(Following [Interview①]) Im Sung-jae, who has primarily been active on the theater stage, made his film debut with the movie ‘Byunsan’.
Previously, Park Jung-min, who recognized his acting talent when he appeared as a part-timer in the film ‘Sunjeong’, recommended him, allowing him to step into mainstream acting.
Since then, Im Sung-jae has met audiences and viewers through various works, including the films ‘Naratmalsami’, ‘The One I’ve Been Searching For’, ‘Hunt’, ‘Emergency Declaration’, ‘Cooperation 2: International’, ‘Bogotá: The Land of Last Chances’, ‘A Secret That Cannot Be Told’, and the dramas ‘Extraordinary Attorney Woo’, ‘Romantic Doctor Kim Sabu 3’, ‘D.P. Season 2’, ‘Moving’, ‘Gangnam B-Side’, and ‘Newtopia’, culminating in ‘Seocho-dong’.
Having joined the same agency as Park Jung-min, who led him to his media debut, Im Sung-jae humorously expressed his gratitude, saying, “Now it’s a stage where I must not think of him as a benefactor.”
He mentioned, “I’m close with Park Jung-min and we have a good relationship, but we don’t contact each other often,” while also boasting about their strong friendship, as he participated in the audiobook that Park Jung-min opened.
Although Im Sung-jae has become known through various works, many people still struggle to match him with his characters. However, Im Sung-jae says, “I actually think it’s a good thing.”
“In fact, there are journalists who have interviewed me a few times, but they didn’t even realize I was that actor. This means that (the characters) don’t overlap, which I consider a great compliment in terms of acting. There were many comments saying, ‘I didn’t know this person was that person,’ which is the highest praise.”
The secret he points out is his ordinary-looking face.
“I have a face that doesn’t quite fit into the categories of handsome or ugly. I remember a comment while filming ‘Hell 2’ that said, ‘Is this ordinary-looking kid acting?’ and I found that comment quite pleasant.”
However, Im Sung-jae, who thinks of himself as quite cute, lightened the interview atmosphere by saying, “Aren’t I cute?”
“I think cuteness comes more from one’s mindset than appearance. I recently bought pajamas with a Kara design for the first time, and I thought they were cute. I actually like myself quite a bit. Also, I’ve been cycling and boxing lately, and people around me say that’s cute too. Lee Jong-suk and Moon Ga-young think I’m the cutest, but I wonder if they’re just teasing me. (laughs)”
Im Sung-jae, who transforms through numerous works, said, “I always have dreams, but they have changed a bit recently,” adding, “In the past, I wanted to be famous and hear people say, ‘He’s the best at acting,’ but that seems to have faded away.”
“Now, I have a dream of wanting to meet viewers and audiences for a long time. Waking up in the morning, exercising, and reading scripts is the most fun for me. When I talk about acting, works, and movies with my colleagues, I think, ‘I’m mixing dreams and reality well and living close to my dreams.’”
Im Sung-jae is set to release the movie ‘Face’ on September 11. Regarding the upcoming project, he expressed, “I’m really happy,” and added, “Since I’m not a famous actor, I have a desire to introduce myself to more people.”
“To continue as an actor for a long time, I think it’s better to work steadily, even if it’s a short piece, rather than focusing on the height or lowliness of my position. I hope to have opportunities to meet audiences with at least one piece this year, next year, and the year after.”
Throughout the interview, Im Sung-jae showed a demeanor that made it impossible not to understand why director Park Seung-woo wanted to showcase this actor to the audience and why his fellow actors find him so cute.
With a humble passion for acting rather than a burning desire, it’s exciting to see what ‘face’ he will present to viewers and audiences next.
[Kim Mi-ji, Star Today Reporter]
