Park Seo-joon, “I got acting inspiration from Choi Woo-shik”

“Among my peers, Choi Woo-sik inspires me a lot.”

When actor Park Seo-joon was asked about the actor who gets his acting inspiration, he chose Choi Woo-sik as if he was familiar.

On the 18th, Park Seo-joon spoke about the movie 'Dream' (directed by Byung-hun Lee) and his thoughts as an actor at a cafe in Sogyeok-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul.

Park Seo-joon's role in 'Dream' is Hong Dae, a former soccer player and coach of the Homeless World Cup. Hongdae, a promising soccer player, is actually someone who has an inferiority complex, thinking that he is 'second best for 10,000 years'. He viewed Hongdae as "a person with an inferiority complex, lack of affection, and who needed a lot of love from his parents."

"Hongdae is not good at expressing himself, and even though he doesn't mean it, he ticks and complains. But when you look at Hongdae, of course the reason is explained. Because that's how he was raised. He has been second place for 10,000 years and can't break this barrier, so how should he express his feelings of inferiority? I worried a lot. You feel small in front of geniuses. When I watch a movie or watch an actor's performance, I think, 'I don't think I can do that. I think only that person can do that.' Even in Hongdae. “Isn’t that what it felt like?”

I asked Park Seo-joon if there was an actor like him and what kind of actor he takes inspiration from. He answered without hesitation, “Among my peers, I am most inspired by Choi Woo-sik.” Park Seo-joon previously collaborated with Choi Woo-shik through a special appearance in the movie 'Parasite' (directed by Bong Joon-ho). Additionally, Choi Woo-sik made a special appearance in the movie 'Lion' (directed by Kim Joo-hwan) starring Park Seo-joon.

“We have different personalities. We know that very well. There are also points where we envy each other. I often get a lot of inspiration from watching (Choi) Woo-sik.”

We also talked about senior actors. Park Seo-joon said, "The people I get a lot of stimulation from are my seniors. 'Will I be able to have that much depth when I get to that age?' There are points that I worry about. Also, 'Am I still acting at that age?' I also think, ‘What will happen to me in the process?’ When I look at senior Song Kang-ho or Lee Byung-hun, I wonder if I can express those depths.”

Park Seo-joon, who has grown and established himself as a leading actor, has also stepped onto the global stage, such as acting as Prince Jan in the American Marvel Studios film 'The Marvels' (directed by Nia DaCosta). He also said there were times when he was anxious in the past.

Park Seo-joon, who went back to the past while continuing to talk about his inferiority complex, said, "I used to worry a lot. There were times when the future was uncertain. Fortunately, now I receive a lot of love, so I spend my days feeling responsible for what I have been given in the present rather than the future."

“I can’t make big plans, and I can’t know the future. I think I can only look forward to the future if I make the present good. I have faith that if I live well in the present, a good future will come.”

'Dream' is the story of Hong Dae, a former soccer player with no sense, and So-min (IU), a passionless producer, who attempt an impossible dream together with a ragtag group of homeless national team players. It is an adaptation of the true story of the 2010 Homeless World Cup, in which Korea participated for the first time.

‘Dream’ will be released on April 26th.

Choi Ji-ye, Ten Asia Reporter wisdomart@tenasia.co.kr