We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Wonhee Kim. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Wonhee below.

Wonhee, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?

Hi, I’m Wonhee Kim! I’m originally from South Korea, but now I’m based in Brooklyn, NYC. I always start by sharing where I’m from and where I am now because the biggest risk I’ve ever taken was moving to the U.S.
I came here in 2015, I can’t believe it’s been almost ten years!, though I had to return to Korea for two years during the pandemic.I never imagined I’d stay this long.
Studying abroad was always a dream of mine, but back in Korea, I had already built a life. I had been acting since I was young, had my own theater group, got married, and even won the lottery for a house! I thought I would settle down there, maybe even start a family.
But when the opportunity to study abroad came, my heart raced. There were so many reasons not to go, what if I lost everything I had worked for? We weren’t financially stable, so we didn’t know how long we could stay, maybe just a year. Was it worth the risk?
Even with all the uncertainty, I knew I had to try. If I gave it my all and failed, at least I wouldn’t look back with regret. Luckily, my husband felt the same way. So, we sold our apartment (which we had barely lived in for a year!) and took a leap of faith.
And here I am, still in the U.S., still working as an artist. Has it been easy? Not at all. But do I regret it? No. I may have lost some things along the way, but I’ve gained so much more.
So, you never know what might happen if you take the risk. Do you want to try it?

Wonhee, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Ever since I decided to become an actor, my journey has been anything but traditional. I auditioned for a theater group and got in, where I learned what it truly takes to be in the theater world. Like many young actors, I was passionate and curious, eager to explore various acting methods. I trained in Lee Strasberg’s Method Acting, Linklater’s Voice work, and Anton Chekhov’s physical gesture techniques, each shaping my craft.
I even started my own actors’ group, El Theater Group, where we trained together every morning, working on our bodies, voices, and craft through scenes and monologues. Afterward, I’d go straight to rehearsal, perform at night, or work my day job. It was exhausting but thrilling, completely immersed in acting.
But something still felt missing. I wasn’t sure who I was or what kind of actor I wanted to be. This search for deeper understanding led me to The Actors Studio Drama School at Pace University, where I spent three transformative years. It was about more than just acting, it was about self-discovery. The intense training helped me understand my body, heart, and soul as an actor. I met incredible teachers like Jacqueline Knapp and Susan Aston. Those years became the foundation of my artistic journey.
After earning my MFA, I became a finalist at The Actors Studio, meeting talented artists like Sayra Player and Javier Molina. Together, we created “The Playground, NYLA,” a theater community where actors meet weekly to explore their craft in a supportive space. This was a pivotal growth point in my artistic journey.
In addition, my husband and I founded Pontifex Production, a Korean-American company in South Korea and New York City. True to its name, “Bridge Builder,” our goal is to connect the arts between the U.S. and Korea. Since our 2019 debut with 815 Shout and Their Aspiration in NYC, we’ve expanded into film production and training programs.
Last year, we produced an Off-Broadway showcase of King and the Clown at CSC and the solo performance “Loving Me” by Rose Kanj at The Tank. We also held acting workshops in New York City and at DongSeo University in Busan, Korea. Recently, we completed post-production on our short film 6’O CLOCK, a story about diverse families, and it’s now in film festival submissions. We can’t wait to share it with new audiences.
2024 was an incredible year. I had the privilege of working with talented Asian American filmmakers, including Jiyeon Kim (Revolving Door), Vyolet Jeun (Matters), and Esther Um (Blue Hour), whose work has been recognized in many festivals.
Through this journey, I’ve realized that my greatest passion is telling stories about humanity, all shades, all perspectives, all colors. In 2025, I want to push myself further, share more of my unique perspective, and bring even more diverse voices to the stage and screen.
That’s why I’m launching a Korean American Film Festival this year to support emerging filmmakers. I’m also working as an associate producer on the feature film Kate (@hapa_media) and preparing an Off-Off-Broadway production of Four Dogs and a Bone by John Patrick Shanley, set for June (details coming soon, stay tuned! 😉).
Exciting things are ahead. Let’s see where this journey takes me!

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

I’ve wanted to be in the entertainment industry since I was a kid. You know those babies who start dancing the moment music plays in the room? That was me! I was endlessly curious, always eager to try new things, sometimes to the point of danger. Once, I even jumped off a roof, maybe thinking I could fly. Another time, I put my hands in bicycle wheels while someone was riding. (Don’t try that, by the way!) My curiosity often led to accidents, but I had to experience everything firsthand.
But as I grew older, I realized I couldn’t just do whatever I wanted. I slowly became the type of person who followed the rules, listened well, and did what was expected of me. In Korea, there’s a lot of pressure to fit in and follow a path that society deems “right.” As the eldest daughter (which carries extra responsibility in Korea), I felt even more pressure, especially when our financial situation became difficult. So, I let go of my dream and focused on what seemed practical, academics. I enrolled in Suwon University and majored in linguistics.
Still, something felt missing. I remember crying while watching movies, not just because they were emotional, but because I knew that’s what I truly wanted to do. After much reflection and advice from my professors and family, I made a life-changing decision: I dropped out of university and chose to pursue acting. It all came down to taking risks, didn’t it?
It wasn’t easy. I juggled two or three day jobs just to survive while attending auditions, workshops, and touring performances. There were moments when I wanted to give up, especially when things felt overwhelming. But every time I thought of giving up, I reminded myself of the life I had when I stopped pursuing acting, one that was even harder to endure. Now, whenever I struggle, I practice gratitude.
Being an actor isn’t always fun. It’s filled with challenges, but I remind myself that I’m doing what I love, and that’s enough to keep me going.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

My entire journey has been about taking risks, resilience, and finding my true self. There were times when I doubted myself, when I didn’t know what I truly wanted, when I felt tempted to listen to others and follow what society told me was the “right” path. But if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s this: If you don’t give up, it will happen.
Maybe not immediately. Maybe not exactly the way you imagined. But it will happen as long as you keep going.
I’ve had this dream since I was a child, to be a professional artist, to live as an artist. And after many years, I finally feel like I’m getting closer to what I truly want to be. I’m still working on it, still trying to balance my dream and my life, still facing struggles. But now, I have faith that if I keep going, it will come to life.
So if you ever feel like giving up, DON’T! Keep going. Your dream is happening, even if you can’t see it yet.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://wonheekim.org
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wonder.woman.wonhee/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wonhee.kim.1694
• Other: For more informations,

  Pontifex Production @pontifexproduction
  The Playground, NYLA @theplaygroundnyla
  6 O’ clock film @6oclockfilm
  Featured Film “Kate ” @hapa_media

Image Credits

The Palace by Dir. An Lee
The internationalist, Toledo University production
815, Shout and their Aspiration, Pontifex Production
Gloria, ASDS Rep Season
6 O’clock, Pontifex Production
Women in the Picture, Madeleine Mazuzan
Women in the Picture, Madeleine Mazuzan
King and the Clown, Pontifex Production