Actor Ryu Deok-hwan (38) has grown once again while working with Kim Hye-ja, whom he reunited with after 'Jeonwon Diary'.
The JTBC weekend drama 'More Beautiful than Heaven' (written by Lee Nam-kyu and Kim Soo-jin, directed by Kim Seok-yoon), which ended on the 25th, depicts the transcendent romance that unfolds when Lee Hae-sook (played by Kim Hye-ja), who arrives in heaven at the age of 80, reunites with her husband Ko Nak-jun (played by Son Seok-koo) who has returned to his 30s. This drama was a collaboration between director Kim Seok-yoon, known for the life-changing drama 'Dazzling', and writers Lee Nam-kyu and Kim Soo-jin.
Ryu Deok-hwan, who played Pastor Ko Eun-ho in the drama, recently met with Maeil Business Star Today at a café in Gangnam, Seoul to discuss the project.
First, Ryu Deok-hwan said, "I met with (Kim Hye-ja) teacher. It doesn't feel like the project is completely over yet," adding, "Since the filming took place last year, I feel like it wrapped up well."
Ryu Deok-hwan married entrepreneur and model Jeon Soo-rin in 2021. After the marriage, he had been quiet in his work activities, saying, "I lived quietly after getting married, but I received a lot of calls from people around me. Aunts, mothers, and friends' mothers who hadn't contacted me reached out a lot," and he felt the popularity as "most of them asked about my identity and that of Somi."
"My wife said she enjoyed it very much. She watches all the dramas currently airing, so it was nice to see her enjoy it from the public's perspective. In the last episode, she cried a lot, saying, 'Oppa, it was so good.'
In the final episode of 'More Beautiful than Heaven', the intertwined fates were resolved. Pastor Ko Eun-ho was the lost son of Hae-sook and Nak-jun. Upon learning the truth, Eun-ho forgave his mother, and the personality created by Hae-sook after losing her son, Somi (played by Han Ji-min), was extinguished.
Is he satisfied with the ending? Ryu Deok-hwan said, "I am satisfied with the conclusion." He mentioned, "My last scene was when Somi was extinguished. Everyone was too exhausted to have a conversation," referring to the atmosphere on set at that time.
“Son Seok-koo hyung said, 'I liked that you had a runny nose.' I had tears flowing almost to my belly button on set. The director edited it well, so it didn't come out ugly, but it was a sea of tears. Han Ji-min and I had our second scene together, and we only complimented each other, saying 'the acting was good.'
Ryu Deok-hwan joined Kim Seok-yoon's team with this project. All the main actors, including Kim Hye-ja, Son Seok-koo, Han Ji-min, and Lee Jung-eun, had previously worked with director Kim Seok-yoon, but Ryu Deok-hwan met him for the first time in this project, and the casting process went smoothly. How did he get cast?
“At first, I received a sudden call asking to meet. I thought it was an audition, but the director's first words were, 'Are you going to do it or not?' When I asked if I was making the choice, he said, 'Let's do it,' and it proceeded from there.”
He added, “I felt why so many people want to work with the director. It was an honor to work with him, and he is someone I can learn a lot from personally.” He also mentioned, “Even if the director says, 'Just do it for a passing scene' or 'Come to slate,' I would go.”
What was the reason director Kim Seok-yoon cast Ryu Deok-hwan? Ryu Deok-hwan explained, “The director said, 'The role of the pastor had to be Ryu Deok-hwan.' He chose me thinking it would be nice if Kim Hye-ja teacher could remember a connection she had forgotten.”
“Kim Hye-ja teacher has always been busy as a national actor, and as she has aged, she may have forgotten many past memories, but I have always looked up to her. I thought it would be a wonderful meeting if I appeared before her again.”
Ryu Deok-hwan first met Kim Hye-ja through the MBC drama 'Jeonwon Diary' in 1996. Kim Hye-ja appeared as Lee Eun-sim, the wife of Chairman Kim (played by Choi Bul-am), while Ryu Deok-hwan played Lee Soon-gil, the grandson of Il-yong Eonni (played by Kim Soo-mi), a close neighbor.
Was the chemistry with Kim Hye-ja, whom he met after a long time, as wonderful as he imagined? Ryu Deok-hwan drew attention by saying, “I was intimidated.”
“I tried to pretend to be good at acting and act confidently, but I was overwhelmed by the teacher's presence. However, the atmosphere on set was so comfortable that I was able to adapt quickly. When we were filming episodes 2 and 3, I was very nervous thinking, 'I shouldn't be a burden to this perfect team,' but from episode 4, I went to the set with the mindset of 'Everyone is having fun filming, so I should enjoy it too.' It was the first time I experienced such a comfortable set.”
What kind of acting advice did Kim Hye-ja give him after a long time? Ryu Deok-hwan said, “The teacher hardly gives advice. Instead, she jokes a lot. When I went when she called me, she said, 'Look at this,' and made a finger heart. I was momentarily taken aback, wondering where she learned that. I couldn't feel any difficulties on set. Whenever I thought it would be hard, she would joke around, making me feel much more at ease.”
He added, “In works like 'God's Quiz', everything revolves around me, so there was a lot of pressure to lead. But in this project, Kim Hye-ja teacher led so well that I just had to follow along, which made it really comfortable,” he added with a smile.
Ryu Deok-hwan also expressed gratitude and affection for Kim Hye-ja, saying, “I didn’t know how to cherish myself. I was someone who could only be happy if others were happy, but through this drama, I learned a lot about how to cherish and love myself. Kim Hye-ja teacher made me feel that.”
Although she didn't give direct advice, Ryu Deok-hwan was deeply impressed while acting with Kim Hye-ja.
Ryu Deok-hwan said, “The emotions I had prepared while studying the script alone were changed on set just by her gaze. There was a scene where Kim Hye-ja teacher said, 'Actually, I don't have any children,' and I was trying to hold back my tears. But when I made eye contact with her, I was drawn in and tears fell.”
“Actors usually show the performances they have researched and prepared. But sometimes, when overwhelmed by the performance of a co-actor, I can't do what I had prepared. I feel surprised every time that happens. I had a similar experience when I acted with senior Kim Yoon-seok in the movie 'Madonna of the World', and this time too, my reactions changed due to the performance of my co-actor. The scenes between Kim Hye-ja and me are the longest in the script. It’s not easy to handle a two-person play that spans six pages at her age, but I was once again amazed to see her pull it off.”
Ryu Deok-hwan was able to finish filming smoothly thanks to the consideration of director Kim and Kim Hye-ja. He said, “I realized that I have been acting for 33 years. I learned that I can go to the set without any burden.”
“Acting is always difficult and scary. Nevertheless, I have to believe in the answers I have and approach the set, which always makes me anxious. However, I learned this time that going to the filming site with a comfortable mind can actually be helpful.” (Continued in Interview ②)
[Kim So-yeon, Star Today Reporter]
