Singer-actress Kim Sejeong shared her heartfelt thoughts on working with Kang Tae Oh in the MBC Friday–Saturday drama Moon River, which concluded its 14-episode run on December 20. The fantasy historical romance follows Crown Prince Lee Kang (played by Kang Tae Oh), who has lost his smile, and peddler Park Dal-i (played by Kim Sejeong), who has lost her memories, as their souls are mysteriously switched, leading to a story of empathy, growth, and love.
In the drama, Kim Sejeong played the lively and quick-witted peddler Park Dal-i, delivering a grounded and humorous performance highlighted by her use of a rustic dialect. She also took on a dual role as Crown Princess Kang Yeonwol, showcasing her range by portraying two contrasting characters within the same narrative.
Previously, Kim Sejeong revealed that she gave serious thought to accepting her first-ever historical drama and the challenging “soul-switch” premise. Ultimately, she chose the project because of its “diverse storytelling” and “the presence of Kang Tae Oh as a co-star.”
Recalling her first meeting with Kang Tae Oh, Kim Sejeong said, “Just from watching him on screen, I thought he would be a witty actor full of ideas. He really is like that in real life, and he’s incredibly considerate without ever forcing his opinions. He always told me, ‘Do everything you want to try.’ And when there were scenes where I felt unsure, he would gently guide me.”
She went on to explain that visual and emotional compatibility between actors mattered to her, adding, “One reason I felt it would be great to work with him is that I think actors need to resemble each other in some way. When I first saw him, I felt like we were really similar—not just our faces, but our overall vibe. I thought we’d create good synergy together, and sure enough, as time went on, that synergy kept getting stronger. We constantly shared positive feedback with each other.”
Kang Tae Oh previously mentioned in his own interview that the two discussed their performances extensively, especially during scenes involving the soul swap, to capture Dal-i’s charm accurately. Some viewers even joked online, asking “How did they manage to switch faces too?” due to how convincing their portrayals were.
Kim Sejeong also revealed that the two went as far as swapping phones and studying each other’s recorded voices. “At first, we shared our habits,” she explained. “I tend to clasp my hands behind my back a lot, while he noticed that I roll my eyes when I say something interesting. I worked hard to capture his speech patterns. But I didn’t want to just imitate his appearance. I asked him how Lee Kang sees the world and what kind of mindset he lives with. I wanted to build the character from the inside out.”
She added that the director encouraged their ideas rather than imposing rigid instructions. “I was worried that if Yeonwol suddenly appeared again after regaining her memories, she might feel like an awkward, inconsistent character. I thought it would be better if Yeonwol and Dal-i felt blended together, and the director loved that idea and even expanded on it. Once we shared that vision, everything became so cohesive, and the set turned into a very comfortable place to work.”
Kim Sejeong also fondly recalled that filming Yeonwol’s past scenes first helped her emotionally. “Watching five years of happiness unfold like a panorama made it even more painful to see how that once-beautiful person suffered later on, even appearing in dreams. The confusion and overwhelming love made tears naturally fall,” she said. “From now on, if I do a story-driven project, I’ll definitely ask to film the past scenes first. Once your emotions are organized, those memories carry much more weight in later scenes.”
Meanwhile, Kim Sejeong and Kang Tae Oh have been nominated for the Best Couple Award at the upcoming 2025 MBC Drama Awards, set to take place on December 30. Kim Sejeong admitted, “I am expecting to win,” before adding warmly, “But our chemistry wasn’t created by just the two of us. The staff worked incredibly hard. I really want to thank them once again and share this sense of pride with everyone.”
Sources: Nate