NamKoong Min, "I've Never Had a Time Without a Crisis"
Sources: JTBC News
Actor Namkoong Min (46) has clinched his first Baeksang trophy 25 years after his debut. Although he had been nominated before, he had never managed to win. However, with his performance in the MBC drama 'My Dearest', he won the Best Actor award in the TV category at the 60th Baeksang Arts Awards, smiling brightly. Despite having already won the grand prize three times at year-end award ceremonies on terrestrial TV, he had longed for a Baeksang, which felt like a welcome rain after a drought. The achievement came from his first attempt at a historical drama in ten years and left him beaming. It was evident how much he cherished the project.
Namkoong Min has consistently acted over the past 25 years. He did not start as a lead actor. He worked his way up from minor roles to supporting and leading roles. Growing step by step, he said, "Slumps always come. I believe there has never been a time in my acting career when I wasn't in a crisis," recalling the desperate mindset with which he acted in the past.
"Congratulations once again on your award. Have you watched the awards ceremony video again?"
I thought, 'Why didn't I have more to say at that moment?' I think I gave a very brief acceptance speech. Of course, I kept it short partly because Director Kim Sung-Yong had already given a lengthy speech before me, but at that time, I wasn't acting; I was just living my everyday life. When I'm acting, no matter what situation arises, I tend to stay positive and always try to push through, so I would have a lot to say. However, when I'm not acting, I'm quite a weak person. I'm useless and not particularly good at anything. I wondered, 'What do I genuinely want to say? Not to impress anyone, but what do I truly want to express? What am I feeling right now?' Nothing came to mind, and then I thought that writer Hwang Jin-Young, who created 'My Dearest' and spent years writing it, wasn't nominated. I felt regretful and wanted to express my gratitude to her.
"With so many congratulations, were there any memorable messages or reactions?"
Writer Hwang Jin-Young mentioned that she couldn't watch the awards ceremony live that day. About a week later, she sent me a message. She said, 'Since we connected through 'My Dearest', it seems you were there during sad, difficult, and significant moments. You filled those unforgettable times warmly and overwhelmingly. I'll cherish and occasionally reflect on them for a long time.' I was deeply moved by that message.
"Weren't there any reactions from your family? I'm curious about your wife Jin Areum's reaction."
I think my parents and siblings watched it. But our family doesn't show it much on purpose. Even though they support me a lot internally, they think, 'What if my support distracts him?' So, they cheer me on quietly and are even happier for me than I am. I truly think they are the best family. (laughs) My wife congratulated me and said, 'Oppa, I screamed when you won.' It seemed like those around me were happier than I was. Our staff members, who have been with me for nearly ten years, said they screamed a lot when I won.
Recently, I've been taking some time off to work on writing scripts. I've been having script meetings, identifying flaws, discussing them, and making corrections. When new scripts come in, I try to give feedback as quickly as possible. And if I have some free time, I like to go and eat pork cutlets.
"Since your debut in 1999, this was your first Baeksang award. Does this award hold any special significance for you?"
It was the only award I hadn't received. However, with 'My Dearest,' I didn't feel any regret regardless of the outcome. I think it was because I had confidence in the work, not just my acting or personal feelings. I didn't win when I was nominated for 'Hot Stove League,' but I left feeling good. When you have pride in your work or a sense of self-worth, you can enjoy the awards ceremony and leave happily. When your mental state isn't good, or your confidence in your acting is low, even if you seem likely to win an award, you sometimes feel like retreating into a cave. Acting is a job that involves emotions, so there are times when you want to hide away and other times when, even without being in the spotlight, you want to celebrate others. I think these ups and downs are part of being an actor. Some people have their criteria for evaluating me, and I can sense them slowly changing. When I was first cast as a lead, people said, 'He'll never make it as a lead.' Then, when one thing succeeded, they'd say, 'Just because he did one thing well, does that mean he'll succeed again?' They kept defining my grade with negative thoughts and breaking through, which was incredibly enjoyable. At some point, I felt ecstatic seeing their thoughts change without them even realising it. I haven't received such an award before because my influence as an actor was insufficient.
"What does 'My Dearest' mean to you as a work?"
It was truly a collaborative effort where the writer, director, and all the staff did their best in their respective roles. I think it represents the most ideal form of collaboration. Throughout the process of creating this work, I felt the pure passion of the staff involved, which made me proud — many moving and happy moments made me realise why I do this job, especially when I felt like giving up. This work was born out of the efforts of such dedicated people. It was my second historical drama. I did terribly in my first historical drama. While some might do well initially, I wasn't one of them. I was lacking when I started this time as well. Still, I thought hard about slightly modifying and improving the traditional historical drama speech patterns. Because I love acting so much, I worked hard to blend my weaknesses into my performance, and I think I improved a bit.
"What kind of actress was your partner Ahn Eun-Jin?"
I believe that the most important thing when working with a partner is their character. For that reason, I was very pleased to work with Ahn Eun-Jin. Director Kim Sung-Yong cast her, and since I started filming right after finishing my previous project, I didn't have the chance to get to know what kind of actress she was. This was my second time working with Director Kim Sung-Yong, following 'The Veil,' so I trusted his choice. We got to know each other slowly, much like the development of the characters Jang Hyun and Gil-Chae in the drama, which was nice. I don't usually become close to people quickly through work. Still, Ahn Eun-Jin made a big effort to approach me as a senior, and I was grateful for that. She has a great personality and is very kind. Because she has such a good nature, I think our acting together came out really well.
"You've been taking a break from acting since 'My Dearest' ended."
I don't have any particular hobbies, but I enjoy inviting close friends or my wife's friends over for a formal dining experience. I do that occasionally, but I usually can't eat everything I want when I have a schedule. This is the first time I've taken a break for about 5 or 6 months. I found myself ordering food that I used to avoid. In the past, eating those foods made me feel guilty and bad, but during this break, I justified it by thinking, 'Isn't this okay?' and ended up eating many of those foods. I don't know why I crave so many things. When filming a drama, I naturally diet because of the constant shooting. Still, I'm realising, 'There are so many delicious things in the world!' (laughs)
"During your break, did you do anything special? It seems like you forgot how to relax."
In the past, whenever one project ended, I would immediately jump into filming another. If I was fully immersed in a project, it was hard for me to take a break. I consider acting itself as part of artistic activity. Because I am passionate about creating something, I wondered, 'What else can I do during this break?'. I ended up gathering people to start writing. I've been writing diligently and facing challenges along the way. If I'm not involved in artistic activities, I'm not progressing. I've gone from being an extra to a lead actor, but who knows how long I'll be able only to play lead roles. Besides acting, if I don't broaden my boundaries by engaging in writing, producing, directing, etc., I feel like my opportunities in the future might become limited. But I do love artistic activities. Looking back on my happiest times, it's when I've worked hard, had some spare time, cracked open a can of beer, felt a little tipsy, and watched my favourite movie. Watching a movie on those days and feeling excited makes me realise, 'This is how I relieve stress and what I love to do!'
"Have you ever experienced a slump?"
It always comes. In the so-called artistic activities, slumps are inevitable even if I have a direction. It feels like a love-hate relationship. No matter how much I love acting, there are moments when things don't go as I wish, and sometimes, good things happen when I view them from a clear perspective. However, slumps don't seem to last long. Whenever a drama ends, I ponder questions like, 'What should I do to be happy?' 'What is happiness?' 'Why do I feel unhappy even when everything seems to be going well?' At such times, I overcame the slump by returning to basics and reminding myself, 'I was happy when I was acting, watching movies and dramas!' I don't think it's possible to continue without experiencing slumps. When we started 'My Dearest,' my junior Yoon Woo was very anxious because he had a bigger role than before. He asked me, 'When was the crisis in your acting career, senior?' At first, I was taken aback because I had never thought about it. However, carefully considering, I realised I had never faced a crisis. I always thought it was a crisis and acted desperately, which perhaps contributed to the success of my work.
"Your success rate in leading roles, from your debut drama 'Chief Kim' to 'Doctor Prisoner,' 'Hot Stove League,' 'The Veil,' 'One Dollar Lawyer' and 'My Dearest,' has been quite remarkable. Do you have your criteria when choosing projects?"
When I first started as a lead actor, I had no authority to choose. In the beginning, I worked with good directors and writers. When I had some level of choice, I prioritised the feeling I got when I first read the script over others' opinions. It has to be enjoyable. It shouldn't be boring, and I look for well-crafted, harmonious aspects. I prefer something that provides simple entertainment and makes me reflect or think. I hope there's a spoonful of substance beyond mere fun.
"The virtues I value most as an actor are..."
I believe that integrity and passion are crucial for actors. It's not just about being good; I think there's no progress without falling into traps and experiencing hardships. Of course, there will be days when there's no progress, but giving up effort and passion altogether feels like pronouncing a death sentence. When the agony comes before the next project, it may be scary, but overcoming it brings a sense of accomplishment.
"How satisfied are you with your current life?"
I don't feel particularly happy right now. I think I'm in the process of seeking happiness. Until now, I've placed importance on showing viewers as actors what I can offer through my work and seeing them enjoy and be moved by it. Even on tough days, I felt fulfilled if someone watched my work and thought, 'Let's live diligently, even if tomorrow isn't different.' I found happiness in that. Now, I feel like I'm in the process of discovering what happiness means as a human being. I've never taken a break from work. Whenever a drama ends, I immediately move on to another project, meeting people. But this time, I'm trying to find my happiness in everyday life. I'm striving to find it before I turn 50.
"If you had to pinpoint the biggest turning point in your life..."
I would say it's probably the drama 'Chief Kim' (2017). After 'Chief Kim', the public began to recognize me more as a lead actor, thinking, 'NamKoong Min as the protagonist? Is that okay?' In terms of acting, I think the turning point was the drama 'Hot Stove League' (2019). When I took on 'Hot Stove League,' I hoped that the process of overcoming challenges wouldn't be exaggerated. I wanted the character to live everyday life stoically, without embellishment. I aimed to capture the essence of someone who might typically go through repetitive routines. There was initial agreement on this approach from the directing side, and it was a well-received work.
"In 2015, you directed your first film, "Light My Fire." Do you have a strong desire for directing?"
Even though I can direct, I think it's better to work with directors who can offer many ideas. If I collaborate with someone like that, it feels like I have two heads, which can be beneficial. Whether it serves as a stepping stone for the people I work with or leads to creating something, I want to instil that mindset. That's the goal.
"Do you have any production plans?"
I'm considering production, but it's not just about me producing. I want to actively participate in projects created by others and challenge myself to see if I can also produce something I've written. People around me often ask for script requests, thinking I'm good at reading scripts. (laughs) I read theirs, and they read mine. I want to be involved in various aspects, whether acting or other roles. Whether it's movies or dramas, it's all part of the artistic process, right? I think expanding boundaries in that direction is positive. Even if I try to be interested in other things, I realize I'm not really interested in anything else. It's like, 'This is what makes me happy!'
"What are your upcoming projects and plans for the latter half of the year?"
I haven't finalized anything yet, but I'm considering two dramas. If everything goes smoothly, I might shoot dramas in the latter half of the year. And when I take a break next time, I want to travel comfortably and eat without restriction. I'd like to spend about a month doing that. I feel like I could try that next time. (laughs)
Thank you SO MUCH for the translation!
ReplyDelete