[Dispatch=Reporter Lee Myung-joo] "Kim Hye-soo, are you ready?"

Actor Kim Hye-soo recalled last September. Her first meeting with the production team of the Coupang Play series "Infidelity is Not the Problem Right Now" (hereafter "Infidelity"). It was a gathering that included Director Lee Chang-hee, two writers, and production company staff.

"It felt like, 'How about it? We're at this level. Are you ready?' It was very humble, but internally it gave the impression of being full of confidence."

For good reason, it was an anticipated project. Director Hwang Dong-hyuk of "Squid Game" participated as showrunner and producer. Director Lee Chang-hee, who made "Killers," took charge of directing. Most of all, the script was good.

"I thought it was a really well-written black comedy script. The twists that follow one after another weren't contrived and were unique."

Dispatch recently met Kim Hye-soo. She greeted reporters with a bright smile, different from Gyeong-hee in "Infidelity."

◆ Infidelity is just the beginning

"Infidelity is Not the Problem Right Now" tells the story of an influencer couple who performs the role of a perfect family and a neighboring doctor couple going through divorce proceedings who become entangled in unbearable secrets.

It twisted a familiar K-drama subject. Kim Hye-soo said, "The incidents in the work are, in some ways, not new. Infidelity, hit-and-run accidents—these are themes that have been covered a lot in other dramas."

"(Initially) it seems like it will be about infidelity problems, but ultimately infidelity isn't the big issue. It's a work that shows how many different sides humans can reveal when placed in extreme situations."

In fact, the infidelity in the drama is close to an introduction. As "Infidelity is Not the Problem Right Now" progresses, it turns toward a bigger incident than infidelity.

She described this point as "bare face." "The approach to how (familiar) subject matter is operated and transformed to reach the bare face of humanity is meticulous," and she added, "it keeps you focused on the story itself until the end."

◆ A woman in a shell

Kim Hye-soo showed a new side in this work. She played Gyeong-hee, a successful influencer, a head of family protecting her loved ones, and someone harboring the desire to enter the upper class.

Though she has played numerous characters over the years, this is her first time playing an influencer. To understand Gyeong-hee and make her understandable, she studied YouTube videos.

Kim Hye-soo said, "I wanted to see what points subscribers liked. There were information-focused channels and channels where YouTubers utilized their own charm, and I referenced cases where people openly shared their own spaces."

But she didn't focus solely on appearing like an influencer. For Gyeong-hee, the flashy exterior is not essence but rather a device.

"I thought the flashy and striking appearance was one device. The biggest point was seeing how the bare face gradually reveals itself when such a person encounters unexpected situations."

◆ She never belonged

Gyeong-hee, played by Kim Hye-soo, is a person who started from the bottom. She didn't just sell her sense. She turned her family's image into content as well. She drew public interest by utilizing everything that was shown.

After much effort, she grasped success. But success doesn't necessarily mean belonging. Though she became more famous and wealthier than others, completely belonging to the upper class was another challenge.

Kim Hye-soo interpreted Gyeong-hee as "a character very conscious of external factors." "Though it appears she has achieved everything, internally there is imbalance. She entered the upper class but seems to float on the surface," she explained.

Family is at the center of that imbalance. Gyeong-hee's resolve to "live well with XX" and what comes to mind first at every important decision moment is family. But that desire to protect family doesn't always lead to the right choice.

"As Gyeong-hee experiences unexpected incidents, her true bare face emerges. Though she has the heart to protect her family, I wanted people to wonder if that choice is 'right as a mature adult.'"

◆ Kim Hye-soo still gets nervous too

Kim Hye-soo revealed her own bare face as well. The Kim Hye-soo the public knows is "an actor's actor." She is a top star who has maintained her position at the peak for the past 40 years.

However, Kim Hye-soo also gets tense when standing in front of the camera. (Kim Hye-soo described it as "my hands shake too.") Despite her long acting career and experience, she worries whether she can do well.

That's why she keeps records. Kim Hye-soo said, "When I discover a good actor, I write it down separately. I record directors and critics too," adding "I look into anyone if they can be stimulation for my acting."

"Rather than being interested in external things, I do it because I know what I lack. I want stimulation. It's like a side task because I want to do my job better."

She is hard on herself for the same reason. Kim Hye-soo revealed, "Don't I know myself well? Since I know what parts are vulnerable as an actor, I can't pretend not to know. (When you do that) I think you can improve even by 1mm more."

"I'm not as great an actor as Teacher Kim Hae-ja. Watching monitors is sometimes difficult and painful. So when I meet good actors and exchange influence, it becomes a great strength and I'm grateful."

◆ Two families in chaos

"Infidelity is Not the Problem Right Now" is receiving heated response thanks to Kim Hye-soo's passionate performance. It topped the cumulative viewership of all Coupang Play series. The latest episode saw a 169% increase in viewership compared to the first week of release.

Kim Hye-soo laughed, "Actors don't usually receive many calls from acquaintances about new projects. But this work was different. People said, 'Release the next episode quickly,' 'I'm getting vicarious satisfaction.'"

"The atmosphere on set was really good. Director Lee especially has the ability to present genre stories in a popular way, and as we shared opinions and coordinated while shooting, it went well."

Only three episodes remain until the finale. When asked about Kim Hye-soo's viewing points, she mentioned episode seven. "There's a scene where four main characters meet all at once and it looks like chaos," she hinted.

"In the script it was really fun. But when I actually went to act it, I was like, 'It turns into this?' I was even scared. As we actors matched our chemistry, the synergy grew. Especially since episode seven is the peak, please look forward to it."

<Photos provided by Hodu&And You Entertainment, Coupang Play>