Viral Olympic pistol shooter scores film role as an assassin

Posted by TheTelegraph

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  1. **From The Telegraph’s Asia Correspondent, Nicola Smith:**

    South Korea’s sharp-shooting champion Kim Ye-ji, whose steely, determined focus created a viral Olympic meme, has scored her first acting role – as an assassin.

    Ms Kim will take up the role of an assassin alongside Indian star Anushka Sen in Crush, a spinoff, short-form series of the film Asia, reported Korean news agency Yonhap.

    The 32-year-old won silver in the women’s 10m air pistol at the [July Games in Paris](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/paris-olympics-2024/) and her ultra-calm style, combined with a cold look and futuristic eye-glasses, turned her into an overnight social media phenomenon.

    Her sudden rise to stardom was given a boost by X owner [Elon Musk](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/elon-musk/), who said on the platform that “she should be cast in an action movie. No acting required!”

    The film Asia explores stories of people tackling racial hatred and discrimination.

    It features a cast of American and Asian actors and is directed by Lee Jung-sub, who is also the CEO of Seoul-based entertainment company Asia Lab.

    The company said the Olympic champion was “both nervous and thrilled” to take up the role as a “captivating assassin”.

    Ms Kim’s Olympic success generated searches for her participation in past sporting events.

    One video of her taking part in the International Shooting Sport Federation Shooting World Cup in Baku, Azerbaijan, in May, gained more 20 million views.

    # Modelling gig

    Since the Games, Ms Kim has signed up with a Korean talent agency and landed a photo shoot with Korean fashion magazine W for Louis Vuitton.

    Her first modelling gig tapped into her sharpshooter persona and featured props including shooting glasses and air pistols.

    According to the Maeil business paper, Ms Kim was surprised when W called her.

    “The first thing I thought was ‘why me?’,” she reportedly said. “There are other gold medalists, why me? Why did Elon Musk mention me? I was still curious,” she said.

    It features a cast of American and Asian actors and is directed by Lee Jung-sub, who is also the CEO of Seoul-based entertainment company Asia Lab.

    The company said the Olympic champion was “both nervous and thrilled” to take up the role as a “captivating assassin”.

    Ms Kim’s Olympic success generated searches for her participation in past sporting events.

    One video of her taking part in the International Shooting Sport Federation Shooting World Cup in Baku, Azerbaijan, in May, gained more 20 million views.

    # Modelling gig

    Since the Games, Ms Kim has signed up with a Korean talent agency and landed a photo shoot with Korean fashion magazine W for Louis Vuitton.

    Her first modelling gig tapped into her sharpshooter persona and featured props including shooting glasses and air pistols.

    According to the Maeil business paper, Ms Kim was surprised when W called her.

    “The first thing I thought was ‘why me?’,” she reportedly said. “There are other gold medalists, why me? Why did Elon Musk mention me? I was still curious,” she said.

    **Article Link:** [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2024/09/23/viral-korean-olympic-pistol-shooter-film-role-assasin/](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2024/09/23/viral-korean-olympic-pistol-shooter-film-role-assasin/)

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