Actress Kim Min Ha opened up about her personal fear of poverty while discussing her role in Netflix's upcoming horror series Dead-End Job, revealing why her character's struggle to make a living felt especially real to her.
On October 28, Kim Min Ha attended a press conference in Seoul for the new series, which explores how ordinary workplaces can become terrifying places when people are desperate to earn money.
The actress plays Ji Yoon, the younger sister of Hyuk Joon, played by Lee Jae Wook. Her character fears poverty more than ghosts, a feeling Kim Min Ha said she could personally understand.
Speaking about one of her character's lines, Kim Min Ha shared, "I could really relate to it while saying the line. I was also afraid of poverty."
Her words highlighted the drama's central theme, which focuses not only on supernatural horror but also on the real-life struggles of people trying to survive financially.
Unlike her previous roles, which often required her to hold back her emotions, Kim Min Ha said Dead-End Job allowed her to express a different side of herself. Her character openly shouts, swears, and shows her feelings without holding back.
She also discussed the challenges of filming action scenes, explaining that she initially wanted her character to look impressive while fighting. However, the director preferred a more realistic approach that showed how an ordinary person might react when facing danger.
Director Kim Da Min explained that the series was designed to make familiar workplaces feel strange and frightening by adding supernatural elements.
The eight-episode drama follows Hyuk Joon, a young man struggling with debt who discovers a mysterious employment agency called Spider Manpower. The agency offers unusually high-paying part-time jobs, with wages starting at 50 times the normal hourly rate.
However, the jobs take place in dangerous and mysterious locations, including convenience stores, movie theaters, and construction sites.
Executive producer Han Jun Hee explained that the concept immediately caught his attention.
"When I first read the script, I was very impressed by the writers' question: 'Is there anything scarier than trying to make a living?'" he said.
He added that part-time work is something many viewers can relate to, making the horror feel closer to everyday life.
The series also stars Lee Hee Joon as the mysterious employment agency owner and Go Min Si as a workplace accident investigator.
Beyond its frightening situations, Kim Min Ha hopes the drama will encourage viewers to reflect on their own lives.
"It's a series that can make you laugh and cry, but ultimately, it makes you ask yourself what making a living really means to you," she said.
With its mix of supernatural horror and financial struggles, Dead-End Job aims to show that the fear of losing one's livelihood can sometimes feel just as frightening as the unknown.
The Netflix series is scheduled to premiere on October 30.
