Making her comeback to the small screen as Jeong Sae-byeok in Disney+ Hotstar's latest K-drama Grid is multiple award-winning powerhouse actress Kim A-joong, and Tatler gets first dibs
Featuring an all-star ensemble comprising Seo Kang-jun, Kim A-joong, Kim Moo-yul, Kim Sung-kyun, and Lee Si-young, Disney+ Hotstar's latest K-drama Grid centres around a group of people hot on the trail of a mysterious existence known only as the Ghost (played by Lee Si-young) who develops a Grid system to protect the planet and mankind from catastrophic solar winds. She reappears after a 24-year absence only to help a serial killer escape, making her an accomplice to murder.
Imaginative young girl turned hotshot detective Jeong Sae-byeok (played by Kim A-joong), who was attacked by the Ghost at a murder scene, is determined to get to the bottom of this mystery and uncover the truth behind the pair's links.
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As K-drama fans prepare to strep into this fast-paced thrilling world of Grid and cling to the edge of their seats, we speak to Kim A-joong about stepping into the shoes of Jeong Sae-byeok and the shift in how women characters are portrayed in modern-day K-dramas.
It's been a while since we last saw you. Tell us what went into the preparation for your role as Jeong Sae-byeok in Grid?
To be honest, I didn’t go through any training for a long time but that doesn’t mean that I didn’t prepare for my role. The reason is that it'd seem a bit odd if my character who's a police detective can do these flashy, action moves. I tried to keep my character as faithful to the reality of Korean detectives as possible. But I did receive some training for shooting.
What are some characteristics of Jung Sae-byeok that you could relate to the most?
Sae-Byeok stands strongly by her conviction and has immense compassion for humanity. She always looks ahead, never back. You’ll see what I mean if you finish watching until episode 10. Of all her great character traits, I think I’m closest to her being compassionate towards other human beings.
What has surprised you most about working with the cast and crew of Grid, one of South Korea’s rare sci-fi dramas?
When I was reading the script, I wondered what this 'Secretariat' would look like when it was built, and the set blew me away when it was completed. It has this air of a watchful eye that surveys the entire Bureau of Management and it conveys impeccably the hierarchy and order that the Bureau upholds. Inside that space, you can feel how dry the relationship among colleagues must be with no personal intimacy whatsoever, which was quite remarkable.
