Kim Gab Soo Showers Praise on His "Queen of Tears" Co-Stars Kim Soo Hyun, Kim Ji Won

Queen of Tears actor Kim Gab Soo sat for an interview with local reporters, during which he shared his thoughts on his co-stars. 

Queen of Tears tells the story of Hong Hae In (Kim Ji Won), the heiress to Queens Group, and Baek Hyun Woo (Kim Soo Hyun), her husband and the legal director of Queens Group. The drama revolves around the couple and the challenges they face in their third year of marriage. 

With just two episodes left until its finale, Queen of Tears achieved its highest viewership rating of 21.625% nationwide (surveyed by Nielsen Korea) for episode 14. This places it as the second highest-rated drama in tvN's history, trailing behind Crash Landing on You by a close margin.

Kim Gap Soo stated that Queen of Tears will claim the top spot in its final episode. He expressed, "I anticipate surpassing the record of Crash Landing on You. If Hyun Bin wins, it would not be respectful toward me," he joked.

Furthermore, Kim Gap Soo shared behind-the-scenes insights, saying, "I never expected it to go this far." But after watching the first two episodes, he thought it was well-made.

He remarked, "Don't actors only look at the scenes in which they appear? They can't view the whole picture objectively, but a director sees the big picture."

Kim Gab Soo graced the screen as Hong Man Dae, the chairman of the Queen's Group and Hae In's grandfather, thereby sharing the screen with many young stars. The veteran actor remarked, "Unlike before, young friends these days act really well." 

Regarding the male lead Kim Soo Hyun, who plays his on-screen grandson-in-law, Baek Hyun Woo, he said, "He acts really well. He is a charming kid. He seems a bit imperfect, but that's his charm. No matter what role he's given, he acts well." 

Kim Gap Soo almost co-starred with Kim Soo Hyun in Moon Embracing the Sun and The Producers. Talking about him, he said, "At that time, I didn't know Soo Hyun very well, but now that he's become famous, isn't it worth working with him? (laughs) But Soo Hyun did a good job. I knew he would become a top actor in the future. I think there is a great possibility for him to rise to the top among young male actors." 

He also praised his on-screen granddaughter Kim Ji Won, "I saw her a bit in Descendants of the Sun. At that time, [Song] Hye Kyo was the protagonist, and Ji Won played a supporting role, right? So, I wondered if she could do well this time. Because it was a role that demanded a lot. But there was a scene during which I got the thought, 'She knows how to act.' When Hong Man Dae is at home taking medicine and seems dazed, Hae In comes to see him. At that time, when she said 'Grandpa' and I looked at her expression, I was surprised at how well she acted. ... I think she will progress a lot in the future."

He continued, "She did well in My Liberation Notes too. However, there's a difference between doing well in such dark works and properly showcasing oneself in both bright and dark works while shining brightly. As for Ji Won, she has the ability to break through the shell. I think she'll continue to do well."  

He added, "They're all pretty, aren't they? But since the kids are all kind-hearted and talented, I hope they carry that temperament and character [moving forward]. Many people like them and praise them. So, it would be great if they maintain that character. It won't be easy, but that's how you become a good actor, an unforgettable actor. Thanks to working with good actors, I was comfortable and felt good. It's not easy to come across such a pleasant set, but it was good." 

Renowned for his title as the "specialist in death scenes," Kim Gap Soo met his inevitable end once again in this drama. Faced with guilt over the downfall of the Queens group in episode 12, he chose death as recompense for his wrongdoings.

Expressing some disappointment about wrapping up his part before other cast members, Kim Gap Soo mentioned, "It's a bit regretful. I knew I was going to die when I started. Originally, according to the script, I should have died much earlier. But I didn't. Not dying is good. You make money," he chuckled.

He added, "But still, a character shouldn't just die for no reason. There should be a reason. The reason why I [my character] should live or die should be clearly shown. That's how you have pride as an actor. He continued, "As far as I knew, my character was supposed to die before episode 10, but the episodes kept increasing. So while shooting, I asked director Kim Hee Won, 'Am I not dying?' And she replied, 'You should go back.' (Laughs) So, I ended up dying in episode 12 and appeared until episode 13. I have no regrets. If I appeared until episode 13, I did a lot," he explained. 

Talking about Lee Mi Sook, who worked together with him for the fourth time, Kim Gap Soo said, "It's been a been a while since we met, but there's no actress like her. Besides Lee Mi Sook, no one else can play such a role [of Mo Seul Hee]," and joked, "On the other hand, I am the only one who can do this, that, and whatnot at this age. (laughs) So, I suppose that's why we got along so well." 

Despite its popularity, Queen of Tears faced criticism from viewers for its lack of plausibility, unrealistic plot development, and character settings.

In response, Kim Gap Soo explained, "It's set against the backdrop of a chaebol, but rather than it being about the chaebol, I saw it as a story about family. I thought of it as a drama that is not 'realistic' but 'entertaining.'"

He added, "If you look at it logically, none of it makes sense (laughs). I believe the writer knew it all and intentionally wrote the script that way. From an actor's perspective, I don't know, but instead of considering it [that aspect] important, I wanted to focus more on providing viewers entertainment." 

Talking about his criteria for selecting works, he said, "When I was young, I was just happy to be given work. You have to show your face a lot [on screen], right? But now, it's obvious that the work should be good, and regardless of whether it's a big or small role, it should have an impact. No matter how big the role is, if it lacks impact, it's useless. I don't do such productions. Even if I [my character] survive until the finale, I won't do it. But if it has an impact, I'll do it even if I die. That's the principle. In the end, whether the role is big or small, if it's something only I can do, something only Kim Gap Soo can do, then I'll do it." 

Talking about his 50 years of experience in acting, he said, "There are people who ask, 'You've done a lot of work over the years, so you can judge [if the production will do well] just by looking at the script, right?' But even if you've accumulated experience for a long time, it's not always the case. I have never played the same role twice. In all my years of acting, I have never delivered the same performance. It's never the same line or the same performance. It's always new. That's why acting seems charming to me. In the past, I have felt a lot of stress and emotional exhaustion from always having to do something new. I have to express something that someone else, not me, wrote, under the direction of a director. ... At one point, it got really tough. During such times, I experienced slumps, but ultimately, there is no solution. You just have to go through it. If there are hoobaes [juniors] who are experiencing slumps, I hope they don't dwell too much [on it]. Just think, 'It will pass.'" 

Sources (1)(2)(3)