Kim Se Jeong revealed that she had once declined an MBC drama offer before ultimately changing her decision after learning that Kang Tae Oh would be her co-star.
“There were scenes in the script that made me think, ‘What if I can’t pull this off?’” Kim said. “But once I heard Kang Tae Oh was doing it, those scenes suddenly started to come alive in my head. I could imagine how he would act, and how I would respond. The puzzle pieces just clicked, and I gained the confidence that I could handle 'Moon River'.”
The actress recently sat down for a roundtable interview at a café in Seoul’s Gangnam district. Kim Se Jeong stars as Park Dal Yi, the female lead of MBC’s Friday–Saturday drama 'Moon River.' The series is a romantic fantasy historical drama in which the souls of a crown prince who has lost his laughter and a traveling merchant who has lost her memory are switched, unfolding a story of empathy and transformation.
Ahead of Moon River’s premiere, MBC had been struggling with low ratings in the 1–2% range with recent dramas such as 'Crushology 101,' 'Mary Kills People,' and 'To The Moon.' Against that backdrop, 'Moon River,' starring Kim Se Jeong, drew attention as MBC’s final Friday–Saturday drama of 2025. At the production press conference, even the director admitted, “I feel so pressured I could die,” underscoring the weight of expectations. Nevertheless, the drama opened with a solid 3.8% viewership rating and wrapped up last month with a peak rating of 6.8%, ending on a high note.
Kim Se Jeong first rose to fame after placing second on 'Produce 101' in 2016, debuting as an idol before expanding her career as a solo singer and steadily establishing herself as an actress. She proved her leading role potential in The Uncanny Counter (2020) and broadened her global fan base with Business Proposal (2022). However, her 2024 drama Brewing Love concluded with mixed reviews. As she marked her 10th year since her debut in 2025, anticipation grew over whether her first-ever historical drama could help her move past the disappointment of her previous project.
Known for her bright, sunshine-like image since her 'Produce 101' days, Kim Se Jeong took on the challenge of playing three roles in one for 'Moon River.' Through these characters, she reaffirmed her presence as a beloved “sunshine heroine,” with many viewers calling it a new career-defining role.
Choosing a historical drama for the first time, Kim Se Jeong admitted, “I was really worried. There was pressure not only in terms of acting tone, but also styling.” She added, “Because the character used a dialect, it was different from the conventional historical-drama tone. The fact that the traditional tone was less prominent eased some worries, but it presented a different kind of challenge.”
Kim also revealed that she had initially passed on the project because of the triple-role setup. “When I first got the script, I was really concerned,” she said. “But my agency director and many people around me encouraged me, telling me I could do it.” She continued, “Just as I was starting to think, ‘Maybe I should give it a try,’ I heard that Kang Tae Oh would be joining the cast. The moment I heard that, so many of my concerns were resolved.”
Reflecting on 'Moon River,' which she encountered in her 10th year since debut, Kim said, “It was incredibly difficult and a huge challenge. At the same time, it became a starting point for embracing new challenges.”
“In the end, I’m really glad I took on the challenge,” she concluded. “This project taught me that I should continue trying new things in the future. It’s a precious work that gave me courage.”
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