In the recently concluded ENA drama 'Honor: Her Court,' Seo Hyun-woo played the role of Park Je-yeol, a character who hides his past and assumes the identity of a prosecutor, delivering an overwhelming sense of tension and leading the narrative. He portrayed the chilling nature hidden behind a gentle smile with meticulous control of pace and intensity.
Seo Hyun-woo particularly stood out by creating psychological pressure on key characters like Yoon Ra-young (played by Lee Na-young), Kang Shin-jae (played by Jung Eun-chae), and Hwang Hyun-jin (played by Lee Chung-ah), showcasing his exceptional ability to embody characters that transcend good and evil. This performance has been praised as another career-defining role, solidifying his position as a master of genre dramas.
Upon the show's conclusion, Seo Hyun-woo shared a Q&A through his agency, expressing his gratitude to fellow actors and viewers, and discussing the intense thought process behind building his character.
A: It might be a play on words, but in many scenes, I actually didn't exhale much. Like a predator slowly luring its prey before striking, I studied the feeling of staring at the opponent as if enjoying it, then suddenly biting with the sharp lines given to Je-yeol. I focused on creating an unpredictable rhythm and tempo, making it unclear when the attack would come.
Q2. The setting where a perpetrator from 20 years ago reappears as a prosecutor was shocking. What did you interpret as the root of Park Je-yeol's evil? How did you design the process of transforming intense inferiority into a lust for power?
A: Je-yeol is fundamentally a character with a strong desire to control and possess others. At the same time, he believes that Ra-young did not provide enough trust as a partner during their youth, and he strongly believes he was not the perpetrator but rather the victim. The anxiety felt when the response does not match the openness he showed grew into a sense of inferiority and entitlement, leading him to believe that having power was necessary to control both work and love, which eventually distorted into a twisted desire for power and control.
Q3. The phrase 'an actor who changes faces' has long symbolized Seo Hyun-woo. Despite both being corrupt prosecutors, Nam Doo-heon from 'The Fiery Priest 2' and Park Je-yeol from 'Honor' are distinctly different. Did you have a strategy to completely erase the shadow of your previous role?
A: Both characters share the setting of a prosecutor without backing, collecting blacklists and committing corruption for promotion. However, while Nam Doo-heon was a humorous character who openly expressed his boiling emotions, Park Je-yeol focused on subtle expressions and gaze, hiding his true intentions, with an irregular breathing pattern. Externally, unlike Nam Doo-heon's loose suit fit, Park Je-yeol's tight-fitting tailored look reflected his self-control. Like the temperature difference between 'strawberry smoothie' and 'warm tea,' I differentiated them with the keywords of communication and isolation.
Q4. Scenes where you cornered your counterparts were incredibly tense. With many emotionally draining scenes like gaslighting, how do you return to everyday life after filming?
A: The heavier and more serious the scene emotionally, the more I consciously communicate brightly on set to lift the energy. Conversely, during light and bright scenes, I focus calmly and lower the tension. Like a balance scale, I try to keep my emotional balance neutral. It's a personal approach to maintaining mental health while acting.
Q5. The confrontations with female characters like Lee Na-young, Jung Eun-chae, and Lee Chung-ah were remarkable. What was the energy like on set while working with each actor, and how did you maintain Park Je-yeol's intimidating tension?
A: On set, rather than maintaining an intimidating energy, I would engage in casual conversations about conditions or meals, like someone preparing for a party, to ease the atmosphere. Then, like before riding an amusement park ride, I would listen to the director's points and cautions, expressing each character with momentary focus and precise actions, exchanging tense energy.
With Lee Na-young, having worked together on three projects, there was an internal familiarity, but I was always impressed and felt secure seeing her completely transform into Ra-young during acting. I was delighted to work with Jung Eun-chae and Lee Chung-ah, whom I had wanted to act with, and was impressed by their skillful maintenance of the trio's ensemble without excess. Actress Baek Eun-hye, who played my wife, also had many emotionally challenging scenes but held the scenes firmly with her solid presence, for which I am grateful. The young actresses Jeon So-young and Kim Tae-yeon, who played my daughters, maintained a bright energy on set despite the challenging emotions, which was admirable and appreciated.
Q6. You are now known as a master of genre dramas beyond just a villain expert. Do you have plans to show a character completely devoid of Park Je-yeol's chilliness or a character full of humanity in your next project? Is there a genre you are interested in?
A: Having been deeply immersed in absolute evil, I now want to try a cheerful role. I'm drawn to relatable, funny characters that are common in everyday life. I'm also interested in realistic, unpretentious romantic comedies. Having played villains, I feel my inner balance naturally leans towards that direction.
Q7. Despite constantly redefining your career-defining roles, you are known to be a strict actor with yourself. Is acting still a challenging task for Seo Hyun-woo? After finishing 'Honor,' where do you think your acting career graph is heading?
A: Although the acting theories I've built and accumulated since my debut seem solid, I now want to break them down again. The reason is clear. Acting situations are incredibly diverse, and the details of roles are endless. The more I act, the more I realize there is no master key to acting. While I'm amazed by the performances of senior actors, I'm also intrigued by the performances of junior actors. It's important to maintain the basics while keeping an eye on the trends and flow of the times. Additionally, viewers' understanding of visual language is very high these days. I dream of continuous change while maintaining everydayness, not being confined to the world of acting. Rather than focusing on whether my acting career graph is rising or falling, I always keep an eye on whether it's heading in the right direction.
Q8. Lastly, what are your thoughts on saying goodbye to 'Honor: Her Court'? Do you have any messages for the viewers who sent both intense anger and support towards Park Je-yeol?
A: I believe that crossing between good and evil is an actor's destiny. When I first met Park Je-yeol, there was certainly moral hesitation and contemplation as a human being, Seo Hyun-woo, but I was able to muster the courage to fulfill my role because of the viewers who always watched and supported me. I am deeply grateful to everyone who expressed anger towards Park Je-yeol and supported 'Honor' with such enthusiasm. I will strive to repay you with even better performances in the future. I wish you all good health.
Jung Se-yoon, Ten Asia Reporter yoon@tenasia.co.kr