[Sportschosun Reporter Ahn So-yoon] Actor Kim Ji-seok expressed his gratitude, saying he received strong support from his girlfriend, actor Lee Joo-myung.
Kim Ji-seok met with Sportschosun at a cafe in Samcheong-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, on the 23rd and said, "Lee Joo-myung watched the film 'Husbands' and gave me a rather harsh assessment of my acting." He added, "Still, she encouraged me a lot and even bought me meat."
Released on the 19th, the Netflix film 'Husbands' is a comedy action movie about an unpredictable rescue mission by an ex-husband and a current husband who team up by chance to save a wife kidnapped by a criminal organization. Directed by Park Gyu-tae, who helmed '6/45,' the film stars Kim Ji-seok as Ma Do-jun, an intelligent criminal who expands his influence by using advanced artificial intelligence technology.
Kim Ji-seok has been publicly dating Lee Joo-myung, who is 12 years younger than him, since 2024. Comparing his real-life relationship with his character, he said, "I still have immature moments, but in the past I was more insistent on my own position and tried harder to make others understand me. As I get older, I find myself adapting more to my partner and enjoying the happiness that comes from that. The way Ma Do-jun and Hye-ran date feels closer to how I am now."
When asked whether he felt burdened by being in a public relationship, Kim Ji-seok replied, "There are definitely pros and cons. In my work, I have become more cautious than before, and I also worry about whether we might cause each other any harm. But as a man and a woman, I feel more at ease than I used to. Whether I'm going out to eat or just walking around somewhere, I definitely feel more comfortable mentally. In fact, even after the article came out and I mentioned it several times on variety shows, there are still many people who don't know about our relationship. I'm actually relieved about that. I think it would be fine if they kept not knowing. Sometimes I do worry about the labels that come with being someone else's person. I hope we are judged only as actors and can shine for that alone."
He also commented on Lee Joo-myung's reaction to 'Husbands,' saying, "Her evaluation of me was harsher than I expected. [laughs] Of course, I think that's something I should understand and accept humbly. She acts as a monitor who knows me better than anyone else, just as well as I know myself. There was a scene that only I thought was disappointing, and she caught it perfectly. She supported me a lot, too. It wasn't just words of encouragement; she bought me beef and cheered me on. Buying me delicious meat was a little more encouraging than hearing 'cheer up' ten times." He said with a laugh.
Ahn So-yoon, antahn22@sportschosun.com
