Actor Seo Hyun-woo once again proved his irreplaceable acting ability and brought the series to a grand finale through the drama 'Honor: Their Court.'
In 'Honor: Their Court,' which ended on the 10th, Seo Hyun-woo played Park Jae-yeol, a character who hid his past and laundered his identity to become a prosecutor, delivering overwhelming tension each episode and leading the drama. He portrayed the chilling nature hidden behind a gentle smile with meticulous control of tempo and intensity, earning praise from viewers who said, "Every time Park Jae-yeol appears, the atmosphere of the drama changes."
In particular, Seo Hyun-woo established tense confrontations with major characters such as Yun Ra-young (played by Lee Na-young), Kang Shin-jae (played by Jung Eun-Chae), and Hwang Hyun-jin (played by Lee Chung-ah), exuding a unique aura that psychologically pressured his opponents. With his outstanding ability to portray characters that cross the line between good and evil, he received evaluations that he had once again renewed an iconic role in his career and further solidified his position as a genre master.
Upon the series' end, Seo Hyun-woo delivered a written Q&A through his agency that included his intense 고민 to build the character, gratitude toward his fellow actors, and sincere greetings to viewers.
[Below is the full written Q&A with Seo Hyun-woo]
Q1. Throughout the broadcast there were many responses saying "I feel suffocated whenever Park Jae-yeol appears." To create the intimidating presence of a "predator" that slowly tightens around those around him, were there any acting details you paid special attention to?
It may be a play on words, but in many scenes I actually did not exhale well. Predators slowly lure their prey and do not subdue them at once. I studied the feeling of staring at the opponent as if enjoying them, then suddenly tearing into them with Park Jae-yeol's sharp lines. I worked hard to create an irregular rhythm and tempo that makes it unpredictable when he will attack.
Q2. The premise that a perpetrator from 20 years ago launders his identity and appears as a prosecutor was shocking. What did you interpret as Park Jae-yeol's "root of evil"? I'm curious how you designed the process by which severe inferiority complex transformed into a lust for power.
Jae-yeol is fundamentally a person with a strong desire to control and possess others. At the same time, he judged that Ra-young did not give enough trust as a lover in her childhood, and he strongly believes that he only wanted to confirm that trust and that he was not the perpetrator but rather the victim. The anxiety he felt when he opened his heart and approached someone but did not receive a response grew into wounded pride and inferiority complex, and he ultimately believed that only by having power could he control both work and love and be satisfied. I interpreted that this distorted conviction turned into a warped lust for power and control.
Q3. The epithet "an actor who changes faces" has long symbolized actor Seo Hyun-woo. Although both Director General Nam Du-heon from the previous work 'The Fiery Priest' and Park Jae-yeol in this 'Honor' are "corrupt prosecutors," their tones are distinctly different. Did you have your own differentiation strategy that completely erased the afterimage of the previous role?
Basically, both characters share the point that a prosecutor without backing collects blacklists and commits corruption to get promoted. However, while Prosecutor Nam Du-heon was a humorous character who unabashedly revealed his boiling inner feelings, Park Jae-yeol focused on subtle facial expressions and eye treatment that hide his inner thoughts and on irregular breathing. Visually, unlike Nam Du-heon's loose suit fit, Park Jae-yeol maintained a tight tailored look as if controlling himself. Like the temperature difference between "strawberry smoothie" and "warm tea," I differentiated them with the keywords communication and blocking.
Q4. Scenes where you relentlessly corner opponents delivered unprecedented tension. There were many emotionally draining shoots such as gaslighting; do you have your own method of returning to everyday life immediately after shooting in that chilling state?
The heavier and more serious the scene emotionally, the more I consciously communicate brightly on set to raise energy. Conversely, when shooting light and bright scenes, I calmly focus and lower my tension. I try to keep my personal emotional balance neutral like a double-pan scale. It's a personal approach to how to act in a mentally healthy way.
Q5. The confrontations with female characters such as Lee Na-young, Jung Eun-Chae, and Lee Chung-ah were the highlight. How was the on-set energy you felt while working with each actress, and what kind of rapport did you share on set to maintain Park Jae-yeol's intimidating tension?
On set, rather than deliberately maintaining an intimidating energy, we loosened the atmosphere by talking about trivial, casual things like condition and meals as if preparing for a party. Then, like before getting on a ride at an amusement park, we listened to the director's points and cautions for the scene, and with momentary concentration and precise actions we each expressed our characters and exchanged tense energy.
With senior Lee Na-young it was already our third work so there was an internal intimacy, but I was always impressed and felt reassured by how completely she transformed into Ra-young in the acting moment. I was glad to work with Jung Eun-Chae and Lee Chung-ah because I had wanted to act with them, and their seasoned ability to maintain the trio's ensemble stably without overdoing it was impressive. Actress Baek Eun-hye, who played the wife, had many emotionally difficult scenes but rather grounded the scenes with a solid presence, for which I am grateful. The two actresses who played the daughters, Jeon Soyoung and Kim Tae-yeon, also kept bright energy on set without being swept away by difficult emotions, which made me proud and thankful.
Q6. You are now called not only an "evil-role specialist" but also a "genre master." In your next project, do you plan to show a pathetic character completely devoid of Park Jae-yeol's chill, or a human, relatable "slice-of-life character"? Is there a genre you desire for your next role?
Having been so immersed in absolute evil, now I want to try a cheerful role. I am drawn to roles that are common in everyday life and therefore elicit a lot of empathy, bittersweet and funny. I'm also tempted by a realistic, unpretentious romantic comedy. Having played villains, my inner scales naturally tend toward that direction.
Q7. Although you repeatedly renew iconic roles, you are known to be a strict actor with yourself. Is "acting" still a difficult assignment for Seo Hyun-woo? Now that you've finished 'Honor,' where do you think actor Seo Hyun-woo's acting career graph is passing through?
It seems that the theoretical aspects of acting I have experienced and accumulated since my debut are being solidly built, but now I want to break them down myself again. The reason is clear. Acting situations are so diverse and the details of roles are endless. The more I do it, the more I think there is no master key to acting. I admire the acting of senior actors, and at the same time I find it amazing when I see the acting of juniors. It seems important not to lose the basics while keeping a close eye on the flow and trends of the times. Also, these days viewers' understanding of visual language is very high. I dream of steady change while maintaining everydayness so I don't become trapped in the world of actors. Rather than whether the acting career graph is rising or falling, I always watch closely whether the direction is correct.
Q8. Finally, what are your feelings about sending off 'Honor: Their Court'? Is there a message you want to convey to the viewers who sent both hot anger and support to Park Jae-yeol?
I think shifting between hero and villain is an actor's destiny. When I first met Park Jae-yeol, as Seo Hyun-woo the person I certainly had moral 고민 and hesitation, but what allowed me to find the courage to fulfill the role's calling was the viewers who have always watched over and supported us. I deeply thank everyone who felt anger while watching Park Jae-yeol and who supported and faithfully watched 'Honor.' I will work hard to repay you with better acting in the future. I wish you always good health.<
[Photo] KT Studio Genie
[OSEN]