[Interview②] Liu Yihuo: "'Parasite' and 'Extreme Job' Impressive... Please Invite Me as a Camping Pro"

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Isul] Chinese-speaking actor Liu Yihuo expressed his desire to appear in Korean films and broadcasts.

On the 6th, Liu Yihuo shared various stories about the Netflix original series 'Together' during an online video chat interview.

'Together' is a travel variety show this summer featuring two same-age stars, Lee Seung-gi and Liu Yihuo, who come from different languages and backgrounds, traveling across Asia to meet their fans. The two complete missions given by the production team at fan-recommended travel destinations, piecing together clues to find their fans. The show was planned by PDs Jo Hyo-jin and Go Min-seok, known for 'Running Man' and 'Busted!'.

Lee Seung-gi and Liu Yihuo travel extensively across Asia for about a month, visiting Yogyakarta and Bali in Indonesia, Bangkok and Chiang Mai in Thailand, Pokhara and Kathmandu in Nepal, and finally Seoul. They solve missions through activities like paragliding, couple yoga, and cliff diving.

Taking on Korean variety shows for the first time, Liu Yihuo said, "I wanted to show my natural self" and revealed his unique determination by adding, "I tried to enjoy every moment." He continued, "I didn't plan to show anything by thinking hard; I focused on enjoying the missions as much as possible, succeeding in them, and meeting fans. There were many real, unscripted moments."

He also said, "During the missions, I felt that Lee Seung-gi was an amazing person. I learned a lot from him," and expressed satisfaction, "He had great stamina, and our chemistry gradually improved. By the end of filming, we didn't even need words to communicate."

When asked what he considers most important in the collaboration process, Liu Yihuo chose trust. He said, "I tried to enjoy the travel process, and having an attitude of trusting the production team is important."

How did he feel when he first received the casting offer? Liu Yihuo said, "I was very surprised. Since I am not fluent in Korean, I was curious about how the program would be made. The fact that it depicts the process of meeting fans was also interesting," explaining his reason for participating.

In 2018, Liu Yihuo visited the Busan International Film Festival ahead of the release of 'More Than Blue' and met Korean audiences. At that time, he showed affection for Korea and expressed his willingness to work on domestic projects. He recalled, "It was my first time visiting Busan, and it was really comfortable. Even though it's a city, it was interesting that it was close to the sea. I was able to watch performances and eat delicious food at street stalls, leaving me with comfortable and good memories."

Liu Yihuo said, "I want to go to Korea. If I get the chance, I definitely want to try camping in Korea. I've heard there are many beautiful places. I am usually interested in camping gear, and when I see good equipment, many are 'Made in KOREA' products." He smiled and added, "If there is a camping-related program, please contact me. It would be great to learn Korean, work on projects, and enjoy camping, which I like."

When asked about his favorite domestic places, Liu Yihuo said, "I like going to Namsan and the Hanyangdoseong Trail. It's quiet, and walking there makes me feel at ease," and fluently said in Korean, "I want to go to Korea."

He also shared his dream of camping with fans. Liu Yihuo said, "I want to recommend camping as an activity to fans. I've thought about having fan meetings while camping with fans. Although it hasn't been realized due to practical constraints and various situations, I dream of camping where we can listen to music, drink coffee, and enjoy the great outdoors together."

Liu Yihuo continues to devote himself to studying Korean. During the interview, he caught attention by using Korean words like 'director' and 'street stall.' He said, "Korean directors have given me scripts and invited me to work together, but I couldn't accept because my Korean was insufficient. Since I don't know what roles I might get, I am studying Korean harder. I want to meet good projects soon," showing his affection by adding, "Maybe roles where I don't have to speak Korean well would suit me."

When asked about Korean films and broadcasts he enjoys, he said, "There are many works I like," and added, "Recently, I was impressed by the drama 'Itaewon Class' and the films 'Parasite' and 'Extreme Job.' There are many fun and well-structured stories. I have several favorite movies and dramas. If I get the chance, I want to work together."

Photo = Netflix