Korean star Yeo Jin-goo, known for his intense roles in 'The Crowned Clown' and 'Hijack 1971', reveals his fun-loving side during his first visit to Malaysia.
Korean star Yeo Jin-goo is a lot more easy-going in person than the characters he’s played on television and film.
The actor has said in prior interviews that he’s “more fun than people think”, but there is no denying that the 27-year-old has literally built a career playing intense characters as seen in dramas like The Crowned Clown, Beyond Evil and Link: Eat, Love, Kill.
Not to mention, his role in last year’s movie Hijack 1971, portraying a desperate young man who felt there was no way out of his miserable life.
But Yeo couldn’t be more removed from these roles when StarLifetyle got to meet him in person when he was in town late last year for a fan meet-and-greet at a mall in Selangor, in line with the One Astro Fan Fest.
This marked Yeo’s first visit to Malaysia.
Yeo was in town late last year for a fan meet-and-greet at a mall in Selangor, in line with the One Astro Fan Fest.
During the 20-minute press meet, Yeo arrived right on the dot, allowing for the roundtable session with the Malaysian press to begin and finish on time.
Dressed in dark colours with his hair longer than we’ve seen on the small screen, he greeted everyone with a smile, exchanging “hello” and “nice to meet you” in English, his familiar deep voice resonating warmly.
His expressive eyes also radiated warmth throughout the session.
While he spoke Korean when answering questions, Yeo was nodding and listening intently to what the translator was saying on his behalf ... even correcting a part when the interpreter fumbled on one of the things the actor had spoken about.
Hotel Del Luna
Yeo’s affable personality also shone through when he spoke about the Malaysian food he wanted to try during his first trip here.
“A fan told me that I must eat nasi lemak, so I want to try that. I also looked on the Internet for suggestions on what else I should eat and where I should go. Maybe you can recommend something?” the Hotel Del Luna actor said.
The moderator mentioned roti tisu and he was intrigued enough to tell his entourage immediately to take note.
Link: Eat, Love, Kill
Well, one wouldn’t expect anything less from Yeo who played a highly skilled chef in the 2022 series Link and has said that he is “really serious about food”.
In an interview in 2022, Yeo said that he hoped for his girlfriend to be someone “who laughs a lot and is happy just by being together”.
His other criteria is that she “isn’t a picky eater”.
“I’d be upset if we couldn’t eat all of the delicious seasonal food together,” added Yeo, whose mandatory military service should be coming up soon.
Sad Movie
Yeo made his debut as a child actor at the tender age of eight in 2005's Sad Movie.
Dubbed as the “nation’s little brother”, Yeo played mostly younger versions of lead characters in the early days.
Among those works include the 2008 TV series Iljimae, crime film Tazza: The High Rollers (2006) and the drama Giant (2010).
His best-known role is as the young Joseon-era king in the period series The Moon Embracing The Sun (2012), with Kim Soo-Hyun portraying the adult version of the character.
The Moon Embracing The Sun
At 16, Yeo nabbed the lead in the 2013 flick Hwayi: A Monster Boy.
His compelling performance in the movie earned him rave reviews and the Best New Actor trophy at the 21st Korean Culture and Entertainment Awards, 33rd Korean Association of Film Critics Awards as well as the prestigious Blue Dragon Film Awards.
As he grew older, he took on more leading roles where his deep voice and soulful eyes were advantageous to him (think Orange Marmalade, Warriors Of The Dawn and The Crowned Clown where he played a dual role).
Warriors Of The Dawn
In his 20s, he started participating in variety shows like House On Wheels and Bros On Foot.
That’s when audiences noticed that Yeo is good-natured and likes to laugh, a lot.
When StarLifestyle asked how he would describe himself, as he’s shown such varied personalities in TV shows and variety programmes, Yeo started by saying that it’s difficult to put into words.
“How do I even begin to describe myself?” said Yeo, who furthered his tertiary studies at the Department of Theatre at Chung-Ang University.
Hwayi: A Monster Boy
“If I could, I’d describe myself as someone who strives to embrace a wide range of roles – not just in drama but also in variety shows.
“I want to challenge myself, explore different characters, and showcase versatility in everything I do.”
During our conversation, Yoo talked about how he fell into acting at a young age, his thoughts on interacting with fans on social media and what he does to relax between acting gigs.
This interview has been edited for clarity.
Photo: Handout
When I was little, I heard a song with the lyrics, “I want to come up on television.” That line sparked something in me, and I told my parents I wanted to be on TV. That’s how it started.
What is the difference between then and now? Back then, if I were going to a movie or drama set to film, my thought was, “I was going there to play.”
But these days, it’s become my life’s work. It’s more about living my characters and dedicating myself fully to the craft.
Having studied and acted since childhood, I hope to continue pursuing this passion for as long as I can.
Hijack 1971
The industry moves at such a fast pace that it can be challenging to keep up.
However, it’s important to adapt and follow trends as best as you can.
Acting is about presenting yourself to the audience, so embracing your work and making it an integral part of your personality and daily life is crucial for longevity in this field.
Beyond Evil
I actively seek roles that push me to grow. Exploring new characters can be intimidating. But that doesn’t stop me as I see it as an opportunity to evolve.
Who are your idols in the entertainment industry, and how do you continue to evolve in your craft?My biggest inspiration comes from the people I work with – senior actors, colleagues and peers.
Before we put out our project, they are my first audience, and their feedback is invaluable.
I always ask for advice on how to improve and make my performance better.
In this industry, we get to meet so many talented actors and actresses, and I believe we all learn from each other.
Sharing ideas and experiences is how I grow and evolve as an actor.
The world has fallen in love with Korean dramas, and it’s a great feeling to witness this.
Whenever I take on a project that aims to express Korean culture, I do my best to keep it as authentic as possible.
I focus on portraying the culture truthfully, so audiences can experience its genuine essence without feeling like it’s exaggerated or fake.
The Crowned Clown
I’m not very active online as I am not too savvy with some of them.
Also, I prefer meeting fans in person because it feels more genuine. I can actually look at them and connect, rather than just interacting online, where it’s harder to truly feel the emotions I want to share and receive.
That’s why I’m in Malaysia now – to meet my Malaysian fans in person.
As for balancing privacy, I haven’t given it much thought because I didn’t feel the need to.
But your question has made me reflect on maintaining that balance more intentionally moving forward.
House On Wheels
In Korea, there’s a culture where fans send things like coffee or food trucks to artistes when we’re shooting a project.
I’ve even had a coffee truck sent by Malaysian fans. I always try to express my gratitude through posts or stories.
With your packed schedule, how do you handle stress or burnout, and how do you recharge?
Fortunately, I’ve always had a strong mental foundation, so I rarely feel burnt out.
During breaks between shoots, I make the most of my downtime by doing things I love, like taking short holidays.
Relaxation helps me recharge and come back to work feeling refreshed.
Of course, I love happy endings rather than a sad ones.
That said, I don’t limit myself to a single genre.
Watching diverse films helps me learn about different characters and their stories, which ultimately helps me grow as an actor.
I especially enjoy films that blend multiple genres, creating emotional ups and downs.
These are the stories that resonate with me the most, as they help me understand different characters. I try to learn from them, as I might portray similar characters in the future.
But yeah, I don’t favour one particular genre.
Korean dramas are aired around the clock on One HD (Astro Ch 393/unifi TV Ch 461).
