Actor Yoo Hee-je shared his thoughts on the conclusion of ‘ONE: High School Heroes’.
On the 13th, the final episode of the Wave original drama ‘ONE: High School Heroes’ was released, which has ranked first in attracting new paid subscribers for 13 consecutive days since its premiere on May 30, proving its popularity by dominating both the number of viewers and viewing time in the Wave drama category (based on June 2 to June 8).
In this, Yoo Hee-je, who played the ultimate villain ‘Choi Gi-soo’, captured the audience's attention with visuals closely resembling the original character, stunning action, and realistic acting. Gi-soo, who faced off against Geol-jae (played by Yook Jun-seo), Yoon-gi (played by Kim Do-wan), and Ui-gyeom (played by Lee Jeong-ha), portrayed a madman who felt exhilaration the more violence he inflicted on his opponents, sending chills down viewers' spines.
Above all, Yoo Hee-je's passionate performance shone once again in the fight scene between Gi-soo and Yoon-gi, which elevated the immersion of the drama to its peak. He not only executed action without any unnecessary elements but also depicted the subtle emotional changes of Gi-soo with delicate facial expressions, driving tension and enjoyment, which garnered praise from viewers.
Yoo Hee-je expressed, “I would like to thank the viewers who loved ‘ONE: High School Heroes’. I am deeply grateful to the director, all the staff, and fellow actors who worked hard to keep the emotions of the original work alive.” He revealed his joy, saying, “I had a desire for action acting, so it was really fun and happy to be able to perform action without limits in this work.”
He continued, “All scenes are vividly remembered, but especially the parking lot duel scene with Yoon-gi and the duel scene with Ui-gyeom in front of Jin-il High School remain the most intense. Even now, recalling that moment sends shivers down my spine. It is a scene that encapsulates everyone's efforts to show proper action, making it even more satisfying and memorable.”
Finally, Yoo Hee-je said, “I sincerely thank the viewers who loved ‘ONE: High School Heroes’ and hated Choi Gi-soo to their heart's content. I believe that the interest in the character ‘Choi Gi-soo’ is love and support for me, and I will strive to show even better sides of myself with that strength. Thank you once again.”
Below is the full Q&A with Yoo Hee-je
Q. Thoughts on the conclusion of ‘ONE: High School Heroes’
I sincerely thank the viewers who loved ‘ONE: High School Heroes’. As a fan who loves the original work, it was a great honor to be able to participate in this project. I am deeply grateful to the director, all the staff, and fellow actors who worked hard to keep the emotions of the original work alive.
Q. How did you feel about playing ‘Choi Gi-soo’?
I had a lot of concerns about how to express the extremely wicked final villain ‘Choi Gi-soo’. I wanted to portray a villain who exudes an intimidating presence towards Ui-gyeom and Yoon-gi while also showing a relaxed demeanor. Through constant discussions with the director, I was able to solidify the character. I sincerely thank director Lee Seong-tae for thinking about the character with me despite his busy schedule.
Q. There was a lot of action; were there any difficulties?
Since I had a desire for action acting, it was really fun and happy to be able to perform action without limits in this work. I didn’t feel much pressure, but I realized that there were many things I needed to learn at the action school. Thanks to the martial arts director who taught me passionately, I was able to experience various action styles, not just Taekwondo, and I was able to shoot safely on set thanks to the director and the stunt actors. If given another opportunity, I would like to challenge myself with authentic noir action.
Q. How was the chemistry with the actors on set?
The chemistry among the actors was really good. Although I was the oldest on set, I was able to forget my age and get along like friends. I want to express my gratitude to the fellow actors I worked with.
Q. Is there a scene that stands out in your memory?
All scenes are vividly remembered, but especially the parking lot duel scene with Yoon-gi and the duel scene with Ui-gyeom in front of Jin-il High School remain the most intense. Even now, recalling that moment sends shivers down my spine. It is a scene that encapsulates everyone's efforts to show proper action, making it even more satisfying and memorable.
Q. A message to the viewers who loved ‘ONE: High School Heroes’
I sincerely thank the viewers who loved ‘ONE: High School Heroes’ and hated Choi Gi-soo to their heart's content. I believe that the interest in the character ‘Choi Gi-soo’ is love and support for me, and I will strive to show even better sides of myself with that strength. Thank you once again.
[Lee Da-gyeom, Star Today Reporter]
