Kim Dong-jun’s journey from K-pop stage to historical drama lead
Formerly a vocalist for the K-pop boy band ZE:A, Kim Dongjun has now seamlessly transitioned to a notable acting career, skillfully taking on roles of significant historical figures, including ancient Korean kings.
During an interview with The Korea Times at a cafe in Seocho District, southern Seoul, Tuesday, Kim expressed gratitude for the opportunities he has had in his career.
Kim shares his journey alongside members of the nine-member ZE:A, including actors Lim Si-wan, Park Hyung-Sik and the versatile entertainer Hwang Kwang-hee.
Debuted in 2010 amid a saturated market of talented boy bands, the group initially struggled to stand out. However, the members of ZE:A began to command attention as they ventured into individual careers and for Kim, this new path led to a successful career in acting.
His relentless pursuit since his debut has finally borne fruit, epitomized by his recent leading role in KBS 2TV’s now-completed historical series, “Korea-Khitan War.”
“Korea-Khitan War” delves into the story of King Hyeonjong (Kim) of the Goryeo Kingdom (918-1392) and his political mentor, Gen. Gang Gam-chan (Choi Su-jong). Together, they strive to unify the nation under strong leadership and shield its people from the merciless invasion of the Liao dynasty of China (907-1125), also known as the Great Khitan State.
“It feels like time has flown by. When I mentioned that I’m not in my 20s anymore, the senior actors I worked with on ‘Korea-Khitan War’ were visibly taken aback. Juggling between singing and acting tirelessly, I suddenly find myself at this age,” the 32-year-old during the interview.
“I feel like this time has been meaningful. I’m grateful that I can still pursue my goals in the industry. Being able to do what I love for so long feels like a reward for the efforts I’ve put in.”
Kim’s portrayal of Goryeo’s eighth king Hyeonjong and his collaboration with Choi as General Gang received praise for their authenticity and depth. The singer-actor
“These unknown historical episodes taught me the significance of the battle in Korean history, which I hadn’t fully grasped before. ”
emphasized his dedication to meticulously developing and depicting the character of the king.
“I invested effort in portraying King Hyeonjong’s journey of personal development. I aimed to illustrate the transformation of a young man into a genuine monarch. Initially uneasy in his royal position, as the series unfolded, I depicted his progression in earnestly considering the nation’s welfare under the General’s guidance,” Kim explained.
For him, stepping into the realm of historical dramas presented a fresh challenge, one that he embraced by delving into Korean history to better understand his character.
“I studied more episodes behind the historical facts I already knew while filming… One fascinating detail I learned was during the celebration for the victory at the Battle of Gwiju (1019), the king held General Gang’s hand tightly throughout, making him unable to use one hand for the entire celebration,” he said.
“These unknown historical episodes taught me the significance of the battle in Korean history, which I hadn’t fully grasped before.”
This deep immersion in his role, along with rigorous historical study, elicited a spectrum of emotions in Kim. Among them, one of the most striking was a profound sense of shame.
“The strongest emotion I experienced during research was shame. I realized how I’ve been living without fully understanding why I can lead such a precious life in Korea,” he admitted.
“I also reflected on my past tendency to underestimate the gravity of war. I deeply realized the hardships faced by those caught in war situations. With devastating wars raging worldwide, and our country technically in a ceasefire, the reality struck me even harder.”
Having confronted the horrors of war through the drama, Kim emphasized a poignant message he wished to convey.
“The message I aimed to impart through this drama is ‘War should never happen under any circumstance.’ This narrative resonated deeply with my fellow actors and me from the outset of filming,” he emphasized.
Successfully concluding his portrayal of a former monarch, Kim now aspires to be recognized more for his roles than his own name.
“I would be grateful for any opportunity to appear in works that allow me to evolve as an actor,” he said.
“My ambition is to embody the character rather than being identified solely as myself. That’s the essence of my acting career. Hence, I’ll prepare diligently, practice rigorously, and completely immerse myself in the roles entrusted to me… I believe that’s the least you can do as an actor.”