Mainland Chinese actress Tang Wei, starring in the new film “Wonderland” directed by her husband Kim Tae-yong, is set to premiere in South Korea on the 5th. In an interview with a South Korean media outlet on June 3, Tang Wei talked candidly about her daughter and husband, showing that the family of three is harmonious, independent, and interdependent.
According to the report by “Chosun Ilbo”, Tang Wei plays the role of archaeologist “Bai Li” in “Wonderland”. In the movie, she hides her death from her young daughter and communicates with her through video calls using artificial intelligence AI services. In reality, while working in Korea, Tang Wei makes daily video calls with her 8-year-old daughter studying in China, striving to be a mother who is like a friend to her child.
At 44 years old, Tang Wei met Kim Tae-yong in 2010 through their collaboration on the movie “Late Autumn”. The couple got married in 2014, and their cross-cultural marriage between China and South Korea had been a hot topic. In recent years, Tang Wei has been particularly active at Korean film festivals, starring in Korean films like “Late Autumn” directed by Park Chan-wook, where she won numerous awards, becoming the first foreigner to win the Best Actress award at the Blue Dragon Film Awards, the 16th Asian Film Awards, and the 59th Baeksang Arts Awards, making her a popular Chinese actress among the Korean audience.
During the interview on June 3, Tang Wei mentioned that during the initial stage of brainstorming the script with Kim Tae-yong, the couple had many conversations. However, due to being deeply involved in work, she often communicates with her daughter through video calls as they don’t have much time for in-person conversations.
“Wonderland” had a preview in South Korea last week, and Tang Wei praised South Korean actor Choi Yoo-shik’s subtle acting in the role of “Hyun-soo”, leaving a lasting impression. When asked if her daughter had watched the movie, Tang Wei replied, “She’s studying in Beijing, so she couldn’t watch the whole movie. Whether she will come to Korea to watch the film, that’s something you’ll have to ask her father.”
Regarding whether her daughter supports her parents’ movie collaboration, Tang Wei said, “I don’t mind whether my daughter watches it or not, if she wants to watch, she can. I don’t plan to say anything special because she might not want to watch.” She added, “My daughter, Summer, is independent and strong, and I am an independent person too. It’s because she is independent that I can be independent.” She then teased her husband Kim Tae-yong for being overly concerned, saying, “It seems like her dad isn’t like that.” Kim Tae-yong humorously admitted to this, drawing laughter from the audience.
In a previous interview that day, Kim Tae-yong praised his wife Tang Wei, stating that as an actress, she is very dedicated and focused, striving to immerse herself and enjoy the roles given to her. He respected her for being more delicate and courageous compared to when they worked together on “Late Autumn”. Tang Wei, upon hearing her husband’s remote praise, responded, “First of all, I want to thank the director. In fact, if I may slightly correct it, I’m not a hardworking person, I’m just being myself. When I am given a role, I try to truly immerse myself in it and enjoy it.”
Regarding Kim Tae-yong’s roles as both a director and a husband, Tang Wei sweetly praised him, saying, “His knowledge is vast and profound; he is also someone with a strong curiosity. The first time I saw him, I noticed that he embodies both the curiosity of a 6-year-old boy and the demeanor of a 60-year-old man.” She even imitated Kim Tae-yong’s expressions, causing laughter among the crowd.