Exclusive allkpop Interview with Kim Nam Gil

During his stay in Los Angeles, California, allkpop was able to conduct an interview with Kim Nam Gil (previously Lee Han), most recently known for his award winning performance in the hit MBC Drama Queen Seon Duk. Kim Nam Gil was in the US for a photo shoot, but also took the time to stop by and film a PSA for the CPAF - check out the interview below and make sure to support this cause! Many thanks to Teddy Zee and Julia Lee for the interview opportunity. What brings you to the US?

I came to the US to do a photo shoot for a French fashion magazine. I was very excited because this is my first trip to America. The first stop was Las Vegas, which we used as a shoot location. We also shot at the Grand Canyon. I have never seen anything like it. Beautiful. After the shoot, I thought, "How can you visit the US without stopping by Los Angeles, the home of Hollywood. I have been working for eight straight months and I needed some time for myself. I was really looking forward to having some time for myself to relax. When I leave this weekend, I immediately start my next drama. The first part of the drama will be shot in Japan. The working title is BAD BOY or something like that. I am not sure of the translation.

Has your trip been filled with glamour?

(Laughs) Yes, life in Hollywood is very glamorous. When we arrived here I enjoyed a very quiet Korean dinner with friends. The food here is very good, but of course I miss Korean food. The next day, I was up early for a photo shoot in Santa Monica. We were very lucky with the weather. It has been raining heavily all week but we managed to get some great shots on the beach. The ocean waves were very powerful, but the most glamorous thing was an emergency visit to the dentist. My tooth had been bothering me for a week and the pain was very intense. I knew something was wrong. So, the highlight of my trip to Hollywood has been getting my wisdom tooth extracted. Thank you Dr. Mark Chang for your kindness. He made it painless, but it did leave my face swollen. I am sorry that I could not do a video interview with you. I don't think anyone would want to see me looking like this.

Tell us about some of the charitable causes you work with.

Before I came to US, I visited Padang, Indonesia to help victims of the big earthquake. I saw first hand how hard the people had to struggle to return to their normal lives. Our mission was to help them rebuild their homes. My prayers go out to the many people suffering in Haiti. At home in Korea, I have been active with an organization that helps children who suffer from multiple handicaps. They truly need special attention and we need to make sure they aren't overlooked.

You are so busy with many things yet you agreed to appear in a public service announcement. Tell us about it.

The Center for the Pacific Asian Family (CPAF) helps women who are victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. These are important issues that most people are uncomfortable talking about. But it's happening all around us. I am sure we all know someone who has suffered. Because of the shame associated, these people live in fear and feel that they must remain silent, but it should not be something we should let go on. I feel it is my responsibility to give a voice to those who cannot be heard. CPAF helps so many Korean women living in the US, as well as Chinese, Japanese, Filipino, Vietnamese, South Asian and others. There is a contest on Facebook where Chase is giving away $5 million. I'm told that this organization finished in the top 100 out of 500,000 groups in the first round. Now, they have a chance to win $1 million. If appearing for a few moments in their video can help them, then I felt compelled to join the many other actors from the US and Asia that helped out. So I ask all of you to take a few moments to vote for this worthy cause. Your one vote may bring help and hope to many.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

I plan on studying English so that the next time I come to Los Angeles, I can do this interview by myself without the aid of a translator and without having a swollen face.

Check out the PSA with Kim Nam Gil for CPAF: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_qucPy-uETI If you have a Facebook account, please vote for CPAF by going to: http://www.voteCPAF.org! Please help make a difference, it only takes a few seconds! Voting ends on Friday at midnight ET. [gallery]