In an interview, Byeon Wooseok clarifies misconceptions about his background, highlighting his dedication to acting and fan engagement. He admires Timothée Chalamet’s immersive acting style and aspires to create deep emotional connections with his audience.
It has taken me eight years to get to this point. Are you feeling the popularity these days?
What is happening now feels surreal. When I see the OST ‘Sonagi’ from the drama charting high, I wonder if it’s real. When I see my photo displayed in Times Square, it feels like it’s been edited. I am only starting to feel it now, as my parents ask for more and more autographs.
Your colleagues, who also started as models, transitioned to acting and secured their positions earlier. Watching them, you must have faced moments when you felt like you might crumble. How did you overcome those times?
I’ve had many moments of feeling defeated. I failed numerous auditions, and even when I was cast, I felt I was lacking in my performance. I received a lot of criticism as well. There were times I thought about quitting. But every time I felt that way, my family and the CEO and directors of my agency believed in me and supported me, which kept me going. It was tough then, but looking back, it became the driving force that made me work harder. There’s a saying that you need to do something for ten years to succeed. Since it hadn’t been ten years yet, I thought I should keep going and reevaluate if it still wasn’t working by then. Around the sixth or seventh year of acting, I even considered going to college to study acting and challenge myself anew.
Now that it’s been almost ten years, do you feel any difference compared to when you started acting?
Meeting Seon-jae made me reflect a lot. I found myself empathizing with the script more and understanding the narrative better because it was well-structured. When building the character, I worked closely with the director and writer to deepen my understanding of the scenes. This allowed me to delve deeper into the emotional lines. In the past, I had many shortcomings. I didn’t even know how to deliver lines, where to stand, or what actions to take. I’ve always reminded myself of these shortcomings to avoid repeating them in my next project. I think I’ve made some progress while portraying Seon-jae.
Do you feel you have grown or identified areas for improvement since ‘Lovely Runner’?
Sometimes the emotions I express on set don’t fully come through on screen. As it was my first time playing a lead role, I struggled with maintaining my condition. I could have been more focused, but filming from the first to the last scene every day sometimes caused my concentration to waver. I also noticed shortcomings in my vocal projection and pronunciation, which I hope to improve in future projects. I’m undergoing voice training to make my voice sound more natural. Constantly using my voice will strengthen it and improve my vocal skills, so I’m practicing diligently.
Seon-jae portrays a character who shows undying devotion to one woman for 15 years. How does Byun Woo-seok approach love?
I tend to fall deeply in love and try to focus on my partner’s strengths. In that way, I think I resemble Seon-jae a bit. Seon-jae is willing to risk his life for someone he loves, saying lines like, ‘If I die because of you, I’m fine with that as long as I save you.’ While I’m not sure if I could go that far, seeing Seon-jae’s love made me think it’s possible.
Do you have any embarrassing stories about when you were in love?
When I was in my early twenties, I was dating someone who had something stuck on their face. My best friend, who was nearby, said ‘Wait a second’ and removed it for them. I couldn’t stand it and ended up punching my friend.
What does love mean to Byun Wooseok?
It’s a truly wonderful emotion that I’ve never felt before. It’s something so precious that words can’t describe it. When I’m in love, I wonder if anyone else can feel this way. I’m grateful to experience such emotions.
In the drama, you portray Seon-jae from his teens to his thirties. How did you differentiate these stages?
That was always challenging. High school Seon-jae is a friend who is passionate about sports. As he falls in love with Sol-i, I wanted to capture the clumsy and awkward behavior typical of athletes. When he’s alone, he’s extremely happy, but he’s awkward in expressing himself around Sol-i. As a college student, Seon-jae continues to grow and mature despite being repeatedly rejected by Sol-i. I tried to avoid making him look too polished, even though he was still an athlete in college. Thirty-something Seon-jae has a unique profession. Despite his 15-year-long feelings for Sol-i, I aimed to subtly convey his star-like demeanor through his speech and gestures. I discussed the overall tone, hairstyle, and costumes with the director and writer. For high school Seon-jae, I had my hair down. For college Seon-jae, I aimed for a casual and comfortable look. For thirty-four-year-old Seon-jae, I used a lot of hair products to style my hair.
Your role required you to be both a swimmer and a singer, but since you originally couldn’t swim and weren’t a singer, you must have needed a lot of practice.
Once I chose the project, I realized there was a lot to do. I decided to take on the role because I was passionate after reading the script, but I was overwhelmed with where and how to start. I learned to swim for about 2-3 months, and people around me complimented my progress. The process of extending my arms and getting the detailed movements right was enjoyable. For the music aspect, I spent a lot of time thinking about the gestures and stage presence I needed to portray. I had daily meetings with the staff for 3-4 months to figure it out. Before filming, I practiced several poses and recorded them on video to choose the best ones. During the concert scenes, the director told me, ‘Just enjoy it and feel the emotions, but make sure to hit the key points we practiced.’ This helped me film with a sense of security and enjoyment.
What hobbies do you have in real life?
I don’t have any at the moment. I used to enjoy snowboarding in winter and water skiing in summer, but I haven’t done those activities in the past 3-4 years due to my busy schedule, so I can’t really call them hobbies anymore. Even when I have free time, I avoid them to prevent injuries.
What do you want to try in the future?
I’d like to try woodworking. I think it would be fun to make and use things I need myself, like furniture. There’s a story from a TV show about Lee Hyo-ri’s husband sanding even the unseen parts of a chair he made. When asked why he bothered with parts no one would see, he said, ‘Because I know it’s there.’ The idea of incorporating personal touches into furniture is very appealing to me. I’d like to try it someday.
It seems you have a reputation among models for being unexciting. Are you generally a very calm person?
Yes, I’m always quite calm. I only get really emotional in certain moments, and I feel happiness intensely but briefly. My energy level isn’t high, but occasionally, my emotions can surge.
You won the Best New Actor award at the 2022 KBS Drama Awards for ‘When Flowers Bloom, I Think of the Moon.’ You mentioned your agency’s CEO, Eom Heung-beom, and director Baek Dong-jin in your acceptance speech, which shows your close relationship. The CEO even expressed his affection for you on social media, calling you ‘a cool guy, a pretty guy, a wonderful guy.’
The CEO and director feel like parents to me. One provides tough love while the other offers endless affection.
Several actors, including yourself, formed Baro Entertainment after leaving your previous agency. Why do you think they chose you as a new talent?
I’m not sure, as I never asked. Perhaps they saw potential in me? Or maybe they prioritized character. When new actors join, they often say it’s because of their good character. Our agency values personalities highly. Even if someone has looks and talent, if their character doesn’t fit, they won’t work with them.
An agency staff member mentioned that Baro Entertainment’s slogan is ‘Right, Straight, Now.’ It makes sense. Among journalists, Baro Entertainment is known for quick and clear responses. Looking at your harmless eyes, there’s no room for doubt.
People who know you often say you’re very kind. Has this trait ever caused difficulties in your career?
I’ve thought about this a lot. I try to be honest and give my best to people I like. Some appreciate and empathize with this, but others take it for granted and might even exploit it. During tough times, I questioned whether I should change. But the director at my agency told me, ‘That’s why people like you, and it will be your strength in the future.’ That advice made me rethink. I realized I’d be happy just focusing on those who truly like me and working together. It’s still challenging because some people may not like me, but others do, so I just try to be sincere with everyone.
Is there anything about yourself that has been misunderstood that you would like to correct?
I was born in Bucheon, but I’m often thought to be from Paju. My parents live in Paju. I attended Sanggye Elementary School in Nowon-gu, Seoul, until the fourth grade, then moved to Gwangju, Jeollanam-do. I returned to Seoul in my third year of middle school, where I graduated from both middle and high school. I enrolled in Cheongju University but had to leave after my first semester to serve in the military, and I couldn’t return to my studies afterward.
The fan club name changed from ‘Byeon-gi-tong (Cute Tubby Fans Who Like ByeonWooseok)’ to ‘Woo-che-tong (Fans Who Think Wooseok is the Best)’, but ‘Tubby’ still remains. Did the name originate from your answer about your ideal type during your modeling days, when you said you liked ‘chubby people’?
At the time, I thought so, but now appearance isn’t important to me. I focus more on whether our personalities align during conversations. Maybe because I can be a bit silly, I find wise people who respect their elders very attractive. Now, ‘Tubby’ has just become a term of endearment.
You’re known for your kind attitude towards fans. Even if you have the heart, it’s not always easy to manage it well.
I think fan devotion is a very special and complex emotion. Normally, people need some interaction to get to know me. But to like me just through my acting or videos, from a distance, is really precious. Understanding how rare and difficult this feeling is, I am always grateful and try to do whatever I can when I meet fans.
As your fan base has grown, you’ve had to address those who invade your privacy.
I’m grateful but also cautious. When I meet fans, I want to express my gratitude in any way I can, but if too many people gather, it can become chaotic and dangerous. Visiting official events is fine, but at unofficial ones, there’s no security, so it can be risky. I try to express my gratitude as much as possible at official events, while being careful in unofficial settings.
Do you have an actor you aspire to be like?
I really like Timothée Chalamet. I’ve been a fan for a long time after watching ‘Call Me by Your Name.’ I was captivated by how he expresses emotions subtly and then suddenly intensifies the immersion. I also want to be an actor who brings strong immersion. I aim to make my performances emotionally engaging, allowing viewers to watch comfortably but feel deeply at critical moments.
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