Level: Intermediate Korean (TOPIK Levels 3–4)
Where These Words Come From
In the animated film Gill (아가미), Kang Haneul voices one of the main characters, Kangha (강하).
In an interview published on August 24, ahead of the film’s September 9 release in Korea, he shared that he had long been interested in dubbing work. He also said that he felt strongly drawn to the story itself from the first time he read the script.
Describing Kangha, the character he plays, he said:
‘강하’라는 캐릭터는 겉과 속 모두 서툰 인물이라고 생각한다.
“I think Kangha is a person who is awkward both outwardly and inwardly.”
Let’s look at three expressions from the interview that are useful to remember.
Expressions to Learn
‘강하’ 역을 맡은 강하늘은 평소 관심을 가져온 더빙 작업과의 만남을 계기로 ‘아가미’에 합류했다. 그는 “언젠가 한 번 좋은 기회가 오길 바랐는데 ‘아가미’에 참여하게 돼 감사하다. 처음 대본을 읽었을 때부터 소재 자체에 강한 끌림을 느꼈다.”라고 전하며 선택의 배경을 밝혔다. 실사 연기와는 다른 방식의 표현에 대한 기대와 호기심이 함께 작용한 셈이다.
Kang Haneul, who plays Kangha, joined the cast of Gill after getting the opportunity to work in dubbing, something he had long been interested in. “I had hoped that a good opportunity would come along someday, so I’m grateful to be part of Gill. From the first time I read the script, I felt strongly drawn to the subject itself,” he said, explaining why he chose the project. His expectations and curiosity about a form of acting different from live-action work also seem to have played a part.
강하늘은 자신이 연기한 인물을 “ ‘강하’라는 캐릭터는 겉과 속 모두 서툰 인물이라고 생각한다. 그런 그가 ‘곤’을 만나고 조금씩 사람다움, 따뜻함을 알아가게 된다.”라고 소개했다. 서툰 어른이 한 아이와 마주하며 변화를 겪는 과정이 두 캐릭터의 관계 속에서 그려진다는 점에서, 목소리 연기가 단순한 대사 전달을 넘어 감정 변화의 흐름을 이끄는 축이 된 것으로 보인다.
Kang Haneul described his character by saying, “I think Kangha is a person who is awkward both outwardly and inwardly. After meeting Gon, he gradually comes to understand humanity and warmth.” The relationship between the two characters shows how an awkward adult changes after meeting a child. The voice acting appears to do more than simply deliver dialogue—it helps carry those emotional changes.
① 만남을 계기로 | prompted by an encounter / through an encounter
The article explains how Kang Ha-neul came to join Gill:
평소 관심을 가져온 더빙 작업과의 만남을 계기로 ‘아가미’에 합류했다.
He joined Gill after getting the chance to encounter dubbing work, something he had long been interested in.
First, 만남 is the noun form of 만나다 (“to meet” or “to encounter”).
It means “a meeting,” “an encounter,” or “a connection.”
좋은 사람과의 만남
an encounter with a wonderful person
새로운 문화와의 만남
an encounter with a new culture
It can be used not only for meeting people, but also for encountering a work, a culture, or a new kind of work.
Here, 더빙 작업과의 만남 literally means “an encounter with dubbing work.” It does not mean that he physically met someone. Rather, it describes finally getting an opportunity to try the kind of work he had been interested in.
계기 means “an occasion,” “a turning point,” or “something that prompts a change.”
With a noun, -을/를 계기로 means:
“through,” “prompted by,” “taking … as an opportunity,” or “following ….”
So 만남을 계기로 can be understood as:
“through an encounter”
“prompted by an encounter”
이 작품과의 만남을 계기로 한국 영화에 관심을 갖게 됐어요.
Through this work, I became interested in Korean films.
여행을 계기로 한국어 공부를 시작했어요.
I started studying Korean after a trip.
Remembering how verbs become nouns—such as 만나다 → 만남—makes this expression easier to recognize and use.
② 강한 끌림을 느끼다 | to feel strongly drawn to something
Kang Haneul said this about reading the script for the first time:
소재 자체에 강한 끌림을 느꼈다.
“I felt strongly drawn to the subject itself.”
끌림 comes from the verb 끌리다, meaning “to be drawn to” or “to be attracted to.”
It refers to a feeling of attraction, appeal, or pull. Like 만남, it is a noun made from a verb.
With 강한 (“strong”) and 느끼다 (“to feel”), the phrase becomes:
강한 끌림을 느끼다
to feel strongly drawn to something
to feel a strong attraction to something
Compared with simply saying 좋아하다 (“to like”), this expression suggests that something has a particular pull on you—something that catches your heart or interest.
하늘님을 처음 봤을 때부터 강한 끌림을 느꼈어요.
I felt strongly drawn to Haneul from the first time I saw him.💙
그 이야기에 묘한 끌림이 있어요.
There is something strangely compelling about that story.
It is useful to learn 끌림 together with 끌리다.
③ 겉과 속 모두 서툰 인물 | a person who is awkward inside and out
Kang Haneul’s description of Kangha is especially memorable:
겉과 속 모두 서툰 인물
a person who is awkward both outwardly and inwardly
겉 means “the outside” or “one’s outward appearance.”
속 means “the inside” or “one’s inner thoughts and feelings.”
So:
겉과 속
outside and inside
outwardly and inwardly
When describing a person, this is not about a literal outside and inside. It refers to both what people can see in someone’s behavior and what is happening within that person emotionally.
서툴다 means:
“to be unskilled,” “to be awkward,” “to be inexperienced,” or “to be clumsy.”
So, 겉과 속 모두 서툰 인물 literally means “a person who is awkward both on the outside and on the inside.”
More naturally, it suggests someone who is not good at dealing with people or handling their own emotions—a person who is awkward in both their behavior and their heart.
저는 감정을 표현하는 데 서툴러요.
I’m not good at expressing my feelings.
아직 사람들과 어울리는 게 서툴러요.
I’m still awkward around people.
서툴다 is more than simply being “bad at” something. It often carries the nuance of not being used to something yet, or being emotionally awkward.
Quick Practice ✐
① What fits in the blank?
“This film made me like Korean films.”
이 영화를 ( ) 한국 영화를 좋아하게 됐어요.
② Complete the sentence.
“I felt strongly drawn to this work.”
이 작품에 강한 ( )을/를 느꼈어요.
③ Which word is closest in meaning to 서툴다?
A. 완벽하다
B. 익숙하지 않다
C. 빠르다
Answers
① 계기로
② 끌림
③ B. 익숙하지 않다 (“not used to something”)
Clementine’s Note 🍊
All three expressions in this interview are a little difficult to understand if you translate each word separately.
In particular, 겉과 속 모두 서툰 인물 does not mean that Kangha is simply bad at everything. It suggests that he does not yet know how to handle either his outward behavior or his inner emotions. Meeting Gon allows him to slowly learn humanity and warmth—and that makes Kangha’s character arc especially moving.
On September 9, audiences in Korea will finally enter the cool, dreamlike world of Gill and meet Kangha—the “awkward adult” brought to life through Haneul’s voice 🐟⛲
Source
Top Star News
(August 24, 2026)
“Jung Hae-in: ‘I Wanted to Capture a Cool, Beautiful Mood and Emotions That Are Alive and Breathing’… Takes on the Role of Gon, the Mermaid Human, in Gill”
