[Interview] Ahn Bo-hyun "Whether Action or Melo, I Hope to Survive Without Dying"

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Isul] Relaxing his eyes and growing his hair, he became a different person. Ahn Bo-hyun is an actor who smoothly transitions between genres and flexibly changes his appearance. In just five years since his debut, he has already secured leading roles in works. This time, he became a detective. It was an opportunity to draw on his experience as a former boxing athlete. He expanded his domain by mastering noir like a perfectly fitting shoe.

In a non-face-to-face interview on the morning of the 25th for the Netflix series 'My Name,' Ahn Bo-hyun said, "I liked the role of a detective who creates tension within various relationships."

Released on the online video service (OTT) Netflix on the 15th, 'My Name' is a series depicting Ji-woo, who infiltrates the police under a new name after joining an organization to find the person who killed her father, facing harsh truths and revenge. The series is directed by Kim Jin-min, who also directed 'Time Between Dog and Wolf' and 'Extracurricular.'

Ahn Bo-hyun plays Pil-do, Ji-woo's (played by Han So-hee) partner after she infiltrates the police. Although Pil-do is displeased with Ji-woo, who ruins a long-investigated case, he gradually works in sync with her by putting his body on the line and rushing to the scene. He said, "There were many reactions curious about the detective role, and I was also curious about how to portray it," adding, "It felt more like a detective than I thought, so I am satisfied." He continued, "The director told me not to act but to express myself like a real detective because I am like Pil-do."

Pil-do is an ace of the narcotics investigation unit, a capable and resolute detective, and a principled person. He conducts investigations with conviction and principles. Ahn Bo-hyun prepared for the role by referring to documentaries and related reports. "I had never lived as a detective, so I wondered how to portray it. I searched for shows like 'Unanswered Questions' and articles to prepare. I was curious about how real narcotics detectives look. I thought they would be extremely tough, but that was not always the case."

Director Kim Jin-min deeply trusted Ahn Bo-hyun, a former boxing athlete. He said, "The director said, 'If you mess with someone who won first place in a national competition, I’m dead,' and 'Since you boxed, you’ll know how to handle action scenes.' I thought about what my strengths were and worked hard," adding, "I wanted to meet expectations."

Ahn Bo-hyun’s determination toward the action genre was exceptional. He said he intensified his workouts to portray the narcotics detective impressively. Wanting to express a strong and solid physique, he increased his muscle mass by more than 5kg through consistent exercise and action practice. "I manage my diet about 300 days out of 365. It’s not easy, but it’s to maintain my body shape. Thanks to that effort, I reached this point. If my stomach were out of shape during a sudden exposure scene, viewers wouldn’t be able to immerse themselves, so I manage myself regularly. Especially to show Pil-do’s burly and solid appearance, I built muscle."

While living as a boxing athlete, he vaguely dreamed of becoming an actor. However, actual boxing action acting and boxing were different. Ahn Bo-hyun said, "When I was young, I watched boxing movies and thought, 'Since I’m a boxing athlete, I might do well if I act.' I was eager to do action acting," adding, "But when I actually tried, it was different. It’s not just me; I had to focus on not hurting myself or my opponent. There was also a process of preparing by syncing with others at the action school. People around me said it really looked like we were fighting, so I’m thankful."

After the release of 'My Name,' the bed scenes between Han So-hee and Ahn Bo-hyun became a hot topic. Some reactions said the passionate bed scenes were somewhat abrupt. When asked how he viewed and acted in those scenes, he replied, "I thought it was important because it stimulates Ji-woo once more and makes her awaken to revenge," adding, "I created it in consultation with the director and Han So-hee."

Ahn Bo-hyun debuted with the film 'Hiya' (2016), appeared in dramas such as 'My Only One' (2017), 'Hide and Seek' (2018), and 'Her Private Life' (2019), and gained significant attention through 'Itaewon Class' (2020) and 'Kairos.' Currently, he is revealing another charm through melodrama acting in the ongoing 'Yumi’s Cells.' He has added melodrama to his action filmography.

"I like both action and melodrama. Recently, after doing strong works, I felt many people thought I couldn’t do melodrama. Because I have an energetic and strong vibe, they seemed to think melodrama was far from me, but I like melodrama too. While acting, there were many times I thought, 'Oh, I feel these emotions too.'"

Then Ahn Bo-hyun laughed and said, "Above all, I hope I don’t die." "Whether it’s melodrama or action, I rarely ended up alive. I want to do a melodrama that ends with 'They lived beautifully and well' someday," he said wittily.

'My Name' was released as a successor to the globally popular 'Squid Game.' Regarding this, he said, "I also became a fan after watching 'Squid Game.' I’m happy that K-content is spreading its wings and being loved worldwide," adding, "I’m proud and thankful for ranking third globally. Above all, I’m glad that two domestic works are ranked on Netflix’s list."

Photo = Netflix