[Kim Shin-bi as I Saw Her] Unchanging Original Intention
Played the role of rookie detective Choi Kyung-jin in 'The Atypical Family 2'"I want to be an actor that people continue to look forward to."Actor Kim Shin-bi recently met with reporters at the
building in Sangam-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul, to discuss SBS's Friday-Saturday drama 'The Atypical Family' Season 2. / Reporter Park Heon-wooWhat does an unrefined star look like? The entertainment industry is full of stars who receive public attention, and there are many media outlets that follow them. Even when an interview is scheduled, it is rare to have a one-on-one meeting. Since many reporters interview together, the content is often similar. In fact, photos and videos are often produced and distributed by the agency. Even in this reality, conveys the pure feelings seen through the eyes of a reporter without any processing. [THE FACT|Reporter Choi Soo-bin] The two years have seen actor Kim Shin-bi and 'The Atypical Family's Choi Kyung-jin grow side by side. Choi Kyung-jin, who was simply bright and lovely in Season 1, has become a more solid detective in Season 2, and Kim Shin-bi, who plays her, has also grown as an actor through various works and characters. Kim Shin-bi, who vowed not to forget the excitement she felt when she first started acting 10 years ago, is continuing on her own path.Kim Shin-bi recently held a wrap-up interview for SBS's Friday-Saturday drama 'The Atypical Family' Season 2 (written by Kim Ba-da, directed by Kim Jae-hong, hereinafter referred to as 'The Atypical Family 2') at the building in Sangam-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul. Playing the role of Choi Kyung-jin, the rookie detective in Violent Crimes Unit 1, she shared various stories related to the drama.Kim Shin-bi and Choi Kyung-jin's connection began in 2024. In 'The Atypical Family' Season 1, which aired at the time, Kim Shin-bi also met viewers as Choi Kyung-jin, the rookie detective of the Gangha Police Station's Violent Crimes Unit 1. She welcomed the chaebol detective Jin Yi-soo, who suddenly joined the team, more than anyone else and added vitality to the Violent Crimes Unit 1 with her bright energy, playfully teasing her seniors.Two years later, Kim Shin-bi returned as Choi Kyung-jin. The rookie, who used to blindly follow her seniors, has now grown into a detective who finds key clues to cases and trusts her colleagues even when everyone else doubts them. She even performed action scenes herself. However, Choi Kyung-jin's unique loveliness has not disappeared. She still likes people, follows them well, and adds laughter to the Violent Crimes Unit 1. Kim Shin-bi maintained Choi Kyung-jin's original charming appeal while steadily building upon it with the growth she experienced over the past years.And those two years were not just time that passed for Choi Kyung-jin. Kim Shin-bi also gained experience as an actor through various works and characters. Having debuted in the play 'History of the Room' in 2016, she has become an actor with 10 years of experience, broadening her acting spectrum through works like 'Revenant,' 'The Roundup: Punishment,' 'Thank You,' and 'The Male Lead's First Night.' Just as Choi Kyung-jin, whom she met again after two years, had become a more solid detective, Kim Shin-bi, who played her, had also grown.'The Atypical Family 2,' in which Kim Shin-bi delivered a powerful performance, is a co-investigation drama between Jin Yi-soo (played by Ahn Bo-hyun), who turns the tables with his wealth when investigations stall, and the new team leader Joo Hye-ri (played by Jung Eun-chae). The 14-episode series concluded on the 19th.The drama, which aired in 2024, followed in the footsteps of Season 1, which started with a viewership rating of 5.7% for its first episode (Nielsen Korea, nationwide household basis) and reached a peak of 11.0%. Season 2 also concluded successfully, recording its own highest viewership rating of 11.8%. Kim Shin-bi, who played the role of rookie detective Choi Kyung-jin in both seasons, shared her thoughts, saying, "It was my first time experiencing a season-based drama, so I was really happy."Kim Shin-bi led the drama as rookie detective Choi Kyung-jin in 'The Atypical Family 2.' / SBSChoi Kyung-jin, played by Kim Shin-bi, is the mascot rookie detective of the Gangha Police Station's Violent Crimes Unit 1, and she is the hidden ace of the unit, uncovering the truth of cases with her sharp deduction skills. In Season 1, she welcomed Jin Yi-soo, who suddenly appeared, and acted as a "sunbae-lover," but in this season, she caught the eye with her growth as a detective.Kim Shin-bi also focused on the changes between the two seasons. She explained, "In Season 1, I showed a lot of lovely and cute aspects, but in Season 2, I focused on preparing by emphasizing her growth as a detective.""Even though she grew, I thought I shouldn't lose her lovely and cute charm. (Laughs) I tried to maintain a serious attitude when investigating cases, and when cases were resolved or the team had a dinner party, I tried to show her playing pranks and acting cute towards her seniors. Also, I wanted to show her growth through her more serious expressions during investigations."In Season 2, Choi Kyung-jin stood by Jin Yi-soo's side at the moment everyone else doubted him. She believed him when he was framed for the murder of Kim Young-hwan and persistently analyzed the recording of his confession to reveal that it was a manipulated voice. This was the moment when the "sunbae-lover" who admired Jin Yi-soo's flashy exterior in Season 1 grew into someone who trusted her colleagues more than anyone else.Kim Shin-bi said, "I thought Choi Kyung-jin might be the only character who could say 'yes' when everyone else said 'no'," adding, "Even when Jin Yi-soo was framed, Kyung-jin believed he wasn't guilty. At the same time, I think she also had the thought, 'I really hope he's not guilty.'""In Season 1, Choi Kyung-jin liked and admired Jin Yi-soo's outward appearance at first. But as we moved to Season 2, Kyung-jin also grew and had various experiences. During that time, I think she naturally developed trust and faith by seeing Jin Yi-soo's inner self rather than just his outward appearance. Although it's not explicitly shown in the drama, I prepared by thinking about that narrative myself."As Choi Kyung-jin took a step forward as a detective, Kim Shin-bi also ventured into a new area: action. This season, Kim Shin-bi performed action scenes herself to apprehend a prime suspect, showing a different side from her previous bubbly rookie image."I didn't have much action experience, so I learned a lot by attending stunt school with my seniors. I always had a desire for action. But this time, doing long-form action scenes, I felt even more enjoyment. So, my desire to challenge action genres in the future has grown even stronger."Kim Shin-bi expressed her determination, "I want to become an actor that people continue to look forward to." / SBSThus, Kim Shin-bi lived as Choi Kyung-jin through two seasons. While she was the team's lovely rookie in Season 1, in Season 2, she grew into a detective who finds crucial clues and throws herself into chasing criminals, without losing her characteristic bright energy. Kim Shin-bi expressed her affection, saying, "Every drama and every character is grateful and remains in my memory for a long time, but I think Choi Kyung-jin from 'The Atypical Family' holds the most significant meaning."Just as Choi Kyung-jin grew little by little over the two seasons, Kim Shin-bi has also filled 10 years as an actor. Since her debut in the play 'History of the Room' in 2016, she has met viewers through various works such as 'Revenant,' the 'The Atypical Family' series, 'The Roundup: Punishment,' and 'The Male Lead's First Night.'However, the beginning of her acting career was not a grand plan. At its starting point was a tremor that came by chance. Kim Shin-bi recalled, "When I was a private first class, I first encountered theater through a performance for visiting troops, and for a month and a half after that performance, I couldn't sleep. I felt an indescribable emotion. I kept wondering, 'What is this?'""When I was a college student, I enlisted early, so the only event I participated in was the freshman welcoming party. I sang a song then, and there were about 1,000 audience members. It was my first time standing in front of so many people, so I stumbled when I went on stage and my breathing was unstable. But after performing on stage for visiting troops, I felt so comfortable. I truly lost track of time."Kim Shin-bi entered the path of acting to understand the nature of that unfamiliar emotion. He said, "After the performance ended and I came down, the thought 'What is this feeling?' was the strongest. It started as vague curiosity at first. Later, I developed the desire to work diligently, and through that process, I wanted to put on a play and have many people see it and gain positive thoughts and energy.""Every time I do a project, I constantly remind myself of something. 'Let's not forget the tremor I felt when I first encountered acting.' 'Let's not forget the attitude and posture from the beginning.' I think I will continue to live with this resolve. I want to be an actor that many people continue to look forward to."The tremor she felt on stage by chance continues to be the force that moves Kim Shin-bi. Just as Choi Kyung-jin grew from a lovely rookie detective to a more solid detective, Kim Shin-bi is also steadily expanding her territory as an actor without losing her initial resolve."I want to express my sincere gratitude to the viewers and fans who have shown so much love for Season 2 following Season 1. I still can't quite believe it and it's hard to let go. But I will appear again with other good performances. Please look forward to it, and I hope you always stay healthy. I love you. (Laughs)"subin7134@tf.co.kr[Entertainment Department | ssent@tf.co.kr]
