[INTERVIEW] Actor Jang Keun-suk - Part 1

Jang Keun-suk [Lee Jin-hyuk/10Asia]

Jang Keun-suk. It was honestly a bit nerve-racking going into interview this mysterious form of life that calls itself the 'prince of Asia.' Yet the conversation with him was quite enjoyable and this was because he was a man who showed himself the way he was. His fans call him 'the most loveable and amazing being including all living and non-living things.' And you could probably add 'the most honest being' to it. Below are excerpts from 10Asia's interview with the Jang who 'intensely' and 'excitingly' talked about himself.

<#10LOGO#> I think "You Are My Pet" is the wrong name for your movie. It would've been better as "You Are Jang Keun-suk." [laugh] Because from the dancing to singing to acting cute, it did well at utilizing the repertoire that is likely to be seen at your Asia fan meetings tours.
Jang Keun-suk: I felt that the overall setup to the movie and the character I'd play was the role that I needed to play the most right now. While the characters I'd played till now were somewhat crying out in pain and were sad, I felt like I was having fun in front of the camera for the In-ho I played in "You Are My Pet." And I read in a review that it seemed like I was saying, 'You still don't think you'd fall for me?' which is true. I shot this movie to make viewers cringe so I felt very strongly about not cowering to it. I told myself that the audience would look down on me the moment I become embarrassed by it so I decided to put be shameless and brazen.

<#10LOGO#> How did you feel about the script when you first got it? There were a variety of elements to it, to the extent that typical actor would not be able to go for the movie. So how did you approach your character?
Jang: I actually had a lot of doubts regarding the script because I liked my character and the overall vibe to the movie but I personally prefer movies that are closer to reality. Having too many fantasy elements to it would lessen its believability so Kim Ha-neul, the director, and I talked a lot about how the movie could become convincing. At first the director wanted the scenes to be extremely pretty but I needed a valid reason to act like that. And we couldn't change the entire script so when on set, the director gave me time to come up with the details for the movie. She said to tell her what we want included so Kim Ha-neul and I came up with a lot of things on set. "You Are My Pet" isn't a movie that is constantly funny. It's rhythmically witty.

<#10LOGO#> Well "You Are My Pet" is a movie one would enjoy if you were a woman and a fan of yours in particular but not appealing to everyone. And a solidarity for men said that it's defamation of character. What did you think of Momo as a guy?
Jang: I don't think the solidarity's argument is worth even mentioning and I personally don't think authoritative guys are attractive. Even when you're in a relationship with a guy, aren't the ones that are round, instead of just manly all the time, more attractive? Plus Momo needs to act cute to his owner to be fed sausages so of course he needs to win her favor. [laughs]

<#10LOGO#> Then what sort of guy do you think of yourself as?
Jang: I recently wrote something because someone recently asked on my Twitter account, 'What sort of guy is Jang Keun-suk?' [Takes out mobile phone and searches Twitter] I wrote it recently. Ah! 'Attractive and intellectual and fatal and even loveable yet unpredictable and mysterious although honest -- a human being that can't be defined in just one word.' [laughs]

Jang Keun-suk [Lee Jin-hyuk/10Asia]

<#10LOGO#> And do you think those fancy modifiers [laugh] describe who you see yourself as being or are what you want to become?
Jang: Probably more of what I want to become. I myself actually don't know what sort of person I am. You can't define one's personality as being of just one certain way, right? So I think I think of myself as being on the journey to discover the various aspects to my personality. The reason I chose to be an actor is because I'd be able to try being a variety of characters within the structure of a project. The management industry has their actors do things according to their plan these days but I think that's a bit boring. I think actors need to discover themselves first to know what they need for their acting. And that's why I really like to say hello to people that I don't know on the street and like studying the way people walk. I also like riding on the subway because even the way everyone sleeps on it is different, right? And it's fun studying that.

<#10LOGO#> I think you must be the type that's difficult for an agency to manage. Because you won't go by its plans.
Jang: That's why I set up my own. [laughs]

<#10LOGO#> And how do you feel now?
Jang: I'm happy and it's so comfortable. I do feel lonely sometimes and am treated like the weak one but at least I don't have to live in the way someone makes me.

<#10LOGO#> There are times that you're the weak one?
Jang: Because there's always a struggle of power within the market. Because you can't disregard your relationship with big companies and big media outlets nor your relationship with the people you work with just because you don't like them. That's why it's overwhelming to provide support for more than 15 employees at times but for now, I like that I can do what I want to.

<#10LOGO#> It seems that you're fully aware of what you want to do, what you need to do and what you can do. You said that you took on "You Are My Pet" as well because you felt that you needed to do a sweet project like that while you're in your twenties.
Jang: There actually aren't a lot of Korean actors under the age of 25 with ticket power. And male actors of my age get a limited number of scripts. We get projects in a limited number of genres and most of them want us to wear school uniforms. On top of that, I haven't had any movies that have done well. I've been called a blue chip but none of my dramas nor movies have been smash hits. However, I do think I'm at the stage where there are an increasing number of movies I can be in. And there are more genres and roles I can play. At 25, I don't have any intention of staking my all for "You Are My Pet" nor calling it my major work. I can goof around and act frivolous because it's now but I'm sure I'll have more opportunities once I turn 30 and become a real man.

<#10LOGO#> I think you in yourself are a hit project. Actors are people who play characters so a lot of them they tend to avoid showing their true selves but you're going in the opposite direction. Aren't you worried that you may not get to play a role you want by fixing your image?
Jang: A character within a project exists solely within the project. Of course, "You Are My Pet" is a bit of an exception because there's a lot of me in it. Anyway, characters are characters and I'm myself although it does seem like I'm gaining more attention these days. Yet the reason I can't be satisfied with this situation nor say it's enough is because I've never won high recognition as an actor. Not once! My personality may have gained popularity from "The Guru Show" but I think that an actor's life is about winning recognition for his projects. That's why no matter how 'hot' I may be right now, I think of myself as a being that is in a bubble that could burst any moment from whatever accident. And I think that's why I can't do a sloppy job at whatever I do. I only got three hours of sleep today. I had two near-death experiences while coming to Seoul from Daegu. I'm spending my time well to the extent that if I asked myself, "Hey do you really have no regrets over your life?" I could answer, "I don't, you asshole!"

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10 아시아 Reporter: Kim Hee Ju fifteen@
10 아시아 Reporter : Lee Ji-Hye seven@
10 아시아 Photographer : Lee Jin-hyuk eleven@
10 아시아 Editor : Jessica Kim jesskim@