Actor Kim Minha has candidly opened up about her recent weight loss and the public discourse surrounding her appearance in an interview with BBC Korea.

In the interview released on July 8, Kim addressed her noticeably slimmer physique, stating, "Many people have been talking about my appearance lately. I have lost some weight, and I am actively preparing for my next role." She emphasized, "This is not because of beauty standards, but purely a change for the character."

She particularly expressed satisfaction with her appearance, laughing as she said, "I am very satisfied with myself. Whatever my body looks like, I am very happy with who I am. My figure is not important to me. I am someone who only focuses on my role."

Previously, Kim had also addressed her weight loss process on a broadcast, clarifying, "I did not receive help from Wegovy or Mounjaro." She added, "I lost the weight slowly over two years, starting from when I was filming the drama 'Typhoon Family.' I have lost about 16 to 17kg since then through a diet of one meal a day and exercise."

The interview also covered the film 'Hana Korea,' which was released on July 8. 'Hana Korea' depicts the journey of a North Korean defector settling into South Korean society, with Kim playing the lead role of 'Hyesun,' a defector from Ryanggang Province.

"Because it was a story based on real events, I felt a sense of responsibility to portray the characters with more delicacy and caution," Kim said. "The fact that the film features a lot of narration was also a major reason I decided to join the project." She added, "I didn't want to portray Hyesun simply as a defector from North Korea. I wanted to express her as an ordinary person living in South Korea."

Having worked with three different coaches to prepare for her dialect performance, she explained, "The most important thing was to show how Hyesun's dialect gradually changes as she adapts to South Korean society. I wanted to express the process of becoming accustomed to a new environment."

She continued, "We are all living our lives, struggling to adapt to new situations and new environments. I hope that those who watch the film will think, 'I am also working really hard to adapt to this society.' Even though the world can sometimes be confusing and strange, I hope the audience feels light and hope in the process of living their lives."

Meanwhile, 'Hana Korea' was invited to the non-competition section of the 30th Busan International Film Festival last year, where it won the Audience Award. The film was written and directed by Danish director Frederik Sølberg. 

(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Kyung-youn)