The tides are turning, and actor Kim Kang-min and OMEGA X’s Kevin are mermen. BL (Boys’ Love) and other LGBTQIA+ themed dramas are abundant in regions like Thailand and the Philippines, but South Korea is not quite there yet. That’s why Webtoon phenomenon My Bias Is Showing!’s adaptation is such a big deal; there are not many of its kind. Even more remarkably, another of these BL dramas (A Shoulder To Cry On) starred OMEGA X’s Jaehan and Yechan, who are bandmates of Kevin’s. It’s a fun concept; Kevin, a well-loved idol in real life, is now experiencing the life of an idol’s fanboy through this drama. Any K-drama watcher would be intrigued. 

Kevin wants you to know he’s taking his role seriously, to the point that he didn’t rely on his experienced group members: “I actually didn’t ask them for any advice or help,” the singer admitted on a press conference call a few days ago, “Because after seeing them take on their first time acting on their own, I also wanted to give my own best try with my acting debut.” A noble, hard-working mindset is undoubtedly the right one. 

His starring partner, Kang-min, is quite the pillar to fall back on, however. The actor majored in theatre at university, and since then, his solid acting career has spanned many genres – from historical to college dramas. “I was thankful to take on a genre I had never tried before,” he shared.

It’s quite beautiful how well their real-life roles can aid in the other’s part in this drama. Kang-min agreed: “As we got to know more about each other on set, we grew closer little by little, just like our characters do in the drama. I think this created a great synergy between us, both in drama and reality.” Such synergy helped Kevin, a newbie in acting, to get more comfortable the more time they spent together. By the end, the duo emitted chemistry that could be sensed through the screen. 

As we hinted, it wasn’t all just a learning experience for Kevin. He had some nuggets of wisdom to impart on Kang-min, too. The 30-year-old actor had much praise for his co-star during the interview, as he had come to learn that being an idol isn’t an easy job by any means. “In the drama, I play an idol and Kevin plays a teacher, and there’s actually a scene […] where we swap each other’s jobs in the drama,” Kang-min began, unveiling a little anecdote from the show. “I’m an actor, and Kevin is originally an idol, so when we switched careers of our characters, I think it was honestly more comfortable playing each other’s roles. Visually, Kevin has this idol-like style that suits him, and I prefer to dress in a more classic or dandy style. So, honestly, I think [it] was more comfortable for both of us.”

But it wouldn’t have been as fun without the challenge, right? Through the role of Ae-joon, Kevin was able to refresh his outlook on his own life: “A lot of moments made me reflect on my own experiences.” While promising to stay true to the core character penned in the Webtoon, Kevin promised to “add more dimensions to the character”. It’s a boomerang of effort; as he put in the work to flesh out the beloved Ae-joon, he also learned more about the way he is perceived and receives love in real life. In effect, he got back what he put in. “I’ve really been thinking that I should give back all the love that I receive from my fans,” he mused.

We asked the two how they both prepared themselves for emotionally-charged scenes. While the younger mentioned listening to music that aligns with the mood of the scene, Kang-min opts for a simpler approach: “Let’s say we’re filming a scene with anger – then I’d spend much time by myself. On the other hand, I like to spend time with other people and talk to them a lot before shooting happy or joyful scenes. I try to do things that will help me slip into different emotions accordingly.”

Toying with the real-life effects of isolation and company might be daring, but it’s no doubt a fruitful approach for a veteran actor to absorb their role’s emotions. While the conference erred on the two’s methods for realising their roles and true connection, rather than the spectacle of the subgenre, Kevin did make sure to mention that he “didn’t feel any pressure” because of the genre itself, and “just wanted to give [his] best”. 

Instead, the boys had some lovely comments about love. Kang-min’s simplistic words might be enough to convince you: “I hope through this drama, we can stimulate audiences’ emotions and bring joy to their lives.” The bright-eyed Kevin chimed in that “the feeling of liking someone purely and genuinely is very important,” going on to elaborate that “having such affection without any filters feels so precious.”

If the pair’s words are anything to go off of, My Bias Is Showing! will be a soft and comforting watch for all viewers. And for fans of the Webtoon: a respectable adaptation indeed. 

Written and interviewed by Maddie Armstrong

Featured image courtesy of IPQ

_{View of the Arts is an online publication dedicated to films, music, and the arts, with a strong focus on the Asian entertainment industry. With rich content already available to our readers, we aim to expand our reach and grow alongside our audience by delving deeper into emerging platforms such as K-pop and Asian music more broadly. At the same time, we remain committed to exploring the vibrant and ever-evolving global landscape of film, music, and the arts, celebrating the immense talent and creativity that define these industries worldwide.}