Kim Young-dae and Shin Min-ah in a scene from “No Gain, No Love.” Image: Courtesy of tvN
Portraying an office worker and a convenience worker is not new to Shin Min-ah and Kim Young-dae, respectively. But putting the spotlight on their characters’ hardships in the K-drama “No Gain, No Love” was a learning experience they hoped to learn from in their lives.
The romantic comedy tells the story of office worker Son Hae-yeong (Shin Min-ah) determined to be promoted. Out of desperation, she gets into a fake marriage with Kim Ji-uk (Kim Young-dae), a convenience worker she always butt heads with, until they eventually fall in love.
Touching on Hae-yeong’s personality, Shin admitted that she never considered herself at a “certain disadvantage” before taking on the role. But bringing her character to life taught her the importance of always checking in with herself.
“After being in this show, I’ve started to consciously ask myself, ‘Am I really losing out here?’ so playing this character has made me more aware,” Shin said in an email interview. “Now I find myself questioning ‘Maybe I’m disadvantaged here? Am I the one causing or suffering the damage?’”
Shin Min-ah and Kim Young-dae in a scene from “No Gain, No Love.” Image: Courtesy of tvN
Agreeing with his leading lady, Kim said Ji-uk’s sensitive personality reminded him to be considerate of the people around him. “Ji-uk hates causing trouble for others and prefers to take the damage himself.”
“Playing this character taught me a lot and helped me reflect on how considerate I have been towards others,” he continued. “Sacrificing yourself for the sake of others is no easy feat, so I worked hard to understand this aspect of the character deeply.”
How Shin, Kim related to their roles
Apart from the lessons they picked up from their characters, Kim said portraying Ji-uk made him recall a childhood memory. He didn’t have a part-time job back then, but he used to work at his relative’s fried chicken restaurant.
“I fried chicken and even got burned by hot oil, but it was a fun experience. Although I haven’t actually worked part-time at a convenience store, this experience reminded me just how challenging earning money can be. It’s never easy,” he said.
The actor also shared that Ji-uk’s “calm, cool-headed personality” was admirable, since the majority of his scenes showed him maintaining a clear headspace no matter what life throws at him. “In a positive light, this shows his consideration for others and is one of the things that makes him attractive,” Kim adds, sharing he made an effort to find his composure off-screen as well.
Shin, on the other hand, said Hae-yeong is headstrong, almost to the point of being calculating at some point. “But she has a clear vision and an unwavering determination toward her goal. I find this aspect of her admirable and it’s something that I’d like to learn from.”
With this in mind, the actress clarified that her character’s “calculating” nature comes from a place of wanting to ensure her security in the workplace.
“I found her strangely relatable and cathartic when I first read the script,” Shin noted of Hae-young. “As we continued filming, I felt that I increasingly matched her, so I believe there is now a significant resemblance between us… I really tried to resonate with Hae-yeong’s feelings and everything she’s been through.”
Shin Min-ah and Kim Young-dae in a scene from “No Gain, No Love.” Image: Courtesy of tvN
But while getting into Hae-young’s mindset was a refreshing experience for the actress, Shin hoped that her character — and others who have the same personality as hers — would pause as it might remind them to take things easier.
“It’s important not to view everything through the lens of disadvantage… I like to tell her, ‘I hope you can take it a little easier. It’s okay to slow down, take a breather, and reflect on yourself so you can enjoy life more,’” she said.
Also part of the romantic comedy are Lee Sang-yi and Han Ji-hyun who will star in the spinoff “Spice Up Our Love.”