“I tend to prepare extensively when I act, but this time, I wanted to strip everything back and rely on intuition and instinct,” said Chun Woo-hee, 37, delivering yet another memorable performance to the audience.
The South Korean actress, known for showcasing her versatility in various genres through films like ‘Sunny,’ ‘Han Gong-ju,’ ‘The Wailing,’ ‘Love, Lies,’ ‘Be Melodramatic,’ and ‘Unlocked,’ takes on a new challenge as a villain who lacks sympathy in the Netflix drama ‘The 8 Show.’ Her character, Eighth Floor, is unprecedented in Korean dramas—glamorous and charismatic, yet deriving pleasure and inspiration from others’ pain.
“When I saw the script, I thought, ‘I can let my hair down and go crazy,’” Chun said in an interview with the Chosunilbo on May 23, “but I held back a bit because I didn’t want to stand out too much.”
Despite the character’s absurdity, Chun’s portrayal is convincing. Han Jae-rim, the series’ director, praised her as “the Korean Emma Stone,” capable of handling everything from romantic comedies to intense dramas.
“I was concerned about playing Eighth Floor too realistically, as it might disgust viewers,” Chun said. “So, I aimed to depict her as a fantastical character with no real-world grounding, ensuring not to exhaust the audience. Despite the bold scenes, the hardest part was portraying a character who enjoys watching others suffer. I approached it by acting as if I had removed my brain and heart removed.”
Her extensive acting experience has earned her the credibility to play any role—quiet and introspective, wounded, crazy, down-to-earth, or an office worker.
“I’m a very fearful person, but that fear drives me to try new things. The fear of ‘Can I do this?’ motivates me more than the confidence of ‘I can do this.’ The satisfaction of accomplishing something fuels my self-confidence,” Chun said.
Chun debuted in 2004 and gained recognition for her role as Sang-mi, a brutal high school student, in the 2011 film ‘Sunny.’ Her role in ‘Han Gong-ju’ (2014), which earned Chun a Blue Dragon Film Award for Best Actress, has just celebrated its 10th anniversary. In this film, she portrayed a victim of mass sexual assault, a performance that was a significant learning experience for her.
“We had no production budget, and we made the movie with our hearts and passion,” Chun said. “I’m grateful for learning such an important lesson early in my career and for being able to tell a sincere story.”
These experiences continue to inspire her acting career. “Being loved as an actor is great, but I want my works to have a lasting impact,” she said. “I always strive to give the audience something to look forward to in my performances.”
