Rising Star Jo Han-gyeol Reflects on His Journey from 500 Auditions to Breakthrough Roles

"I think I've auditioned about 500 times during my six years of obscurity since debuting in 2020. I've faced numerous rejections and challenges."

In a recent interview at a café in Gangnam, Seoul, actor Jo Han-gyeol, who gained popularity as a supporting lead in 'Undercover Miss Hong,' shared his journey. Jo debuted in 2020 with the web drama 'Landing on Earth' and is the only male actor in a company with many famous celebrities like Ko So-young, Nana, Hyeri, Seo Ye-ji, and Lim Soo-hyang. Born in 2002, he is recognized for his charming looks and stable acting skills, marking him as a promising new actor leading a generational shift in the industry.

Last year, Jo appeared in SBS's 'Royal Palace,' 'Try: We Become Miracles,' and JTBC's 'My Youth.' This year, he is praised for his best work since debuting with tvN's 'Undercover Miss Hong.' The show is a retro office comedy set in the late 1990s, where elite securities supervisor Hong Geum-bo goes undercover as a 20-year-old entry-level employee at a suspicious securities firm.

For Jo, born in 2002, the show depicted an era before his birth, yet he portrayed his character with freshness and immersion, earning acclaim. He played Albert Oh (Oh Ah-ram), the grandson of the chairman of Hanmin Securities and the head of the crisis management department, who outwardly appears uninterested in company affairs, embodying a 'light-hearted orange tribe' persona.

In a one-on-one interview, Jo humorously noted, "After talking with several reporters over five days, I think I've become better at speaking than at the beginning." When asked about his most memorable audition experience, he shared, "I once went through five rounds of auditions. It was very stressful. I wished the production team would decide quickly as I had to audition multiple times." He added, "The longer the waiting period, the more stressful it was. Ultimately, I wasn't cast in that project. It was a tough memory, but it was intense and helpful."

Regarding his motivation to become an actor, Jo said, "I attended an acting academy as a child but gave up early because I was terrible at it and pursued a dream of becoming a baseball player. However, I had to quit sports after knee surgery." He continued, "I always thought actors on TV were cool. I wanted to stand on such a stage once. After quitting baseball, I decided to pursue acting, which I had kept in my heart."

He explained, "A little over a year after starting acting, I joined the company (Sublime). There was a period where I practiced acting without auditions, like a trainee. I endured that training period well and got my debut opportunity in 2020."

He added, "Some auditions lasted 4-5 months, going up to three rounds. Waiting for results is the most anxious and tense moment for a rookie. Sometimes you think you did well but get rejected, and other times you feel you didn't do well but get accepted. It's not over until it's over. I try not to give up because it's hard to predict the outcome."

When asked about the driving force behind his journey, Jo smiled and said, "I love acting, and I feel the profession of an actor suits me well. I think it's an art that creates something from nothing. The process of turning a character written in text into a three-dimensional person is fascinating and fun." He added, "Even the same lines can feel completely different depending on how an actor expresses them. It's interesting to form an attractive character. I especially like that the direction of expression can vary through different characters."

Since debuting in 2020, Jo has appeared in various web dramas and gained recognition with the 2024 SBS drama 'Connection,' starring Ji Sung. When asked about the fierce competition, he said, "I don't know the exact competition rate. At the time, I received a short audition script and acted naturally according to my usual personality. I heard many people auditioned for the first round, but I remember passing the first and going to the second round. It's an old memory, so it's not precise, but I was very happy to be accepted then."

Jo expressed his desire to act alongside Ji Sung, saying, "I would be very grateful if the opportunity arises. I regret not having the chance to work with him when I appeared as a child actor." He also shared, "I want to do a romance blockbuster. I think I could do well in a movie or drama that goes entirely for comedy. I once did a play, and it remains a good memory, so I want to return to the stage."

"I find joy in performing live with fellow actors in front of an audience. That's why I definitely want to do theater again."

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