You and Everything Else’s Kim Go-eun reveals difficult moments in personal life inspired powerful performance

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This article contains references to assisted dying, which some readers may find distressing.

Thanks to hits like Squid Game, When Life Gives You Tangerines, and Sweet Home, K-dramas have become much more popular in the UK recently. Another show that UK viewers have really connected with is the emotional coming-of-age story, You and Everything Else.

This Netflix K-drama tells the story of two childhood friends connected by both sadness and a strong bond. They grow apart, but reconnect when Sang-yeon asks Eun-jung to join her on one last trip, as Eun-jung is facing a terminal illness. It focuses on their journey as they cope with loss and rediscover their connection.

The 15-part series stars Kim Go-eun, the actress known for her roles in Exhuma and Guardian: The Lonely and Great God. She was immediately captivated by the character of Ryu Eun-jung because the story is complex and has “multiple layers” that “run deep”.

The project also seemed like a fortunate coincidence, arriving at what the actress described as a “perfect time” in her life.

Kim Go-eun shared that she connected with the script for You and Everything Else and felt it was a good fit for her at a difficult time in her life. She explained, “I was going through some personal challenges when I received the script, and this project offered a way for me to express those feelings through the series and my character. The timing was incredible, it really came at the perfect moment.”

You and Everything Else explores the difficult topic of assisted dying. Kim found it a challenging but rewarding role, as she actively seeks “thematic diversity” in the projects she chooses, pushing her boundaries as an actress.

“It made me reflect on friendships and relationships, and whether it’s possible to truly say goodbye to someone when they’re nearing the end of their life. I think that’s a significant opportunity, and a wonderful chance to show you cared,” said Kim Go-eun. “It’s uncommon to be present during someone’s final moments; you’re usually not there when they pass away.”

She explained: “It’s truly amazing to be present with someone in their final moments. I felt this project allowed me to say a proper goodbye to a friend and be with them until the very end.”

Alongside Kim Go-eun, Park Ji-hyun gives a remarkably moving performance as Sang-yeon. The genuine connection between the two actors enriched the series, portraying friends and rivals with a complex history. Their chemistry really brought the years of troubled relationship to life.

Kim shared that he’s always admired Park Ji-hyun, both as a person and as a performer, and has long believed she is a reliable actor. He added that working with her on this project was a very positive and energizing experience, saying he was “very much energised and happy to work with her.”

During these scenes, I felt a real connection with her – our energies just synced up perfectly. She’s a fantastic actress, and I’m truly thankful to have worked with her. After seeing the entire show, she really shone. Similar to how Eun-jung looked up to Sang-yeon, I felt that same sense of admiration for her – she’s incredibly talented.

The story centers on Eun-jung and Sang-yeon, following them from their childhoods all the way to their 40s. Kim takes on the role of Eun-jung throughout these stages – in her 20s, 30s, and 40s. This presented a unique acting challenge, as she needed to show how the character changes over time, shaped by her experiences and how she views the world.

Kim Go-eun shared, “I really connected with the character Eun-jung, especially as I’ve lived through my 20s and am currently in my 30s. I used my own experiences as a guide. When you’re in your 20s, you often experience things for the first time and can be a bit innocent. In your 30s, you usually become very career-focused, which I definitely relate to. Because I understood those feelings, it was a little easier to play both versions of Eun-jung.”

The actress shared that she portrayed Eun-jung with a different approach in her 30s. This is because Eun-jung is now more focused on her career, and her “professional attitude” and work as a producer will influence how she behaves and communicates as she gains more life experience and confidence.

When portraying Eun-jung in her 40s, Kim Go-eun made subtle adjustments to the character, avoiding “dramatic changes.” Instead, she chose to show Eun-jung’s new career as a writer making her more “introspective” and “calmer,” and she expressed this through her performance.

As a viewer, I found Kim’s performance particularly compelling because she’s in her mid-30s but had to convincingly portray someone ten years older. It was fascinating to see how she approached embodying a character shaped by life’s experiences, particularly grief and the complexities of relationships. She really had to think about how those things would naturally impact someone in their 40s, and she did it beautifully. It wasn’t just about aging up physically; it was about finding that emotional depth.

Turning 40 is a new experience for me. I initially wondered if I should make a big external change, but I decided against it. I’ve observed friends in their early 40s, and it doesn’t seem like they undergo massive transformations simply because of their age. I had to use my creativity to portray Eun-jung as a woman in her 40s, explained Kim Go-eun.

She explained: “It wasn’t one particularly difficult thing about playing these various ages. I just saw Eun-jung as a fairly normal person experiencing subtle life changes, and I tried to bring those small details and feelings to my performance as I played her.”

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2025-10-01 14:05