Hong Seung-beom Triumphs in 'Casting 1147km', Embracing New Challenges at 33

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"Every time I took on a new project, I worried, 'Am I too old for this?' But this program changed my perspective. I can't change my age, so I realized I need to work harder at 33."

Hong Seung-beom, the winner of Lifetime TV's survival audition program 'Casting 1147km', shared these thoughts. Meeting him on the 1st at the Ten Asia office in Jungnim-dong, Seoul, he was the oldest among the six contestants, born in 1991. Hong debuted in 2017 with the SBS drama 'Judge vs. Judge' and has built a solid filmography over nine years with roles in 'My Strange Hero', 'Kkondae Intern', 'Sacred Children', and 'Beneficial Fraud'.

'1147km' combines a survival audition with a reality show format, inspired by the distance between Seoul and Tokyo. It captures the dreams and challenges of young actors transcending borders and cultures. The six participants, ranging from newcomers to nine-year veterans, lived together, competing for the lead role while completing acting missions and self-expression tasks, showcasing a mix of rivalry and camaraderie.

Judges included director Yoon Jong-ho of 'Run with the Sunjae' and writer Kim Jae-hwan of 'Boyhood' and 'Your Honor', who evaluated the contestants' performances. Alongside Hong Seung-beom, participants included Kim Hyun-jin, Kim Min-jun, Lee Chan-woo, Jang Deok-soo, and Jung Hyun-jae. The program reportedly had around 1,200 applicants before the finals, with Hong emerging victorious after a series of missions.

Hong emphasized, "The most important thing for me is not losing my initial passion. Seeing the diverse backgrounds of the participants allowed me to reflect on myself." He added, "Watching those with no experience taught me how composed and skilled they could be."

"Everyone moves at their own pace. I believe that if I do my best wherever I am, the moment will come when I find the perfect fit for me. I gained a lot of inspiration and motivation from my fellow participants."

"Before '1147km', I don't think I ever came in first place. Winning this time gave me immense courage."

Hong smiled, saying, "I realized that if I work hard, I can prove myself. It became a stepping stone for further growth." He continued, "Winning a role through an audition is like being first for that role. Through '1147km', I came to appreciate how precious and hard-earned my past roles were."

He stressed, "More than the result of being first, the meaningful part was communicating with various people through the mission process. My acting improved, and I became more certain about continuing this career." Hong added, "When given an opportunity, I vowed to take on more responsibility. I've always worked hard, but now my passion burns even brighter."

"Even though the industry is in a slump, new projects are continuously being created, and actors keep working. Even if there are fewer roles, someone has to take them. I see no reason why that someone can't be me."

Lee So-jung, Ten Asia Reporter forusojung@tenasia.co.kr