MOVIE
Cho Yu-jung Shines in 'Even If This Love Disappears from the World Tonight' with Stellar Chemistry with Co-stars
On the 6th, at the TENASIA office in Jungnim-dong, Seoul, Cho Yu-jung, who made her screen debut with 'EITLD', shared her experiences.
'EITLD' is a youth melodrama about Seo-yoon (played by Shin Si-a), a high school girl suffering from anterograde amnesia, and Jae-won (played by Choo Young-woo), who has a heart condition. The film is an adaptation of Ichijo Misaki's bestselling novel, which has sold over 1.3 million copies worldwide. Cho Yu-jung plays Choi Ji-min, the only friend aware of Seo-yoon's memory disorder.
Cho Yu-jung's character Ji-min serves as a bridge in the narrative between the male and female leads. She is deeply concerned for her best friend Seo-yoon (Shin Si-a) and initially wary of Jae-won (Choo Young-woo) but eventually supports their relationship upon realizing his sincerity. Cho Yu-jung explained, "Ji-min has a lot of affection for Seo-yoon. She may seem aloof and cold to others, but she's endlessly warm and protective like a mother when with Seo-yoon."
Cho Yu-jung wanted to portray a genuine friendship with Seo-yoon, and she shared that she spent a lot of time talking and eating with Shin Si-a, who is a year older. "At first, I was cautious about whether I could speak informally, but she approached me first, saying, 'Let's be friends.' Thanks to her, we became close," she expressed gratefully.
When asked about Shin Si-a, Cho Yu-jung laughed, "Just thinking about her makes me laugh. I often told her, 'Why are you so cute?' She's like a puppy, lively and playful. Before she plays a prank, one corner of her mouth lifts, which I found adorable and teased her about." She also praised Shin Si-a's knowledge of good eateries, saying, "She knows all the best places to eat near my house or our shop in Cheongdam."
Cho Yu-jung revealed, "In the film, Ji-min initially acts like a cat, wary of Jae-won, but as she realizes they both care for Seo-yoon, they become more comfortable with each other. I thought about this transformation while acting." She shared a playful chemistry with co-star Choo Young-woo, saying, "We bickered but were comfortable with each other. Young-woo is kind and took good care of us. We exchanged acting opinions during filming, and sometimes I scolded him, while other times he taught me like a teacher."
In the film, Ji-min also has a playful love line with Tae-hoon (played by Jin Ho-eun). Cho Yu-jung previously worked with Jin Ho-eun in 'It Might Be a Little Spicy Today'. She described him as a "reliable younger brother" who sometimes feels like an older brother. "Having worked together before, it was easy to discuss acting. Despite the hot summer weather, he always checked on me," she praised. "I was relieved to work with Ho-eun again. I'm shy, but seeing him felt like a family reunion. I often told him, 'I'm glad you're Tae-hoon. Thank you.' We even had a non-date, grilling pork and enjoying coffee and dessert together," she laughed.
Born in 1999, Cho Yu-jung, along with her co-stars Shin Si-a (born in 1998), Choo Young-woo (born in 1999), and Jin Ho-eun (born in 2000), enjoyed a lively set. "There was always laughter. Everyone is humorous. Ho-eun and Young-woo are proactive. We often burst into laughter, feeling like it was summer vacation," she recalled. "We ate sundae soup, grilled meat, and drank coffee together, feeling like high school students again," she added.
Cho Yu-jung, born in 1999, debuted in the 2018 SBS drama 'Still 17'. She has appeared in dramas such as 'Love Alarm Season 1', 'Love Is Beautiful Life Is Wonderful', 'Record of Youth', 'Adult Trainee', and 'Recipe for Farewell'.
Kim Ji-won, TENASIA Reporter bella@tenasia.co.kr
