[Zoom In] Son Seok-gu, Face Boiling with Heat

'My Liberation Notes' Goo's Fever
Blockbuster 'The Outlaws 2' Villain Performance
Son Seok-gu Heating Up the First Half of the Year
Flood of Love Calls

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Isul] 'I adore him.' This was the hottest phrase in the first half of this year. Actor Son Seok-gu (39) sparked the so-called 'Gu Syndrome' and emerged as a hot face. The JTBC drama "My Liberation Notes," which ended on May 29, gained attention through word of mouth. Although it concluded with a peak viewership rating of 6.7%, the narrative of each character received praise and it continues to be popular on online streaming services (OTT) and more.

At the center of this popularity is Gu, portrayed by Son Seok-gu. He gained popularity playing Gu Ja-kyung, who, after working as a hostess bar madam and losing his lover, drowns in alcohol and sorrow. Son Seok-gu's character analysis was unique. He fully immersed himself in Gu’s character, blending it with his own essence, allowing the actor’s charm to subtly permeate. The popularity was tremendous. The timing was also remarkable. The release of the movie "The Outlaws 2," in which he appeared as a villain, coincided perfectly, drawing female audiences to theaters and resulting in a 10 million viewer blockbuster, as if heaven had helped.

As the content industry grows, casting actors has become extremely important. Regardless of who or how a production is made, an actor’s name is directly linked to the trust of the audience and viewers. Investors aware of this prefer a safe path. It is an era where casting based on potential is difficult.

In such a market, discovering new faces is like reaching for the stars. Large-scale productions inevitably feature big stars who have been verified by the public. Becoming a star overnight has become difficult. Of course, new faces continue to emerge diligently every day.

Photo by Saetbyuldang

"My Liberation Notes" is not a work featuring so-called 'top-tier stars.' The strength lies in the script by writer Park Hae-young, who also wrote "My Mister." Most characters are marginalized. The story focuses on people struggling to live on the fringes of society rather than elite office workers. The power and resonance come from characters and stories deeply rooted in reality. It is a charming work that gently washes over you and leaves a lingering impression. This excellent script was embodied with Son Seok-gu’s unique rhythm.

The relationship between Gu and Yeom Mi-jung in the drama suggests that an imperfect relationship can somehow be perfect. Some may find it a difficult emotion to understand. Son Seok-gu deeply analyzed and explored their relationship. Gu’s emotions differ in every scene. One might ask if this is natural given the different situations, but can an actor be truthful every moment? This is quite a challenging task.

Son Seok-gu approached Gu’s sincerity most closely. Even in the sighs he lets out abruptly, different emotions could be read each time. Gu, who wallows in his life trapped in garbage, suffers from regret and guilt but finds comfort and happiness in Yeom Mi-jung (played by Kim Ji-won). He dislikes feeling happiness and, anxious, runs away from Mi-jung back into the gutter. These are emotions that are difficult to convince oneself of or to persuade others about. If another actor had played this, it would have had a different hue.

Son Seok-gu is a five-year actor who debuted in 2017 with the drama "Sense8" Season 2. With the big hit roles of Gu and Kang Hae-sang, he has built a stable image, and it is said that numerous offers for movies, dramas, and advertisements are pouring in.

His future path is highly anticipated. At the age of forty, Son Seok-gu will know what makes him happiest and what values are important in life. We await him to spread his wings wide with a firm philosophy and conviction, without riding on fleeting popularity. Attention is on how he will repay the public’s love and expectations with his next work.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.