Na In Woo - Star News 2022 Interview

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

[Interview]

Q: “2021 AAA New Wave Award”, “2021 KBS Rookie Award and Best Couple Award”... you won many awards last year. Is this the first time since debut?

Na In Woo: It’s the first time in my life. I didn’t even get any award for Best Attendance. Because I was always late...

Q: You received an award 8 years after debuting in the 2013 musical Bachelor’s Vegetable Shop. Last year must’ve been special.

Na In Woo: No. For me, it’s just part of the process. But the process is different. I’ve just been constantly doing my best in life, and since I was awarded, I’m thankful.

Q: Were you not nervous when you received the AAA Award?

Na In Woo: I was so nervous because there were a lot of people. And so... I had to say something, or else I’d be bad, so I said what I felt at that moment.

Q: Was there someone you thought of first after receiving the award?

Na In Woo: I just drew a blank. There’s the pressure when you’re there standing alone, because I had to say something, and everyone was paying attention to me. Ever since I was young, I’ve always been scared of that. Still, I did a good job at stating what I prepared. I needed to score points as well...

Q: Can you choose anything special from last year?

Na In Woo: Nothing. Whenever I get questions regarding what makes me happy, what I enjoy, a special moment in my life, a sad moment, I can’t give an answer. It’s because I think it’s all the same moment. I keep living thinking, “That day was like that, this day was like this.”

Q: As an actor, at what point do you think you are right now? If you compare it to track and field.

Na In Woo: I’m currently at the moment when they just fired the starting pistol, and I’m getting ready to run. At 0.0001 seconds after I started the race.

Q: You did your first lead role on national terrestrial television through River Where The Moon Rises. You had a pretty good start.

Na In Woo: It’s not that I wanted to, but because I was given the chance to do it. The only thing I could think of was to do my best at the task I was given. I got to this point by putting in my best effort since the beginning, so whether the role was big or small, there was nothing different just because I was the lead role. Oh, and when I am the lead role, I have a lot of screen time, so when people watch and give me compliments, I think, “Ah, looks like I didn’t live life aimlessly.” But that’s how much I’m worried. When I can’t do anything even a little bit, I go, “I must have done something wrong. Was it that moment?” so I don’t think of anything special.

Q: It seems like you got more compliments through River Where The Moon Rises. It looks like you got more comments.

Na In Woo: I think I did get a lot of compliments. Among those compliments, there were viewers who knew about the situation, but I believe there were also some from viewers who didn’t know. Those who didn’t know the situation said they enjoyed watching, while those who knew about it, closely watched the drama because they know we had a hard time filming. Anyway, I may have matched that character, but that’s also a plus, so I think the viewers praised me a lot and loved (my performance).

Q: Did you feel any pressure joining the drama in the middle?

Na In Woo: I felt the pressure later on. The responsibility to save the drama came first. It was simultaneously being broadcasted while we were filming the mid to later parts of the drama, so there was no time, and I couldn’t monitor the show properly. It was a cycle of reading the script and filming. And so, the pressure to work hard until the end came later. Before that, I had no time (to feel the pressure).

Q: I’m curious as to how you got casted for River Where The Moon Rises. Didn’t you think about it when you first received the offer?

Na Inwoo: First off, they told me to take a look at the script first. Then I told the director to “Give me time.” I read the script for about an hour, then I sighed and thought, “This isn’t easy...” However, the production team offered me the role, so there’s definitely a reason why. “Right, I’ll do as much as I can,” I said.

Q: Was there something that caught your eye while reading the script?

Na Inwoo: The character itself is charming, and I thought, “There’re many things I can show.” Everyone can have a different interpretation of the character, and I think this was a character I can do anything with.

Q: But still, you suddenly had to go in. So it could’ve been a difficult decision to make.

Na Inwoo: I was flustered. The script was already completed, and I had to decide quickly after reading only the first part. That day, I stayed up all night reading the script, then I attended the meeting the next day, and then on the next day, I started filming. And then I continued staying up all night.

Q: You became On Dal in two days.

Na Inwoo: Yes. But I think I was lucky. Viewers said I was a perfect match for the character, but I think it was luck.

Q: Because the actor suddenly changed, so it seems like the viewers felt the difference, but the character suit you so well.

Na Inwoo: Every actor has their own color. There are pros and cons, and I think my attributes could’ve been integrated with the On Dal.

Q: Did you experience any difficulties?

Na Inwoo: All of it. Because I was doing other things too... Wow... I still feel dizzy (thinking about it). First of all, for River Where The Moon Rises, I had to start at 5 A.M to get to the set by 7 A.M and get my costume and makeup done before filming for the first call. I would continuously film until 10-11 P.M, then I would go to another location for a different shoot. I’d then go home, take a shower, and go out once more. I repeated this everyday. Also, I didn’t have time to sleep because there was so much to film. So I kept reading the script, then shoot, read and shoot. It really felt like a dream.

Q: How did you memorize your lines in such a short time?

Na Inwoo: I don’t know. Everyone trusted me and took care of me, so I was able to do it. Even if I made a mistake, they covered it up for me. Since the first shoot, I felt that I was receiving love. Of course, Sohyun was there too, and the senior actors were there as well. Everyone cheered each other up. That’s why I was able to do it.

Q: Did you do many adlibs as well?

Na Inwoo: I did it in every scene. I would throw an adlib every time I couldn’t remember my lines. They went well with the scene so the director mostly liked it. There were many things I can show with this character, so I did everything that I could.

Q: How was your chemistry with Kim Sohyun who acted as Pyeong Gang?

Na Inwoo: It was already great on the first day. Because no matter how I acted, she would respond to everything. Even when I was nervous, I thought, “She is relaxed and has the capability to lead, and that’s why she is where she is right now.” I met Sohyun before, and while talking about it, I told her, “Sohyun, I’ll just trust in you and follow your lead.” There was also camaraderie, since we were under a difficult situation. It must have been hard for Sohyun and the other actors to film the same thing again.

Q: Which project did you work with Kim Sohyun?

Na Inwoo: It wasn’t a project. Long time ago, Sohyun was working out at a gym, and the trainer there introduced us together. I can’t believe she remembers that.

Q: Didn’t you feel awkward filming a kiss scene with Kim Sohyun on your first day?

Na Inwoo: It didn’t feel awkward. Since it was a battlefield. (laughs) So I think that’s why we had great teamwork. I couldn’t think of anything else, and Sohyun is such a veteran actor.

Q: You probably gained more fans through the drama.

Na Inwoo: I really don’t know. Fans’ love is this huge. So whether the number of fans is big or small, I don’t think the amount of love changes just because I gained more fans.

Q: ‘GoDiBa’ (Goguryeo’s Biggest Fool), ‘JunBa’ (A fool who’s always ready), etc. You gained a lot of nicknames. What’s your favorite nickname?

Na Inwoo: ‘GoDiBa.’ It sounds luxurious. I’m very grateful to be able to become a character from a Goguryeo folktale. Of course, I’m also grateful to my other projects...I’m especially grateful for the public’s interest.

Q: Were there some parts you particularly paid close attention to while acting as On Dal?

Na Inwoo: The clear difference. I interpreted the character as a fool who chose to be a fool, not because he was one. Just like how a man shows a different side when working, I tried to show different charms of On Dal when he was with the villagers, when he became a general, and when he entered the palace.

Q: When did you dream of becoming an actor? I heard it was after you watched the drama I’m Sorry, I Love You?

Na In Woo: I think I had that thought at such a young age. It’s like wanting to be a pro gamer because it looks cool. I watched the drama thinking, “Wow, So Jisub is so cool. Lim Soojung is so pretty.” I was 12 years old at that time. I’m a bit of a fanatic myself, ever since I was young. In Rustic Period when the people would bleed while fighting, I would also be on my bed fighting alone with ice in my mouth, and (pretending to) faint. When you have ice in your mouth, it can flow (down your lips) as if you’re bleeding. (laughs).

Q: When did you officially start acting?

Na In Woo: When I was 19 years old. It was the time to think about a career path. I was asked to go to CUBE. I was at JYP then, and I thought things will work out if I only do what I’m told to do. But that wasn’t the case. I was immature. I wasn’t doing well, so I left after a year, and I focused on my studies.

[Na In Woo graduated from Kyungil Tourism Management High School (?). He said, “When people see me, they feel happy, so I thought of studying service and hotel management. I already took the entrance exam for hotel management major.” Then, suddenly, he applied for an acting part at CUBE Entertainment through an introduction by an acquaintance. And vaguely walked the path of an actor, that he dreamed of.

“Usually, I would film acting videos only because my superiors have to watch them. I would pick scenes I can work with after a long time, and prepare 2... and I found that fun. Something would come up at the back of my head. I was stressing out, but it was fun, because after a long time, I stopped thinking about giving up. I did go to CUBE with the mindset of giving up. I learned, and in the process, I developed a firm mind.”]

Q: Your next work is The Jinx’s Lover. What kind of image do you think you’ll show?

Na In Woo: My character lives with guilt. I want to express well the process of (my character) finding someone and overcoming that guilt, because that’s where I put the most emphasis on. In the process of changing due to someone, there is pain, sadness, and happiness. I tried to express that process in detail.

Q: Is there something you want to do?

Na In Woo: I want to play guitar well. I also want to learn golf. Right now, I’m doing what I’ve been putting off. For example, there were many things in the past I wanted to learn on my own. I tried drawing, and I know a bit of it, but I couldn’t fulfill my greed. I want to do well, but there’s so much I want to do, so I became determined. After realizing that there are things I can’t do, I once again realized the beauty of learning things with a humble attitude.

Q: Is there anything specific you want to learn?

Na In Woo: I was learning golf on my own, but now I’m taking lessons. I was also learning guitar on my own, but now I’m learning from a really good teacher who I admired since I was young. When I can play better later on, I want to have a concert, as a session.

Q: You became a new member of 1 Night 2 Days, how was your first filming?

Na In Woo: I was half-nervous, half-excited, but when I got there, everyone took care of me. Thanks to them, my natural comfortable self came out.

Q: How’s your chemistry with the members? Who took care of you the most?

Na In Woo: Although I showed my flaws, I’m grateful that the members filled them up. They took care of me in their own way, so I couldn’t pick one.

Q: If you can pick someone you have the best chemistry with?

Na In Woo: I think I resemble Jongmin hyung the most, so I think we’ll have great chemistry.

Q: Is there someone you want to resemble as an actor?

Na In Woo: At first, there was no one I wanted to resemble, but I found one after so many people kept asking me. I thought about a really cool and respectful person, and I wanted to be like Kim Rae Won. But after thinking for awhile, I realized I didn’t know myself. During my early interviews, I said I wanted to resemble myself. But right now, there’s no one. I think I need to know myself more for me to have one. I think I’m in a transition period. I might think of someone after further research.

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