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Actor Hong Jong-hyun Opens Up About Stepping in for a Replaced Actor in 'I Have a Baby'
On the 23rd, Hong Jong-hyun met with reporters at a cafe located on Dosan-daero in Gangnam-gu, Seoul. He discussed various aspects of the Channel A drama 'I Have a Baby', which concluded the previous day.
'I Have a Baby' is a reverse romantic comedy that follows the story of Kang Doo-joon (played by Choi Jin-hyuk) and Jang Hee-won (played by Oh Yeon-seo), who become entangled after a one-night stand. Hong Jong-hyun took on the role of Cha Min-wook, a deputy in the sales team of Taehan Liquor.
The role of Cha Min-wook was originally cast with Yoon Ji-on. However, Yoon Ji-on was caught for drunk driving and motorcycle theft in September last year, leading to his departure from the project. With a significant portion of filming already completed, the production team decided to discard all of Yoon Ji-on's scenes and urgently sought a replacement actor.
When asked if he was overwhelmed by the sudden involvement in the project, Hong Jong-hyun nodded in agreement. He recalled, "I didn't have much time to think about it. I heard there were many actors who wanted the role. The director told me, 'My pick is Jong-hyun, but please consider it. However, I can't give you much time, so I hope you can decide quickly.'"
Hong Jong-hyun reflected, "I thought that even if it's the same character, it can look different when played by another actor, so I just focused on interpreting the character in my own way."
Fortunately, there was a familiar situation amidst the urgency. Hong Jong-hyun had previously made a cameo appearance in the drama 'Player' in 2024, which was directed by the same director as 'I Have a Baby'. He mentioned, "The co-star was also Oh Yeon-seo, whom I met in 'Player'. We filmed comfortable romantic scenes right after I joined, and I remember the chemistry being great."
Being a 'mid-production replacement' is a rare occurrence. Hong Jong-hyun offered advice to actors who might face a similar situation, saying, "I would suggest thinking about whether you really want to do the project or not, setting aside everything else."
He added, "Personally, I think it's important not to just take on a role because people say it's a 'great opportunity' or 'everyone wants it'. While I would work hard, I wouldn't give it my all if the role doesn't suit me. If you're offered a role that doesn't feel right, it's good to take time to question yourself. On the first day, I had many complicated thoughts, but when I asked myself if I genuinely wanted to do this project and role, I found my answer."
By Da-yeon Jeong, Ten Asia Reporter light@tenasia.co.kr