Choo Young-woo has expressed his excitement about making his film debut in 'Even If This Love Disappears Tonight' (hereafter 'EITLDT'). He also shared behind-the-scenes stories about transforming from a 'frail' high school student to one exuding 'masculinity.'
Recently, I met Choo Young-woo, the lead actor of 'EITLDT,' at a café in Samcheong-dong, Seoul.
'EITLDT' is a youth romance film about Seo-yoon (played by Shin Si-ah), who suffers from anterograde amnesia and loses her memory of the day every time she sleeps, and Jae-won (played by Choo Young-woo), who fills her memory daily. The film is an adaptation of Ichijo Misaki's bestselling novel, which has sold over 1.3 million copies worldwide. Choo Young-woo plays Jae-won, a high school student living a monotonous life.
Choo Young-woo, who is starring in his first film, shared, "I'm nervous and excited. It was a dream of mine." He added, "I want to secretly book a ticket and go to the theater to see the audience's reactions. I want to hear what people say, whether it's praise or criticism, as I leave the theater. I plan to go secretly soon."
'EITLDT' is already a popular work with its original novel and Japanese film adaptation. When asked if he felt any pressure about starring in a remake as his first film and lead role, Choo Young-woo replied, "I was more excited than worried because I like the original work."
When asked if his acting approach changes depending on whether there's an original work, he said, "It does differ." He continued, "When there's no original work, I film thinking that what the director and I decide is 100% correct. When there is an original, there are comparisons and people who know the content, so they might question the changes. Some remakes receive praise for their high synchronization with the original, while others are praised for their differences. Our film is the latter. After watching it, I thought the differences from the original were actually good."
In the film, Jae-won appears to be an ordinary high school student but secretly suffers from a heart condition. This required a certain 'frail beauty,' but Choo Young-woo's appearance in the film exudes health. This might be puzzling for the audience. Choo Young-woo said, "Since Jae-won is a bit sick, he should have a frail beauty. But I heard people say they brought someone who looks like their heart is in top condition," he laughed awkwardly. He added, "I did lose weight. But I have a basic physique, so it didn't show. I lost about 13kg, but it wasn't noticeable," he said regretfully. He continued, "Next time, if I have to play a sick or skinny character, I think I'll need to lose about 20kg in advance. I learned from this experience. I'll lose weight by not exercising and just lying down," he said, making people laugh.
His veins, arm muscles, and tanned skin exude masculinity rather than boyishness. While this can capture the hearts of female viewers, it's a bit disappointing from a character setting perspective. Choo Young-woo said, "Veins are hereditary in my family. The size of the veins is genetic," he explained. "We kept filming outdoors in the middle of summer, so even with sunscreen, my skin kept tanning and became more bronze. I think that's why I looked healthier," he said.
By Kim Ji-won, TenAsia Reporter bella@tenasia.co.kr