“Things can go wrong, but it’s not the wrong way. I hope you to try anything. At least you would realize what you’ve done wrong. If you don’t lose your trust in yourself, everything will be perfect one day.” Professor Kim Tae-gyeom finished “Acting and Creative Thinking” this semester with this last word.

Professor Kim, who is an actor at the same time, recently appeared in many works such as〈The Fiery Priest〉,〈Special Labor Inspector Jo Jang Poong〉, and〈Mr. Temporary〉. He graduated from the Division of Theatre, and now he is pursuing a Ph.D. in Dongguk.

What class is “Acting and Creative Thinking”?
You can look back on yourself by analyzing character. To be frank with you, I do want to give a chance to do what students want to do. Many students are having a hard time to prepare for their job these days. I think it is good to talk about yourself and listen to others. Give yourself a break in this class.

How was the class this semester?
Until last semester, I thought I had to give students correct direction as an adult and let them know what I learned. I realized that I was foolish. You are right. There were great acting performances (in the final exam) and I was very surprised. Some of them performed the play with the story they wanted to tell, and others created new content or reinterpreted existing content. All the fourteen teams were impressive.

Does teaching students who don’t major in acting help your acting?
I can remind original intention from acting non-majors. While I am an adult in acting, the students have childlike purity. They are the gemstones themselves. I see the purity I’ve forgotten. At some point, I often lose the rough gem which I had when I first start acting. I learn a lot from them. It is not easy, but I try not to forget the heart.

Do you have any reason for entering graduate school?
Making a quick debut was my goal when I was in college. After finishing the third grade, I took a leave of absence and worked hard at Daehak-ro for two years and then I made a debut in 2012. However, I missed my school life. I came back to school and worked hard from workshop. Luckily, I played the main character Stanley in a play titled “A Streetcar Named Desire.” I think I learned Dongguk(?) acting style a lot.
Then I went to an agency and I only brewed coffee at the cafe in the agency for three months. I couldn’t even act so I just left and it disappeared. I felt discouraged and hopeless. At that time, the deceased Professor Ahn Min-soo was in graduate school. I felt lack of learning, so I chose to learn from the master.

Is there synergy between working two jobs; acting and teaching acting.?
I think it is easy to forget the eagerness and genuineness that I had when I started acting. An actor is, after all, a job. No matter how much you love your work, it is likely that you’ll be tired and lost first intention at some point. Watching the students’ acting, I could go back to my mind at the beginning. It is pleased to meet students who remind me of the purity of those days. I think students are teaching me.

What kind of actor do you want to be?
I want to be a blameless senior to my disciples or juniors. Also, I want to be an intellectual including Kim Sang-joong and Lee Soon-jae. They are my role models.

Please give a word to Dongguk student whose dream is to be an actor.
Please find another job quickly. I’m just joking. If you love acting, you can’t help it. However, please do not choose this work because you’re going through a hard time with your work. All the job may be harsh. I think there is no difference here. In particular, it is hard to do well as you endeavor, and difficult to be loved by the public as well. Moreover, it’s even difficult to keep that love. Don’t flee to this work. Start acting when you feel you have to.

Hwang Hae-su
dhfl00@dongguk.edu