Actor Park Seo-jun shared his thoughts on fake news.
A roundtable interview with actor Park Seo-jun recently took place in Gangnam, Seoul, following the conclusion of JTBC’s weekend drama “Waiting for Kyungdo” on the 11th.
“Waiting for Kyungdo” is a romance drama that features Lee Kyung-do (Park Seo-jun) and Seo Ji-woo (Won Ji-an). The plot follows their reunion after two failed relationships; a journalist covering their scandal sparks their reconnection when he meets the wife of the scandal’s central figure.
Park Seo-jun portrayed Lee Kyung-do, a deputy chief of the entertainment section at Dongwoon Daily, as a seemingly ordinary yet kind-hearted individual, leading the drama with his nuanced emotional portrayal.
Regarding his preparation for the journalist role, he explained, “The director was a former journalist and shared insights, like how journalists don’t use honorifics. I understood that as part of their culture. Also, having a director with a journalism background made the set design excellent. The atmosphere of the space is important; I believe immersing oneself in the environment makes acting more natural, and in that sense, it was very helpful.”
With the entertainment section as its backdrop, the series also featured scenes depicting fake news surrounding the divorce of Seo Ji-woo, a member of a major corporate family.
When asked if he drew from personal experience, he said, “I believe not only I, but most actors, have likely experienced it. With the rise of social media, it has become more prevalent. As a rookie, I used to give interviews at newspapers, which was very tough back then, but now I view those times romantically. Because we met in person and facts informed the stories, I had faith in humanity,” he recalled.
Regarding the current prevalence of social media, he added, “There are downsides because people often overly process and too quickly consume information. However, as I grow older and gain more experience, I understand there are underlying reasons for such phenomena, and I’ve come to terms with them. It’s positive that the drama addressed these issues.”
Since his 2011 debut, Park Seo-jun has spent 15 years in the industry.
“I don’t know where the time has gone. I’ve worked continuously. I’ve continuously received great opportunities, allowing me to stay active. As a result, 15 years have passed. I took a year off recently to reflect and recharge, which proved very beneficial,” Park shared.
Park Seo-jun said of his time to recharge, “If one doesn’t rest, burnout can occur. I felt empty, as if I had nothing left, and needed time to replenish myself. In that sense, ‘Waiting for Kyungdo’ holds special meaning as it’s a work I did after finding the passion again, making it memorable in a unique way.”
He added with a chuckle, “I feel like another 20 years will pass in the blink of an eye. Time flies too quickly! Why does it never wait for anyone?”
When asked what type of work “Waiting for Kyungdo” would remain as, he expressed, “The narrative of the two characters was what truly drew me to this drama; that story was crucial. ‘Waiting for Kyungdo’ contains lines that may resonate differently upon re-watching. I believe drama enthusiasts might want to delve deeper into it. It will offer a different depth if one revisits it,” he concluded, defining it as a poignant piece.
Image source: Awesome ENT
