Woon's Blue Sky

«In that sense, I get carried away, not only of the image that I showed as a singer, but of my everything ».

— Yesung.

«The true face of Yesung that he didn’t know»

It’s been 10 years since his debut in Super Junior. He has defied the performance, which has been a dream since a long time ago, but his thirst remains. For the one who wants to do a lot and show a lot, a late stage of growing pains seems to have begun.

Q: Through the recent drama JTBC ‘Awl’, Your dream related to the performance has been fulfilled. What are your thoughts about the end of your first job?
A: In general, I often read webtoons, and I’ve seen the webtoon Awl before. I thought it was a good piece of work, worthy of entering the bestseller list of the top 10 and I was surprised when I received the offer of casting. I had the idea that I had to do this drama. The role of Hwang Jung Chul is good, and I could work with not only the director, but also with exceptional people in this job, so with boldness I took up the challenge. On the one hand, the burden is great, but I was happy to have met such a good job. And have learned a lot.

Q: Actually, Awl is a piece a little dark and heavy for a first acting challenge. You don’t feel loading / pressure in that aspect?
A: In the first place, the original work is very simple / direct, and the drama is even more, but I liked it. I like the simple things. Awl is a story with a lot of feeling realistic. I’ve heard the friends around me a lot of things like ” this is a masterpiece, it’s the best ‘; To that extent, it’s a webtoon that anyone who has worked in the office could easily be identified. So you feel more burden on that. I’ve never experienced the union, and work in a world that is a little different, so definitive less ability to identify with it. One thing that I can at least identify me, it’s with the stories I’ve heard of my father, when I worked in an office. I’ve worked hard to identify with the story, at least indirectly because of what I saw on that side, during the experiences of my father.

Q: What is the part in which you paid attention in order to represent the character of Hwang Jung Chul?
A: During the press conference of production when ‘Awl Yesung’ was the first in the ranking of search, there was much talk things like, «a singer idol that he has never acted before, he’s doing this kind of realistic drama and difficult?» I also recognise that it is part of my own. Due to the fact that my image of a singer like lead vocals of SJ is naturally strong, and I’m more known as a singer of ost of dramas, instead of being known as an actor. So, I prepared myself with more diligence. I wanted to express the reality instead of acting. And I tried to take / drop a bunch of myself / my image. During the filming, (quit) to the make-up is a fact, and my hair was not touched at all. In that sense, I get carried away, not only of the image that I showed as a singer, but of my everything. When we shot the scene of the disciplinary committee, even i filmed without eating a meal for almost 4 days. Because if I was in that position, I don’t think I could have eaten anything… I wanted to be Hwang Jung Chul like that.

P: As if being compensated for these efforts, you received positive appraisal, right? Still, I feel that there may still be many parts where you experienced difficulties while acting.

R: Anyhow, singers have to be aware of cameras right? While I’m acting, if possible, I tried not to be aware of the camera. Also, it’s important to be natural, but I worked hard to be more detailed from breathing to the shape of my mouth while delivering my lines as well. I really wanted to appear realistic.

Q: Yesung, you are well-known as a movie fan/ cinephile. What is most different as you switch from the position of watching to the position of acting?
A: After I acted myself, I found myself noticing more detailed parts. Even when there are no lines, I tried to observe everything accurately, not only their expression and eyes, but also every breath and every gaze. For me, all these things that I’ve watched unconsciously last time, I now have changed to think more about them. While filming Awl, I have many emotional scenes alone, and I don’t know how many times I’ve cried throughout the filming. In these crying and angry scenes as well, I attempted to put more emphasis on expressing myself detailedly.

Q: After challenging this long-time dream of acting, how is it? Do you feel like ‘as expected, it’s good that I did this?’
A: Actually I’m a person who sings. Still, I had thoughts of wanting to progress as an actor someday. I thought if I do my first work, I will see whether this fits me better or not; luckily it seems to fit me well. I may be able to meet everyone with a variety of work in the future. I’m also anticipating it.

Q: If you are to grade your own first acting, how many points would you give?
A: 20-30 points? All these while, I’ve watched good actors in a lot of movies, imagine how dissatisfied I feel watching my own acting. (But your main/ original job is not an actor.) I think the main job doesn’t matter. There isn’t such a thing. ‘The person’s image is important; because he is an idol he can’t act, or because he is an actor he can’t sing’- I think this kind of talk doesn’t make sense. When singing, it’s enough if one sings well, and when acting, it’s enough if one acts well. Of course, I understand and also acknowledge to a certain extent the prejudice that the public holds. But if this is a job, I think it is my responsibility to absorb it well. Because of that, it is also more interesting to do it.

Q: What is a character that you want to try at least once in the future and personally covet?
A: It doesn’t matter whether it’s a lead or supporting role, if it’s a good role I’m satisfied. Personally there are a lot of roles that I want to do. I want to try a role like Park Haeil sunbaenim’s in the movie ‘Memories of Murder,’ and I also want to do a melodrama. But I think I suit dark roles better than bright roles. Even when I did musicals, dark roles were comfortable for me.

Q: What are you doing recently?
A: I’m in the midst of Super Junior K.R.Y.’s Asian ballad tour now. When the tour ends, I don’t know what the next project would be, but I’m looking at scripts for the next work now. And I’m also composing songs in my spare time for my solo album which will debut one day.

Q: You have challenged a new field in acting after 10 years of debut. Other than this, is there anything else you want to do?
A: It is my first time in a drama, but I have done musicals before, and also MC-ing and DJ-ing; I really challenged a lot of things after debut. Now I want to release my solo album (laugh). Ah! Usually I watch a lot of movies, so my wish to do a movie is great. If there is a good work and a good character, I would like to challenge it at any time.

Q: What kind of person would you like to be remembered as?
A: The name Yesung has the meaning ‘voice of an artist’, and was given to me by the company. I think that the work I’m doing now is also art. So I want to be a person that makes art and continues to grow through it. Like those who listen to my song or who identify with the character of Hwang Junchul. In the future too, while bumping (into challenges) and gaining experiences, I want to empathize together with the public.

Q: What title do you prefer between the singer and actor?
A: Whether I’m singing or acting, I like them all. I enjoy the process of expressing not as myself, but as someone else I become in a piece of work. Actually, living as an idol, I had almost no privacy. I couldn’t meet anyone easily, and I haven’t gone to a place that is crowded with a lot of people. Before the age of 31, I didn’t drink and have never been to a club. So when I can do things I wasn’t able to express and wasn’t able to experience, it’s really interesting.

Q: Since you worked hard for a long time, that’s why you’re shining now.
A: I think that’s why I worked harder, and prepared a lot. If I gained an opportunity quickly, there may be advantages, but there will also be an insufficiency. Now, I have realized that it is more important to embrace something step by step rather than to do a lot.

Q: Finally, if you had to choose 3 wishes you wish to accomplish in the year 2016?
A: I’ve already decided on the direction I want to progress towards. Firstly, since I did my first acting challenge, in the future, I’ll pursue acting that can be identified/ sympathized with more through a variety of work. Personally, I’ve only traveled domestically so far, so now I want to travel here and there overseas and see a lot of things. Ah, I also love fashion. I also want to go to a fashion week overseas (laugh).

Credits: KOR-ENG haz3113