Kim Go-eun says Netflix series 'You and Everything Else' offers quiet reflection

연합뉴스 / 2025-09-23 09:55:52

▲ This photo of actress Kim Go-eun is provided by Netflix. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

SEOUL, Sept. 23 (Yonhap) -- Actress Kim Go-eun said Tuesday her latest Netflix series, “You and Everything Else,” helped her look inward and revisit the meaning of relationships.

“The series doesn’t treat emotions in a simple way but carefully examines people’s inner lives,” Kim told reporters in Seoul’s Samcheong-dong. “It’s a work that makes you reflect on life and relationships, and it sweeps over your heart like a gentle touch.”

Unlike many recent online streaming shows filled with flashy action, revenge or intrigue, “You and Everything Else” delves into the subtle complexities of friendship. The story follows Eun-jung (played by Kim) and Sang-yeon (Park Ji-hyun) from their teenage years into their 40s as they wrestle with admiration, resentment and everything in between.

Calling it “a rare narrative these days,” Kim said, “I think Eun-jung fell in love with Sang-yeon at first sight. No one else left such a strong impression on her life.” The series begins when Sang-yeon, now in her 40s, suddenly reappears to tell Eun-jung she is approaching assisted death and asks her to accompany her to Switzerland.

Kim recalled the filming of the Switzerland scenes as particularly tough. “Every time Ji-hyun and I made eye contact, she would burst into tears,” she said. “But during filming we tried not to cry outright, which always left my chest tight.” On assisted death, she added, “Since I haven’t directly experienced such pain, I can’t say I support or oppose it. But if someone truly dear to me asked me to be with them, I would gladly do so.”

The 15-part series tackles its heavy theme with restraint. “Because it tells a difficult story in a simple way, it left something in me,” Kim said. “I felt it was my role to stay centered and lead this long narrative until the end.”

▲ This photo of actress Kim Go-eun is provided by Netflix. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

She also praised her co-stars. On Park Ji-hyun, she said, “When I wondered who could handle Sang-yeon’s swinging emotions, hearing Ji-hyun was cast made me jump for joy. She gives you trust, and we had many moments of perfect sync on set.” On Kim Geon-woo, who plays Sang-hak, she said, “I thought he was very smart in his acting in ‘The Glory.’ He’s detailed and full of sense.”

After recently playing relatable characters in both “Love in the Big City” and “You and Everything Else,” Kim said her next role will show a stronger side. She is set to star in the Netflix crime thriller “The Price of Confession,” reuniting with Jeon Do-yeon for the first time in 10 years since the 2015 film “Memories of the Sword.”

“I shaved my head and tried things I always wanted to try,” she said. “This time, with so many good projects coming one after another, I think it will remain a very memorable period of my life.”