Byeon Wooseok Interviews

credits to fallinbeen (X)

as an actor, he wants to keep moving forward, but as a person, he wants to stay the same.
💙: 'treat people sincerely'. this has been my belief since i was young. but some people took my attitude and actions for granted, and it hurt me a lot. i even questioned if my way of treating people was wrong and doubted myself. but thanks to the encouragement from people around me who said, "i think (treating people sincerely) is your strength. if you keep it up, it'll shine one day." and i was able to gather my thoughts.
that's why he still greets each staff on set sincerely.

https://www.harpersbazaar.co.kr/article/1866610

after receiving the final script for lovely runner, wooseok couldn't help but cry alone because he didn't want say goodbye to it.
💙: there were so many beautiful scenes in ep 16. sol and sunjae are definitely happy, but i was so sad that i cried a lot. it finally hit me that lovely runner had really ended after reading the script (for ep 16). i must have really liked sunjae. after barely pulling myself together, i called lee sieun writernim and she told me she felt the same way. she said it's because we didn't want to let go of sunjae and lovely runner. i'm sure i'll do other projects in the future, but i don't think i'll ever let go of sunjae. and whenever i miss him, i'll rewatch lovrun. i want to keep him as a friend by my side forever and never forget him.

💙: for a long time, i kept getting rejected at auditions and got lots of criticism (laughs). i even doubted if this path was right for me. it was hard. people say you have to do something for at least 10 years in any field. that's why i decided to give it exactly 10 years. if it didn't work out by then, i'd walk away without any regrets. i held on with that mindset.

💙: i feel joyful and happy, yet i'm also worried that i might disappoint people. i'm also thinking about how i can do even better in the future... i have mixed feelings about it in many ways. it's kinda weird, right?

lovely runner ended with a perfectly happy ending, but what might im sol and ryu sunjae be up to these days?

💙: i think they would still be the same. sol would lightly scold sunjae saying, "cover up a bit" and sunjae would playfully reply, "what's wrong? i'm all covered up."
they might fight from time to time, but the reason they fight is because they care and worry about each other. they would be living sweetly and happily together like that.
though it's just a brief imagination, a smile never leaves his (wooseok) face.

therefore, byeon wooseok believes that persistence is a necessary quality for an actor
💙: it's the persistence to not stand still. it's not just about patiently letting time pass, but the persistence to try to overcome the pain as much as you've been hurt, to have good people around you, always reflecting (on yourself), and thus filling each gaps one by one. i can't really advise someone on the qualities of an actor, but that's what i realized when i looked back on my life.
byeon wooseok's persistence is synonymous with wanting to do well.
💙: there are so many talented, handsome, and rich people in this world. rather than trying to keep up with them, i just want to focus on what i can do well. more than anything, i want to act in a way that makes me proud of myself. it's different from ambition or greed for work. i simply want to improve and do well.

💙: i've always supported myself. there were many times when i was so upset after auditions that i cried my eyes out on the subway ride home. in those moments, i would tell myself, "you can do it, wooseok-ah. you've worked among so many models before. your time will come someday. you're a good person, so believe in yourself."

q: the 8 years you've been active, your previous work and your earlier days are being discovered now, like your brief appearance in documentary 3 days.

💙: i had no idea about that. i was like, 'what is this? was that me?' it made me think that's how my life has been so far, that i've lived it diligently' (laughs). everything else is fine, but there's a picture where i look skinnier than woojae hyung (laughs). i've always thought woojae was skinnier than me, but in that picture, i looked even skinnier. when i think about the time the picture was taken, it was right after i came back from my first overseas fashion show. overseas, you keep auditioning and waiting for your turn. you draw a waiting number, and people make schedule based on that. but i wanted to audition more, so i used to go stand in line for the audition an hour early before it started. if someone like me goes there, there would be around 20 to 30 people in line. i used to skip meals and just go audition, and eating kebab while moving around. that's why i lost a lot of weight rapidly. in just 2 to 3 weeks, i lost about 6 to 7 kg and dropped to the low 60s in weight. it was the skinniest i've ever been, that's why i looked like that in the picture.

q: you worked really hard preparing 'i think i did', but i heard the song was recorded but didn't make it to the final cut.

💙: that song is really nice, isn't it? it's a pity, but that's just my personal greed. i understand it was left out for the sake of the drama's direction.

q: was there anything difficult during filming? you had a lot of shirtless scenes, so i assume you had to continuously take care of your body.

💙: there was a lot of preparation, and it was difficult to express that professionalism. we shot summer scenes in winter, including scenes in the water, which i had never done before, so it was difficult. there were many shirtless scenes, and since this was my first time as the lead in a drama, i didn't know how to maintain my body while filming five to six times a week. that's why i kept working out whenever i had a break. i lost about 3 to 4 kg because i was using my body and my mind constantly while filming, so i made sure to eat well.

q: how did it feel to see the reaction to the project you worked so hard to create after the first week of airing?

💙: it's my favorite project and character, so i hope everyone likes it. i felt that this project is so good while filming, thinking how much better it would be if people liked it. but it was even better when it resonated with viewers. one comment that stood out was that the drama brought comfort. hearing that many people found strength during difficult times by watching lovrun made me feel really good. also, comments like 'sunjae's character is perfect and cool, and it's even better that byeon wooseok played him.' that made me feel like all my hard work was worth it.

q: how did people around you react?

💙: i was thankful because everyone congratulated me on my success. the directors and writers i had worked with all reached out to me, which made me so happy. they didn't have to contact me, but they sincerely congratulated me, so i appreciated that. a long-time friend in the industry even got emotional and said s/he were really happy for me.

q: you've been active steadily for a long time and now you're getting attention. froom actor byeon wooseok's perspective, do you think you got noticed sooner than you expected, or was it the right timing?

💙: i don't think it was fast, but it's been less than 10 years. (laughs) when i first started acting, i thought that i'll give it at least 10 years no matter what. but it happened in 8 years, so maybe it’s 2 years early. i was ready to try something else if it didn't work out in 10 years. i had the mindset of "let's work really hard for 10 years" and "even though modeling wasn't easy either and it's a career that requires being chosen, i thought that if i did this job for 10 years, at least something would come of it." i hadn't thought much about what i'd do after 10 years, but i had a vague idea of running a store/business.

q: there have been many comments like "byeon wooseok really lived diligently"

💙: i'm happy that people appreciate it. i've been in this industry for 13 years starting from modeling, so people have been watching every moment since i started working as an adult. some might not like it, but i'm glad they appreciate my past and recognize my hard work. it feels like they saw me for who i am, and i like that.

q: with the sudden fame and attention, you've also dealt with rumors of dating and gossip.

💙: it hurt me at first. i thought that those rumors could hurt the people around me. but i realized it was all part of the attention, that if i dwell on every little thing, it would make things harder for me. so i decided not to dwell on it at all. if it's true, it's true, and if it's not, it's not. i felt that if i focused too much on what others say, it would just make me unstable. when thinking about how to live my life from now on, i believe i should stick to my own judgment.

q: your acting and interviews have noticeably improved compared to your previous works. people are wondering what happened.

💙: i used to lack confidence and had a lot of trauma, which made speaking in front of people hard. that's why i got cut from script reading. now, a lot of that has disappeared. i think, that could happen too. i used to think i had to be a 'good person' to people in this industry, but now i feel i should express my thoughts and feelings honestly. that shift in mindset has made me more confident, i believe.

q: what kind of trauma did you have?

💙: i've always liked photos and videos. that's why i thought about acting when i was considering what to do next while modeling. but when i was modeling, i was lucky enough to be on set, but i didn't know where to stand or what to do. the trauma came from the feeling of deprivation that i didn't do it right, the feedback from people, all led to fear and trauma of being on camera and wanting to leave quickly. even during script reading, i struggled because of this. it lasted for quite a long time, and it took me a while to overcome it.

q: how did you overcome your trauma?

💙: the start was with the drama search: www. i find it difficult being around many people, but i feel comfortable in 1 on 1 settings. when i showed them what i had prepared, i heard someone say, "no one has prepared like this before, thank you." for the first time. then, when i went to the set, dir. jung jihyun gave me suggestions and talked things through with me. at that moment, i felt respected and trusted. that gradually helped me overcome my trauma, and i started enjoying being in videos.

q: do you have any principles you stick to as an actor and as a person?

💙: my principle in human relationships is to speak sincerely. even if it's just for a moment, i try to be sincere in every interaction i have.
i've been hurt because of it and have tried to change, but i think that's just who i am. as an actor, i make sure to express my gratitude to those i appreciate. and i'm good at greetings (laughs)

q: what are your plans for the future? are you feeling any pressure about your next project?

💙: right now, i'm focused on my fanmeeting. i was surprised at how expensive the tickets were for my first fanmeeting in japan. i thought, "people are paying this much to see me?" so i'm thinking about how to make it as enjoyable for fans who come to see me. i want to create lasting memories for my fans. as future projects, my personal standard is 'empathy'. i chose lovely runner because i could relate to it. while there's pressure and worry about my next project, it's still in the future. this job isn't easy, and even if you think everything will go well, the environment, society, psychology, filming, and the director all have to align. i want to show improved acting with each project, and i believe that's beneficial for me as byeon wooseok.

"....i really liked acting together with geonhee and seunghyub. we discussed our scenes and talked a lot. i hope we get to work together again in another project if there's a chance"

💙: i'm trying not to be too comfortable or obsessed with my current popularity. while lovely runner was loved by many and it left a big impression on me too, there's no guarantee that public will like my other works as well. after 9 years of acting, i've realized that obsessing over momentary popularity or instant results doesn't really help me continue pursuing this career in a healthy way.

Woman Sense (July 2024)

👤: who are you most thankful to right now?
💙: hmm, if i exclude my family, it would have to be my company director. we've had many long talks over the years, and he has been there to support me when i was struggling. i was still lacking in many ways when it came to interacting with people, but even then, he gave me lots of advice. he told me that these would become my strengths later, and encouraged me to treat people sincerely, just as i do now. and i'm really thankful for that.

👤: was that struggle a slump?
💙: yes, that's right. i failed many auditions and received lots of criticism on set, which made me question if this career was right for me or if i should quit. during those times, i relied a lot on isanim. if i hadn't met him, there's a high chance i wouldn't be where i am today. even now, he's the one who monitors the project i appear in the most detailed way.

👤: you seem like an upright person. i'm sure people around you would be proud to see you now. do you remember any memorable messages from them?
💙: my high school friend said to me, "hey, my whole surroundings are filled with you now. i don't feel surreal, how much more surreal must it be for you?" that's really true. it doesn't feel real (laughs).

👤: because of (lovely runner), it seems like ryu sunjae will be associated with your name for a while. as an actor, does that feel burdensome?
💙: actually (instead of feeling burdened), i sometimes think why should i let go of sunjae so soon when people like him so much? that's how precious sunjae is to me. i often rewatch my previous projects. and rather than letting go of my past characters, i prefer to cherish them. i think of every character i've portrayed as pages in a book that continue to be with me in my life. and sunjae feels more special among them.

👤: why is sunjae special to you?
💙: i loved sunjae so much. from the moment i read the script and started acting, i found sunjae so beautiful and i liked him. that's why i don't want to let go of him even more. while i need to move forward, instead of worrying about people seeing me only as sunjae, i believe that consistently working to improve my shortcomings and taking the next step, just as i've been doing, will help me lead a healthy life as an actor.

👤: were you tall since you were young? what's your secret?
💙: i ate a lot of kimchi, drank a lot of milk, and took tenten, a nutritional supplement that people used to take back in the day. i even took as many as 10 supplements a day. people said it wasn't good to take that many, but they were delicious that i kept eating them. the good thing about being tall is that i can see more things, see farther and have a wider view. there are not as many obstacles as you'd think. also, it's a bit more comfortable to take the subway. even when it's crowded, it's easier to breathe. my friend who is about 170 cm tall says it's really hard to breathe (in crowded places), so i guess (being tall) could be more comfortable (in such situations).

👤: is your ideal type a tall woman or a short woman?
💙: when i was young, looks were important to me, but now i prefer someone i can talk to comfortably and whose personality matches well with mine. since i have a bit of a foolish side, i like someone who's wise. (laughs) also, i like someone who's well mannered and nice to elders. i lived with my grandmother, so i think i was influenced by her.
👤: while we're on the topic, can you tell us about your grandmother?
💙: when i was a kid, i used to fight with her over the TV, and i'd pester her to make kimchi fried rice for me (laughs) she was like my mom.