Would A Shop for Killers be any good without Kim Hye-jun? Kingdom actress on why she turned down the Disney+ show at first, and what changed her mind

By Lee Gyu-lee

One day, Ji-an receives news of her uncle’s death, discovers that he had been operating an unusual shopping mall – and becomes the target of an unidentified group of killers who are after her uncle’s supplies.

Ji-an has been named the co-owner of the mall and she uncovers new information about her uncle’s secret life as well as the circumstances surrounding his death.

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“When I first got the script, I declined it because I wanted to show my acting abilities in a genre that doesn’t involve so much blood. I’ve typically taken on roles of tough characters, so I was keen to show a different side of myself,” the actor said.

However, a new offer a few months later, coupled with the news of Lee’s casting, prompted her to reconsider.

“I felt Lee’s chic personality would make the character of Jin-man really captivating … I had high hopes and was curious [about how it would turn out],” she said.

“And when I reread the script, I found it very intriguing and thought that regardless of the genre, it feels right to just do what I want to do. So, I took the role.”

Kim focused on highlighting Ji-an’s evolution through the story as she grapples with a series of unexpected and tense situations.

“I saw her as a person who has something special within her ordinary self. So I focused on how she brings out that specialness.

“She may seem small and weak at a glance but she’s a type of character with a kick. Everyone underrates her but she grows into someone that cannot be ignored, which I felt was like the power of a slingshot,” she said.

“I felt Ji-an has loneliness deep down and it explodes with her uncle’s death. I think those series of incidents led her to really react to her uncle’s absence.

“There’s a sense of guilt towards him, but also feelings of resentment and longing that build up and eventually burst out.”

The uncle showed tough love to his niece, which was his way of secretly training her for the dangers in his line of business. Despite the apparent cold nature of their relationship, they had a strong bond rooted in a family tragedy.

During filming, Kim relied heavily on Lee, fostering a favourable dynamic for their on-screen uncle-niece relationship.

“On the set, we would eat together and build our relationship. He put faith in me and helped me to bring out what I wanted to show, which was really supporting … he’s not the type to give advice but shows great consideration,” she said.

“When I read the script, I felt the two characters’ relationship simply as a cynical uncle and niece, like they are just dismissive and taciturn. But as I discussed with Lee (about the characters), we came to think if the two show ‘cute’ bickering moments, the viewers will find them endearing and root for them.”