[CELEB] Kim Seol Hyun takes her first stab at comedy in killer series

Television

Published: 01 May. 2022, 14:38 Updated: 01 May. 2022, 18:10

[CELEB] Kim Seol Hyun takes her first stab at comedy in killer series

Poster for the ongoing tvN series "The Killer's Shopping List" [ILGAN SPORTS]

Mystery-comedy series “The Killer's Shopping List” starring singer-actor Kim Seol Hyun got off to a favorable start last week.

Marking a local viewership rating of 3.8 percent after its first week of episodes, “The Killer’s Shopping List” was the most-viewed cable TV show during its time slot, according to Nielsen Korea on Saturday.

During an online press conference for the series on April 25, Kim was confident and ready to showcase her work to the public.

“I have never been this excited for a work to premiere!" said Kim.

Kim said that the unique plot about characters catching a culprit by following his receipts appealed to her. “And all the characters are so charming and lovely which also made me enjoy the drama’s script,” she said.

“The Killer's Shopping List” revolves around characters who track down a criminal who committed a murder nearby a neighborhood supermarket called MS Mart. Kim plays an outgoing cop named Doh Ah-hee.

Kim during a scene in the ongoing tvN drama "The Killer's Shopping List" [ILGAN SPORTS]

The ongoing series is Kim’s first go at a comedy but the singer-actor said she wasn’t intimidated.

Kim’s past works such as the 2017 thriller crime film “Memoir of a Murderer,” the 2018 war-action film “The Great Battle” and the 2020 mystery drama series “Awaken” centered on darker and more serious subjects.

“I wasn’t too worried because I didn’t feel pressured to be funny while acting,” said Kim. “The comic scenes were produced naturally as I played my character in the funny situations that she was placed in.”

Kim during a scene in a war-action film "The Great Battle" (2020) [NEXT ENTERTAINMENT WORLD]

Kim stars alongside actor and entertainer Lee Kwang-soo, who returned to the small screen for the first time in four years. The two appear as a couple who have been in a relationship for some 20 years.

“Kim and I were acquainted from the SBS variety show ‘Running Man.’ We also go to the same gym. I think this helped us to portray a close relationship on screen,” said Lee during the press conference.

The series is directed by Lee Eon-hee, who is best known for the films "Missing" (2016) and "The Accidental Detective 2: In Action" (2018).

“The Killer’s Shopping List” marks Lee’s directorial debut on the small screen, but she said that the series was initially pitched to her as a two-hour movie.

“I wanted to show and develop the friendly and relatable characters," said Lee. "This required more screen time, so it became an eight-part drama series."

The drama is inspired by the novel “The Killer's Shopping Mall” (2020) by Kang Ji-young.

New episodes air every Wednesday and Thursday at 10:30 p.m until May 19. They are also available on the video streaming platform Tving.

To promote her series, Kim appeared on an episode of the local variety show “Unexpected Business 2” (2022-) which aired on April 22. It revealed a more authentic side of the K-pop star-turned-actor as Kim opened up about her past struggles.

“When I was still active as a singer, a part of me felt small and timid about acting,” said Kim. “I felt like an outsider. But since deciding that I really am going to be an actor, I have become much more relaxed."

Kim, second from left, is in the poster of her girl group's EP "Come See Me" (2019) [ILGAN SPORTS]

Kim initially debuted as a member of the hit girl group AOA in 2012 under the stage name Seol Hyun. At the center position of the girl group, Kim received the most public attention during the group’s heyday in the mid-2010s.

Though the group originally had eight members, it is now down to a trio. Kim is still part of AOA but the group has not been active since 2019.

Kim also appeared on an episode of tvN’s "Amazing Saturday" (2018-) with Lee. The episode aired on April 23. It was Kim's third guest appearance on the show.

Kim Seol Hyun [FNC ENTERTAINMENT]

Seol Hyun (Kim Seol Hyun)

Date of birth: Jan. 3, 1995
Zodiac sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Bucheon, Gyeonggi
Debut: July 2012 as a member of girl group AOA
Agency: FNC Entertainment

Kim Seol Hyun debuted in 2012 as a member of the girl group AOA, best known for hits "Heart Attack" (2015), "Good Luck" (2016), "Excuse Me" (2017) and "Bingle Bangle" (2018) as well as its appearance on the hit Mnet survival show "Queendom" (2019). Kim debuted as an actor in 2012 in a supporting role in the KBS drama series "Seoyoung, My Daughter." She scored her first lead in the KBS romance series "Orange Marmalade" in 2015. Kim has also starred in the romance drama "My Country: The New Age" (2019), mystery series "Awaken" (2020) and action film "The Great Battle" (2018).

This information was confirmed by FNC Entertainment on April 29, 2022.

BY LEE JIAN [lee.jian@joongang.co.kr]