(Following [Interview①]) Debuting at the age of twenty, Lim Cheol-soo has now reached his 21st year since debut, having actively participated in various works such as theater, musicals, films, and dramas as a ‘premium lead and supporting actor’.
When asked about the driving force behind his consistent acting career, Lim Cheol-soo immediately replied, “My parents.” Although he couldn’t always invite them to his performances, he feels that he often visits his mother through dramas, saying, “I realized that I can still be filial while doing this job.”
“I think my parents and family have always been the driving force behind my acting. Since ‘The Unknown Seoul’ has ended, my mother has been a bit gloomy lately. She asks, ‘Cheol-soo, when is your next project?’ So, I want to keep acting without a break. I still have a lot to show.”
Lim Cheol-soo is a character who made a lasting impression on the public as Ahn Gi-seok from the drama ‘Vincenzo’. Although a long time has passed since the drama ended, he revealed that many people still remember him, but unfortunately, he has not heard anything about ‘Vincenzo’ Season 2.
“I’m grateful that people remember the ‘Vincenzo’ character for a long time, but I also want to be called by another name. I feel like I need to keep moving forward.”
As ‘The Unknown Seoul’ captured both viewership ratings and buzz, Lee Chung-goo also became another name for Lim Cheol-soo. He mentioned that this character was particularly different from the ones he had played before.
“While the characters I’ve played in the past tended to express energy broadly, Lee Chung-goo was about suppressing energy from within to create pressure. So, I paid attention to my fashion style and made my speech strong to match the character.”
In the drama, Lee Chung-goo showcases a bromance chemistry with junior lawyer Lee Ho-soo (played by Park Jin-young), as they confront and reconcile in their own way, showing mutual growth. Lim Cheol-soo, who was introduced to Park Jin-young as a ‘friend who acts well’ by his colleagues before the project started, praised him, saying, “He shows kindness, and his eyes are really clear and deep, like a real lake.”
“Jin-young had a brotherly side to him. He was a friend from whom I could learn a lot in terms of acting. Even after filming, we met to discuss acting, and I think he will be a friend with whom I can talk about acting for a long time.”
As seen in the latter part of the drama, Lim Cheol-soo believes that Lee Chung-goo would not have absolutely hated Lee Ho-soo, saying, “I think he wanted to see how Ho-soo grows. I think he was trying to prove that he was right by saying, ‘See, I told you so,’ when Ho-soo fails.”
“Although he troubled Ho-soo, I don’t think that was Chung-goo’s bullying. Both Chung-goo and Ho-soo grow through those processes, and I think the viewers liked that part, which made me feel good.”
Although he didn’t have many scenes with Park Bo-young, who played dual roles in ‘The Unknown Seoul’, he was impressed, stating, “If I may say so, Park Bo-young’s acting is not about herself but is connected to the other person,” adding, “She really excels at creating a cycle of acting where the other person shapes her, and she shapes the other person.”
Lim Cheol-soo expressed that ‘The Unknown Seoul’ will remain a ‘treasure-like work’ that he will continue to revisit, showing his special affection for the character Lee Chung-goo.
“I have something I want to say to Chung-goo. I hope that one day he makes a decision like Ho-soo and experiences losing a lawsuit. I hope he feels whether only defeat remains at that time. If he feels that, I think he will become a really good lawyer.”
Conveying a heartfelt message to the character he played, Lim Cheol-soo said, “I imagine that if Chung-goo grows even more, he would start a law firm with Ho-soo and divide the work,” adding, “I think I’ve become too immersed in it. I still can’t let go of the work.”
Having continuously acted, Lim Cheol-soo spoke with a happy smile about his plans to meet the audience with another project this year.
“I can’t reveal the title, but one project is waiting to be aired. Also, I’m starting to film two more projects, so I think this year will be busy with those. Although I will part ways with Lee Chung-goo from ‘The Unknown Seoul’, the lingering feelings will remain, but I need to shake it off and move on to the next project.”
With much more acting he wants to show, expectations are high for Lim Cheol-soo to reveal new sides beyond ‘Ahn Gi-seok’ and ‘Lee Chung-goo’.
[Kim Mi-ji, Star Today Reporter]
