K-pop star and actress Kim Yerim, better known as Yeri from the famous girl group Red Velvet, has a new dream. She wants to visit India, see the Taj Mahal, and maybe even work in a Bollywood movie.
In a recent chat, the 27-year-old singer shared her love for Indian films. She called them “unique” and said she is always open to new challenges. Yeri is currently busy promoting her new Korean drama, Azure Springs. But her eyes are set on global success, and India is on her map.
Yeri Talks About Indian Cinema and Her Travel Wishlist
Yeri has never been to India, but she has seen enough to fall in love with the content. She is impressed by how Indian movies mix music and storytelling.
“I’m always open to new challenges. I find Indian content especially interesting because it often blends music and storytelling in a really unique way. I haven’t had the chance to visit India yet, but I’d love to go someday—especially to see the Taj Mahal in person,” Yeri said in an exclusive interview with Hindustan Times.
This is not just small talk. Many K-pop stars have visited India for shows or vacations. If Yeri gets her wish, she will join that list. Her interest in Bollywood also opens the door for future collabs or projects.
‘Azure Springs’: A Story of Second Chances and Healing
The reason Yeri is doing interviews is her new drama, Azure Springs. The show is a coming-of-age story set on Jeju Island. It is a healing drama about two broken people who find a new purpose in life.
Yeri plays Seo An-na. An-na was once a national-level swimmer. But after a career-ending accident, she feels lost. She moves back to her hometown near the sea. There, she meets Yoon Deok-hyun, played by Kang Sang Jun. He is a quiet man running from his past. An-na decides to become a haenyeo, which is a female diver who collects seafood without scuba gear.
The show has only six episodes. It started airing on May 11, 2026, on MBN+ in Korea and Channel K in India.
Why the Role Felt Personal to Yeri
For Yeri, the script hit close to home. She has been a K-pop idol since she was 15. But recently, she has been focusing more on acting. She signed a new acting contract with Blitzway Entertainment in 2025 to grow her career. The idea of “starting over” in her career is very real for her.
“The idea of a ‘second chance’ felt very realistic to me. It’s not about completely starting over, but about someone who had once stopped and finding the strength to move again, which made it more relatable. I was especially drawn to the way it explores what you do with the time after failure,” she explained.
She added that she relates to resetting your direction. “I’ve also gone through a process of expanding my goals as an actor. That part felt very personal,” she said.
The Real Challenge: Yeri Learned to Swim for This Drama
Here is a fun fact: Yeri did not know how to swim before getting this role. In the show, she plays a champion swimmer and a deep-sea diver. That meant she had to jump into the water for real.
Learning to swim as an adult is hard. But Yeri did it for the part.
“This was a project that made me realize that maintaining balance is just as important as pushing through with sheer strength. My fans already know this, but I actually couldn’t swim—I learned for this role, and learning how to swim as an adult was really difficult,” she shared.
Her co-star, Kang Sang Jun, also had to learn free-diving for his role. He said staying calm underwater while holding your breath was the hardest part.
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Yeri’s Growth from Idol to Actress
Yeri joined Red Velvet in 2015 as the youngest member. She is known for her rap and vocals. But acting is becoming her second home. She has starred in Blue Birthday (2021) and the revenge drama Bitch X Rich (2023). In Bitch X Rich, she played a rich, mean high school student, which was very different from her real self.
So, what is the difference between singing on stage and acting on screen?
“With music, you have to deliver emotions directly on stage, so that immediate moment really matters. With acting, on the other hand, you need time to understand and fully immerse yourself in the character, and emotions are expressed more indirectly within the context of the scene and relationships. There are many more moments where you have to convey things without words—through your breathing, your gaze, and those subtle in-between beats,” Yeri explained.
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A Role That Feels Like Her Real Self
In Azure Springs, Yeri wears almost no makeup. She looks natural and raw. She admits that this character, Seo An-na, is the closest to her real personality.
“Given the nature of the story and the filming location, I appear in a very natural, almost unfiltered way in the show. I’m on screen with minimal makeup most of the time, so in a way, it might be the character that resembles my real self the most. I hope fans will see that side of me and receive it warmly,” she said.
Off-screen, Yeri calls herself a “homebody.” She likes to rest and recharge alone after finishing a project.
Where to Watch ‘Azure Springs’
Indian fans can watch Azure Springs exclusively on Channel K, which is available on Prime Video. The show airs new episodes every Monday and Tuesday at 7:30 PM IST. Since it is a short series of only 6 episodes, the story moves fast.
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