"I strive and ponder endlessly to seize the opportunity when it comes. Winning first place in this program doesn't make me complacent. I'm diligently preparing for the glorious moment that will eventually come."
Hong Seung-beom, the winner of the survival audition program 'Casting 1147km', shared these thoughts. Meeting him at the TenAsia office in Seoul on the 1st, Hong, born in 1991, was the oldest among the six contestants. He debuted in 2017 with the SBS drama 'Judge vs. Judge' and has steadily built his filmography with roles in 'My Strange Hero', 'Kkondae Intern', 'Sacred Children', and 'Beneficial Fraud'.
'1147km' is unique in that it combines a survival audition with a reality show format. The title, inspired by the distance between Seoul and Tokyo, captures the dreams and challenges of young actors transcending borders and cultures. The six contestants, ranging from newcomers to actors with nine years of experience, lived together and competed for the lead role, showcasing a real growth journey filled with rivalry and support through acting missions and self-expression tasks.
The judges included director Yoon Jong-ho, known for 'Run with the Sunjae', and writer Kim Jae-hwan of 'Boys' Generation' and 'Your Honor'. Contestants included Hong Seung-beom, Kim Hyun-jin, Kim Min-jun, Lee Chan-woo, Jang Deok-soo, and Jung Hyun-jae. With Byun Woo-seok, who debuted in 2016, rising to stardom last year with 'Run with the Sunjae', there was anticipation for the emergence of a 'second Byun Woo-seok' through this program.
Hong Seung-beom, the same age as Byun Woo-seok, responded to whether he's ready to become the 'second Byun Woo-seok' by saying, "I think it's a stretch to attach such a label to myself, but it's a pleasant compliment." He added, "My job is to quietly do my best and gain recognition from industry professionals and the public." Hong praised Byun, saying, "I find Byun Woo-seok to be remarkable. He has always done his best, and eventually, he found the perfect role for himself."
"I believe that someday, a tailor-made role will come to me. It could be the next project or the one after that. So, I'm always preparing to step into that role."
After winning 'Casting 1147km', Hong Seung-beom revealed that he is currently challenging himself with the play 'Matryoshka'. He expressed excitement, saying, "It's my first time doing a play, and I'm thrilled. I was eager to do well, so I dedicated myself to practice. We had our first opening in Chuncheon last week." He continued, "I'm very happy. Since it's a comedy, it brings a lot of joy. I think it's a stage where I can invite friends and offer them enjoyment. During practice, I wondered if I could confidently show this to people, and I became certain that they would love it."
Having pursued acting for eight years, how does Hong spend his daily life? He shared, "I have a friend who does production, so we plan various projects and shoot together. We've traveled to Thailand, LA, and Hawaii to film music videos." He added, "For the rest of the year, I plan to prepare a short film. I'm currently writing a script while preparing for the play."
"After dreaming of this career, I pondered how I could grow. I realized it would be great to work with people around me. So, I often collaborate on photo projects with photographer friends and keep myself busy by scheduling appointments."
Hong Seung-beom explained, "Everyone gets tired, but I try not to dwell on negative thoughts. If I feel down, I call a friend and say, 'Let's do a photo shoot next week,' and create new plans." He continued, "I'm trying to maintain a healthy life, and fortunately, with the recent play schedule and opportunities to work with great people, I haven't experienced a major slump."
Lee So-jung, TenAsia Reporter forusojung@tenasia.co.kr