Kim Myung-min: “In the end I was so exhausted it was difficult to act”
by javabeans
“With Lou Gehrig’s disease, your conscious mind remains active while your muscles deteriorate, but for me, I found that as I kept losing weight, my consciousness became equally paralyzed.”
Actor Kim Myung-min recently took on the challenge of portraying a patient gradually worsening from ALS, or Lou Gehrig’s disease, in the upcoming melodrama film My Love By My Side [내 사랑 내 곁에]. On August 24, the cast of the movie gathered at the CGV cinema in Apgujung for a press conference.
Much has been made of Kim’s dramatic 20kg weight loss (mostly accomplished while he filmed the movie, losing the weight to correspond to his character’s deteriorating health). Kim admitted what he found the most difficult aspect of filming: “In the latter half, I had to become increasingly immersed in the emotions of the character, but because I was constantly exhausted, it was difficult to become absorbed in the acting.”
We saw bits of the process in the MBC documentary following Kim from pre-production through filming. Regarding the decision to embark on the drastic effort, Kim said, “Going hungry wasn’t something I insisted on, it’s something I think goes without saying because I took on his role.” In the end, his spine and ribs were painfully visible and all the fat gone from his face and body, leaving him gaunt.
He said jokingly, “At first, the director and Ha Ji-won both lost weight alongside me and I felt bad, but later on they would go together to eat ddukbokki and I would wonder if I could take a bite, but they would say, ‘You can’t eat that!’ and I felt sad.” But he added, more seriously, “The director gave me candy drops saying I would collapse from hypoglycemia if I didn’t have something sweet, and he skipped meals because of me too.” (Kim began to display symptoms of hypoglycemia as he filmed.)
Ha Ji-won did confess apologetically to going out to eat at night without letting Kim know, although director Park Jin-pyo said that they both ate very little in support of their co-star. Park said, “It was difficult for Ha Ji-won too, who followed Kim Myung-min in losing weight and also tended to him. Ddukbokki is something she eats when she’s feeling depressed, and although I didn’t want to eat any, because she wouldn’t eat unless I did, I went with her.”
Ha Ji-won explained having a hard time watching her co-star’s difficulties, saying, “It was difficult for me just to watch Kim Myung-min sunbae losing weight and being in pain. It’s because he was so immersed in his role that I was able to nurse him with a natural appearance of sadness.”
As Ha Ji-won’s character works at a funeral home, she therefore practiced and studied the work in preparation. She said, “Dressing the dead is much more complicated and difficult work than I had imagined.”
My Love By My Side is scheduled to release on September 24.
Via Yonhap News, Segye, Now News
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Tags: Ha Ji-won, Kim Myung-min, press conferences
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1 Reese
August 24, 2009 at 12:52 PM
I can applaud Kim Myung-min's effort, as well as the effort of any actor who loses weight along with their character, but if I had to see someone lose weight like that I don't think I'd be able to stand it. I'd probably be like "here, eat this." and hand over a few fattening foods.
At least he doesn't look so bad anymore. Maybe I'll watch this movie, maybe I won't.
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2 janna
August 24, 2009 at 12:56 PM
They all look really thin... :(
I'll see the movie, but next time he must play in a romantic comedy where he is a food critic and eats lots of food and nobody dies and nothing really bad happens. Haha..
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3 ar
August 24, 2009 at 12:57 PM
just reading this pulls at my heart. i'm so glad their filming was over. I hope KMM never has to do a similar role!
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4 White Star
August 24, 2009 at 1:03 PM
20kilo?????that is a lot of weight to lose.....
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5 pabo ceo reom
August 24, 2009 at 1:06 PM
Two of my favorite actors :)
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6 Muffin
August 24, 2009 at 1:15 PM
That is one popular jacket she is wearing. She's the 4th actress I've seen wear it.
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7 michi
August 24, 2009 at 1:21 PM
I love you, beans! ^^
thanks for this!
i've been waiting for the translation of this article!
our KMM is really great! :)
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8 sweetanna
August 24, 2009 at 1:42 PM
Is it just me or does KMM look years younger now
than he did before working on this movie?
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9 CyNurse
August 24, 2009 at 1:44 PM
Both stars look so tired and gaunt. But I'm totally loving Ha Ji-won's outfit.:-)
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10 Yoo Jin
August 24, 2009 at 2:13 PM
I really developed respect for him because of this movie. I'm glad filming is over though so that he starts gaining back the weight and gets a well deserved rest =] Now he can have all the ddukbokki he wants lol...hmm i'm actually kinda in the mood for some right now >.<
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11 Biscuit
August 24, 2009 at 2:20 PM
I admire his effort, but I hope he doesn't die or obtain any disease from malnutrition!
When the film releases, I won't let your health deteriorate for no reason - I will definitely come to watch the film at the theaters when I visit next month! The film will surely be a hit~
So eat a lot now, okay? Let's work hard to fill those cheeks with fat!
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12 kamee
August 24, 2009 at 3:05 PM
i am so very relieved that kwon sang woo gave up this role. I don't think it would be what it is now with him, which I am relieved. I can't wait for the movie!
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13 ranterave
August 24, 2009 at 3:33 PM
I hold KMM in the highest respect from BV. He sticks with his character and I can't believe the lengths he would go to to make the audience believe that he IS the character.
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14 ilovekangmae
August 24, 2009 at 4:22 PM
thanks for this, javebeans!
I'm so relieved that filming is over. I hope that he gains weight a bit more.
I want to watch this movie...but I'm not in Korea. *sigh*
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15 Jo
August 24, 2009 at 5:56 PM
Wow. that is just impressive. I deeply admire this fellow. Who would go through such lengths just to film a movie? Wow. Just amazing!
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16 pixa
August 24, 2009 at 6:16 PM
Kim Myung-min is a real good actor. And he can win the hearts of the viewers with all these scarifices. I would love to watch this movie. Good luck.
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17 Chax
August 24, 2009 at 7:20 PM
Kim Myung-min looks much younger now than in BV days, but I love Kang Mae with full cheeks more. .
X'[
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18 linz
August 24, 2009 at 8:23 PM
Kim Myung-Min is AWESOME!
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19 Taohua
August 24, 2009 at 9:06 PM
Oh, two of my favorite actors! That's some serious dedication on KMM's part---can't wait to see it!
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20 hanneebuff
August 25, 2009 at 12:38 AM
good thing kmm is recovering quite nicely. can't wait for the movie.
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21 Lemoncat
August 25, 2009 at 1:47 AM
Oh man, I feel so bad for him. But now that he's done filming, someone needs to drag him off to McDonald's and fatten him up! The guy could seriously use a few burgers.
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22 acinam17
August 25, 2009 at 4:01 AM
KMM Fighting :D
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23 Mimim
August 25, 2009 at 4:56 AM
He is awesome! Whenever watch his acting i always feel bad about his sharing daesang with "the mediocre actor but popular" . Which made me upset until now. I pray that he will win best actor. Amin!!
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24 Beng
August 25, 2009 at 5:20 AM
wow two great actors! this for sure is the movie to watch in 2009
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25 heejung
August 25, 2009 at 6:06 AM
he still looks so pale and gaunt! but at least he looks a bit chubbier-cheeked now. hope he gains more soon. :(
and i agree with a couple comments above - he looked a lot younger than he did in BV.
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26 elisa
August 26, 2009 at 2:38 AM
this movie is going to be so amazing, with transcending actors like kim myung min and ha ji won. SO LOOKING FORWARD TO IT
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27 chajjye
August 26, 2009 at 9:36 AM
finally he looks a bit more human. please eat more KMM!
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28 michi
September 1, 2009 at 2:30 PM
My Love By My Side trailer with English subs out:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0msCkoTR6A
MBC Special Kim Myung Min Was Not There with English subs out:
http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=0293D754F44589E5
Credits to MyungMin International Video Team
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29 sajad
September 14, 2009 at 12:39 AM
I am a player football and Student on Sharif university.I visited The
Beethoven virus.It is very very good .I like to see a Mr.Kim myoung min.He is good actor.I am from iran.
See you later Mr.Kim myoung min
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30 Yus,Malaysia
December 10, 2009 at 7:53 AM
KMM toches so many hearts with his zcting in dramas or films. What a remarkable & outstanding actor he is!!! Keep strong & continue in what you know best & surely you will be loved by all human beings esp your fans.I hope 1 day I could see you & congrats you personally...a hug pls Kang Mae...sigh!!
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31 Jess
April 23, 2011 at 5:36 AM
Ha Ji-Won <3
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