Actress Kim Yoon-jin, who is currently starring in the popular ABC miniseries "Lost", holds a press conference Thursday at Seoul's Hyatt hotel. Lost is being aired on KBS 2TV every Saturday starting last week.
Actress Kim Yoon-jin is currently starring in the ABC miniseries "Lost" and will soon play the leading female role in the new movie "Georgia Heat", affording Koreans their first opportunity to see a Korean actress appear in a major Hollywood film.
"Lost" is a mega-hit drama in the United States with smashing audience ratings. About 18 million Americans watch the miniseries every Wednesday. KBS began airing it in Korea on Christmas Day. The U.S. drama will be broadcast on KBS 2TV at 1:00 p.m. every Saturday. A press conference to mark its Korean broadcast was held at Seoul's Hyatt Hotel on Thursday afternoon.
Clad in a beige sleeveless dress, Kim agreed to an interview, saying that, "For me, a Korean actress, it feels awkward to introduce an American drama".
- Would you tell me how popular "Lost" is in the U.S.?
"'Lost' is a hit miniseries produced by ABC. It is rare that dramas are nominated for the Golden Glove Award in their first season, but 'Lost' was. I don't know the exact audience ratings, but I heard that about 18 million Americans watch the drama every Wednesday. Propelled by its newfound popularity, a second series is also in the pipeline. The miniseries has been exported to 100 countries.
- How did you star in the drama?
"ABC's casting director Kelly Lee, a Korean-American, proposed that I sign an exclusive contract with ABC. It was an unusual proposal because I am not recognized in the United States that much. My agency was also surprised. J.J. Abrams is the producer and director of 'Lost.' He is also the president of the production company that made the miniseries. After meeting with me, Abrams created the role of 'Sun' for me".
- What do you think he liked about you?
"I don't know. Abrams was interested in my activities in Korea. I think the release of 'Shiri' [a major Korean hit about North Korean spies] in the U.S. might have been helpful".
- What are your plans in America as an actress?
"I am a newcomer in the U.S entertainment industry. 'Lost' will provide me with some great opportunities though. I think it was a good choice to appear in a drama as the first step for activities in the U.S., because I can rapidly become a familiar face to the public".
- Are there any major differences between the Korean and U.S. production systems?
"The atmosphere on the shooting site is similar in both countries. I expected that Hollywood would work like a machine because it is a gigantic system. But it doesn't. The only difference is that an enormous amount of production costs are appropriated and film is used for shooting dramas. A bigger difference is that different directors produce each episode of 'Lost.'"
- After the miniseries was aired in Korea, some Internet users criticized the depiction of your on-screen husband "Jin" for presenting a distorted image of Korean men.
"I think they are right. Jin is an old patriarch who mistreats his wife in the drama. It is an awful stereotype. But, all the people in the drama have problems like Jin. Every role is stereotypically portrayed. Viewers can see them change as the drama develops".
- How many scenes do you appear in roughly for each episode?
"Fourteen people lead the drama. Different people assume the role of hero or heroine in each episode. I don't appear, or participate as an extra, in some episodes".
- I heard that you perform your lines in Korean in the sixth episode.
"In the sixth episode, Sun mainly recalls her past. So I suggested to the producing staff that it was better to say my lines in Korean and to insert subtitles, instead. They though about my opinion and agreed with me. It may be risky because Americans don't generally like reading subtitles. I'm lucky to have met open-minded production staff".
- You turned down the request to appear in "Memoirs of a Geisha", which is being produced by Steven Spielberg. Did you have any special reasons for this?
"Personally, I don't think it is wrong for a Korean actress to play a Japanese character in a film, or vice versa. I just didn't like the character of the geisha that I was offered. If the role had been appealing, I would have given more thought to the request. And when I received the offer, I had already decided to accept the role in 'Georgia Heat.'"
- Do you plan to accept roles in Korean movies?
"It is difficult for me to appear in Korean films for the time being. But if I were offered strong roles, I would accept them even if they were supporting roles".
- Please tell me your future plans.
"Asian people represent only 3 percent of the U.S population. I'm very fortunate to play an Asian woman in 'Lost.' This is a rare opportunity. I want to catch the chance when it has come to me. I will work hard and do my best to succeed in Hollywood".
English 
US$5 off (order min. US$5)
