Ko Soo “Becoming friendly with Son Ye Jin but… we are sorry” (Interview)

 

English transation by Elsie

http://www.newsen.com/news_view.php?uid=200911041754251003

2009-11-05

Ko Soo “Becoming friendly with Son Ye Jin but… we are sorry” (Interview)

 

 

The man who gives off a powerful autumn fragrance, modest and quiet – this is the Ko Soo I met.

After 5 years, Ko Soo charms again as Yohan in BAEK YA HAENG which will be released soon. BAEK YA HAENG is his second movie after “SOME” which was released in 2004.

“There is no particular reason why I want to do BAEK YA HAENG”. “SOME” and “BAEK YA HAENG” are both mystery thrillers. In the past, I wanted to do a warm romantic or family movie. When I first gotten the script, I thought “yeah, another mystery thriller, great!”. But when I read the script, it was really interesting.”

Though he has a lot of opportunities, he is insistent on doing projects one at a time.

He says, “In fact, I received a lot of film scripts even before my enlistment in the army. Most of them were dramas. But because I did not have any specific intent, it would be irresponsible to do the movies.“

Last year, after completing his military service, he stood before audiences again in a play “THE RETURN OF PRESIDENT EOM” where he gave an impassioned performance of a wayward son.

“I have always wanted to perform on stage. I talked to my company about the possibility of doing a stage play. Fortunately they agreed.”

Ko Soo made his debut in 1998 in a music video “A LETTER”. He has a good, clean image and is best remembered for his handsome good looks and pristine purity.

“Images are subjective, I guess. I never intended to have a good image. I only want to remember that I am an actor.”

His image will undergo a 180 degree transformation in BAEK YA HAENG. In the film, Ko Soo’s character suffered a misfortune when he was young. He and the woman he loves could only meet and be together after the end of the statute of limitations. For his role, Ko Soo needs to display the love and emotions of a deeply wounded man.

“The character that I play is Yohan. He is constantly around Miho but is not seen by her even if she were to look around. To make her happy, he would not hesitate to kill. He devotes his life to her.”

The heroine is depicted in white – being light; while he is black – being gloom and shadow. So Yohan’s presence is in the shadows, eerily committing murders along the way. When asked if he had difficulty playing the role, Ko Soo paused to think for a while before answering. His reply was “he does not think he has to act”.

“It was difficult because I couldn’t use words to express. So that has a lot of restrictions on the acting.”

One noticeable point in the production process of BAEK YA HAENG is that two big names have been put together to star in the movie. Han Seok Kyu and Son Ye Jin are top actors in their fields. This is an extremely rare opportunity.

“Putting all three actors in a movie together is good, otherwise I would be weighed down if the focus is on me alone. “

So occasionally if you see Ko Soo, Han Seok Kyu and Son Ye Jin in an ordinary movie studio, that would be an unique experience.

“About Son Ye Jin… We became closer through promotion of the movie rather than through shooting. Actually there were a few scenes in which we would pass each other in the film. But as we were a couple who should not meet, we did not have an opportunity to become close during the time when we were shooting the movie. And even in reality, Son Ye Jin spared a talk with me too much in the shooting place? But after the completion of filming, we felt sorry. Just when we started to become friendly with each other, it is time to say goodbye. So it makes us sorry.”

“The senior Han Seok Kyu would often talk to me, “what are you doing during your break”, “what do you like to do”, “let’s go fishing”… that kind of stuff (laughs).”

BAEK YA HAENG is based on an original bestseller of the same title. When I asked him whether there was any pressure doing the movie, unexpectedly he replied quietly but resolutely.

“For me, I am the original version. I would like you to evaluate it. Please accept my invitation. I do not regret doing it. I have tried my best.”

In BAEK YA HAENG, Miho (Son Ye Jin) and Yohan (Ko Soo) are two people who cannot love each other due to a crime committed 14 years ago. Detective Han (Han Seok Kyu) is the detective who tenaciously tracks them down. It is a story of how the lives of these three people are connected through fate.

The film will be released on November 19th.

 

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