(continuing from interview ②) Zainichi Korean actress Hyunri spoke about the significance of works that connect with Korea, such as Pachinko and Is This Love Translatable?.
Hyunri recently starred as Nanami in the Netflix original series Is This Love Translatable?. This is her first Korean drama, but she actually debuted in Japan in 2006. Having started in Japan as a Zainichi Korean actress and now active across Korea and the United States as well, she is already a veteran actor marking her 20th anniversary since debut.
Having appeared in the Apple TV+ original series Pachinko in 2022, Hyunri has since expanded her activities not only in Japan but also in the United States and Korea after Is This Love Translatable?. Born in Tokyo, she taught herself Korean and learned it independently; she also attended a short study abroad program in the United Kingdom during middle school, overcoming language barriers. To persuade her parents, who opposed her becoming an actor, she graduated from the prestigious private university Aoyama Gakuin University with a law degree, and she is attempting a global leap with her own diligence and perseverance.
She also shared experiences with fellow actors. Asked about conversations with colleagues regarding global activities, Hyunri said, "There are many close actor colleagues in Japan with whom I keep in touch regularly even after we finish a series together," and added, "There are not yet many friends who move between Korea and Japan for work, but if such cases increase and I gain colleagues, I would like to share experiences and have deeper conversations."
Hyunri has already been confirmed to appear in the Disney+ original series A Shop for Killers season 2 following Is This Love Translatable?. A Shop for Killers season 2 is the follow-up to A Shop for Killers, which was released in 2024, and is an action drama in which Jian (Kim Hye Jun), who protected the dangerous legacy left by her uncle Jinman (Lee Dongwook), once again becomes the target of suspicious killers.
Her role in this production is also drawing attention. Hyunri said, "I will appear as Q, a killer in the East Asia branch of the mercenary company 'Babylon'." She added, "This was my first real action challenge, and I prepared with everything I had, to the extent that I feel I poured my soul into it. Please look forward to it," raising expectations.
What goal does Hyunri hope to achieve through such soul-pouring activities in Korea? Hyunri said, "Until I was about five, I moved between the two countries (Korea and Japan), so I have many warm memories of Korea and time spent with my grandmother," and added, "Each country expresses emotions slightly differently. If given the chance, I would like to show deep acting in a work that deals with a 'family story' imbued with that uniquely Korean sentiment."
[photo] Provided by HB Entertainment.
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