EXCLUSIVE: Kim Sejeong talks about returning to music with ‘Door’, finding a balance between music and acting and reprising her role in The Uncanny Counter 2

Much before she became an extremely well-known face in the world of acting, Kim Sejeong has been thriving in the music industry. Currently one of South Korea’s most popular and in-demand actresses, she debuted in 2016 as a K-Pop idol in project girl group I.O.I. and later joined gugudan. Her most well-known acting credits are for her leading roles in the viral Webtoon-based Korean dramas Business Proposal and The Uncanny Counter, and School 2017 of the long-running School drama series. Apart from television dramas, she has also starred in a few musicals including a lead role in Return: The Promise of the Day and Red Book. However, her return to full-fledged music has been much awaited. And now, she has opened a new 'door' for herself and she has definitely left an impressive mark with her artistic choices.

It's fitting that Kim Sejeong's first full-length album, released over a month ago, is named Door as she opens the gateway to a musical world with 11 tracks. With her vocal prowess, the songtress shared her untold stories and also revealed a side to her that has been hidden away. "Working on this album, I took a lot of time looking back on my life, from the first moment I wanted to become a singer to the path I’m currently walking on. This album really contains who I am, what I’ve felt, and which stories I want to tell the world, and I’m really proud of that," said Kim Sejeong on the day of the release of her album.

Currently on her world tour, the singer has been crooning songs from her first full-length album which has 11 new songs with lyrics written by her. She also participated in the composition of nine of the tracks. The pre-release title track 'Voyage' (August 30th, 2023) is the open ‘Door’ that leads to the world of mystery. It is an Irish-style pop-rock track with acoustic guitars and fiddles meant to invoke the atmosphere of sailing aboard a ship. The title track 'Top or Cliff' is an R&B track that is very vocal-heavy. She shows us a sexier and more powerful image compared to the usual warm and innocent side we are used to seeing. The other tracks included on the album ranging from pop, rock and jazz genres are: 'If We Do', 'Sea of Hope' , 'Between Summer and Winter', 'Destiny', 'Jenga', 'Indigo Promise', 'Send a Letter', 'Over The Rainbow' and 'In The Rain'.

In an exclusive conversation with Bollywood Hungama, which was conducted before she kicked off her tour, Kim Sejeong spoke about her album, the process of creating 11 tracks, her growing acting career and more.

Congratulations Sejeong on your first full-length album. What do you feel about putting out your music in the world after the hard work that went into it?
I've never felt prouder than I do now releasing this album. Over the past three years, I've put in a lot of effort, and I’m over the moon to unveil an album filled with songs that carry a message I wanted to convey. This album is brimming with my sincerity, and I couldn't be happier with how it turned out.

Symbolically, ‘Door’ is a symbol of change and transition. Your pre-release track ‘Voyage’ where you travel through a door which is a portal to a different world. The lyrics – “From the sky, I may be / Nothing but a point / But I’ll move, become a line / And I’ll let my own world bloom” – reflect liberation and travelling to an adventurous place and transitioning from one phase of your life to another. Did working on ‘Door’ reflect the same feelings?
This album has truly been an adventure for me. It's my first full-length album, and it is my first time to reveal a side of myself that I hadn't shared with others before. I even delved deeply into the album's production, writing lyrics for every song, composing nearly all the tracks, planning the music videos, and writing the album introduction materials—things I've never done before. Throughout this creative process, I reflected a lot on myself, allowing me to intricately weave my world into the lyrics. It has been an incredibly meaningful production process.

What was the inspiration behind using Irish pop-rock as the genre for the song ‘Voyage’ and how was the process of creating it?
'Voyage' is one of the two title tracks of this album, alongside 'Top or Cliff,' and each song represents one side of the door. 'Voyage' symbolizes "an open door to an unknown world," reflecting my perspective on life as an unpredictable sea. The message I aimed to convey is, "I may not know what challenges lie ahead or what obstacles I might encounter, but I'm determined to move forward steadily." In writing the song, I aimed to create a somewhat hopeful atmosphere and to capture the essence of the Irish pop-rock genre, so I incorporated acoustic guitar and fiddle, infusing the music with a refreshing vibe.

When was the idea and the concept of the album decided? And how do you decide the overall narrative of the songs that ties the album together?
The concept for this album was actually decided quite late in the process. Throughout the production period, I contemplated what story I wanted to convey through this album, and there were numerous potential concepts considered before we settled on “Door”. Ultimately, I was drawn to the duality of this concept, as it represents both opening and closing, aligning well with the album's overall theme. Of course, I've always had the intention of releasing an album that showcases a new side of me that others haven't seen. Therefore, I made an effort to communicate a distinct facet of myself and a unique message in each song featured on this album. Consequently, I ended up incorporating a variety of genres and atmospheres into the album.

The main track ‘Top or Cliff’ is an R&B genre, so different from the pre-release one. You express the emotions of braving all the difficult times and standing up for yourself. How do you express your feelings through this particular song?
'Top or Cliff,' tells the story of a woman who pushed herself to the cliff to get to the top. I believe this song, much like the rest of the songs in “Door”, is a reflection of my personal journey. Many people are likely more familiar with my cheerful and hopeful public persona, whether through my music, acting roles, or appearances on variety shows. However, this song delves into the effort and determination that have been the driving forces behind that image. It represents my resilience that has allowed me to persevere.

From 11 tracks, you have participated in nine songs. Creating an album from scratch requires a lot of detailing and attention. Sejeong, can you share any challenging or memorable moments while creating the album?
When it comes to memorable moments, one that stands out is the time I reflected on my life while working on the song 'In the Rain' from this album. This song is a reflection of my memories of going to the playground near my home on rainy days when I was young in order to practice singing where no one was around. It captures the strong desire I had and illustrates how I've evolved from then to an artist now.

Every artist has a unique approach to songwriting. Some prefer writing it all at once, some take time for the same. What has been your approach over the years to craft lyrics and how has it evolved over the years?
I'm the kind of person who frequently writes down notes in my daily life. Whenever a thought, emotion, or something I want to tell someone strikes me, I make it a habit to write it down immediately. Then I revisit these ideas later, and think "This can be narrated well through music" or "This message would work beautifully as lyrics." I then rearrange these thoughts into songs or lyrics. This is how I write songs.

Was it easy or difficult to create a sequence for the album in order for it to have a cohesive storytelling experience? A particular song in the album that you feel most connected to?
It's quite challenging for me to pinpoint which song I relate to the most from this album because every song ultimately reflects a part of myself. I dedicated three years to producing this album, and the emotions I experienced during that period are woven into each song and the album really reflects me as a person. As a result, I feel that the order of the songs came about naturally, given the substantial amount of time and emotion I poured into this album.

What has been your learning curve in curating the album? What are your expectations as to how it will be received by the audience?
As the theme of this album revolves around revealing a side of me that I had previously kept hidden from the public, I had some time to really reflect on myself. Particularly, as a singer, I had a lot of concerns about my musical identity and style. Ultimately, I came to the realization that my fans would appreciate and love me as long as I poured my sincerity into each song. With this in mind, I decided to showcase a diverse range of music without limiting myself to one particular style. In the end, I hope that many people will embrace and love this album, as it is at a level of self-exposure and expression of my true feelings that I've never ventured into before.

Sejeong, you are widely appreciated not simply for your musical prowess but for how versatile you are as an actor too. You have seamlessly found a balance between the two. How has your experience in music influenced your acting and vice versa?
I do not draw a sharp distinction between acting and music because, to me, it's all about conveying the messages and emotions I want to share with people, regardless of whether I'm working as an actor or a singer. When I act I think about how I can better communicate my emotions to the audience while singing, and vice versa. As I delve deeper into what I genuinely want to express to the public, I find that I'm becoming more truthful with both myself and my audience, leading to growth in both fields.

Talking about your work in acting, The Uncanny Counter 2 came to an end. Was reprising the role of Do Hana really fun? Did it seem emotionally and physically challenging? What has been your experience?
The Uncanny Counter Season 2 certainly featured a lot of action scenes, in contrast to Business Proposal or Today's Webtoon, and obviously, it was more physically challenging. However, by practising alongside the stunt actors who collaborated with me, I was able to execute the action scenes more naturally, and it was somewhat fun. Also, there were some wire stunts involved in this season and I quite enjoyed it.

Are there any upcoming projects or drama projects that you're particularly excited about?
I'm eagerly looking forward to my upcoming tour, which is just around the corner. This marks my very first solo concert, and I'll be performing in some countries for the first time, so I believe it will be a tour that creates lasting memories for both my fans and me. What makes it even more special is that fans can attend this concert without masks, so I'm especially excited to hear their singing and shouts fill the concert hall!

India has so many people who found you through your work in the music or drama industries. Is there a message you’d like to convey?
To all my Indian fans, I want to express my deep gratitude for the immense love and support you've shown me every time I embark on a new drama or release an album. While I haven't had the opportunity to visit India yet, I hope that someday we can meet in person, where I can perform for you and experience the rich local culture together. Please continue to give me your love and support for this album and the tour, and keep an eye out for my upcoming endeavours. Thank you!