Infinite Pursuit

TWO DECADES on FROM THE PIVOTAL TV ROLE that LAUNCHED HER CAREER, SONG HYE KYO is UNSTOPPABLE — and READY FOR new CHALLENGES

Song Hye Kyo’s presence in pop culture in the last decade, ever since K-everything became mainstream, has been irrefutable. With an award-winning repertoire that has thoroughly permeated social media and day-to-day conversations, the actress is now emblematic of Korean shows — even for those who are unfamiliar with the genre. It’s hard to believe she’s only 38, but her current global status is really the fruit of over 20 years of hard work. Here she speaks to ELLE Singapore about pushing herself outside of her comfort zone, the lengths she’s gone to for a role, and why refining her craft is a never-ending process.

Why did you want to become an actress, and what do you want to bring to people with your performances?

Being an actress was never initially my dream, I happen to participate in a modelling competition for school uniform and luckily won first prize. With this chance I started acting. I don’t always point out a specific thing that I want to show the audience, but I think getting viewers immersed in my character and performance is the most important.

TV and film have a hand in shaping our understanding of the world. What draws you to a character or a show, and how do you think the medium has progressed of late in terms of the issues, perspectives and people it spotlights?