Kim Woo Seok dishes on his journey as an actor and all things ‘Military prosecutor Doberman’
Kim Woo Seok plays an emotionally layered Noh Tae Nam in “Military Prosecutor Doberman”. He shares with us how it was filming the drama and his chemistry with the other cast members.
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How do you feel about finishing the drama “military prosecutor Doberman”?
There are so many happy memories with all the actors and staff, I don't think I'm ready to let go yet. I was very happy with the site, but the most regretful thing is that I will not be able to go to such a site again. We may see each other again at other venues, but the biggest regret is that we cannot all be together.
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What's the part that you focused on while playing the role of Noh Tae Nam?
Since the character Noh Tae-Nam has such a wide range of emotions, I think he was a person who could be seen enough without me doing anything more. I thought that if I faithfully follow the script written by the writer, it would look good. I think I lacked a lot, but I tried to express it well according to the script. Also, the seniors acted so well, so I wasn’t worried. I practiced a lot wondering if it would be okay because my image and personality on the drama are so different from my real personality. Fortunately, I'm just thankful that the audience took it well.
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How was your chemistry with the other actors?
Yeon Soo (Noh Hwa Young) was really warm. I was so thankful and happy that she always called me son and treated me kindly. Most of all, I was worried a lot while preparing for this character, but she protected my self-esteem and only praised me for doing well. On the show she was a mother who trampled and beat me with her feet. Before filming such scenes, she said she was so sorry and that she felt unfamiliar because it was her first time playing a villain.
Young Min (Yong Moon Goo) was really an angel. When I was acting, I thought it was amazing how I could be such a different person. Tae-Nam had the most scenes where he confronted his mother and lawyer Yong, but Young Min was so warm that I was able to film happily from beginning to end. I thought he was a great actor, but he also had a great personality. I was happy the whole time we went to the set.
I really enjoyed watching "My Name" by Bo Hyun, he felt like a celebrity to me, so I was thankful that he told me to call him hyung first and made me feel comfortable. Also, his attitude toward all the staff and actors was so good that I thought, "I should do that, too."
It was very disappointing because there weren't many scenes with Bo Ah. Except for the airport scene and briefly appearing in the second half, the time we spent filming together was too short. I wanted to share a lot of conversations and do a lot of filming together, but it was a pity we couldn’t.
It’s been 5 years since you have debuted, what are some of the things you have learned do far?
I learned how to act with better tension when acting in front of the camera. At first, I was just nervous and scared, but now I think the tension has become good tension that makes me focus on acting. I didn't even know where to stand when I first started acting, I think I'm learning little by little from such trivial things.
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When did you realize that acting was a career you wanted to pursue, and did you ever find yourself doubtful of your success in the future?
In 2012, when I saw Eddie Redmayne playing the role of Marius in the movie “Les Miserables”, I thought that I wanted to act in earnest. His acting and singing was so brilliant. After seeing this movie at the cinema, I really felt the genre of musicals for the first time, and from then on, I thought that I wanted to become an actor.
The meaning and standards of success may vary from person to person, but I have never had anxiety or doubt about my success so far. If you do your best in the present, I think a happier day will come someday.
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Are there any movies or characters that you’ve seen recently that made a lasting impression on you?
Lately, I don't think I've seen any works other than “Military Prosecutor Doberman” (Laughs).
It’s not recent, but I like “Before Sunrise”. Ethan Hawk's eyes in "Before Sunrise" were so impressive. they were cool, sexy, cute, and full of all the feelings. It's so impressive that when I say “Ethan Hawke”, “Before Sunrise” is the first thing that comes to mind, so I love it so much.
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Filming/shooting a drama can include many hours on set, how do you find the balance to enjoy your work and do other things that matter to you too?
When I work, I try to focus on the situation as much as possible and do it without regret. I tend to pour out all my energy on the set because I have to do my best not to have regrets in my daily life. That way, I think I can stay comfortable in my daily life after getting out of work.
You’ve built a strong repertoire of dramas and films that show your impressive range as an actor. What other roles are you interested in exploring in the future?
I want to try a human drama. I really want to do a warm drama where I can feel the warmth of the local people, such as “Hometown Cha-cha-cha” and “When the Camellia Blooms”. I also want to play a complete villain who was a psychopath from beginning to end and is punished for his wrongdoing later. There are so many roles I haven't played yet, so I want to try various roles.
What are your plans for future activities?
I hope to see you again soon through good works. I want to do everything. I really want to perform on stage and do a lot of dramas and movies. There are so many characters that I haven't tried yet, and there are so many different characters that I want to fit in with, and I want to experience all those characters through my work. I will do my best so that I can see you as soon as possible with a new look. (laughs)
