On September 5th, Kim Go Eun and Park Ji Hyun graced the stage at the Ambassador Seoul Pullman Hotel in Seoul to discuss filming details for Netflix’s new original series You and Everything Else.
The ladies were all giggles as they were very excited to share their personal stories as well as promote the film’s endearing 30-year-long friendship timeline crucial to the series.
Kim Go Eun described her character as being caught between admiration and resentment, as the trailer expressed. The relationship between Eun Joong and Sang Yeon starts when they are 11 years old and progresses, showcasing fluctuating emotions as they grow older together.
Kim Go Eun, who plays Eun Joong, stated, “When I was first offered this work, I read the character’s episodes as a teenager, and as the episodes progressed, the character grew into her twenties. Even though it was a very calm story, I felt like I wanted to watch the next episodes as soon as possible. The process of building up depth and narrative moved my heart so much.”
When asked if the spectrum of acting between decades may be hard, both Kim Go Eun and Park Ji Hyun laughed and agreed, but shared their ideas of overcoming the challenge.
Kim Go Eun revealed, “I worried about performing as a 20-year-old character again. I thought about how her character may dramatically change from 20 to 30. As we age, our faces can remain the same, but your personal aura changes. I tried to show that change.”
Park Ji Hyun stated, “Things like our careers and situations change as well as other parts. We worked on our visual styling to feel like we have grown a bit, too.”
The shy but charming director Cho Young Min also stated, “The actors prepared a lot to appear like university students. To create that atmosphere, alongside backgrounds and props to capture that era, we did use filters for a perfect but natural effect as well.
Resentment is a theme in the story. When asked what they resented most, Kim Go Eun made attendees laugh as she stated, “Everyone is working just as hard as me, but why am I the only one with a tired-looking face? Why is Park Ji Hyun’s skin still so good?”
Soon, the reality of death was discussed within the story, and this part of the interview instantly had Kim Go Eun burst into tears. Having a deep connection to the story, she revealed, “The scene regarding Sang Yeon’s (played by Park Ji Hyun) assisted death is impactful. This scene is my trigger button, and I wondered how I can send Sang Yeon into the afterlife?”
In this regard, Park Ji Hyun said, “I thought a lot about life and death while filming and, in order to express that, I studied a lot by watching various books and documentaries. I was worried about whether I would dare to express things that I hadn’t experienced firsthand, but Kim Go Eun advised me a lot, so I tried to immerse myself in acting as much as possible.”
When asked about the title, the director Cho stated, “I made the title about the two main characters. There are many titles like this, for example Romeo and Juliet, but I felt the relationship is the most important part of this drama, and I felt there were no other titles I could make that focused on this aspect: The importance of their complex relationship. Compared to other drama content, I wanted to emphasize how we wonder about other friends as time goes on.”
The director also expressed that the OST is an addictive and healing song accompanied by a soundtrack that is filled with various styles and emotions that viewers won’t want to miss. “Singers like Paul Kim and many other great artists helped create an amazing track list for the OST. I genuinely encourage everyone to listen to all the songs.”
What did you think of the cast’s comments on their characters and the show? The series that passionately expresses the strained relationships we can experience as we grow up will release on Friday, September 12th on Netflix. Don’t forget to follow ZAPZEE on Instagram and Twitter (X) for exclusive interviews and pictures of your favorite Korean stars.
