“I didn’t expect such a passionate response. I’m just grateful.”
The MBC Friday-Saturday drama ‘Call It Love’ (written by Kim Ji-woon, directed by Park Sang-woo and Wi Deuk-kyu), which ended on the 4th, is a secret romance thriller about a show-window couple, Baek Sa-eon (played by Yoo Yeon-seok) and Hong Hee-joo (played by Chae Soo-bin), who are in a politically arranged marriage for three years, starting with a threatening phone call. Based on the popular web novel of the same name on KakaoPage, ‘Call It Love’ was presented to the home audience by the talented writer Kim Ji-woon, known for works like ‘Melancholia’ and ‘Doctor John’, and director Park Sang-woo, who showcased his sensibility in ‘The Marriage Lyrics of Chosun’ and ‘The Marriage Ban of Chosun’.
On the 6th, we met Yoo Yeon-seok (40), who played the role of Baek Sa-eon, the youngest spokesperson for the presidential office and the son of a future presidential candidate, at the Starship headquarters in Gangnam, Seoul.
Yoo Yeon-seok said, “I always start a project with expectations, but I can’t predict the results. I didn’t expect such a passionate response. I was surprised to hear that it was ranked high on OTT platforms not only in Korea but also overseas. I’m just grateful that people loved the work we put so much effort into. After the last broadcast, I received feedback from overseas, and I’m thankful for the love from South America, Southeast Asia, and more.”
Since ‘Call It Love’ is based on a web novel, there were quite a few cheesy lines. Was there a special reason for choosing this project? Yoo Yeon-seok laughed and said, “I didn’t consider that aspect.” He recalled, “While filming the thriller ‘Lucky Day’, I received the script for this project and reviewed it. Although it’s called a romance thriller, when I read the script, it felt very thriller-like in my mind. The early script felt cold.”
He continued, “However, when I talked with the production team and the writer, they said that as Sa-eon’s history unfolds, the romance strengthens. Since the production company had a lot of experience in making romantic comedies, I had faith that they would do a good job. The writer also explained that the character could seem ‘cold and detached, but as the story progresses, various aspects of him would be revealed,’ so I chose to take on the role.”
The lines of Baek Sa-eon in the drama are not the kind of speech commonly used in real life. What was the secret to delivering such childish and awkward lines well? Yoo Yeon-seok said, “I also saw those (netizens’) reactions,” and added, “While reading the script, I was concerned about how to deliver them simply and well. But when it came time to shoot that scene, I found myself in a state and emotion where I could say those lines.”
Among the many lines, the one Yoo Yeon-seok found most surprising was the line “Are you punishing me?” from the last episode. He joked, “When I saw that line, I thought the writer had given me another assignment. That scene was the last one I shot for this project.” He added, “Since Baek Sa-eon was feeling sorry for Hee-joo when they reunited, that line came out naturally. I thought about the damage and guilt I had caused Hee-joo, and it just came out. I tried not to put too much meaning or force into the words. I thought if I delivered the lines well, it would be enough.”
Yoo Yeon-seok mentioned, “The speech patterns of Sa-eon, like ‘did, did I, did you,’ are not commonly used in daily life. I heard that the other actors were surprised at how I delivered those lines as they were written. I thought the writer had put a lot of thought into the speech patterns, so I tried to stick to them. When Sa-eon’s character changes a bit and his true feelings for Hee-joo are revealed, I tried to speak naturally and softly without using those patterns.”
When delivering lines with his co-star Chae Soo-bin, there must have been moments where they challenged each other to hold back laughter. Yoo Yeon-seok said, “The script came out quickly. While filming episodes 2-3, I received episode 6. While we were shooting the cold early parts, I was worried about how to handle the hot lines in episode 6. In the beginning, since Hee-joo was using sign language, I acted as if it were a monologue. By the time we were doing the (ticklish) lines, there was a lot of emotional exchange, so there was no situation where I had to hold back laughter. I focused on the shoot.”
Chae Soo-bin called Yoo Yeon-seok ‘Yoo Dae-jang’ on set. In what way did he lead the set? Yoo Yeon-seok said, “In a set where there were no mothers or fathers, I was the oldest. I discussed scenes with the directors and held meetings on how to shoot them,” and added, “If I could buy something delicious, I would. So maybe that’s why they called me that.”
The overflowing chemistry between Baek Sa-eon and Hong Hee-joo, the ‘fate couple’, led to interest in the actors themselves. Fans who were immersed in the drama reacted as if they were actually dating. In response, Yoo Yeon-seok said, “When people see a romance like that, it means the chemistry was good, so I’m grateful. They watched it with immersion.”
Yoo Yeon-seok laughed at the overseas fans who showed their immersion through comments on social media, saying, “Can I decide that? Can I meet their expectations? (There’s no possibility of a romance with Chae Soo-bin.) There’s nothing to talk about.” He continued, “I felt that they were really cheering for us a lot. ‘Call It Love’ is a thriller, but I wanted the romance to be well portrayed. Ultimately, it’s a love story. The thriller is the medium that connects that. I hoped the viewers would be drawn into their love, and seeing their support, it seems they were well drawn in.”
The one who ignited the viewers’ immersion was Yoo Yeon-seok. Known as the ‘Kiss Master’, he perfectly delivered exciting kiss scenes and even bed scenes in this work. Yoo Yeon-seok mentioned the bed scene in the last episode, saying, “A couple who had no communication for three years confirmed their feelings through a threatening phone call and, after many twists and turns, met again after a long time. So I thought that might be their real first night together. I wanted to film the first night of an old couple beautifully and with care. I thought a lot about that scene and shared it with Hee-joo. I think it turned out beautifully.”
Regarding the kiss scenes, he added, “The situations are all different. I tried to express the emotional states differently, like when they reunite, when they are happy, and when they are moved after a proposal. I think the viewers immersed themselves and saw it positively.” (Continued in Interview ②)
[Kim So-yeon, Star Today Reporter]
