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Kim Ji Hoon sits for an interview for his recently concluded K-drama The Haunted Palace.
The Haunted Palace is a fantasy drama that follows Yeo Ri (Bona), the only granddaughter of a famous shaman who refuses to accept her destiny as a spirit medium, and Yoon Gap (Yook Sung Jae), who becomes possessed by an imugi, which is related to Yeo Ri, as they confront a vengeful spirit harboring a deep grudge against the royal family.
Kim Ji Hoon played King Lee Jeong, a ruler who dreams of building a strong nation.
When asked why he chose to take on a historical drama and fantasy genre after 15 years, Kim Ji Hoon said, "The director told me that the king is a good role and that he hoped I would hold the center. Thinking, 'I should take the lead,' I happily gave in to that temptation. But I didn’t know it would be this heavy," evoking laughter.
Kim said he poured his 20 years of experience into The Haunted Palace. "This project, like every other one, was something I gave my all to — but broadcast television comes with many constraints. So I feel a bit regretful that not even a tenth of my efforts I put in for filming made it into the final broadcast." He went on to reveal, "What's especially upsetting is that there were scenes I worked hard on during filming that didn't make it onto the screen at all. As an actor, those things are really disappointing."
Kim also reminisced, "Compared to when I was in my 20s, a lot has changed in terms of the filming system, hasn't it? I don't really feel like filming is that tough nowadays, but for this project, I felt like I was back on set in my 20s." "Back then, because I was young, I would film even without getting sleep. I felt a sense of déjà vu from those days."
Deeply immersed in the character of Lee Jeong, Kim Ji Hoon also empathized with Palcheok-Gwi's story. Kim Ji Hoon said, "Palcheok-Gwi shows his story in a dream. After seeing that scene, my feelings changed from resentment to understanding and sympathy. I saw comments saying, 'Why is Palcheok-Gwi doing this to the king instead of to the barbarians?' The king's duty is to consider the people like his own children, to protect and help them, but he didn't do that. Because the sense of betrayal and resentment is much greater, I think it's only natural for Palcheok-Gwi to resent the king."
Talking about his character, Kim shared, "King Lee Jeong and I share many values. Though he's a principled person, he also knows how to embrace change, and his ability to compromise with reality and show flexibility really resonated with me on a personal level." "As an actor, portraying a king who ends up in a tragic situation — where his efforts to care for his people and protect the person he loves end up threatening both his country and his family, was a huge challenge."
He went on to say, "This was the first time I had to deliver such a multifaceted performance within a single project. It was much heavier compared to my previous roles. Given the historical setting of the drama, where the king essentially was the nation, I constantly carried that sense of burden throughout my performance."
In the drama, Lee Jeong becomes possessed by the Palcheok-Gwi and engages in a fierce battle against Kang Cheol. Recalling how he performed those scenes, Kim Ji Hoon said, "First of all, I thought my voice shouldn't sound the same. I wanted emotions like resentment and rage to come through in my voice. I really tried to bring out a deep vocal tone from within — deep from my gut. In doing so, my voice sometimes cracked unintentionally." "I also thought facial expressions were crucial, so I practiced in front of a mirror. I think my past experience playing intense roles like a psychopath helped. Of course, Palcheok-Gwi is different from a psychopath, but I wanted to portray a state where rationality has been overtaken, leaving only rage and deep resentment behind."
It is also reported that this intense performance led to some physical damage. Kim revealed, "The possession scene where I become Palcheok-Gwi was actually the very last scene on the filming schedule, and by then, fatigue had really built up in my body. I had to express the grudge and rage of Palcheok-Gwi and also change my vocal tone, which meant I had to draw a lot of strength from my body."
He added, "Even scenes that pass quickly on TV were filmed dozens of times. Every take was demanding, but I had to keep the same level of energy. That really took a toll on my body. It wasn't just muscle pain. It lasted a while and took time to recover."
"I acted while holding the feeling of how small and scared a human becomes in front of the vastness of nature. There wasn't a single easy scene. A king doesn't have ordinary moments. If I didn't pour everything I had into it, I couldn't have expressed those emotions," adding, "Without life experience, I don't think I would have been able to empathize with this character."
Kim continued, "I think mental strain is a form of physical strain too, and this one really took a toll. Since it was a historical drama, we filmed all across the country. I went on a nationwide bathhouse tour. If there were a hot spring nearby, I would go. I recovered my stamina by bathing, doing cold and hot bath therapy. It actually helped me regain my stamina. I also took high doses of vitamins. Without physical stamina, this role would've been impossible," he said with a laugh, "I burned out completely and went down in glorious flames."
He added, "I usually have good stamina and exercise regularly. So with other projects, I could manage without giving my absolute everything. But for The Haunted Palace, the emotions were always pushed to the extreme. So I simply couldn't do it unless I was fully focused. I had to work with the highest level of focus and pour an enormous amount of energy."
Working in the industry for over 20 years, Kim Ji Hoon reflected that this project marked a new chapter in his career. He recalled, "In the first half of my acting career, I was so focused only on running [working hard] that I sometimes veered off course. But The Haunted Palace helped me realign myself on the right path as an actor." "From now on, I want to take on projects that I can truly enjoy as an actor — and ones I can be proud to share with others."
In closing, Kim said, "The Haunted Palace is a work that allowed me to show everything I'm capable of at this stage in my life. It was a meaningful opportunity that let me wrap up the first half of my career well and prepare for the second half."
