Actor Ko Hyun-jung tackles lookism in 'Mask Girl'

Netflix’s latest original series “Mask Girl” is about the worst possible way for a woman to overcome her inferiority complex about her “ugly” face — becoming addicted to plastic surgery and killing people.

Actor Ko Hyun-jung [NETFLIX]

Netflix’s latest original series “Mask Girl” is about the worst possible way for a woman to overcome her inferiority complex about her “ugly” face — becoming addicted to plastic surgery and killing people. The drama is entertaining and gives food for thought, but there are definitely “other healthy ways to rid of such complexes,” according to Ko Hyun-jung, one of the three lead actors playing the main character Mo-mi during different stages of her life.

“Mask Girl” is a Naver Webtoon series of the same name that garnered horrified praise from both viewers and critics for its shocking take on how deadly the silent societal pressure on lookism can be and how it pressures women to the point of breaking their morals in an ironic attempt to seem perfect and be loved.

“Mo-mi approaches her inferiority complex about her looks in the worst way possible,” Ko said during a group interview with local reporters at a cafe in Gangnam District, southern Seoul, on Thursday. “She is so heavily caught up in how ugly she perceives herself to be that she engages in horrendous acts when she is insulted by her looks. I think there are much healthier ways to deal with such inferiority complexes, for example, accepting yourself for who you are and learning to love yourself.”

Ko Hyun-jung plays protagonist Mo-mi after she has served 10 years in prison in the Netflix series ″Mask Girl″ [NETFLIX]

Ko admits that it is difficult to turn away from lookism, particularly as an actor. One of the most respected actors in Korea, Ko has enjoyed a three-decades-long career and appeared in hit dramas and films including “Queen Seondeok” (2009) and “Daemul” (2010). Even after she demonstrated her acting chops, news articles continuously focused on actors' looks rather than their skills.

“I cannot say that I am detached from lookism – rather, I think I may be at the epicenter of it,” Ko mused. “I am an actor, I get evaluated, and favored or not favored, based on the way I look. But I know now that I need to defend myself from being stressed over this fact. These things are all in the mind and psychological, I think. I need to balance my thoughts and emotions and not let myself get too caught up in lookism. This also can apply to everyone else.”

Having stayed true to the original webtoon series but with a unique visual twist, such as using three different actors for a single character, the series has already hit the top of Netflix's non-English language show charts in 14 countries and gained 2.8 million views in just three days after its release on Aug. 18.

Ko Hyun-jung's character poster for ″Mask Girl″ [NETFLIX]

In Netflix’s “Mask Girl,” three actors share the role of Mo-mi, with Ko playing the eldest version of the character while newcomer Lee Han-byeol plays Mo-mi in her 20s as an office worker and actor Nana plays her after she goes through plastic surgery. While Ko has been known to lead an entire series on her own, it was refreshing for the actor to share the main role with others.

“It was a great experience, sharing the role of Mo-mi with my fellow actors and for once not having to bear all the burden,” Ko said. “Working together with Lee and Nana to create Mo-mi as a team project was something I was looking forward to ever since I signed on to appear in ‘Mask Girl.’ And each of us brings a unique element to Mo-mi at each stage of her life.”

One thing that Ko focused on and wanted to get right in “Mask Girl” was motherhood, as Mo-mi gives birth to a daughter and doesn’t see her for 10 years due to her imprisonment but ultimately escapes to save her daughter from a threat in the series. In the webtoon and the series adaptation, Mo-mi ponders over her decision to give birth to her daughter as a single mother for a long time.

Actor Ko Hyun-jung [NETFLIX]

“I feel that so many films and dramas have dealt with motherhood in various ways, so I wanted to show something different in ‘Mask Girl,’” Ko said. “The way I approached it was to blend in what we normally associate with fatherhood into the portrayal of Mo-mi as a mother. We attribute the sense and want of protection of their offspring to fathers, while mothers are the caregivers. I tried to blend these two characteristics in my portrayal of Mo-mi.”

“Mask Girl” is all the more special to Ko because it enabled her to find her passion for acting again, according to the actor. Ko has been on a hiatus since 2021, with her last appearance in the 2021 drama “Reflection of You.”

“I had been in a rut for many years due to some personal events in my life and even thought about giving up acting, then ‘Mask Girl’ came along,” Ko said. “This drama made me realize that I love acting in well-made works and that acting can give me a sense of liberation. I hope to be useful in many more works moving forward.”

A scene from ″Mask Girl″ [NETFLIX]

BY LIM JEONG-WON [lim.jeongwon@joongang.co.kr]