"There's a saying these days, 'My score is 95 because there are no flaws.' Haha. I'm just grateful for everything about this project. It's an honor to work with director Kim Hye-young, whom I'm a huge fan of, and to gain positive energy and learn a lot from the hot rising stars (Shin) Si-a and (Chu) Young-woo."
Actress Jo Yoo-jung, who made her screen debut with 'Even If This Love Disappears Tonight' (hereafter 'Oseisa'), expressed her satisfaction by giving her first film project a high score. Jo shared, "It was a dream project, making it even more meaningful. I've only done dramas before, and earlier this year, I did a play. I'm grateful for the good opportunity that came during the waiting period."
'Oseisa' is a youth romance about high school girl Seo-yoon (played by Shin Si-a), who suffers from anterograde amnesia, and Jae-won (played by Chu Young-woo), who has a heart condition. Jo Yoo-jung plays Choi Ji-min, the only friend who knows about Seo-yoon's memory disorder.
Jo Yoo-jung's character Ji-min serves as a bridge in the narrative of the male and female protagonists. She is deeply concerned about her best friend Seo-yoon (played by Shin Si-a), who suffers from memory issues. Initially wary of Jae-won (played by Chu Young-woo), who approaches Seo-yoon, Ji-min eventually comes to understand his sincerity and supports their love.
"Ji-min has a lot of affection for Seo-yoon. She seems aloof and cold to others but is endlessly warm and protective like a mother when with Seo-yoon. Ji-min is like a cat, aloof and cautious, and it was challenging to capture that tone initially. I practiced a lot to convey firmness in her voice and speech. I wanted to portray a genuine friendship with Seo-yoon and show the gradual transition from being wary to becoming friends with Jae-won."
Shin Si-a is a year older than Jo Yoo-jung. When asked about Shin, Jo laughed, "Just thinking about her makes me laugh." She continued, "I often told her, 'Why are you so cute?' She's like a puppy, lively and playful. Before she jokes, one corner of her mouth lifts, and I teased her for that because it was so cute." Jo also shared, "She loves eating and knows many good restaurants. I often asked her for recommendations near my home or shop. Coincidentally, both our shops are in Cheongdam. She knows every good place to eat." With her peer Chu Young-woo, Jo said, "We bickered but were comfortable with each other. Young-woo is kind and took good care of us. We exchanged acting opinions during filming. Sometimes I scolded him, and other times he taught me like a teacher. It was similar to our on-screen dynamic."
At 27, Jo Yoo-jung is still a young actress in her 20s, but she faced challenges playing a teenage student. Jo laughed, "I worked hard."
"I hardly wore any makeup, almost bare-faced. I just curled my lashes slightly and kept the base transparent. I love exercising, so I worked out daily, but this time I ate a lot to maintain chubby cheeks and look younger. Haha. I was relaxed about skincare because as a student, it's natural to have pimples. When I showed up with pimples, the makeup artist said it made me look more like a student."
Jo Yoo-jung debuted in 2018 with the drama 'Thirty But Seventeen.' She decided to pursue acting in her first year of high school after being inspired by actor Yoo Hae-jin.
"I always dreamed of being on TV. When singers looked cool, I said I wanted to be a singer. When 'Gag Concert' or 'Infinite Challenge' was popular, my mom suggested we become a comedy duo. Haha. I also wanted to be a news anchor. Then, in my first year of high school, I watched 'The Classified File' and was moved by Yoo Hae-jin's performance. I thought, 'How can someone be so real?' That's when my vague dream solidified into becoming an actor. Watching 'The Classified File' was the turning point. I was so drawn to acting that I persuaded my parents for a year and started attending an acting academy in my second year of high school, which continues to this day."
Another role model for Jo is actress Gong Hyo-jin. "Even now, when I struggle with lines during script reading or auditions, I watch Gong Hyo-jin's past dramas. When I feel stuck, her acting gives me hints and refreshes me. I often refer to her performances when preparing for roles. I think my goal is to achieve natural and everyday acting like hers."
"I really want to work with both senior actors," Jo Yoo-jung said with sparkling eyes. As she enters her eighth year in the industry, what kind of actor does she aspire to be?
"Since my friends also major in acting, we often talk about what kind of actor we want to become. My ultimate goal is to be an actor who is called 'teacher.' I've met many great teachers while working on projects. They have maintained their positions for a long time, sometimes like older siblings, sometimes like aunts and uncles, and sometimes like parents, taking care of juniors. I want to be a reliable senior who stays in the industry for a long time and an actor who acts really well, like those teachers. Sometimes I feel like I'm in a one-sided love with acting. I don't always pass auditions as I hope, but I'm truly sincere about acting. They say actors are called 'actors' because they must keep learning. I want to be an actor who continues to learn and grow. I believe there's no end to it."
When asked about her goals for this year, Jo Yoo-jung said, "I want to work on more than three projects, whether it's drama, film, or theater," showing her determination. She added, "Sometimes I love acting so much that it hurts. It really feels like a one-sided love. But I'm happy when I'm on set, even if I sleep in a van. I want to work tirelessly without breaks. My goal is to work year-round."
Kim Ji-won, TenAsia Reporter bella@tenasia.co.kr