Kim Mu Yeol has opened up about the careful thought he put into portraying Na Hwa Jin in Netflix’s Teach You A Lesson
On August 25, Esquire released a new digital cover and pictorial featuring the actor, along with an interview about his approach to acting and character development.
Kim Mu Yeol explained that he does not rely on one fixed method when preparing for a role. Instead, he adjusts his process depending on the project.
He said, “I try everything I can.”
For Teach You A Lesson, Kim Mu Yeol said he collected different stories and situations that could help him understand Na Hwa Jin’s emotional background and motivation.
He explained that one of his biggest concerns was making sure viewers could understand why the character acts the way he does.
Kim Mu Yeol said, “If I could not convincingly show Na Hwa Jin’s motivation and his desire to carry on teacher Choi Ga Yoon’s will, he could easily come across as someone who simply uses violence in the name of education. I thought about that for a long time.”
His comments highlight the challenge of portraying a character involved in controversial methods without presenting those actions without context.
Kim Mu Yeol also said that responsibility is an important part of how he chooses and approaches his projects.
He shared, “I always try not to forget that a project can have an influence on someone’s life. But when I am actually acting, I try not to be restricted by anything.”
He added, “Not forgetting, while also forgetting everything at the same time. I think I am finally starting to understand how to do that.”
The actor also reflected on holding his first fan meeting after more than 20 years in the industry. He said the event was especially meaningful because he had once promised longtime fans that he would create such an opportunity.
Kim Mu Yeol said, “I finally feel a little lighter in my heart.”
However, when asked whether he planned to sing at the fan meeting, he jokingly replied, “If I did something like that, I think we would all feel awkward.”
