Actor Kim Seok-hoon Speaks about His Role in 'The Iron Empress'

Kim plays a royal descendant of the Shilla Kingdom

Actor Kim Seok-hoon talked on Monday about why he accepted the role he is currently playing in the new KBS2 TV drama "The Iron Empress" in an interview at the KBS Drama Center in Suwon. "I liked the character (Kim Chi-yang) because he has two faces. He has not yet revealed them in the drama, but will soon do so", he said. "Kim Chi-yang is currently disguised as a Chinese merchant, but actually he is a man who has a great ambition to rebuild the Shilla Kingdom (57 BC–935 AD)".

A royal descendant of the fallen Shilla Kingdom, Kim hides his identity to approach Empress Cheonchu, played by Chae Si-ra, and to achieve his ambition by using her. But contrary to his intention to use the empress to destroy the Goryeo Dynasty (918-1,392), he ends up falling in love with her, becoming the love of the empress's life.

"His goal is neither to save Goryeo nor win a war. He just wants to gain the trust of Empress Cheonchu so that he can pursue his own scheme", the actor said. "The drama has not yet developed to that point, so I am really excited about the shooting to come".

Kim continued, "Kim Chi-yang appears to be nice, but nobody knows what he really thinks in his mind. That he has two faces is what has made me attracted to him. Since he has just started to reveal both his sides, I think the story will be getting more and more engaging".

The 37-year-old actor also tries to create a positive mood at the shooting site. Chae Si-ra, Choi Jae-seong, and other cast members all praised him for his positivity. "To be honest, because this is the first time that I am acting in a long series epic drama, I feel many difficulties. But as the saying goes, 'If you can't beat them, join them', I am trying to enjoy the difficulties. That is why I am joking around, and thankfully it seems that it makes others at the site happy, too".

When asked about Chae Si-ra playing opposite his role, Kim said that he admires her for giving all she has for her role. He said, "Since she is a mother of two little children, I think it must be very hard for her to work away from them. But once she comes to shoot, she fully devotes herself to acting. That makes me feel sorry for her, too, in some way, but it certainly moves me to see her doing anything for the drama".