Yoo Sung-a, portrayed by Go Min-si, is a mysterious and intense character with a veiled past in the movie "The Frog." Courtesy of Netflix Go says the thriller allwed her to discover a new side of herself By KTimes In the Netflix drama "The Frog," actress Go Min-si, 29, who plays the lead character Yoo Sung-a, desperately pleads over the phone to the pension owner, Young-ha (portrayed by Kim Yoon-seok), who has disappeared without a trace. "Ajeossi (Mister).
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. When are you coming back here?" Her face is smeared with blood — evidence of a recent killing. Is there a more chilling way to plead for help? In this drama, released on Aug.
23, Go unveils a portrayal of madness unlike anything seen before. The "sweet intern Go Min-si" from the tvN variety show Jinny's Kitchen 2 — who was so concerned about making mistakes with food orders that she avoided drinking water to minimize bathroom breaks — is nowhere to be found. Instead, she transforms into a character who kills without remorse, embroiled in a high-stakes cat-and-mouse game with Bomin — a former violent crimes detective now serving as a police chief, played by Lee Jung-eun.
In an interview with the Hankook Ilbo, Go said, "I was really curious about how international viewers would react, and they said, 'A rare Korean female villain has appeared in a crime thriller.'" Go’s daring performance in "The Frog" showcases her as an unpredictable actor, like a rugby ball that could bounce in any direction. Actor Go Min-si / Courtesy of Netflix Go Min-si's challenge The character of Sung-a in "The Frog" posed a substantial challenge for Go.
"I had a meeting with Director Mo Wan-il that felt almost like an audition. I felt the character's image, as described in the script, was quite different from my usual roles. Since it was such a departure from what I've done before, I thought the director might find it difficult to choose me.
" She even recalled, "This project might be problematic even if I get cast," due to the challenging nature of developing the character. Ultimately, Go was cast in the role of Sung-a. She revealed that working on "The Frog" allowed her to discover a new side of herself, and added, "It was a project I truly enjoyed filming.
" Sung-a is a mysterious character with a past unknown to the audience. Go said, "When I read the script, I wondered what experiences Sung-a went through to become who she is now." She continued, "I wondered, 'Why did she marry Jae-sik (Jang Seung-jo), and why did she do such a cruel thing to a child?' I got some answers, but I felt that a killer shouldn't be understood.
Our drama is about the victim's story, after all." She believed that offering the murderer a detailed background would be inappropriate, which is why Sung-a’s history was not included. Nonetheless, Go emphasized that Sung-a is a character marked by "immense emptiness" and a profound sense of self-pity.
To portray Sung-a convincingly, Go decided to reduce her weight to 43 kilograms. "While looking beautiful on screen is important, I felt it would be more effective if my spine was visible, giving me a more eerie appearance." She added, "Even if it's just a brief scene, I wanted it to help bring out Sung-a's character.
I aimed to capture a raw, animalistic feeling." Go Min-si in the movie "Smugglers." Courtesy of Next Entertainment World Calm yet intense presence As one of the leading stars in her 20s, Go cites "self-objectivity" as one of her greatest strengths as an actress.
This trait, she believes, stems from her challenging journey to success. Born in Cheongju City, North Chungcheong Province, Go moved to Seoul with dreams of becoming an actress, but the journey was anything but easy. She faced rejection nearly 1,000 times while auditioning.
"In the beginning, it was tough. I wondered, 'Why am I not getting chosen? How many more times do I have to fail to land even a single role?' But as I got used to it, I became more determined. I started recognizing why I failed and tried to correct those mistakes for the next audition.
" Eventually, auditions no longer made her nervous. "If I have to audition for roles in the future, I can still do it. I always find joy in challenges.
I plan to keep running without resting." From playing someone’s nostalgic first love in the drama "Youth of May" (2021), set against the backdrop of the Gwangju Uprising, to transforming into a tough bar hostess in the film "Smugglers" (2023), Go has consistently broken the mold. She’s portrayed a wide range of characters, from a moody teenage girl in the sci-fi drama "Sweet Home" series (2020–2024) to a foul-mouthed warrior in the film "The Witch" (2018).
"She has a calm yet intense presence that isn’t exactly innocent," says drama critic Park Jin-gyu, describing the unique charm that makes her such an appealing actor. Director Lee Eung-bok, who worked with her on "Sweet Home," said, "She brings her own style to any dialogue," noting that producers are eager to work with her. Her determination and talent have not gone unnoticed.
Recently, veteran actress Kim Hye-soo reached out to encourage her, saying, "Min-si, it feels like your time has finally come." However, Go remains grounded despite the praise. "Times change, don’t they? I still feel like I’m hitting walls with my acting," she says with a laugh.
Actor Go Min-si / Courtesy of Netflix This article from the Hankook Ilbo, a sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI and edited by The Korea Times..
