Kim Jae Won reveals he lost 6 kg and filmed without makeup for his first movie 'Final Interview'

Actor Kim Jae Won revealed that he went through a physical transformation for his big-screen debut in Final Interview, losing around 6 kg and filming some scenes without makeup to make his character look more realistic.

On November 3, Kim Jae Won sat down for an interview at a cafe in Samcheong-dong, Seoul, where he discussed his first movie and the efforts he made to prepare for the role.

In Final Interview, Kim Jae Won plays Han Jin Woo, an idealistic young man who believes in people but finds himself caught between trust and suspicion. The mystery thriller follows six job applicants whose final interview takes an unexpected turn.

As this marks his first movie, Kim Jae Won admitted that he felt both nervous and excited about how audiences would respond to his performance.

“I'm very nervous. It's my first movie, and I'm also trying a new genre, so I wonder whether my performance will be convincing to viewers,” he shared.

The actor explained that he wanted to show a more realistic side of his character, especially as the story progressed.

To achieve this, Kim Jae Won paid close attention to his appearance, including his makeup, hairstyle, and weight.

“For some scenes, I didn't wear any makeup at all. My natural skin tone is quite dark, but for the interview scenes, my makeup was about two shades lighter than usual, and my hair was styled,” he explained.

However, for scenes requiring a more exhausted appearance, he decided to look as natural as possible.

Kim Jae Won revealed that he also lost around 5 to 6 kg to make the character's physical changes more noticeable.

“I really wanted to give my best for this movie. I made my lips look as pale as possible and went on a diet. I lost about 5 to 6 kg, which was a big change for me because I have a relatively high basal metabolic rate,” he said.

The actor added that viewers might notice the difference in his appearance when comparing scenes filmed earlier and later in production.

He also admitted that he reduced his water intake at times because he wanted his face to appear thinner and more tired.

Beyond his physical transformation, Kim Jae Won explained that he approached his first film differently from his previous television dramas.

“In dramas, you have to carry emotions over a longer period, but in movies, I think you have to show the character within a shorter amount of time,” he said.

He added that acting on a large screen made him more conscious of even his smallest movements, leading him to focus on a more restrained performance.

Kim Jae Won also shared that playing Han Jin Woo was challenging because the character does not easily reveal his emotions.

To portray him convincingly, the actor worked closely with the director to balance the character's gentle personality with a more mysterious side.

Despite feeling nervous about his movie debut, Kim Jae Won expressed his determination to show audiences a different side of himself through Final Interview, highlighting both his physical transformation and his efforts to improve his acting.