K-Buzz

Kim Sejeong took on a rare challenge in the MBC historical romance-fantasy "Yi River Bears the Moon" (Korean title: 이강에는 달이 흐른다).
At first she felt the weight of performing three distinct roles, but meticulous preparation let her separate each character clearly.
The shifts in voice and body language drive the show's emotional arc.
In the end, critics and viewers praised her work and she broadened her range as an actor.

"One Person, Three Voices: A Single Life Told Three Ways"

Overview

The challenge began in earnest.
In the 2025 MBC period drama (historical drama) "Yi River Bears the Moon," Kim plays three figures who share one face: Bak-dal, Yeon-wol, and Dal.
The premise combines a soul-transfer fantasy device with the mood and codes of a traditional Korean period piece. For readers unfamiliar with MBC, it is one of South Korea's major television networks.
Because this was Kim's first time in a period setting, the role brought special pressure and hard choices.

Summary: The three characters demand different speech patterns, life experience, and emotional cores while sharing the same appearance.

Each role carries a separate social history and feeling.
Bak-dal is sturdy and warm, a caregiver figure rooted in regional mannerisms; her everyday acting leans on a Chungcheong dialect (a regional Korean accent) to make the role feel lived-in.
Yeon-wol is quiet and tragic, an aristocratic woman worn by fate; her inner sorrow and dignity are the focus.
Dal is the most complex: the crown prince Yi-gang's (played by actor Kang Tae-oh) soul inhabits this body, so the performance borrows some masculine speech and mannerisms as an artistic variation.

Preparation and Strategy

Research came first.
Kim devoted hours to analyzing and mapping each character's vocal color and cadence.
She repeatedly recorded herself to separate Yeon-wol's gentle tone, Bak-dal's forceful projection, and Dal's echoes of Yi-gang's speech.
Meanwhile, she practiced by listening to Kang Tae-oh's script readings to internalize Yi-gang's line rhythms and inflections.

Preparation combined technique and feeling.

Initially, the offer felt overwhelming and Kim considered turning it down.
However, she reframed the role as a chance to grow and accepted. Along the way she learned that acting is not only form but also subtle emotional detail.
She worked on timbre, gait, and tiny facial adjustments. Small choices accumulated into a convincing whole.

The Craft of Distinguishing Characters

The boundaries are deliberate.
Bak-dal convinces through texture and local color.
The Chungcheong dialect and playful, sharp reactions root the character in lived experience.
On the other hand, Yeon-wol communicates tragedy through silence, gaze, and the rhythm of speech.

Key point: Voice and body language made three different people from the same face.

Dal posed the biggest technical test.
Because the plot inserts Yi-gang's soul into this person, Dal must echo some masculine behaviors without becoming a caricature.
Kim studied Kang Tae-oh's delivery and unhurried walk, imitating them intentionally but in moderation.
As a result, Dal reads as "Yi-gang's shadow" while still carrying humor and narrative drive.

Acting Achievements and Reception

The outcome is visible.
Critics and audiences singled out Kim's layered performance.
Reviewers praised her control over emotional range and micro-tonal shifts; some called it a performance of "endless variation."
Importantly, the fantasy premise was woven into everyday acting, which helped deepen audience immersion.

Result summary: Despite being her first period drama, she held the center and stabilized the story.

Chemistry with Kang Tae-oh was another decisive factor.
On set, chemistry (the natural rapport between actors) and collaborative timing directly shaped the scenes.
Kim matched rhythms with her co-star and adjusted beats to steady each moment.
This tuning made it easier for viewers to connect emotionally.

In Favor: The Value of the Risk

Risk translated into proof.
Supporters argue Kim expanded her possibilities by handling three roles at once.
Her performance moved between layered emotion and comic reactions, enriching the show's tone.
Critics also noted that distinct voices and faces for each role prevented audience confusion.

Positive case: Three voices prepared, chemistry tuned, emotional arc maintained.

Beyond acting, the success helps brand a new kind of period-star identity for Kim Sejeong.
Gaining both popular appeal and critical favor can be a turning point in an actor's career.
Moreover, the positive reception widens room for experimentation in dramas that mix fantasy and historical settings.

Against: Burden and Concerns

Still, the strain was real.
Opponents and cautious voices existed from the initial proposal stage.
Kim herself admitted she almost declined and that separating three characters felt daunting.
Particularly with Dal—who borrows masculine mannerisms—there was a risk viewers might find the imitation awkward.

Concern summary: Excessive mimicry or awkwardness could break audience immersion.

Those worries surfaced during rehearsal.
She revised vocal and physical boundaries many times.
Directing choices often had to balance archaic period speech with contemporary sensibilities.
On multiple occasions, the team concluded that subtle nuance, not overt mimicry, carried more conviction.

Deepening the Debate and Reflection

Both sides have merit.
Proponents point to results and craft; skeptics highlight the painful process and the possibility of failure.
The middle ground is experience and verification.

Balanced view: There was risk, but preparation reduced it and the result was largely positive.

Kim acknowledged the burden but refined details to completion.
She balanced regional speech and archaic expressions against the acceptance of modern viewers.
In doing so she matured as an actor and created emotional persuasiveness that went beyond technical imitation.

Set Conditions and Production Role

Production context mattered too.
Directors, fellow actors, and crew support can make or break a demanding performance.
Kim says collaborating with Kang Tae-oh eased the psychological load.
That collaborative atmosphere sped rehearsal and let emotional range expand safely.

On-set point: Working to match each other's rhythms raised the overall quality.

Post-production choices also softened possible awkwardness.
Sound editing, subtitles, and cuts help smooth transitions between identities.
Therefore, acceptance of a multi-role performance depends not only on an individual's skill but on the production's total capability.

Conclusion

In short, the risk paid off.
Through disciplined preparation and on-set collaboration, Kim Sejeong solved a difficult acting puzzle.
Amid the praise, she broadened her artistic range.
That said, the initial anxiety and public concern were part of the process, and that introspection deepened the final result.

Takeaway: Research, rehearsal, and production teamwork made three roles believable.

Ultimately, the experiment shows both personal growth and a genre's potential.
It will be telling to see whether Kim returns to period or fantasy projects, and how this experience shapes future choices.
We leave the question to readers: how did you experience her layered performance?