Kyuri, I feel like I want to try acting in romance, so if I have an audition opportunity next, I'd like to challenge myself in a romantic comedy.'
He also added, 'My second priority is to try historical dramas. Because I have always had this feeling, I want to act wearing hanbok and wielding a sword.'
When asked if there has been an actor he wants to emulate during his acting journey, he said, 'We have Seo Kang-jun in our company. I interacted with him during 'Undercover,' but still, I am a junior. Even though I'm a long-time junior, he approached me and asked about my acting concerns, showing a warm and kind senior's demeanor, which made me think that if I get a chance to get promoted, I want to be like him. I consider Seo Kang-jun to be a respected figure.'
In conclusion, Kim Sun-min expressed to fans, 'In 'Spring of Youth,' we shot with all our might. I thank all the viewers who watched until the last moment and appreciate your support. I will work harder and learn more to make sure that people get to know Kim Sun-min. Thank you.'
[Photo] Jo Eun-jeong, reporter, FNC Story.
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