Actor Kwon Hyuk (36), who gained the title of 'Overwhelming Gay Pick' through 'The Law of Love in Big Cities', showcased another side of himself as a clumsy husband this time.
The KBS Joy new drama 'Today, I Apologize' (directed by Min Ji-young, written by Jo Yu-jin and Choi Ryong), which ended on the 27th, is a romantic comedy depicting the tumultuous survival story of Ji Song (played by Jeon So-min), who is suddenly called off her engagement and struggles to pay off the brutal interest on her newlywed home loan while juggling multiple jobs.
Released simultaneously in 60 countries including the US, Europe, India, Taiwan, Vietnam, and Peru, 'Today, I Apologize' has received a hot response, ranking high in OTT streaming. Kwon Hyuk played the role of Seok Jin-ho, Ji Song's ex-boyfriend and the husband of Ahn Chan-yang (played by Jang Hee-ryung).
In a recent interview with Maeil Business Star Today, Kwon Hyuk expressed, "Our drama aired once a week, and I was wondering when it would end, but it's already over, which is amazing and overwhelming. I watched it every week, and good memories are coming back, so even though the weather is cold, my heart feels warm," sharing his thoughts as the show concluded.
Kwon Hyuk, who filmed 'Today, I Apologize' until early January, secured the role of Seok Jin-ho through auditions.
He revealed, "During the first audition, the director seemed curious about who I was. In the second round, we did a script reading, and I worked hard to appeal that they should pick me. The script was fun, and Seok Jin-ho had similarities to me, so I wanted to try it. I love comedy, but I hadn't had the opportunity until now, so I was very eager."
He continued, "I think Seok Jin-ho and I are about 70% alike. We share a clumsy side and the fact that we are both romantic. The difference is that I'm not as oblivious as Seok Jin-ho. I have social skills," he joked.
He also mentioned, "I took some aspects from my own life and wanted to bring out what was in the script, so I delved into it diligently. I watched a lot of comedy works. I usually enjoy actor Kang Ha-neul's comedies, so I watched them all again. I didn't try to imitate him, but I wanted to get familiar with the feel and rhythm of comedy."
How was his first comedy performance? He said, "It was definitely difficult. Capturing the rhythm of comedy wasn't easy," but added, "The atmosphere on set was great. There were many peers, and the set itself felt lively. It's not that my previous works were bad, but this one contains various genres, and since comedy is the foundation, we filmed it while laughing together."
At the center of the bright and laughter-filled set of 'Today, I Apologize' were Choi Daniel and Jeon So-min.
Kwon Hyuk said, "Choi Daniel is really funny. I wondered if the persona I saw on variety shows was real, but he turned out to be a fun person. He was the atmosphere maker on set. He approached the staff first, and wherever he was, there was laughter. Although there weren't many scenes where I clashed with him, we joked around and had fun." He added, "Jeon So-min is also quite famous. To me, she felt like a celebrity. I met her for the first time in this project, and she was down-to-earth, honest, and treated me comfortably like a friend. She's a kind and good person."
Regarding Jang Hee-ryung, with whom he played a couple, he said, "Both Jang Hee-ryung and I are shy, so I was cautious at first, but we became more comfortable as we filmed. She made me feel at ease and considerate, allowing me to shoot comfortably," and humorously added, "I would give our couple chemistry a score of 90."
He continued, "The set was really enjoyable. There are heart-wrenching stories, but overall, it wasn't heavy, so everyone filmed happily. The staff took great care of us. If I had concerns while filming and asked, everyone listened well and was really kind and warm."
Kwon Hyuk also mentioned, "I thoroughly brought to life what was in the script. There were no ad-libs," and added, "I acted while imagining the stories I heard from married friends and the married life I had dreamed of. Fortunately, I got to meet the writer at the start of filming and at the wrap party, and she said I portrayed Seok Jin-ho well, which made me happy."
Since debuting in 2020 with JTBC's 'Elegant Friends', Kwon Hyuk has been steadily building his filmography with dramas like 'Becoming a Meal' and 'Missing 2: They Were There'. Following last year's Disney+ series 'Tyrant' and the Tving series 'The Law of Love in Big Cities', he is actively working with 'Today, I Apologize'.
He shared, "I did minor roles in 2017-2018 and debuted in 2020 with 'Elegant Friends'. I started acting at 28. I had a dream of becoming an actor, but I was very introverted and thought I lacked talent. I found it difficult to speak in front of people, so I never imagined it. It was a dream, but I didn't know how to pursue it, so I just lived. While preparing for employment, I kept failing, and when I took the flight attendant exam, I thought that if I failed the second interview, I would challenge myself for the first and last time."
He continued, "Since my mind was elsewhere, I couldn't prepare properly for the interview and ended up failing. So, I persuaded my parents to give me a year. I worked part-time to earn tuition and enrolled in an acting academy. I don't remember exactly when I first dreamed of becoming an actor, but I was inspired by the movie 'Titanic' in middle school. There were so many people, and each actor was impressive. I thought even if I couldn't be the main character, I could at least be part of it. I've loved stories since I was young, including dramas, movies, and novels. I loved Korean films; it was my dream and my romance."
Starting later than others, he felt more desperate and thus more anxious.
He said, "While my friends are becoming socially stable, starting families, or planning their lives, I felt anxious and impatient because I wasn't. I kept failing auditions, and even though I was working hard, I wondered why it wasn't working out. I really delved into the script, but I think the director and production team could see my impatience. They told me to work less hard. At first, I couldn't do that, but at some point, I realized that impatience was eating away at me. I realized I needed to have some leisure. I consciously tried to take it easy, travel, and practice stepping away from acting. It hasn't been long since I started doing that."
He added, "I'm starting to feel a bit freer now. There are still realistic issues, and it's not easy to balance part-time work with acting, and I wonder how long I have to keep doing this. There are realistic difficulties, but nothing makes me as happy as acting. Nevertheless, I believe I'm taking one step at a time. The road ahead is long, but I think I'm making progress little by little. My parents initially opposed it, but now they believe in me and support me more than I do. Whenever I feel overwhelmed, they encourage me, saying I can do better and that I'll become a good actor."
Kwon Hyuk expressed his desire to grow steadily as an actor this year.
He said, "While doing 'Today, I Apologize', I didn't feel nervous in front of the camera for the first time. My heart was pounding, but I felt comfortable. It was a meaningful moment for me. I gained great motivation from supportive comments on my SNS, saying they are watching well. It feels great to know I can be a source of comfort for someone and provide some energy." He smiled shyly.
"I've always set goals, but I didn't set any this year. I just want to digest what is given to me well. And I hope to always maintain a challenging spirit. When I see actors I admire, they always take on new challenges even in situations where they could make safe choices, which I find admirable. I also want to be an actor who always challenges myself and doesn't become stale. This year, I hope to be a little happier than last year, along with the viewers."
[Yang So-young, Star Today Reporter]
