Actor Im Cheol-su delivered a heartfelt closing remark after finishing Undercover Miss Hong.
Im Cheol-su played Cha Jung-il, director general of Hanmin Securities' research department, in tvN's weekend drama Undercover Miss Hong, which ended on the 8th, perfectly recreating the archetypal image of a 1990s Yeouido office worker. He captured external details with a 2:8 part and flashy ties, and his characteristic sly acting added realism and variety to the drama.
He was an annoying boss who tormented Hong Geum-bo (played by Park Shin-hye) with an intense sense of authority and a 'strong-weak-weak-strong' attitude, but at times he showed a clumsy side that brought big laughs to viewers and rose to become a "love-hate character." In the final episode he even achieved a successful finish by taking the temporary CEO seat at Hanmin Securities.
In this way, Im Cheol-su received great love from viewers by delivering a role in Undercover Miss Hong that fit him like a tailored suit. Previously, Im Cheol-su proved his distinctive presence as a "surefire actor" at the center of various notable works such as "Does this love interpret?", Our Unwritten Seoul, "Modest Sales", and "Alchemy of Souls." Attention is focused on what steps he will take next.
◆The following is a one-on-one Q&A with actor Im Cheol-su about the ending of Undercover Miss Hong
Q. Please tell us your feelings about finishing the drama Undercover Miss Hong.
A. Thanks to Undercover Miss Hong, I was able to meet good people and a good work. And I am truly grateful for the opportunity to talk about the work like this. I really, really liked it, our work!
Q. You played the love-hate character Cha Jung-il, who is annoying but impossible to hate. How did you prepare? Was there anything you paid special attention to while acting?
A. I wanted to portray a fiftyish human type that might have existed in that era. Both the costumes and makeup expressed the zeitgeist of that time well. I also wanted to embody that era in the way Cha Jung-il treats people. It was a period with romance, but it was rougher and, in some ways, more extreme than expected, so I tried to capture that era's sensibilities in his attitude.
Q. You transformed into a 1990s Yeouido office worker itself. Did you prepare anything personally for the character's external appearance?
A. I think I looked for many poses that matched the outfits. Thanks to the 2:8 part styling, I developed Cha Jung-il's habit of stylishly touching his hair. Also, because the costumes reflected the character's traits and the era, I developed details like "the habit of touching clothes" and "the habit of looking at a watch as if showing it off." I want to express my gratitude to the costume and makeup teams for helping me find those things.
Q. Your rivalry chemistry with actress Park Shin-hye was really fun. If you had to score the chemistry, what would you give? How was the rhythm while acting together?
A. I also had a lot of fun while acting. Acting with Shin-hye always put me at ease. She has an excellent eye for the characters and situations in the work, so she helped a lot. The best thing was that it wasn't only for laughs and fun. By seriously clashing and each trying to achieve their character's goals and swap roles, those moments felt like truly valuable attempts and processes. In that sense, the chemistry is 120 points.
Q. We can't leave out Hanmin Securities' "so.bang.cha" trio. Please tell us about the filming atmosphere and your impressions of acting together.
A. I watched the stage performances of my seniors since I was young, so it was truly an honor to work with them. We filmed feeling very reassured and cheerful. Whenever the three of us gathered, laughter never stopped! I really like our seniors who would embrace the younger ones even when they goofed around.
Q. In the end you sat in the representative seat, albeit temporarily. How did that feel?
A. It felt like a day when I used Cha Jung-il's positive energy almost for the first time, so I discovered a new side even while filming. You could say the character's vitality was felt? I also wished the scene were longer (hahaha).
Q. If there is a scene or line that you remember most?
A. Cha Jung-il: (in a very small voice) "What I can do~ is only this far"
Q. If there are any memorable viewer reactions, please share them.
A. Reactions such as viewers saying they felt pity and sympathy because he kept picking fights with Hong Geum-bo even though they knew he would lose, and reactions asking if it's okay for the villain to be treated so badly were interesting.
Q. Please say a word to the viewers who loved Undercover Miss Hong, Cha Jung-il, and Im Cheol-su.
A. I also really like Undercover Miss Hong. I am proud to be able to directly say that the work I participated in is "good, fun." I want to sincerely thank directors Park Sun-ho and Na Ji-hyun for guiding the work. They helped me a lot. Finally, I want to express my gratitude beyond words to the viewers who loved Undercover Miss Hong.
[Photo] Haijeum Studio
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