Shim Eun Kyung recently shared the story behind her unexpected decision to study abroad in the United States, just as her career was skyrocketing.
In a recent appearance on tvN’s You Quiz on the Block, Shim Eun Kyung reflected on her time as a student in the U.S. Known for her breakout role in the hit South Korean film Sunny, Shim Eun Kyung had already made a name for herself in her home country. But at the peak of her fame, she chose to leave it all behind and relocate to New York.
“I realized that if I didn’t take this chance, I might never get to experience life as a regular teenager,” Shim Eun Kyung shared. “I wanted to have a more typical high school experience during my late teens. So, I decided to move to New York and spent about two and a half years studying there.”
During her time in the U.S., Shim Eun Kyung shared an amusing story about how her classmates quickly discovered she was an actress. “My friends would ask, ‘Tory (my English name), are you really an actress?’ They were so curious to see my work,” she remembered. “I ended up showing them Possessed, a horror film where I played a girl who’s possessed. It was actually the movie that came before Sunny, which hadn’t been released yet. When they watched Possessed, they were freaked out!” she laughed.
While in New York, Shim Eun Kyung also developed a deep love for classical music and jazz. “The city is filled with incredible jazz bars,” she said, clearly excited. “My friends would take me to these venues and introduce me to different styles. It was during this time that I fell in love with the genre.”
In a fun, impromptu moment during the show, co-host Jo Se Ho playfully asked, “So, can you scat now?” before performing a quick scat himself. Shim Eun Kyung, caught off guard by the sudden challenge, looked bewildered at first but then burst into laughter at Jo Se Ho’s surprise performance.
Shim Eun Kyung’s breakout role came in 2011 when she portrayed young Nami in the critically acclaimed film Sunny. At just 18, she won over audiences with her heartfelt performance. After her time in the U.S., Shim Eun Kyung made a grand return to the spotlight in 2014 with Miss Granny, a film that showcased her impeccable comedic timing and earned her widespread acclaim from both critics and fans alike.
