Hwang In-yeop Talks Chemistry and Future Aspirations Post 'Assembled Family'

"If you watch the making of the show, you'll see that Chaeyeon and I can't help but laugh just by looking at each other. We even apologized to each other for it. We became so close that we were worried about filming the kiss scene, but once the cameras rolled, we were considerate and immersed, making it easy to shoot. The warm feelings helped us naturally approach the kiss scene."

These were the words of Hwang In-yeop during an interview held at a cafe in Gangnam, Seoul, on the 28th, discussing the JTBC drama 'Assembled Family'.

Hwang expressed his happiness about forming valuable relationships with co-stars Jung Chaeyeon and Bae Hyun-sung, among others. This marks his return to dramas after two years since his appearance in the 2022 SBS drama 'Why Her', and his first face-to-face interview, where he greeted the press warmly.

'Assembled Family' is a romance drama about three youths who spent 10 years as a family and 10 years apart, reuniting once again. Hwang plays Kim San-ha, a character with a charming appearance and seemingly nothing to lack.

Hwang expressed satisfaction with the chemistry between him, Chaeyeon, and Hyun-sung. "The three of us have similar personalities. We're shy and introverted. By genuinely engaging with and listening to each other, our hearts naturally opened," he said.

"It's so much fun when the three of us are together. We often eat together and visit places like amusement parks. Chaeyeon is two years older than Hyun-sung, but due to the storyline, she called me 'oppa' in real life too, which helped us immerse more. We even had beers together recently," he laughed. Hwang added, "Once shy people get close, they really stick together."

"It's fun being with Chaeyeon and Hyun-sung, but I do feel the generation gap. I'm slow to pick up on trends or challenges, and when I finally bring them up, they say, 'Why are you talking about something that's already out of trend?' (laughs). I thought I was trendy, but even talking about it isn't very MZ-like, they say."

Regarding the rumors of a real-life relationship with Chaeyeon, Hwang said, "I was surprised that viewers saw our chemistry as so real. I don't want to break that illusion. I'm just very grateful." He added, "It's not just Chaeyeon; I have a special bond with Hyun-sung too. It feels empty if even one of us is missing."

Known for his shy personality, Hwang shared, "I always feel shy at the start. But acting isn't something I do alone. Everyone on set is focused on the project, and that connection breaks my innate shyness. It allows me to naturally immerse and focus on acting."

"Working on the lyrical project 'Assembled Family' made me want to do something fun, like a 'Hwang In-yeop style' romantic comedy. I want to portray romance with lots of comedic scenes. While I also want to explore action and noir genres, after 'Assembled Family', I feel romantic comedy is the best fit for now."

Hwang humorously added, "It's just my wish," and reflected, "Looking back, I've met my roles fatefully. Even the names of the characters feel destined. No matter how much you plan, you never know what will happen. I think of projects as fate and gifts. Whether planned or spontaneous, they always become precious connections."

Now that 'Assembled Family' has ended, Hwang said, "I need time. The time spent understanding and connecting with each other was so long. Even though it's over, the lingering feelings remain. I tried to act like it wasn't sad, but that was harder. I look forward to the time when I can fondly remember the beautiful memories with those I worked with."

"Acting makes me feel like I need to keep changing. I want to show new sides of myself with every character and convey hopeful messages to viewers. I don't think being an actor is special. I believe no one is ordinary. Everyone is special when you look closely."