[Interview 2] Seo Soo-min: “Manager Kim” has ended… “I feel even more overwhelmed because it was so loved”

(Continued from Interview 1) There are many ways to describe Seo Soo-min. She is an influencer with more than 300,000 followers, an ordinary part-time worker, and now a rookie actress who has just wrapped up her first project. She spoke candidly about everything from the audition process to her part-time jobs and her concerns about what comes next.

This production marked Seo Soo-min’s acting debut. Why was she able to land a major role in a big project like “Manager Kim” for her first work? She said, “I went through a lot of auditions. For ‘Manager Kim’ as well, the auditions were held more than once. I was cast after a final meeting.”

She added, “At the time, I was more focused on college entrance exams. After high school classes ended, I would rush to the audition site. Only later did I realize how big the project was, and that made me feel even more pressure. Casting a newcomer must have been a gamble for the director, so I thought I had to do my best to live up to that trust.”

Why did director Lee Seung-young choose Seo Soo-min? She said she later heard at the wrap party that he had been convinced after seeing her free-form acting.

“I don’t think I went into the audition thinking I had to show off my acting. This may sound strange, but rather than trying to show sadness, I tried to express the emotions the character would have felt. I think the director liked that.”

After the broadcast, a wide range of reactions poured in. She said, “One comment that stuck with me said the title should be changed from ‘Manager Kim’ to ‘Min-ji’s Hardship Era.’ The drama has done well, so I’ve been doing a lot of interviews, and I saw a comment from my elementary school teacher. I thought she might have forgotten me, but she left a long message. I was so grateful.”

Before starting her acting career, Seo Soo-min had worked as an influencer with more than 300,000 followers. She often shared her daily life, but while filming “Manager Kim,” she avoided social media and other activities before the show aired in case her involvement was revealed.

“I couldn’t post anything on social media because I couldn’t talk about the project before it was released. A lot of people seemed disappointed that I wasn’t sharing updates. I remember how people who had followed me since middle school were happy to see me take on acting. It felt strange to have people who had watched me for so long cheering me on. I was thankful.”

Seo Soo-min is a stage name she has used since her influencer days. Why did she choose a stage name instead of her real name, Oh Ji-woo? She explained, “I created a stage name when I started social media with my friends. I was a little embarrassed to use my real name. I made it by changing one syllable from a friend’s name. I also wanted to separate the me who acts from the me in everyday life.”

Although she has already started her journey as an actress successfully, Seo Soo-min is still working part-time jobs. She said, “I was surprised when an article came out about a video I had posted on social media showing me working part-time. I was embarrassed and deleted it right away. I worked at that takoyaki shop until last week. I’m doing another part-time job now.”

She added, “I can’t reveal where I’m working. It’s not something I’m doing as an event. I really want to live an ordinary life. If people keep coming to find me, it could cause trouble for the owner.”

There are also many people helping protect Seo Soo-min’s ordinary life. She said, “I went to Kyobo Book Centre yesterday, and no one recognized me. Actually, I don’t think everyone missed me. Some people seemed to recognize me from time to time, but when our eyes met, they would look away. I was grateful because it felt like they were trying to protect my daily life.”

Although Seo Soo-min is active as both an influencer and an actress, acting was not her original dream. She said, “I was originally very interested in computer security. In my first and second years of high school, my school records and club activities were all related to computers. Then, while watching films and dramas, I experienced a broader perspective and came to dream of becoming an actress.”

She also expressed her ambition to take on more roles. “I want to try thriller and action genres in the future. This time I played a character who was protected, but next time I want to take on a role that has to fight on her own.”

As for her goals as an actress, she said, “I do want to make my name known, but more than that, I want to be someone people remember for a long time. I hope that by watching my acting, someone can find direction in life and be positively influenced.”

Finally, Seo Soo-min shared her honest feelings after “Manager Kim” ended. She said, “To be honest, I feel lost. Because so many people loved ‘Manager Kim,’ I think expectations for my next project are high too. I also feel that my acting is not perfect, and there was not a single scene in ‘Manager Kim’ that was created by my ability alone. I think I need to show a better side of myself in my next project.”

She added, “I also wonder whether I’ll ever get to work with such a great team again. If there is a season 2, I definitely want to take part. If I’m called, I’ll film with a happy heart, and even if I’m not, I’ll still cheer for it happily.”

This article has been translated by GripLabs Mingo AI.