Actor Kim Nam-gil talked in an interview with fashion magazine Vogue Korea about learning to focus on acting through soul-searching, leaving his instant stardom in 2009 behind.

“I entered the military when I started to find myself looking down on others,” said the 36-year-old, recalling the decision to be serve the 2-year-long term as a public service officer, an alternative to military service, in 2010. He was at his peak of his acting career with a rebel leader role in 2009 periodic series “Queen Seondeok.”

(Vogue Korea)

(Vogue Korea)

(Vogue Korea)

(Vogue Korea)

He added it was a “gruesome experience” to watch celebrities under spotlight, thinking the spotlight could have been his, until he did some soul-searching.

“I tried to suppress the feeling of jealousy and began to feel less sensitive to others’ career success,” he said. “I love what I am now, because I focus on acting and am not distracted by anything. If I do the best that I can do, the luck will follow.”

Kim returned to silver screen with earthquake-nuclear disaster flick “Pandora,” released in local theaters Wednesday.
More pictures and details of the interview are available in the December issue of Vogue Korea.

By Son Ji-hyoung (json@heraldcorp.com)