“8 Years After I.O.I’s Disbandment” Kim Doyeon Says Kim Sejeong Gave Her Confidence Boost Through ‘Anna X’ Support

On March 14, we met with Kim Doyeon at the LG Art Center in Gangseo-gu, Seoul, where she played the lead role in the play “Anna X”. The play is based on the true story of Anna Sorokin, known to Korean audiences through Netflix’s series “Inventing Anna”. The production premiered on January 28 and wrapped up on March 16.

“Anna X” is a two-person play in which the actors exchange rapid-fire dialogue for 100 uninterrupted minutes. In it, Kim Doyeon played the lead role of Anna a woman who pretends to be a wealthy heiress and infiltrates New York high society using her charm and social media to carry out a string of cons.

Kim Doyeon caught attention when she shared a lengthy review of “Anna X” written by Kim Sejeong on her Instagram feed. Kim Doyeon and Kim Sejeong debuted together through Mnet’s “Produce 101” as members of the project girl group I.O.I, active from May 2016 to the end of January 2017. Even though it has been over eight years since the group disbanded, the two have maintained a close friendship.

Although Doyeon received feedback from many peers, she specifically chose to share Sejeong’s review on her SNS. When asked why, she explained, “It was the first time Sejeong saw my acting live on stage. Since she started acting before I did, her words were especially helpful.”

She added, “Sejeong isn’t someone who gives empty compliments, but she wrote me a heartfelt and lengthy message. She even told me in person ‘I’m proud of you’, and that really stuck with me. Thanks to her genuine praise, I felt reassured that my acting wasn’t strange. It became a turning point that boosted my confidence.”

“Anna X” is a play that delves into the world of social climbing and networking through social media. So how does Kim Doyeon view and manage personal relationships in real life? She said, “I don’t go out of my way to expand my network. I actually enjoy being alone. I have many longtime acquaintances, but I rarely make new friends.” She continued, “It’s not that I think connections aren’t important, but for me, peace of mind matters more than a flashy network. I think if I tried too hard to broaden my connections, I’d just feel more exhausted.”