Interviewer: Pooja Vishwanathan, Agra, Uttar Pradesh

Editor: Jayati Bhardwaj, Delhi

Different culture. Different country. Nonetheless, her passion remains the same. Meet Jaspreet Kaur, also known as Jazz, a rising star in South Korea’s entertainment industry. She was born in Punjab, India, then moved to California, USA, at the age of eight. After working as a journalist in San Diego, she discovered her true passion in the arms of acting. Jaspreet is an inspiration to the ones aspiring to live and work in South Korea one day. With a knack for trying new things and keeping her enthusiasm alive, she has begun a creative quest to go deeper and make an impact globally. At Hallyuism, we had the wonderful opportunity to interview her. Through this interaction, we get a deeper look into her personal and professional journey. 

Please take a moment to introduce yourself to our wonderful readers before we begin.

Hello everyone! First and foremost, I would like to thank you all for taking the time to read my story. I’m Jaspreet, a former journalist and current model, actress, and MC based in Seoul. While my friends call me Jazz, I’m known to my parents as Preet, a name that I often miss being called in Korea. I began my life in Punjab, India, and spent most of my childhood and early adult years in California before moving to South Korea on a whim. I’ve been in Korea for nearly six years now, and although it’s been a tumultuous journey, every hurdle and setback has truly helped me become the person I am today. I hope that my story can inspire others to follow their heart and dreams. 

You spent your initial years in India before heading to California and finally moving to South Korea. That time of change—how did you find it?

The most challenging period of my life was when I moved to California with my family. I grew up in a joint household in a small village in Punjab, so I was used to the daily hustle and bustle of a simple lifestyle. My dad was a granthi at the Gurduwara in our village, so I spent my early years living in there. I remember milking our buffalo, running around in the mustard fields with friends, climbing the mango trees in the nearby groves and spending our summer evenings catching fireflies. That took a 180 when we moved to the USA. My lack of English skills, the new and strange environment, coupled with the intense yearning for my home back in India—it wasn’t easy to adjust. However, having no alternative, I eventually learned to love my life in California, which became much easier after overcoming the language barrier.

When I made the decision to move to South Korea, my parents were adamantly against it. I understood their concerns, as it was a completely different country, one they knew very little about, and I would be moving abroad alone. However, I wanted to take a break from my stressful career as a journalist, so I ultimately moved to South Korea to work as an English teacher without their support. They eventually came around, but it was an arduous process, to say the least. 

After leaving journalism for acting, how did you get your footing in the South Korean industry?

At first, I came to South Korea solely to teach English as a two-year break from journalism. My parents were quite conservative and would never approve of me pursuing acting, so I chose the next closest career that would allow me to work in front of a camera. I loved my job at NBC and the sense of fulfilment it gave me, but I always found something to be missing. In addition, I found myself becoming more and more depressed due to the extremity of the politics and gun violence in the US at the time, which I was required to report on as a journalist. Therefore, I moved to South Korea to teach English for a year, which quickly turned into two years. Around that time, I began to model in Seoul as a hobby and realized how much I missed being in front of a camera.

I decided to pursue modelling and acting full-time, one that my parents were not happy about, but by then, they had begun to understand that nothing would deter me this time. At first, it was difficult to get my footing, as COVID-19 had placed the world at a standstill. However, I continued to submit video auditions, new profile photos, acting reels and my resume to as many agencies in Seoul as possible. At first, work was slow, so I spent quite a bit of time doing small collaboration shoots to build my portfolio, which eventually led to more recognition by agencies as my photos became more professional with time. It was a slow process but eventually became fruitful. 

What is it that you like most about the land of morning calm? What similarities or differences do you find between the Indian and South Korean industries?

Korea has a unique charm that inexplicitly draws you in; before you know it, you might be spending three or four years here. Although Seoul is a bustling metropolis, it has something to do with everyone. If you enjoy nature, you can hike along the city’s numerous mountain trails. If you love cute cafes and restaurants, there is an abundance of those. I love that about Seoul. It feels both larger than life and intimate at the same time. Regarding the two entertainment industries, I think the one fact that surprised me is that film and drama actors in Korea hold equal footing, which isn’t the case in India. However, one similarity that draws me to K-dramas and movies is how family and culture oriented the storytelling is, which Indian TV and movies do so well, too!

After doing many guest roles, you finally got to be the main lead for an independent film for BAFAxChanel in the year 2022. What did it feel like? 

As cliché as it may seem, it isn’t easy to describe the intense blend of feelings I experienced. When I was told I had been cast for a short film for BAFAxChanel and it would be shown at BIFF2022, frankly speaking, I was apprehensive. As I packed my bags to fly to Busan, I was in complete disbelief until the moment the director and production team arrived for the script reading. It was the first time in Korea that I was playing a character that was written 100 per cent for me. Bina, to this day, remains a character close to my heart. She is a complex character, and I am so happy to have brought her story to the big screen. Having my full name announced in front of the thousands of people attending BIFF and walking the red carpet with my cast members was a dream.

I was shaking and holding back my tears as we walked along the podium to take photos. That moment truly solidified how far I had come and how much further I had to go. When I feel discouraged after failing an audition or not having any casting offers for weeks at a time, I think back to that moment and tell myself that I chose this path for a reason. For all the little girls dreaming of following an unconventional route that might be full of more rejections, hurdles, and discouragement, I want to stand up and tell them they are not alone in their journey. I want my parents to look proudly at me and say, “Yes, that’s my daughter, and she’s a wonderful actress.” Alas, that day is yet to come, but I’m eagerly anticipating that moment.

In the same year, you collaborated with actor Kang Ha-neul on Insider. Can you describe the experience?

Kang Ha-Neul is one of the most down-to-earth, kind, and caring actors I have worked with. I was cast as a dealer in the drama, and as I sat in the chair getting my hair and makeup done, he entered the green room to have his makeup touched up. He greeted the staff, other cast members, and me so warmly. We finished up around the same time, and that’s when he came over and asked, “Would you like to take a photo together?” Although this gesture isn’t uncommon, it was unusual for an actor to approach us first. I was caught off guard, so our casting manager pulled out her phone and gestured for us to pose while she took a photo. However, Kang Ha-Neul shook his head and said, “No, no, let’s take a selfie so we can appear closer as friends.” He took the phone from our casting manager and snapped several selfies with my fellow cast member and me, separately, along with group shots. He complimented us on our Korean skills and thanked us for our efforts during filming before heading back to the set. It was an unforgettable experience. While on set, he was just as cordial and welcoming to everyone: staff, actors, and extras alike. As an actor, he is truly someone I strive to learn from. It was a pleasure to watch his performance in person and on screen. 

No stranger to Korean dramas; you have repeatedly proven yourself. Highlight some of your special moments.

I have several memorable K-drama roles that continue to stay with me to this day. Among them would be my role as a casino dealer on Disney+ Big Bet, starring the absolute legend Choi Min-Sik. Having to act along with him on screen made me nervous, to say the least, but he was so considerate and caring that I felt comfortable in no time. We filmed for the drama four days in a row, and every day if he saw me on set, he would ask if I had eaten breakfast or lunch and to take care of myself while filming. While working for Netflix’s Little Women, I was initially cast as a nurse with no lines, but the director wanted to add a scene, so I ended up adlibbing the lines for my cameo with Wi Ha-Joon at the hospital. It was a fun experience to work with the actors to discuss what we would say and how each would react.

Lastly, working on set for Disney+ Wonderful World, we once again adlibbed the entire scene with actress Im Se-Mi, and the bit where I ended up walking in the wrong direction was actually a mistake. I misunderstood the directions and walked off, but the director found it hilarious, so we re-shot the scene a few times the same way. Although it can be nerve-wracking to adlib an entire scene from scratch, having more creative freedom with my characters was quite fun. Not to mention, we ended up using our real names for that drama.

Tell us about your experience working with actors Kim Soo-hyun and Kim Ji-won on Queen of Tears.

We filmed a few times for this drama, and both times, it was a delight to watch Kim Soo-Hyun and Kim Ji-Won bring their characters to life.  The party scene at the beginning was filmed at a department store outside of Seoul in the summer. It was an overnight shoot, and we were absolutely exhausted towards the early morning. Kim Soo Hyun noticed us standing in front of him in heels and came to tell us to have a seat while they reset the cameras. During the restaurant scene (which was actually filmed in Seoul, not Germany, as shown in the drama), both of them had a great time filming and could not stop laughing since the scene was quite funny. Kim Soo Hyun was quite surprised to learn that I could speak Korean during one of our interactions between shoots, and I silently thanked my Korean teachers for making me practice. 

What challenges did you face professionally, and how did you overcome them? How challenging was it to remain static? 

One of the biggest hurdles you will face as an actor or an artist is rejection. Regardless of the number of times it happens, it still hurts each time and can be highly discouraging. I have found myself questioning my decision to pursue acting time and time again. As the oldest child, I had always worked and supported my family up until the moment I left to pursue this career. To some extent, my lack of financial stability and achievements tend to keep me up at night. I come from a family that has struggled immensely over the years financially, so being unable to provide that support bothers me. However, time and time again, I have to remind myself that the “ME” I am today is the “ME” that I wanted to be yesterday. 

Rejection is normal. In fact, you will fail more auditions than you can imagine, but each one is a learning process, and I will grow as a person and actor. It took some time, but I have learned to embrace the rejection and welcome the acceptance. 

What is it like to be an Indian actress in Korean dramas? What new projects can we expect to see you in the future?

It is not unusual to have a lack of diversity in Korean shows because it is a homogeneous country at the end of the day, and most characters are written for a predominantly Korean cast. Similar to Bollywood, where most characters are played predominantly by Indians, Korean movies and dramas cater primarily to the local audience. However, the Korean entertainment industry is becoming more globalized in their casting and storytelling approach as K-dramas and K-pop reign supreme amongst die-hard fans worldwide. We have seen this with global idols such as Lisa from Blackpink, members of New Jeans and Sriya from Blackswan. Therefore, I firmly believe that casting Indian actors such as the talented Anupum Tripathi to play the titular character in Squid Game is just the beginning. I am excited to see what the future holds for POC (People of colour) in Korea as this country becomes more globalized. I have some small performances in the words as the dramas are in post-production, so please be on the lookout for them on my social media. I can share behind-the-scenes videos and photos when each work is released.

It is said that one’s environment can alter one’s point of view. How much diversity, heritage, and a thriving culture have shaped your ideas and perspectives? 

Having lived in three different countries, each vastly different from another, considering the difference in language, culture, climate, and even religion, has taught me to be more open-minded and accepting while simultaneously trusting the process. As I grew up in Punjab, I have been most in touch with the state’s language, culture, and religion. Although I believe I am close to my Indian roots, as my parents stressed this as much as possible, even in the States, there is so much more to India that I do not know about, and I am eager to learn. From the beautiful languages to the vibrant cultures and intense food flavours, I have much to learn. Similarly, I have yet to explore so many parts of the US and Korea. Therefore, I always have to remind myself that every day is a learning experience, and I am still a toddler learning to walk. The world is much bigger than just California, Ludhiana or Seoul.

Do you have any advice you would like to give people who aspire to make a living as actors in South Korea? What message do you have for your fans or our audience?

Acting is a challenging career not because of the competition but because of the lack of linear growth. You will have countless ups and downs before you reach your goal, and along the way, you will want to give up more times than you can count. Whether you want to pursue acting in Korea or India, I strongly urge anyone following this path to build a support system around you continually. Of course, have a plan B, something to fall back on when work is dry, but having friends or family that genuinely, unconditionally support you and will do their utmost to help you rise– will become your reason for success. I would not be where I am without my friends, who never let me give up, and my family, especially my sister and brothers. They helped me stay strong and, of course, bring my parents around. Korea will be difficult to break into as it is a homogenous country, but Anupum Tripathi has already done the impossible, and I hope that one day I can follow in his footsteps. So, who’s to say you cannot be the next Indian actor, model, or K-pop star in Korea?

Lastly, it’s a new feeling for me to have fans. As I believe I have a long way to go before I reach that memento, I will speak directly to Hallyusim India’s audience. When the time is right, things will fall into place. Until that happens, carry on and follow your heart, live your life with no regrets and remember that you are one-of-a-kind, you are the moment, and NO ONE can steal your light. So, shine on and become the star you are meant to be, wherever that may be. 

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Once again, we would like to express our heartfelt gratitude for your precious time and sharing insights about your journey. Thank you so much. On behalf of the entire team at Hallyuism, we wish you all the best for your future projects. 

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