In her teenage years, Kim Do-yeon exuded bright energy with her vibrant and playful image, capturing the hearts of fans with her lively presence as a member of the popular K-pop girl group I.O.I and later, Weki Meki.

Now in her 20s, the singer-turned-actor has evolved into a calm, poised version of herself.

So, which Kim Do-yeon is the “real” her? She gave a simple answer: she is both.

“I debuted at such a young age, of course I wasn’t as calm and poised as I am now. Back then, I was just a lively girl without a second thought,” said Kim in a recent interview with The Korea Herald.

Having spent much of her life in the public eye as an idol, Kim said she grappled with the challenges of balancing the image of the "idol" with her individual growth.

“In my early 20s, I think I was in a sort of transitional phase, very unsure of myself. As a girl group idol, there are certain expectations of how you should appear to the public. I wanted to meet those expectations, but I slowly struggled to keep up,” said the 25-year-old.

Her journey of self-acceptance and discovery led Kim to the stage, where she took on the role of Anna Sorokin in “Anna X,” a play that explores the life of the infamous socialite who swindled New York’s elite. The theme of self-identity and what is real in “Anna X” resonated deeply with her.

“I was at a point where I was thinking about how to handle this duality of my identity. When I read the script, I saw parallels with my experiences."

Now, Kim feels more at peace with herself, having acknowledged both sides of who she is.

“Before, I was afraid of being misunderstood or showing too much of myself. But now, I’ve come to terms with the fact that people might misinterpret me, and that’s okay. I’m learning to embrace all parts of myself.”

And her years spent performing as a K-pop singer helped prepare her for the stage.

“I wasn’t unfamiliar with the experience of performing on stage before an audience. Despite feeling terrified during rehearsals, I became more comfortable once I was actually on stage,” she said, reflecting on her first night of the show.

More confident than ever, Kim feels that acting is one of the first choices she has truly made for herself.

While participating in “Produce 101,” debuting as I.O.I, redebuting and the seven-year journey with Weki Meki all felt like a "natural" progression, now she is taking control of her own decisions and accepting full responsibility for them.

“I’m learning to embrace the idea that the decisions I make are shaping me, and that’s been incredibly motivating,” said Kim.

“I’m really enjoying life right now. I’m throwing myself into challenges, making mistakes and picking myself up again. The process of experiencing everything fully, without holding back, is incredibly fulfilling.”

“Anna X” runs at the LG Arts Center in Seoul until Sunday.