[Edaily Reporter Choi Hee-jae ] “There were many parallels between my own past, background, and experiences and Chun-hee’s. I found myself acting naturally without even trying.”

Actress Kim Hye-ok made these remarks in an interview with E-Daily ahead of the release of the film *A Flowing Journey* (directed by Kim Jin-yu). She explained that because the character was a direct reflection of her own life and experiences, she was able to become Chun-hee in the film—just as the title suggests, “flowing”—without having to force anything.

“A Flowing Journey” tells the story of Chun-hee (played by Kim Hye-ok), who, after losing her husband, was preparing for a journey of her own when she encounters unexpected connections in her new apartment, causing a new melody to begin flowing through her once-quiet daily life.

Kim Hye-ok, who had initially declined the role, described *A Flowing Journey* as “the work that feels most like me.” Her reason for choosing the film was precisely that the character resembled her. “I’m similar to Chun-hee in personality,” she said. “I’m not very delicate, and I can’t even cook doenjang jjigae.” She laughed, adding, “I’ve only done theater, so I was lucky.”

For Kim Hye-ok, *A Flowing Journey* is not simply a film in which she portrayed a character. She defined the film as “a memorial for me—a tribute to the people I love.” With tears welling up in her eyes, she said, “I’m not usually the ambitious type, but even if I can’t call the names of the people I love directly, I wanted to convey that sentiment.”

She continued, “At this age, many people have passed away. You can’t practice that kind of grief. It feels like I’m holding a memorial service in my heart for all of them,” adding, “I acted by channeling the joy, sorrow, and regrets within my heart.”

There were also some disagreements with Director Kim Jin-yu regarding the expression of emotions. Kim Hye-ok joked, “In the scene inside the car, I wanted to cry my eyes out. I even tried to rebel against the director, but he’s the kind of director who calls you out on it.” She added, “It wasn’t hard at all. It’s just that the director wouldn’t let me cry, so I couldn’t.”

The emotion she poured into the film didn’t stop at the set. Kim Hye-ok said, “In every scene, I thought of the people I missed, feeling a deep longing to see them. Whenever I had free time, I walked along the beach,” adding, “I don’t even know how many times I secretly cried while looking out at the pitch-black night from the 15th floor. This film is a source of comfort to me.”

Upon hearing that Kim Hye-ok was giving an interview, Director Kim Jin-yu even stopped by in person. After greeting Director Kim, Kim Hye-ok added, “You’re like a mother to me,” bringing a smile to everyone’s faces.

In fact, Kim Hye-ok is an actress virtually every Korean knows. I thought I was familiar with her, but watching *A Flowing Journey* shattered that assumption. Had I ever looked at Kim Hye-ok’s face in such detail for so long before? That alone was overwhelming.

This project also holds special significance for Kim Hye-ok. She said, “In the past, I used to agonize over my own performance rather than thinking about the overall harmony, but now I’ve gained a perspective that allows me to step back and view things from a distance.” However, she added, “It’s not that I’ve become complacent. I’m still acting with tension; it’s just that my perspective has changed.”

She continued, “Eventually, I forgot about my own performance, became immersed in the film, and was able to view it objectively,” revealing her affection by saying, “When I watch the scenes with Justin and Dae-ho, they’re so heartwarming and comforting that I found myself smiling without even realizing it. I thought to myself, ‘This director really knows how to make a good film.’”

Whenever Kim Hye-ok mentioned Justin Min, who played Min-jun, and Park Dae-ho, who played Seong-chan—her co-stars—she broke into a radiant smile that reminded viewers of her character Chun-hee.

Regarding Justin Min, she described him as “an actor who approaches his craft logically.” She praised him, saying, “It seemed like he calculated everything, down to drinking makgeolli or even the slightest movement—I was really surprised by that level of detail. He’s an actor with a strong personal style who does his job well. There were times when I asked for his help, and he only offered advice when it was needed. I also thought Chun-hee and Min-jun were a great match.”

She also expressed her wholehearted affection for musician Park Dae-ho, who took on his first acting challenge in this project. “Since it was his first time acting, he was still at the stage of taking his first steps, but I was truly amazed. In acting, both feeling and technique are important, and he’d take one thing I taught him and turn it into a hundred,” she said.

Kim Hye-ok, an actress with 47 years of experience, said, “I love stories about people who overcome adversity and disabilities and live their lives with determination.”

Finally, Kim Hye-ok said this:

“I’ve experienced many kinds of goodbyes. There’s a song called ‘Becoming a Thousand Winds.’ It’s a song that says, ‘I haven’t died—I’ve become the wind, the water, and the sea, so please don’t grieve.’ Whenever I went through pain, I’d play it in my car and cry alone—and (seeing the parallels with Chun-hee in the film) it’s truly amazing. It feels like Chun-hee is telling those left behind not to grieve, that she’s right there with them, and that she hasn’t truly disappeared. I felt that way, too. It doesn’t feel like those who have left have gone far away; it feels as though they’re helping and watching over me from all around. Even after it was over, I thought, ‘Hey, don’t be sad or lonely. We’re here in Chun-hee’s place.’ I guess this movie came to me to convey that message.”

“Flowing Journey” was released on the 28th of last month. It is currently showing in theaters nationwide.