"A Train Life of Only Home and the Hair Salon"... Kim Hyang-gi Portrays Clumsy Sincerity and Distance

The way a character in a drama forms relationships with others is the most honest indicator of that person's inner self. A video from the JTBC drama 'Salon De Nabi' captures the daily life of Gi-bbeum (played by Kim Hyang-gi), a character working as a hair salon intern who tries to maintain a proper distance from the world.

"A train life of only home and the hair salon"... Between shyness and daily life

In the video, Gi-bbeum works at the hair salon, appearing to protect her own boundaries rather than mixing with her colleagues. While colleagues suggest expanding their relationships by speaking to Gi-bbeum first or suggesting outings, Gi-bbeum defines her lifestyle pattern by saying, "A train life where there are only two places, home and the hair salon." To the extent that she describes going out into the outside world as a 'derailment,' Gi-bbeum is a person accustomed to staying within familiar spaces.

Even when colleagues demand a social attitude or proactiveness from Gi-bbeum, she is not greatly shaken. Whether in conversations mentioning change, such as "People change," or when faced with advice regarding her attitude toward customers, Gi-bbeum maintains her own pace. Her clumsiness in getting close to others and her occasional struggle to maintain that distance reveal the character's internal defense mechanism.

"Mom calls me her daughter"... The temperature difference in clumsy relationships

The point where cracks appear in Gi-bbeum's daily life is her mother's visit. In the video, the mother visits the hair salon, having prepared cucumber kimchi and stir-fried japchae for her daughter. The mother's appearance, taking care of her daughter and greeting her colleagues, stands in contrast to Gi-bbeum's indifferent attitude. Gi-bbeum tries to maintain a formal distance by calling her mother "Mother," but the mother reveals intimacy by calling Gi-bbeum "our daughter."

Particularly in a scene where she is performing a shampoo service, the mother tells a customer about Gi-bbeum's personality, saying things like "It's frustrating because she's so quiet" or "It seems like she has a man she is dating." The subtle discomfort Gi-bbeum feels when her private sphere is exposed to others, and yet her inability to completely push her mother away, reveals the weight of the relationships the character carries.

A portrait for those hesitating to get closer

Through the small daily disturbances Gi-bbeum experiences and her relationship with her family, the video shows that getting close to someone is by no means easy. The unfamiliar situations she encounters due to her colleagues' suggestions, and the adjustment of distance with her mother, who should be the closest, seem like tasks Gi-bbeum must face as she grows. The image of everyone who hesitates to open their hearts and approach others is projected into Gi-bbeum's clumsy gestures.