Actor Lim Chul-soo: The Secret Ingredient Behind Hit Dramas

From 'The Call You Made' to 'The Gentle Sales' and 'Unknown Seoul', three hit dramas from last year share a common thread: actor Lim Chul-soo. While he may not always be in the spotlight, his undeniable presence in each project has earned him the reputation of a 'lucky charm'. We caught up with Lim Chul-soo to discuss his recent roles.

tvN's weekend drama 'Unknown Seoul' is a romantic coming-of-age story about twin sisters who swap lives to find true love and meaning. Lim Chul-soo plays Lee Choong-gu, a skilled lawyer with a high success rate and a senior to Lee Ho-soo, played by Park Jin-young. His character is complex, with a friendly exterior but a sharp, analytical mind.

Lim Chul-soo shared his thoughts on working with his co-star Park Jin-young. He said, "There were reactions hoping for Ho-soo and my character to reconcile. As the story progressed, we found ourselves on opposing sides, but viewers still wanted us to team up again, which was memorable."

He praised Park Jin-young, saying, "In person, Jin-young has clear, transparent eyes, which suits the character of Ho-soo perfectly. I watched his previous work, 'The Witch', and thought, 'I wish I had a friend like him.' He's a brilliant actor, witty, and doesn't try too hard to stand out."

When asked if he gave any acting advice on set, Lim Chul-soo replied, "I'm not one to give acting tips. My scenes are often static, so I try to bring spontaneity to each take. Jin-young is very capable on his own. If anything, I learned from him. Watching the broadcast, I realized Ho-soo was shaping my character, Lee Choong-gu."

Regarding feedback from peers, Lim Chul-soo mentioned, "Park Hae-soo told me he's heard a lot about me. We've been friends for 20 years, and he monitors my work. We often discuss acting. Just the other day, we talked about it again. Hae-soo praised me a lot, which felt good, even though I feel I'm lacking. I couldn't watch the first two episodes because I always see room for improvement."

Lim Chul-soo, who has been friends with Park Hae-soo since their theater days, shared, "Many actors live in our neighborhood. We go free diving, play golf, and walk together. I see Hae-soo often since he lives just 10 minutes away. We constantly discuss acting, exercise, and prepare for projects."

Lim Chul-soo also expressed interest in appearing on variety shows. He said, "Though variety shows are a different world, I'd like to try them. My mom loves 'King of Mask Singer', so I'd like to participate. I can sing a bit," he added with a laugh.

He continued, "There's a show called 'Traveler' that I'd love to do. I've watched every season. I'd like to travel and have genuine conversations with close friends like Hae-soo."

Lim Chul-soo has made a mark with successful projects like MBC's 'The Call You Made', JTBC's 'The Gentle Sales', and tvN's 'Unknown Seoul'. Despite being dubbed a 'lucky charm', he remains humble, saying, "I've never thought of it that way. Being part of great projects is all luck. It would be nice if the 'lucky charm' rumor spread."

He added, "I've been fortunate to work on good projects with great teams. Not all good environments lead to success, so I'm grateful for the luck I've had."

When asked about his criteria for choosing roles, Lim Chul-soo explained, "It's complex, but I focus on the message a character conveys rather than just changing my image. It's important what message the character gives me and what message I can give others. Whether it's a villain or a hero, if there's no message, there's no reason to do it."

"I want to be an actor who feels familiar yet unfamiliar. People might think they know me well, but I want to be remembered as someone who can surprise them, a familiar yet distant actor."

By Kim Se-ah, TenAsia Reporter haesmik@tenasia.co.kr