My Name Is: Shim Eun-kyung
by javabeans
I love when the Korean sites do my work for me by translating these suckers themselves. Here’s another introductory “My Name Is” interview/profile on actress Shim Eun-kyung, who is currently acting as the younger sister to Han Ga-in‘s lead character in SBS’s Bad Guy.
Shim is 16 years old, but despite her young years she has drawn critical praise for many of her past roles, holding her own with (and sometimes outshone) her adult counterparts in dramas like Legend, Hwang Jini, and Merchant Kim Man-deok. Earlier this year she announced her intention to temporarily quit acting to study in the U.S., but postponed those plans to take on one last role in Bad Guy (which just wrapped filming this week).
My favorite thing about this interview/profile is that Shim sounds incredibly normal and well-adjusted, from worrying that spending a dollar to borrow comics costs too much to thinking she’d rather not try to girlify her appearance or makeup. Never change, Shim Eun-kyung!
My name is Shim Eun-kyung.
I was born on May 31, 1994. I am a freshman in high school and I just finished taking my finals a few days ago. My summer vacation starts this week.
I have an older brother who is five years older than me. He entered the military in June and I’m thinking about sending him actress Han Ga-in’s signature because he told me that the soldiers really like female celebrities.
The things that girls my age are interested in are BB cream, make-up and idol groups. Oh, and the curling iron. But I think people my age look so much prettier without make-up. Whenever I see people my age with white faces and red lips, I think, “that person is wearing too much…”
My friends were really curious when I was acting in MBC’s Hilarious Housewives [aka Tae-hee, Hye-gyo, Ji-hyun] alongside a real idol like Tae-min from SHINee and it was interesting to see how so many people would flock to the set to watch. Tae-min said he was interested in acting and so I got him a book on acting for his birthday, which he really liked.
I lost some weight this year. When I saw myself on TV, I noticed that I look like a middle-aged woman when I was standing between actress Han Bo-bae and Tae-min in Hilarious Housewives because both of them are so skinny! All I can think was “Ah, that’s just not right.” And I had a strenuous time while shooting KBS’ The Great Merchant [Merchant Kim Man-deok] that I lost four kilograms, then lost a bit more because I controlled what I ate. I wish I was a bit taller because I’m about 160 to 161 centimeters tall, but I don’t stress out about it.
There is a scene in SBS’s Bad Guy where Won-in [my character] secretly drinks beer but I put down it down because Han Ga-in told me not to drink it since it might get censored. However, the director told me to drink it…so they filled the beer can with water and I drank it. I’ve only had sips of alcohol at get-togethers — I’ve never actually drank the whole thing like that before. (Laughs)
My character’s name is Kim Yuna for the upcoming film tentatively titled Quiz King helmed by director Jang Jin. When director Jang gave us the scenario for the movie, he told us to come up with our own names for our characters. I discussed it with the female staff members of The Great Merchant and [decided on the name] since figure skater Kim Yuna was the talk of the town during the Winter Olympics. My character Kim Yuna is part of a group where people overcome depression. She is one interesting girl because she makes one wonder what is going on in her head.
The difference between Twitter and Cyworld is that there is more English [on Twitter]. When I first made the site, I forgot my password and I had a hard time because I didn’t even know what “following” was. These days I’ve become used to it. It is not as fun as Cyworld where you get to design your homepage but I like it because you get to easily connect with people from all over the world.
I really like singer Seo Taiji. I was curious to find out what kind of person he was because people made such a big deal about him on the Internet after his comeback with “Moai” in 2008. I thought to myself ‘This is it!’ when I heard his track “T’IKT’AK.” And I jumped for joy when I found out that I had been given the chance to shoot a commercial with him. When we actually began shooting, he talked to me and when he stroked my hair, all I said to him was “Thank you.” I think I was too nervous.
I have always wanted to learn how to play the electric guitar but my mom said no matter what, I had to learn how to play the piano. Even though I learned to play piano for seven years, I can barely play Czerny no. 100. Starting a few months ago, I’ve been getting lessons to play the electric guitar and drums. I know how to play a few chords on the guitar and I’ve been getting a lot of compliments from my drum teacher. And if I form a band, I would like to play the drums.
Forming a band has always been a lifelong dream. When I was on the bus with my friend I brought up the idea of forming a band and she liked it. Our band’s name is “Chick and Candy.” What does it mean? Um… But it doesn’t have any significant meaning.
I like science fiction cartoons. I enjoyed reading Twentieth Century Boys by Urasawa Naoki but I haven’t read Pluto… When I need money I get allowance but I feel that I asked my mom for too much money lately. It costs about 500 won to borrow a comic book but Pluto is a bit more expensive, it costs 600 won. And it costs 1,200 won to borrow two comic books which is quite expensive.
I also like figurines like Gundam Plamodels. I like the Japanese animation Akira and when I saw the figurine at the shop I thought it would cost about 30,000 won but when I asked it turned out to be worth 240,000 won. I just said “Ah, yeah…” and awkwardly walked home. I think… I’ll be able to buy something as expensive as that when I become an adult. What should I do when even as an adult my mom asks me why I spend my money on something like that?
Sometimes my mom says, “When you’re twenty you should become more pretty and feminine.” But so far, I can’t even imagine it. My friends tell me that they want to become college students and play but I like how things are now. I think having a lot of knowledge is important once you get older but I don’t want a lot of change. At times like this I wish I was like Peter Pan, never having to grow up. (Laughs)
Via 10 Asia
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1 soysauce
July 14, 2010 at 5:42 PM
Oh. Seems like her mom manages her money pretty tightly. Not that it's a bad thing since she is a minor. A very "ordinary" person for a 16 year old like myself. Mangas, animes, and music. She Sounds completely down to earth.
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2 hopesofgreen
July 14, 2010 at 5:48 PM
Shim Eun-kyung is so adorable (and so talented for her age). If she's a little bit older, she'd be a great lead for Mischievous Kiss. Then again, they were considering Sulli from the group f(x), who's also quite young.
I hope she comes back after her studies to act again.
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3 Orion
July 14, 2010 at 5:48 PM
Really like this girl. She left me speechless in Hansel & Gretel.
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eunhae
February 20, 2011 at 8:08 PM
she's the one in hansel and gretel??
wow~ she's soo lovely with long hair~~
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4 langdon813
July 14, 2010 at 6:11 PM
Oh, she's so adorable. Reading stuff like this makes me so sad I never had a daughter. I love her scenes with Kim Nam-gil in Bad Guy! They make such cute buddies. :-)
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5 Ash
July 14, 2010 at 6:13 PM
Does anyone have her twitter?
She seems so down to earth. Woah she's younger than me >< She is a really good actress. She could teach older female actress a thing or two.
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6 sunshine
July 14, 2010 at 6:26 PM
She's the bomb.
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7 Taohua
July 14, 2010 at 6:26 PM
Loved the interview! She's a joy to watch onscreen and she sounds like any normal teenager. I hope that she does return to acting after her studies because she's a wonderful actress and she'll be greatly missed. But whatever she chooses to do in the future, I wish her lots of success and happiness :)
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8 Natalia
July 14, 2010 at 6:33 PM
I really like how she enjoys being herself unlike a large amount of young actresses who pile on the make-up. I'd really enjoy seeing her act in a main role, once she finishes studying. She gives me a Eun-chan vibe from Coffee Prince. Haha.. :D
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9 marbleloaf
July 14, 2010 at 6:37 PM
she is a refreshing personality in the korean celeb scene...i hope she matures into a wonderful actor and stays a wonderful person as well!
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10 missy
July 14, 2010 at 6:39 PM
i cant believe she was the one on Hansel and Gretel. i'm a fan of hers because she comes so natural in acting and in growing up. two thumbs up for her!
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11 moana
July 14, 2010 at 6:48 PM
she's freakin' adorable in bad guy and sounds remarkably grounded in this interview. thanks for posting it, JB.
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12 all4movies
July 14, 2010 at 7:12 PM
Kudos to her parents for keeping her grounded but I wish they would stop trying to make her into a lady.
I love her feisty and spirited character but I''m a little worried that at her age, she already thinks she's too big. I would hate to see a perfectly healthy teenager become another victim to anorexia.
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13 Your Sassy Friend
July 14, 2010 at 7:32 PM
"but my mom said no matter what, I had to learn how to play the piano." I'm sure a good majority of Asians in general can relate to this. >.>
She sounds like an amazing girl--nothing like the uppity chicks I see today. I wish there were more people like her. It's nice to hear she's actually a lot more normal than I thought. Sometimes when I read celebrity interviews, I don't really get a sense of who they are because they're being so vague or trying too hard to be liked.
Shim Eunkyung, girlfriend, don't worry about not being interested in make up. I'm almost twenty and I'm just starting to find some merit in make up. <3
I hope she has a wonderful time in the US.
But I agree 12 all4movies. . .just let the girl be herself. She already is a lady. ;)
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14 herrdreams
July 14, 2010 at 7:39 PM
wow shes only 3 years older than me
amazing!! :D you rock Shim Eun-kyung:)
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15 danna
July 14, 2010 at 7:55 PM
she's really such an adorable kid!....good luck to her with her studies in America
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16 Cam
July 14, 2010 at 8:24 PM
Awww! Lolz, she's really adorable!!! =)
I can't believe that she's just young at her age is sixteen --- and I am older about 3 years older than Shim Eun Kyung! Lolz, it doesn't matter but I still like her as a fan, of course! ^______^
Ohh, Isn't she used to become so feminine when she will become adult? Aw, she seem like she usually to be tomboy girl like that --- I think it's very cool! GO GIRL!!!!!
Shim Eun Kyung --- KEEP IT UP & Do your BEST! (thumb ups & beams)
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17 popcorn
July 14, 2010 at 8:25 PM
Awww...comics and anime and music so like me! :P Silly girl, she is too young to be thinking about makeup. I'm already 21 and I don't even use make up. Yep yep, without make up girls are more pretty. Well... >_> certain girls are...
:P I really like her hair. So boyish.
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18 bbm
July 14, 2010 at 10:34 PM
i always like SEK, and after i read this i love and adored her!! she's so down to earth and like your typical teenager...
and between the comic, anime, want to learn electric guitar (and drum), and the reluctance to wear make up or be girly, i feel like i was reading a biography of myself, well beside the acting thing XD
i hope she would never change and be mature by nature, not like most teenage girls i see, they all matured too early in my opinion...
and Pluto is a very good Manga, i can't believe we have the same taste... urrghh... i want to adopt her as my sister :P
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19 okitokki
July 15, 2010 at 12:28 AM
She seems SO down to earth and grounded. that's so cool. i like her stance on makeup too, especially with all the kpop celebs her age (and YOUNGER) with makeup, dyed hair, and short skirts.
someone mentioned that they didn't like how worried she was about her weight.. but the amount of weight she said she lost isn't that big a deal. around ten pounds... at 16, i knew plenty of girls who dieted to lose way more than that. and she isn't being unhealthy or anything; controlling your eating is sensible, and safe enough. in a country that seems so appearance obsessed as south korea, i'd say it's nice to see her taking a safe, level headed approach to losing a few pounds. (and i have to cut her some slack cos next to taemin, i'd feel like suchhh a whale. boy was SO THIN in THJ...)
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20 Net-chan
July 15, 2010 at 1:07 AM
@19 Yes, but losing 4kg when you're already pretty thin, that's A LOT! I find her skinny by the way. Plus she's only controlling what she eats, and not doing any sports. Being skinny WITHOUT muscles is quite unhealthy. The way she loses weight, at such a young age, is not right. Well, that's what I think ^^.
She's so humble and down-to-earth! I've never seen her acting, but I like people like her ^^. Looks like her mum is pretty severe (not letting her play the electric guitar and controlling the amount of money she spends haha) ^^"... Why is she so concerned about image (being prettier and feminine at 20? WTH???)?! Are all Korean mums like that (that's a real question, I'm French and don't understand that thing about beauty in South Korea and other Asian countries where plastic surgery is a necessity)?
I like the fact that she doesn't like make-up (I don't use it because 1° it's too much of a pain; 2° it's not good for the skin 3° it's expensive 4° I don't think a woman reaaally needs make-up to be beautiful)! Hehe...
Hope she'll have a great time in Pittsburg ^^!!
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21 rway
July 15, 2010 at 3:05 AM
hey, i read '20th century boy' too! one of the best manga, i would say. i love her for this. haha..
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22 glacierkn
July 15, 2010 at 4:28 AM
Wow she's so mature and down to earth! I'm so much more fond of her after reading this. I hope she doesn't quit her acting career after coming to the US. But I also hope that she gets to fulfill her own dreams, whatever they may be in the future.
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23 supah
July 15, 2010 at 4:51 AM
She's adorbs, and definitely talented.
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24 Belva
July 15, 2010 at 6:46 AM
Love her more after reading this interview! For those interested, here's her twitter and cyworld:
http://twitter.com/sek531
http://minihp.cyworld.com/pims/main/pims_main.asp?tid=48309420
Like JB, I hope she never change!
Can't wait for the day she plays a leading role in her 20s.
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25 elisa
July 15, 2010 at 8:06 AM
huh, she's a 1994 but a freshman in highschool...
unless it's a rising sophmore then it makes more sense cause i'm going to be a senior next year and i'm 93!
she's so innocent.... i do agree make up - a little too much but bb cream...is just...like...a little cream right? :D......i don't have flawless skin like youuu booo hooo :(
omg ok she's a little TOO innocent... god i feel so bad about how i spend money now T___T.... i don't even have a job but she's so economic when she already earns money from acting! AND ALL SHE WANTS IS TO BORROW A COMIC BOOK. not even BUY IT. AHHH...
I'LL LEND YOU THE MONEY...but i don't want to corrupt you!!
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26 Lee
July 15, 2010 at 11:35 AM
@25 Elisa I think they mean a freshman in Korean school or someone translated it wrong.
I though I recognised her from somewhere, she was really creepy (very convincing) in Hansel and Gretel. She is very cute and I love that she gave Taemin a book on acting, as she seems like such a nice girl it was probably I want to help you better your acting rather than a condescending gesture. You have to pay for libraries in Korea? She'll love America then if it's free to borrow mangas.
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27 jacklynoff
July 15, 2010 at 1:01 PM
it must be pretty nice to be a college student in korea.
at my university, it's all work and very little play. heck, i had more play in highschool
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28 Jo
July 15, 2010 at 1:38 PM
no, mangas are not in libraries. They have what they call "manga rooms" and you rent out mangas. People, come on. if you dont know anything about korean culture, don't jump to conclusions.
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29 Endroine
July 15, 2010 at 5:13 PM
That last sentence <3 I can't agree more XD
Gawd she's awesome o-o and 3 years younger than me O-O
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30 Lee
July 16, 2010 at 4:38 AM
@28 Jo , sorry I wasn't aware of manga rooms, I just assumed libraries since we have manga in libraries over here (the UK) so I shall correct my statement : she will love it if you you don't have to pay to borrow/rent a manga i.e. from a library assuming that 1) it is free to join and 2) you don't have to pay rental fees in America 3) that they have mangas in said library. I know things about Korean culture but I'm still learning as culture is not an easy or quick thing to absorb.
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31 panpan
September 18, 2010 at 7:57 PM
She's a teenager, a teenager should be like that. I was like that before, anime, mangas, boyish like..well yeah i Liked gundams, too.. but people grow and change, she seems honest and innocent, i like here :)
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32 M
October 13, 2010 at 2:39 PM
Is she awesome with capital A or what?
I absolutely adore her!
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33 Shim Eun-kyung courted for Waiting For You | Asia-Torrent.comAsia-Torrent.com
May 10, 2014 at 2:09 PM
[…] My Name Is: Shim Eun-kyung […]
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34 kaizen68
September 16, 2014 at 10:53 AM
She'll be perfect for potrayal Nodame's Character :D
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35 OPP
January 4, 2016 at 3:52 AM
Love dis girl so much she is the most talented korean actress out there
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