Actor Park So-dam opened up about the process of recovering her condition after battling cancer.
On the afternoon of the 20th at a cafe in Samcheong-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, an interview was held with lead actress Park So-dam of the film The Journey to Gyeongju.
The film The Journey to Gyeongju, which is set to be released on the 26th (written and directed by Kim Mi-jo, provided by Lotte Entertainment, Michigan Venture Capital Co., distributed by Lotte Entertainment, produced by Studio Hi-Five, co-produced by Euphoria ENT), is a family revenge drama about four mothers who embark on a "killer" trip after eight years of waiting for their youngest daughter, Gyeongju, who did not return from a school trip.
Park So-dam revealed in 2021 that she was fighting papillary thyroid cancer, shocking the public. After being diagnosed with thyroid cancer and undergoing surgery, she took a break and was unable to participate in promotional activities for the film "Special Delivery," which was released in January 2022, then returned to activity the following year through the film "Phantom" and TVING's "EJAE, about to die." However, Park So-dam, who again paused activities after that, met audiences for the first time in about two years with The Journey to Gyeongju.
At a previous production briefing, Park So-dam expressed deep gratitude to Lee Jung-eun, who cared for her during her cancer battle. When asked whether Lee Jung-eun influenced her appearance in The Journey to Gyeongju, she said, "Unni kept playing mothers for so many people. Every few meetings with senior (Han) Ji-min, I would ask, 'When will I ever be able to meet someone as a mother?' and she said, 'If you want it desperately, it will come true. Let's wait.' I was happy to meet someone as a mother. She is someone I respect and love both as an actor and as a person," revealing deep affection for Lee Jung-eun.
Regarding the remark at the production briefing that "(Lee Jung-eun) came to my house at dawn and listened to me," Park So-dam mentioned Lee Jung-eun's reaction, saying, "Unni said, 'People ask me about that a lot but I don't remember.'" She continued, "She brought two dogs at night. Whenever I had worries or even trivial things, I often called and relied on unni. She rushed over that day too. In Jeju, she spent time with her parents and we talked a lot, and she was always someone who gave me healing. She's truly someone I want to do well by for the rest of my life. Visiting unni's house in Seoul and eating with her parents felt so warm and nice. Her mother and father are really cheerful. She has always been a supportive unni for me, so even if she hadn't played a mother role, she probably would have anyway."
In particular, when asked about changes after her illness, Park So-dam recalled, "After surgery, even during 'Phantom' I met many people and said I was 'okay,' but looking back now, I wasn't okay then. While doing 'EJAE, about to die,' even though my character was death and emotionless so I couldn't cry, the work itself was so heartbreaking. I really wanted to do it, and that major surgery became an opportunity to reflect on life for me. Even when my voice wasn't fully back, the director said, 'You'll start in a year anyway, so please do the death,' and I did my best to recover," recalling her immediate post-surgery return.
She said, "Facing EJAE in the space of death, they had their own stories and met me, but it was very hard for me as human Park So-dam to keep telling him off. There wasn't much action, but after filming I was shaking all over from the pain. After that work, that winter there was a project I really wanted to do but it was outdoor action in midwinter. I worried I might burden others, that I wanted to do it so much but might not be able to finish it. That project was supposed to start then, but because I rested well that winter, in the spring I met The Journey to Gyeongju. I said, 'It's a shame I couldn't do that project, but if I had spent that energy in midwinter, I probably couldn't have shot The Journey to Gyeongju with this energy.' I felt there was a reason for everything. I think I've become someone who can judge my condition well. It's a very apologetic thing, and I think it's a huge courage," she said, conveying a positive change.
Park So-dam, who was upset that her condition forced her to give up projects, said, "Every time I regretted, thinking 'Wouldn't it be better if I took responsibility and did that,' (Lee) Jeong unni asked, 'Are you anxious because you think that project will do well?' When I said no, she was fine with it. She told me not to be upset even if I was disappointed that I couldn't do it because my condition wasn't good. I had unnis who asked me like that. I remember thinking, 'If you had that feeling, I'd really be sad,' but there was no such feeling at all. I was more upset with myself for not having built up my condition. I thought, 'If that opportunity comes again, I should take care of my health,' and 'After The Journey to Gyeongju I really need to become healthier,' so I started managing myself a lot from then on."
She said, "Until then, no matter how strict my diet was, my weight wouldn't drop and I kept getting more swollen from edema. But during these two years off I exercised almost every day, and now I feel like I can say, 'I'm really okay.' I cried a lot in front of the The Journey to Gyeongju family over the two years. Everyone except me works so hard that I wondered, 'Can I take this time to rest?' I had never worried like that before, so I was a little scared for the first time. Each time, our (Lee) Yeon was so reassuring, saying, 'Life is long, unni, you're doing fine, what are you worried about?' Whenever I shared my serious worries, Lee Jung-eun, Kong Hyojin, and Lee Yeon were like a counseling shelter for me. It's the kind of talk that's hard to have with mom and dad. When I honestly asked whether it was right to rest as an actor after meeting the The Journey to Gyeongju family, everyone said, 'You should rest. You've been sick and shot 40 projects, you can take a break.' They all made my bundle of worries into tiny beans so I went home lighter. Meeting them made me happy; I gained such good people. I'm very fortunate. Each project leaves so many good people," she said with gratitude.
About meeting the public through film again after a long time, she said, "This is the first time I've done one work, rested fully for two years, and then greeted audiences without other roles entering my body. When a project ended before, another role would gratefully come, but during those two years I lived well with Young-ju in my heart. Of course there were some feelings of depression and worry. I had never rested for two years, so now it seems the time passed quickly. Whenever I was anxious, I would talk to my people and seniors would say, 'Life is long; taking two years off won't suddenly make you age, and you might be able to accept roles in a healthier state.' So I'm really happy and excited these days. I always feel good when promoting, but this time it's a work I love so much because I can talk about Young-ju after two years when no other role entered, and I really hope it does well," she said, expressing affection for the work.
She added, "I hope many people can see it in theaters. I want this feeling to be conveyed well, so I'll keep my schedule open to promote as much as possible and go wherever I can. I'm excited because I can fully focus on promotion now. I used to worry and lose sleep or wake up early whenever I had a schedule, but these days I wake up early because I'm happy. I wondered how fun it would be today," she said.
When asked whether she plans to resume active activities, Park So-dam said, "I think I can now. I don't want to be a burden. During The Journey to Gyeongju I wanted to eat and play together in Gyeongju, but I wasn't confident going to the gym alone, so I trained with the teachers I had been working with to build stamina. During 'Phantom' my skin was bad; I had a lot of acne because of hormones and had to go to dermatology, so I was busy going back and forth. At the time, if I hadn't done that I don't think I could have endured. Now everything has really improved. I sleep seven hours, eat well. Even if I eat and exercise now, my body doesn't keep gaining weight like before. Back then, even on an absurd diet for two months, I couldn't lose weight. My body was swollen. Now I feel I'm getting rid of harmful things and returning to my true state, so I want to see many people. I'm trying various things to be seen as much as possible," she said, heightening expectations. (Interview ② to follow.)
[Photo] Lotte Entertainment
[OSEN]