Kwon Hyuk Expands His Acting Horizons with Diverse Roles

Actor Kwon Hyuk is making a name for himself by taking on a variety of roles across genres, from Boys' Love (BL) to occult and romance. He shared, "I tend to be greatly influenced by the projects I work on. While filming 'The Season of You,' I felt like the world became more colorful," reflecting his genuine passion for acting.

Recently, we caught up with Kwon Hyuk, who appeared in the MBC drama 'The Season of You.' Dressed neatly, he calmly discussed the project and his character.

'The Season of You' is a story about Chan (played by Chae Jong-hyeop), a man who lives every day like an exciting summer vacation, and Ran (played by Lee Sung-kyung), a woman who has confined herself to winter. They meet as if by fate, awakening frozen time in an unpredictable 'brilliant' romance. In the drama, Kwon Hyuk plays Yeon Tae-seok, who quietly harbors a crush on Song Ha-young (played by Han Ji-hyun), the granddaughter of Kim Na-na (played by Lee Mi-sook), the head of Na-na Atelier.

Recalling when he first received the script, Kwon Hyuk said, "Having recently played darker and more intense roles, I naturally longed for a project that felt more human." He added, "I tend to be influenced by the projects I work on, and while filming 'The Season of You,' I felt like the world became more colorful. It was that joyful."

To portray Yeon Tae-seok, Kwon Hyuk focused particularly on the physical aspects. He explained, "Since my co-stars Chae Jong-hyeop, Lee Sung-kyung, and Han Ji-hyun are generally tall, I paid extra attention. The script described Yeon Tae-seok as a 'man as big as a door,' so I wanted to create a 'tall uncle' image. I worked hard on my shoulders and back."

When asked about his chemistry with Han Ji-hyun, Kwon Hyuk replied, "Every moment acting together felt like a gift." He continued, "Ji-hyun was Ha-young herself to me. I felt genuine excitement while filming, and it was a very happy time," he laughed.

"I think the biggest charm of the Tae-seok and Ha-young couple is that two seemingly different people actually complement each other well. Ji-hyun's charm made our couple stand out even more. Haha. I believe Ji-hyun is the only one who could portray Song Ha-young so attractively."

Debuting in 2020 with JTBC's 'Graceful Friends,' Kwon Hyuk has built his filmography with appearances in MBC's 'Be a Meal,' Disney Plus's 'Tyrant,' and Netflix's 'Bad Connection.' He ventured into the BL genre with Watcha's 'New Employee' and TVING's 'Love in the Big City,' showcasing a different charm. In the film 'Homecam,' released last September, he transformed once again, playing a shaman.

Kwon Hyuk, who is expanding his acting spectrum across various genres, also expressed a desire to explore uncharted territories. He said, "I want to try a light and comfortable historical drama," adding, "I even practice lines at home alone. I've never done a historical drama before, but I think I could do well."

When asked about his goals as an actor, he replied, "I want to be an actor who can showcase various aspects across different media." He added, "I want to create my own color by experiencing everything from small theater performances to large theaters, movies, dramas, and musicals."

"I feel there's still a lot to learn. I want to keep growing in singing, dancing, and acting. I like the phrase 'despite everything,' and I want to hear people say, 'Even if it's not perfect, it's charming.' I want to remain an actor who continues to show diverse sides for a long time."

Jung Se-yoon, Ten Asia Reporter yoon@tenasia.co.kr