From appearance to atmosphere, and inner strength. This actor is extraordinary.
Newcomer Yoo Jung-hoo, who has just entered his fourth year, has officially begun to spread his wings through his first lead role in ‘My Girlfriend is a Manly Guy’ (KBS2). Now, all that’s left is to soar.
On the morning of the 16th, I met Yoo Jung-hoo at the Star Today office in Chungmuro. The drama depicts the chaotic romance between Park Yoon-jae (played by Yoon San-ha), who cannot give up on his girlfriend Kim Ji-eun (played by Arin), who suddenly becomes a flower boy overnight. Yoo Jung-hoo plays the biological alter ego of ‘Kim Ji-eun’, ‘Kim Ji-hoon’. Although he is internally Kim Ji-eun, he suddenly becomes a flower boy one day and attracts people's attention.
“It’s my first lead role…”
When he first saw the script, he found it simply interesting, but when his participation was confirmed, he was filled with worries, wondering, “Can I really do this?”
Yoo Jung-hoo said, “I felt a lot of pressure and entered filming in an anxious state.” Fortunately, thanks to his peers and the director treating him comfortably like a friend, he was able to blend into the set much faster than he had feared. “I was able to learn a bit about the responsibility of being a lead,” he said with a shy smile.
“To be honest, I lacked confidence just from reading the script. I wondered if I could properly capture the details of switching between a girl and a boy, given my short experience. However, the script was so interesting that I mustered the courage to take on the challenge, thinking, ‘It would be a shame to miss out on this.’ I really made the right choice. (laughs)”
The first month was filled with coordination time with the director. He recalled, “I was pointed out for my shortcomings in expressions, gestures, and emotions, but through that process, I was able to immerse myself deeper into the character.”
Another driving force was his colleagues. Yoo Jung-hoo said, “The atmosphere on set was really good. We always ate together as a group of four and often met even on days without filming,” adding, “After night shoots, I would come home and have video calls with San-ha to discuss the script every day. We even traveled together and shared a lot of personal stories outside of the project. As time and feelings built up, the chemistry naturally improved.”
He mentioned that he had many conversations with Arin, with whom he shared the ‘two-in-one role’, as well as with Yoon San-ha, who was the closest to him. Yoo Jung-hoo said, “The character I play is Ji-hoon, but the main body is Ji-eun, a girl. Naturally, I thought Arin should take the lead. I kept asking her about the little things, like how she eats with her hands or how she reacts when surprised.”
Regarding Chuu, he praised her, saying, “Before important scenes, she would contact me first and say, ‘Let’s meet and match up.’ We exchanged ideas and created things together. What we prepared naturally came out on set.”
As they grew closer, he was able to see many things to learn from them. Yoo Jung-hoo said, “San-ha, who is serious and has many acting concerns, always faces challenges head-on. Usually, when I have a day where I feel lacking, I want to hide it or avoid it, but he strives to correct his mistakes and shortcomings until the end,” adding, “Arin has incredible focus, and Chuu has a unique bright energy that uplifts everyone. They are friends with their own distinct strengths, so there’s a lot to admire.”
He also mentioned, “I was able to learn a little about how to steer the project in a better direction, as well as the responsibility and role of being a lead,” with a shy smile.
Unexpected Background, Determination Towards Acting
Yoo Jung-hoo graduated from the Mechanical Engineering Department at Soongsil University. He has wanted to be an actor since middle school, and he recalled, “When I told my parents I wanted to act, they said, ‘Is being a celebrity something anyone can do?’” He admitted that during uncertain times, he sometimes thought they were right.
“I was really simple-minded. Everything looked cool. My heart raced when I saw characters in movies or dramas. Some might find this simple reason uncomfortable, but I think it’s important to start dreaming for any reason. At least for me.”
After finishing his military service, when that dream didn’t change, he decided to take it seriously. “I thought, ‘If I still want to do this as a grown adult, it must be something I really want to do,’ and after my discharge, I started preparing by attending an acting academy for about a year and a half. I took profile photos and met my current agency, Artist Company, and made my debut in a web drama.”
Since his debut, he has continued to work without rest, gaining opportunities to learn from senior actors at his current agency, Artist Company. Yoo Jung-hoo feels that there are many aspects he needs to solidify as an actor, especially responsibility, acting techniques, and emotional expression.
Although his parents initially opposed his career choice, he said, “Now they support me because I’m doing what I love rather than just being an actor.” He added, “They were concerned about the uncertainty of the future, but since I haven’t taken a long break after my debut and have shown a continuous willingness to challenge myself, I think they trust me. Above all, I feel they support me because I’m doing what I love.”
After many ups and downs, he has successfully completed the significant challenge of his first lead role, and the most precious thing he gained is “confidence.”
He said, “In the past, I just did what the director told me, but this time I experienced the process of communicating and creating together, which gave me a new sense of pride. Within that, I realized that I was truly acting.”
“I actively shared ideas and formed an ensemble, receiving diverse stimuli. Ultimately, I realized that there are things that I must create entirely on my own. Each emotion and expression is also an element that contributes to the work.”
His next project is the palace fantasy rom-com drama ‘Men of the Harem’ starring Suzy. Yoo Jung-hoo expressed, “There’s a lot of interest in the original work, and it’s a highly talked-about project with a great lineup, so I feel a strong desire to do well. Each actor has a different color, so I want to do my part well within that.”
Additionally, he said, “I like roles that are cool, pretty, and prince-like, but I also want to try rough and raw acting. I want to portray a villain with a twist that makes people think, ‘Was that really him?’ I will run with an unquenchable passion to show all of this in various ways,” smiling.
Finally, he said this.
“It’s a time when I constantly have to prove myself. I will probably continue to do so. (laughs) It’s a bit scary, but I like being exposed to new stimuli. That way, I can keep being ambitious. I want to remain an actor who doesn’t lose my ambition for acting. I want to show growth with each project compared to the last. I’m just starting to feel that I’m an actor.” (laughs)
