[E-Daily Reporter Choi Hee-jae ] "Actually, I’ve received everything except my older sister’s love, haha. I’m very grateful."

Actor Kim Jae-won shared behind-the-scenes stories about the film *The Final Interview* during a pre-release interview held on the 3rd at a café in Samcheong-dong, Seoul.

“The Final Interview” tells the story of six job applicants gathered for a final interview who discover mysterious envelopes containing revelations about each other, leading them to suspect one another and fall into confusion. Kim Jae-won plays the role of Han Jin-woo, an idealist, in the film.

“The Final Interview” marks Kim Jae-won’s screen debut. “Since it’s my first movie and I feel like I’m taking on a new genre, I’m really nervous,” he said, adding, “I’ve always wanted to try my hand at film.” He continued, “I’m feeling a mix of nerves and excitement—I wonder if I’ll be able to connect with the audience in a convincing way.”

When asked how he felt seeing himself on the big screen, he laughed and said, “I think there was a bit of a cringe factor.” Kim Jae-won explained, “I tried to adopt a different emotional tone than when filming dramas. Since a movie has to be compactly packed into two hours and viewed on the big screen, I tried to keep my movements restrained,” though he added, “I’m not sure if it worked out,” drawing attention.

How did he aim to portray the romantic chemistry with Jo Yi-hyun? He explained, “We discussed at length how far to take the romance—if there was any—so that it wouldn’t become the main focus,” adding, “The director gave us the direction that he wanted it to look like the process of building the narrative.”

He also spoke about the kissing scene. Kim Jae-won said, “At first, I just thought it would be a light kiss.” He continued, “The director said that a kiss alone wouldn’t be enough motivation for Jin-woo to go that far,” adding, “He asked for physical contact and eye contact that conveyed deep emotion. Some of that intensity developed on set. I’m satisfied because the two-shot turned out better than I expected.”

Kim Jae-won drew attention when he described Jo Yi-hyun, saying, “She gives off the vibe of a really cute younger sister,” and added, “Although she’s younger than me in real life, she has a unique cuteness and loveliness, doesn’t she? She seems like the type who needs a lot of attention.”

Following Shin Hye-sun and Kim Go-eun, now Jo Yi-hyun as well. Kim Jae-won is emerging as a leading younger male star, boasting great chemistry with his “noona” co-stars. Kim Jae-won drew laughter by saying, “I feel grateful because I’m getting everything except the love from a real older sister.”

Kim Jae-won, who actually has an older sister, said he feels more comfortable around older sisters than younger siblings. He explained, “Having an older sister naturally instills discipline. While this might not apply to everyone with an older sister, I seem to get told that I’m ‘more sensitive’ and ‘more mature.’”

Previously, Kim Jae-won played the role of Reindeer in *Yumi’s Cells 3*. When asked about his older sister’s reaction, he said, “Since putting yourself in someone else’s shoes is important, I’ll try to think from my sister’s perspective,” adding, “Reindeer was my sister’s favorite character. But since I ended up playing that role, I totally understand,” which drew laughter.

He quickly added, “She cheers me on a lot, but I think she doesn’t say much because it makes her feel a bit self-conscious,” which drew more laughter. Kim Jae-won continued, “My sister got married not long ago, and it was nice to see her after so long. I gave her a thoughtful gift to show my gratitude—one that wouldn’t leave her feeling disappointed—but she just said, ‘Thank you.’ We get along really well like this.”

When asked if there was an “older sister” he’d like to meet, Kim Jae-won initially replied, “I’d also like to meet my older brothers,” but when pressed further by reporters, he added, “I’d also like to work with Park Eun-bin (in a project).” Kim Jae-won will be co-starring with Park Eun-bin in his upcoming project, *A Dog Flower Lives in the Palace* (*Gung Gaekkkot*).

For this project, Kim Jae-won not only went makeup-free but also lost about 5–6 kg. He also mentioned that taking on the role of a job seeker reminded him of his own college entrance exams. “Even though I’m a freelancer, every moment is an evaluation, isn’t it?” Kim Jae-won said. “It was the time in my life when I worked the hardest. I tried to act while recalling the nervous excitement I felt back then.”

Kim Jae-won is growing into an all-around talent, active not only as an actor but also as an MC on “Music Bank.” He joked, “I’m proud of myself for getting better at dancing.”

He also drew attention by saying, “I think the reason I started this career is that I enjoy standing in front of an audience and receiving so much love.” He continued, “After trying my hand at film, I found it even more fun, so I’m eager to take on more projects in the future. I want to try my hand at any genre.”

Kim Jae-won stated, “My top priority is to show you a side of myself I haven’t shown before. That’s my goal for next year.” He continued, “Through *Reindeer*, I was able to prove that I can truly carry a film on my own, and I feel proud that I’ve taken a step forward. I place great significance on taking on this film challenge; it’s been a meaningful, busy, and grateful year,” adding, “I’m working hard to return to you with new projects.”

“The Final Interview” opens on the 4th.