- Actor YOO Yeon-seok of WHISTLE BLOWER
- by LEE Ji-hye / 11.10.2014
- A Hard Worker on the Run
It’s golden time for YOO Yeon-seok. With the TV drama Answer Me 1994, reality travel program Youth over Flowers, to feature film Whistle Blower, you hardly had a break.Your popularity was evident during the outdoor Q&A at this year’s Busan International Film Festival.
I think a lot of people recognize me now after Youth over Flowers and I’m thankful for that. Especially since it led some fans to seek out a film like Whistle Blower, for which I’m very grateful. However, it’s all still hard to believe.I understand that you went straight into shooting for Whistle Blower right after Answer Me 1994. Was it difficult to adjust when changing characters so quickly?It definitely wasn’t easy. I tried to think about the film character from time to time. He is a father but at the same time also a researcher, so I met with real researchers and then tried to imagine the character’s past. No matter what, once the environment changes, I fall straight into it. And no matter how long or hard I try to live as a character, there is no guarantee I can project them exactly as intended. So it’s very important to think and study in advance of a shoot.Aren’t you tired from all the work you do?
It’s hard but it’s also fun, but If someone was making me do this, it would have been a different story. Acting is work but I often enjoy it and that’s why I can endure the workload. What captured me about Whistle Blower was that it had purpose and a desire to show the truth in an entertainment way. I found this process quite interesting.The climactic interview in the film is quite memorable. We could feel your sincerity as you tell the truth despite the incendiary repercussions of your answers.In reality I don’t like to lie and when I’m being sincere I’m more composed. So I tried to keep it cool even though it was tempting to be emotional. If someone is telling the truth, they wouldn’t filter their words as they can say whatever comes to mind. That became the basis for my acting. When talking about his family or his daughter, I tried to be darker and to modulate the tone of his speech.You have a few more new releases coming up including Secret Temptation and The Royal Tailor.
I’m currently preparing for In the Mood for Love, while Secret Temptation and The Royal Tailor are in post-production. There are so many great projects and I feel I should work even harder. After Youth over Flowers I went on a trip but I don’t think I’ll have time to relax for a while. It’s time for me to keep on going.I heard that you took up photography as a hobby and that you’re almost a professional.
I’m nowhere near being a professional, it’s just a hobby. I usually carry a camera with me to capture daily moments that I’d like to remember. Sometimes I give photographs as gifts to my family. I’ve tried using several different cameras but nowadays I like using shooting Polaroids. It has become harder to actually touch a physical photograph since the move to digital, but I like the tactical nature of Polaroid film.
You described yourself as a cold, unemotional person but the character we saw in your recent reality show showed us otherwise.
I don’t cry very often, even when I watch sad movies. But after turning 30, I’ve became more emotional (laughs). When I spoke about my mother, all of a sudden tears started to flow. It was the same with the fan meeting. I think I cry when I feel moved or when I feel regret about something.
