The Return of Ko Soo after 4 years

 

[Thanks & credit to Rayvon for Chinese translation]

http://www.seoul.co.kr/news/newsView.php?id=20091207023005

 

20091208

English translation by Elsie

What will the man with the deep compelling eyes be doing this Christmas?

The Return of Ko Soo after 4 years

 

After a long absence from television, the deep eyes of Ko Soo (31 years) are now becoming more intense and compelling. He has made a return to the small screen with SBS drama “Will it Snow on Christmas” which made its debut on December 2nd. The rights of this contemporary drama has been purchased by a Japanese film distributor even before its release. The performance of the teenage actors in the first episode received rave reviews from domestic viewers. However, the drama is facing intense pressure from the KBS mega production “Iris” which airs concurrently with WISOC.

“Regardless of whether it is “Green Rose” which I did before the army or the recent “Baek Ya Haeng”, the roles are all about ill-fated characters who have to struggle against fate in pursuit of love. I had a hard time portraying these roles. So I want to do something warm and romantic like this where a man falls in love with a woman with a warm and sincere heart”.

I met Ko Soo in a coffee house in Seoul where he greeted me with a uniquely bright smile. This time he plays Cha Kang Jin who, from young, lives an itinerant life with his mum who is a bar maid. He manages to survive in a very difficult environment with his intelligence and wit. The story traces his first love with high school sweetheart Han Ji Wan (Han Ye Seul), breaks up with her due to an unfortunate accident and then meets up with her again after 8 years.

“Don’t want to do tragic love again… Want to enjoy true love for once”

“He suppresses his emotions due to a painful childhood. And though clumsy at expressing his emotions, he is actually a person with warm feelings. As there are differences in the character of Kang Jin and me, the real homework for me is to express his strength and sincere charm to the best of my ability. To be honest, though I am a bit of an introvert, I do in fact have a cheerful and lively side”.

Ko Soo has always been regarded as a quiet person among artistes

Ko Soo, who is painfully shy when young, is still the same pure youth from the past who can still give the younger actors a run for their money. What has happened to him during his break 2 years after his enlistment to the army?

“Because I had always been surrounded by people who helped me and I had gotten used to doing things that were arranged for me, I felt rather lost when I had to deal with things on my own during my enlistment. However, as time went by, I gradually became adapted to military life. Only then did I discover the vast differences between life before and after. I then decided that in future notwithstanding whether it is my daily life or work, I will take on a more serious attitude than before”.

Doing stage play all the way after his discharge from military service

A sensible Ko Soo entered a new phase after his discharge from the army. He did a stage play and took up a Master’s Degree in film making. As opposed to most actors who would choose to do a drama as a comeback project, Ko Soo has chosen a different path. His choice of becoming a stage actor in “The Return of President Oem” as his comeback project has surprised many people around him.

“First of all, I do not like to stand in front of the camera unprepared. If I did not do the play then, I would still do a stage play at a later date. Initially there will be people whom I am unfamiliar with but working with strangers is also an interesting experience. When I was in my 20’s, I was ignorant. All I knew about was to be a serious actor. In my 30’s, I obtained a different perspective on acting from my experience doing the stage play”.

Relying on this experience, Ko Soo played the part of Yohan who became a murderer because of love in his recent movie “Baek Ya Haeng”. He gave an impressive performance and charmed audiences in his role as Yohan. WISOC, which is the collaboration of famed screenwriter Lee Kyoung Hee and Director Choe Mun Seok, is a highly anticipated drama at all levels.

“Lee Kyoung Hee’s work is a page turner. Reading her work, you don’t want to miss even the tiniest bit. Her expression of love is not very direct but rather subtle. Of course this is a rare opportunity for an actor. I want to do a good job and be an actor whose work is being looked forward to by audiences."

He has been called a “male beauty” 4 years ago. Now 4 years later there are lots of new and younger actors. And there are also changes to the judging criteria for “male beauty”. To this, Ko Soo said, "The 'male beauties' of today are taller and more energetic. But we have different styles and values. So there’s nothing to worry about.” Sure enough, his ‘standard’ mode of reply is back!

Through this drama, Ko Soo wants to convey a warm message of love in the cold winter days. Then, just as the title of the drama depicts, where will he be and what will he be doing when it snows on Christmas?

“There will be a WISOC event with fans. But if this event is cancelled, I think I will have a fun party and have a snowball fight with friends. But, will it really snow on this Christmas?”

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