On January 6, during an interview for MBC’s Friday-Saturday drama “When The Phone Rings” held at Starship Entertainment, Yoo Yeon-seok talked about his aspirations. He mentioned that as he approached his 40s, he wondered, “Can I still do romance?” He acknowledged that romance is an essential element in Korean dramas, and he expressed gratitude that viewers see romance as one of his strengths. He added that he would love to continue challenging himself with romance projects in the future if given the opportunity.
In “When The Phone Rings,” Yoo Yeon-seok plays Baek Sa-eon, a young presidential spokesperson and a “show-window” husband in a three-year loveless marriage. His character, involved in a secret romance-thriller, is at the center of a complex relationship with a woman played by Chae Soo-bin, who is 10 years younger than him.
When asked about the possibility of a romance with an actress his age, Yoo Yeon-seok responded positively, expressing his interest in continuing to work on romance stories in his 40s.
The series, based on a web novel, has garnered attention for its storyline, which begins with a threatening phone call and explores a secret romance between a couple bound by an arranged marriage. Yoo Yeon-seok revealed that although the script initially felt awkward to read, the filming process allowed him to develop a natural connection with Chae Soo-bin’s character. As the romance developed on-screen, Yoo Yeon-seok felt it was received well by viewers, even gaining international recognition.
Yoo Yeon-seok reflected on his character, “Baek Sa-eon feels like a compilation of all the characters I’ve played before. It’s a character that combines all the strengths of Yoo Yeon-seok’s filmography.” He also shared that the character’s pure love story was something that resonated with many people, even if some might find it cheesy, as it was a much-needed expression of love for the characters involved.
Yoo Yeon-seok also discussed his experience working with Chae Soo-bin, mentioning that while she is a bit shy, they grew closer as they spent more time together on set, and their chemistry improved with each scene.
Regarding his work in romantic dramas, Yoo Yeon-seok explained that while his previous series “The Interest of Love” had a more realistic take on romance, “When The Phone Rings” is more focused on a pure, idealistic love story. He believes that international fans, especially, have been eager for this type of classic K-drama romance, and the series’ success highlights the resurgence of such stories in the Korean drama industry.
Although Yoo Yeon-seok has been prolific in his acting career, he has appeared less frequently in OTT series. He clarified that he is not opposed to it, but he believes that the key is to find good projects with good people. He also mentioned that, despite his past struggles with being associated with variety shows, he now feels that viewers see him more for his acting abilities, and his variety show experiences have helped him connect with audiences in a different way.
The post Yoo Yeon-seok Talks Future Romance Roles in His 40s: ‘I Want to Keep Challenging Myself’ appeared first on KBIZoom. KBIZoom – Breaking news about K-pop, K-drama, Anime/Manga and worldwide entertainment KBIZoom – Breaking news about K-pop, K-drama, Anime/Manga and worldwide entertainment
