Lee Se Young & Yeo Jin Goo - Cosmopolitan 2019 Interview

Disclaimer: Article is roughly translated. It may contain inaccuracies. Please pardon any mistakes.

Yeo Jin Goo and Lee Se Young’s Chemistry

[Yeo Jin Goo and Lee Se Young will team up in the drama The Crowned Clown. The chemistry between Yeo Jin Goo, a man who’s upright yet full of charm, and Lee Se Young, a woman who appears delicate yet possesses inner strength, is even more explosive than anyone imagined.]

I was curious about Yeo Jin Goo and Lee Se Young’s chemistry. That curiosity was quickly answered. It’s rare to see a pair who are so at ease with each other, laughing and chatting comfortably on set. No matter what they talk about, every conversation begins and ends with laughter. It’s truly beautiful to see.

Q: You’re both starring together in the drama The Crowned Clown. It’s based on the movie Masquerade (Gwanghae: The Man Who Became King), right?

Yeo Jin-goo (hereafter “Yeo”) That’s right. It’s a remake of the film Masquerade, which many people are familiar with. The basic premise is the same: “there’s a king, and there’s a clown who looks exactly like him who ends up standing in for him.” But unlike the movie, our drama adds much more depth to the love story between the king and the queen. The characters also have more detailed backstories and slightly different setups from the film. Even the portrayal of the clown and the king has changed quite a bit. There are so many new plot lines that it almost feels like an entirely new story rather than just a remake. I think what makes this version so appealing is that it feels fresh and different from the original.

Q: As actors, what drew you to this project? Since the original movie was such a big success, it must have come with some pressure, right?

Yeo: If we were trying to film it exactly the same as the original, that would’ve been a huge burden. But since, like other remakes, our drama aims to create its own unique style, I didn’t really feel much pressure. Instead, I found it interesting to think, “Oh, this story can be told from a completely new perspective.” I’ve always loved the original movie, so being part of its remake felt like an honor. I was also very curious about playing a dual role. We’ve been working comfortably, keeping in mind that while we carry over the strengths of the original, we’re also saying, “Here’s how we chose to reinterpret it.”

Lee Se Young (hereafter “Lee”): For me, the synopsis and script were just so engaging. I really enjoyed the original movie too, but since this wasn’t just a “Korean version” or a “Japanese version” remake, rather, it had a different interpretation and storyline altogether, I didn’t feel any pressure. Also, when I heard that my co-star had already been cast, and that it was Yeo Jin Goo, I became even more eager to take the role.

Q: This is Yeo Jin Goo’s second time acting as Gwanghae after the film Warriors of the Dawn. Personally, I think this could be another source of pressure for you personally. How did you approach the role this time?

Yeo: Honestly… even when I try to take it lightly, it’s not easy. Haha. So I decided the best thing I could do was to trust and follow the lead of the director, the writer, and the senior actors beside me like Se Young noona, Kim Sang Kyung, and Kwon Hae Hyo. I realized that telling myself, “Just relax, it’ll be fine,” doesn’t really change much. Hahaha. It’s not so much the success of the previous work that pressures me, but rather my own personal desire to clearly portray dual roles in a historical drama genre. That desire itself has given me a lot to think about. These days, I’m getting scolded quite a bit on set by the director and my seniors as I work through it. Hahaha.

Lee: Scolded? Not at all! Everyone adores him. And as you can see, since he’s much younger, he exudes a much more youthful and energetic vibe.

Q: That’s probably the biggest difference, right? You both share the common background of having started out as child actors.

Lee: It’s been so long that younger people these days don’t even know about that. Hahaha. They’re like, “Wait, you were a child actor? In what project?” and they have no idea.

Yeo: Even we were so young back then that people today don’t remember. It’s almost like we’ve always been adult actors. Hahaha.

Q: Then maybe that’s actually a good thing. Some actors have described the process of overcoming their “child actor” image as a long struggle that it’s almost like fighting against their younger self.

Yeo: For me, I don’t think it’s been particularly difficult. At least not yet. If anything, I feel like starting as a child actor has given me more advantages than disadvantages. I try not to think of it as something I have to overcome.

Lee: Come to think of it, even when Yeo Jin Goo was young, he didn’t feel like a typical “child actor.” He always came across simply as an actor*.* He draws you in so much that you don’t even stop to think about his age.

Q: You two seem to get along really well, probably because you’ve built such strong chemistry while filming together. What’s something you’ve discovered about each other’s strengths, something you’d say is truly unmatched?

Lee: This might sound unexpected, but when I’m filming with Yeo Jin Goo, I can’t stop laughing. It makes it hard to stay focused. Hahaha. I just feel completely at ease around him.

Yeo: That’s definitely true. Actually, Se Young noona is a much more experienced actor than I am. When I was younger, I used to watch her performances and think, “Ah, I want to be like that someday” so I started acting. Seriously.

Lee: No way! What a lie~~ That can’t be true!

Yeo: It is true! You know, in that movie “Lovely Rivals”…

Lee: Zip it~~!

Yeo: Hahaha. I remember watching that as a kid and thinking, “Wow, I want to make movies like that when I grow up.” Maybe that’s why I already felt comfortable working with her. And like you said, since we both started out as child actors, I think that shared background made it even easier for us to connect.

Q: So it sounds like there’s this tacit understanding between the two of you.

Lee: Yeo Jin Goo is the kind of person who just can’t help but be adored on set. He’s really lovable that everyone around him smile without realizing it. Even when I’m supposed to be acting in a serious moment, he keeps joking around. Hahaha.

Q: I noticed during the photoshoot that you both seem to enjoy joking around a lot.

Yeo: Yes, definitely. Thankfully, the atmosphere on set is really great. Many of the senior actors are naturally cheerful people, and since the drama itself includes a bit of comedy, it naturally creates a fun environment so the overall mood on set just becomes bright and playful with lots of jokes, laughter, and teasing all around.

Q: What do you each like to do during your personal time?

Lee: I go to work. Haha. I actually go to the agency office and do work there.

Q: Really? What kind of work do you do there? Fan management?

Lee: No, not that. I check the list of people coming in for interviews, have meals with the staff, sometimes make coffee, do the dishes, clean up, even do laundry… That’s my hobby. I really just can’t stay still.

Yeo: Seriously, I’ve never seen anyone like her. On set, she actually made a list of all the staff members. She took photos with each person and wrote down their names one by one. I’d never seen anyone do that before. It left a real impression on me.

Q: Sounds like we should call you “Director Lee” then.

Lee: No, I’m “Manager Lee.” I still haven’t been promoted. I’ve been an assistant manager forever. Haha.

Q: Then, Manager Lee, when are you the happiest? What makes you feel most like yourself? Maybe when you’re heading to work? I remember in a past interview, you said something that stood out. You questioned how much time in a person’s life can really be spent being happy.

Lee: When I’m playing with my cat. And honestly, I really like working late at the office with everyone. Haha. When I go home, I’m alone. When I’m not filming, it’s just me and Ari (my cat). And when I’m by myself, I can’t focus on studying. But when I’m around people, I naturally end up doing something. I guess it’s not so much that I find happiness in being busy, I try to discover happiness in the small, ordinary things.

Q: You must enjoy being around people. You feel a sense of stability when you’re part of a group.

Lee: I think that’s true. I like belonging somewhere. I don’t like being alone or feeling lonely. In a way, I’m very much a homebody. I like being at home, but I don’t like feeling alone. I just want to have a place where I belong.

Yeo: I’m actually the opposite. I often feel most like myself when I’m alone. It’s not that I do anything amazing, but it’s just simple things, like watching a movie or cooking something I feel like eating. During those moments I think, “Yeah, this is nice.” Acting also makes me feel like myself, but sometimes, just sitting at home doing nothing and spacing out makes me realize I’m happy too.

Q: You two seem alike in some ways but different in others. Who are your role models?

Lee: There are so many actors I want to take after. I want to learn and pick up the good things from all of them.

Yeo: Exactly. I think it’s hardest to name just one. There are actors whose acting style I really admire, and others whose entire filmography I envy.

Q: Then aside from acting, is there anyone you’d like to emulate as a person?

Yeo: Lately… poets. I’d never really felt that way before, but these days…

Q: A 22-year-old man who enjoys solitude and poetry, Yeo Jin Goo.

Yeo: Hahaha. Sometimes I get the urge to write down my feelings or things that come to mind, but it’s not easy. When I try to express my emotions in writing, it starts to feel… strange. I end up losing focus and writing something odd. So whenever I read even a short but beautiful line or a poem, I really admire it. I find myself thinking, “Were these people just born with this gift?”

Lee: This is a bit off-topic, but when I was 22, I used to write a lot of poetry too. I can’t share any of it though because it’d probably be a dark chapter of my life! Haha.

Yeo: Oh, then I guess the person I want to be like is Lee Se Young! Haha.

Q: Right now you’re both smiling brightly, but given your long careers at such young ages, there must have been many moments of struggle, loneliness, or hardship. In those times, what has kept you going?

Lee: Oh, that’s a secret. Haha. I always get this kind of question, and honestly, I think it’s a heartbreaking question.

Yeo: For me, it’s just one word: fans*.* That’s it. Especially when I’m preparing for a new project, I find myself thinking of them the most. Once filming begins, I get completely absorbed in the work. It gets so hectic that I can’t always send updates or communicate often. But during those preparation periods, I think to myself, “I want to meet them soon. I want to show them a good side of me as soon as possible.”

Lee: I actually said “fans” too, when I was asked the same thing last year. Haha. The hardest and loneliest place is the filming set, because in that moment, it’s just me. Everyone else is behind the monitors, watching. When I ask myself, “Who’s really there for me?” I realize it’s the fans who are looking forward to my acting. That thought gives me real strength.

Q: A few years ago, Yoo Jin Goo once joked in an interview, “At this rate, I might become a wizard” — referring to being ‘mosol’ (never having dated). Are you still training to become a wizard?

Lee: Hahahahaha! Expelliarmus!

Yeo: Hahaha. Yeah, that line was really popular back then! The joke was that if you’ve been single your whole life, after enough years, you’d gain magical powers and shoot fire from your hands….

Lee: So if you stay single a few more years, you’ll become a grand wizard or something?

Yeo: Ah… there’s so much I could say about this… Hahahaha. So much I could say, but… haha.

Q: Then we’ll summarize this by saying, “Yeo Jin Goo is currently training hard to become a great wizard in a few years.” In The Crowned Clown, you two are set to show that subtle yet heartbreaking chemistry that is unique to historical dramas. I was going to ask how that compares to your real-life approach to love, but since Yeo Jin Goo is still in wizard training…

Yeo: Yes, I’m currently studying the art of magic. I’m aiming for Fantastic Beasts! Hahahaha. I may not have experienced love yet, but… somehow, I think I’d be the straightforward type. Haha.

Q: Because you’ve been waiting for so long?

Yeo: Exactly. I’ll be like, “At last! The time has come to finish my magic training!” Hahaha.

Lee: I’m not entirely sure either, but if I were to be in a relationship, I think I’d be the straightforward type too, though I’d probably mix in a little push-and-pull and take the lead sometimes… I have to protect my fans too Haha. So let’s just say I’m a straightforward type who casts a bit of magic.

Q: Last question. Since this is the New Year’s issue for 2019, what’s one resolution you’d like to make for the year?

Lee: To become a better version of myself than the 2018 Lee Se Young. And to keep that resolve from fading after three days, I go to the office.

Yeo: Hahaha. A desperate effort to finally get promoted from Manager!

Lee: Actually, I don’t really mind staying a manager forever, but whether I’m studying or reading scripts, I have to get up and do something. If I stay home, I just end up sleeping all day. So I go to the office and do whatever I can.

(Se Young’s Manager: “It’s true! She comes in earlier than the staff and even cleans the office.”)

Thanks to that, the office is cleaner than ever this year. Haha.

Yeo: Wow, compared to you, my goals sound so small. Haha. Mine are more simple, like reading one book a month or learning to play the piano.

Lee: That’s not small! That’s hard! You know how tough it is to finish even one book!

Yeo: I’d also like to try writing a song after learning some composition, and maybe go see the Northern Lights someday. I’ve been making a little bucket list like that and it’s fun.

Lee: That’s amazing! Everyone, this man is my husband! Haha.

Source: 1