TV
Actor Lim Chul-soo Reflects on 'Undercover Miss Hong' Finale with Heartfelt Gratitude
Lim Chul-soo portrayed Cha Joong-il, the head of the research department at Hanmin Securities, in the recently concluded tvN weekend drama 'Undercover Miss Hong.' He perfectly embodied the quintessential 1990s office worker in Yeouido, complete with a 2:8 parting and vibrant ties, adding realism and diversity to the drama with his unique and witty acting.
Despite being an annoying boss with a strong sense of authority and a 'strong to the weak, weak to the strong' attitude towards Hong Geum-bo (played by Park Shin-hye), he occasionally displayed a clumsy charm that brought laughter to viewers, making him a beloved yet hated character. In the final episode, he achieved a bittersweet victory by becoming the interim CEO of Hanmin Securities.
Lim Chul-soo received immense love from viewers for his tailored portrayal in 'Undercover Miss Hong.' Having previously showcased his unique presence in works like 'Is This Love Interpreted?', 'Unknown Seoul,' 'Virtuous Sales,' and 'Alchemy,' anticipation is high for his future endeavors.
A. Thanks to 'Undercover Miss Hong,' I met wonderful people and a great project. I'm truly grateful for the opportunity to talk about the work. I really, really loved our project!
Q. You played the love-to-hate character Cha Joong-il. How did you prepare for the role? Was there anything specific you focused on while acting?
A. I wanted to portray a character that might have existed in that era. The costumes and makeup perfectly captured the period. I also wanted to reflect the era in Cha Joong-il's attitude towards people. It was a romantic time, but also rough and sometimes aggressive, and I tried to embody that in his demeanor.
Q. You transformed into a 1990s Yeouido office worker. Did you prepare anything specific for the character's appearance?
A. I looked for postures that matched the attire. Thanks to the 2:8 parting, I created a habit of touching my hair in an edgy way. The costumes reflected the character's traits and the era, so I developed details like 'adjusting clothes' and 'checking the watch as if showing off.' I'm grateful to the costume and makeup teams for helping me find these elements.
Q. Your chemistry with Park Shin-hye was really fun. If you were to rate it, what score would you give? How was the experience acting together?
A. I had a lot of fun acting with Shin-hye. She made me feel comfortable, and her keen eye for the characters and situations was very helpful. What I loved most was that we didn't just aim for laughs and fun. We seriously clashed to achieve each character's goals and tried to change each other, which was a valuable attempt and process. In that sense, I'd give our chemistry 120 points!
Q. The 'So.Bang.Cha' trio at Hanmin Securities was unforgettable. How was the atmosphere on set and your experience acting together?
A. Having watched the senior actors' stage performances since I was young, it was an honor to work with them. The filming was always fun and supportive. Whenever the three of us gathered, there was endless laughter! I really appreciate our senior actors who embraced me even when I was playful.
Q. You became the interim CEO at the end. How did that feel?
A. It was one of the few times I used Cha Joong-il's positive energy, and I discovered something new about the character during filming. It felt like the character had newfound vitality. I wish the scene had been longer (laughs).
Q. Is there a scene or line that stands out to you?
A. Cha Joong-il: (in a very small voice) "This is as far as I can go."
Q. Any memorable reactions from viewers?
A. I found it amusing when viewers expressed sympathy for Cha Joong-il, saying he was pitiful for constantly challenging Hong Geum-bo despite knowing he'd lose, and questioning if it was okay for a villain to be so easily defeated.
Q. Any words for the viewers who loved 'Undercover Miss Hong' and Cha Joong-il?
A. I truly love 'Undercover Miss Hong.' I'm proud to say 'it's good, it's fun' about a project I participated in. I want to sincerely thank directors Park Sun-ho and Na Ji-hyun for leading the project. I received a lot of help. Lastly, I want to express my gratitude to the viewers who loved 'Undercover Miss Hong' more than words can convey.
Reporter Se-yoon Jung, Ten Asia yoon@tenasia.co.kr
