[Interview] Byeon Woo-seok: "My Ideal Type Is a Wise Person, I Honestly Express My Feelings When I Like Someone"

Actor Byeon Woo-seok who played Pungunho in the movie '20th Century Girl'

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Isul] The icon of first love is no longer Suzy. It is now Byeon Wooseok (31). His face, etched in faint memories, with orderly features and a lonely smile, evokes the bittersweet feelings of adolescent crushes. A 20th-century boy who lived through the heart of his teenage years, confirming that the world did not end at the turn of the millennium in 1999, is coming.

On the 26th, meeting Byeon Wooseok in Samcheong-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, he said, "I wonder if I deserve the title 'icon of first love,' but I am happy and grateful. It was a role I really wanted to play." He stars as Pung Unho, a 17-year-old boy who builds memories while working in the broadcasting club alongside Nabo-ra (played by Kim Yoo-jung) in the Netflix original '20th Century Girl' (directed by Bang Woori), released on the 21st.

Pung Unho grows his feelings while sharing friendship with Nabo-ra, who takes it upon herself to be a cupid for a friend. He helps Bora while hiding his emotions, like a 'tall uncle.' But what about in real life? Byeon Wooseok said, "If it were me, I would first consider who is the important person in the moment between friends." He added, "The relationship with friends who have known me for a long time is more precious." When asked what his first love in his teenage years was like, he recalled, "It was a crush." He continued, "I liked someone alone, but I never confessed, and it ended that way."

Is confession the only way to confirm mutual feelings? Byeon Wooseok said he honestly expresses his emotions to the person he likes. He said, "Sometimes I wonder, 'Why can't they understand my feelings like this?' Over time, I realized that expressing gratitude when I am thankful is good. If you like someone, say you like them. Don't just think about it alone; express it. I tend to be honest with my feelings. I wasn't like that before, but now I try to be honest."

Still from the movie '20th Century Girl'. Photo by Netflix

Byeon Wooseok named 'The Notebook' (2004) and 'A Summer's Tale' (2006) as his life movies and said, "When dating, you have to give your best in every moment. A good relationship is one where you try not to have regrets." He added, "Looking back, moments that cause regret pass by. The reason I like 'The Notebook' is because the male and female leads love each other by giving everything. I dream of that kind of love."

He said that liking grows from moments that accumulate. When asked about his ideal type, Byeon Wooseok said, "Small moments that create feelings come together to grow the heart," and "Someone who is admirable in their attitude toward others and passionate about their work." He also said, "I like wise, sensible, and mature women."

He picked amusement parks, trains, and ending scenes as his favorite scenes. Byeon Wooseok laughed, saying, "I actually handle roller coasters well." He recalled, "We rode about three or four times while filming, but I kept closing my eyes. It was harder because I couldn't enjoy it while riding."

Debuting with the drama 'Dear My Friends' (2016) and gaining attention with 'Record of Youth' (2020), Byeon Wooseok said he found the joy of acting through 'Record of Youth.' He said, "There was a time during filming when emotions suddenly hit me. At that time, I wondered, 'What is this?' I had that experience twice while filming '20th Century Girl' as well. It made me realize that acting is truly a fun job."

'20th Century Girl' was screened in the 'Korean Cinema Today - Special Premiere' section at the 27th Busan International Film Festival, and Byeon Wooseok attended the festival for three days from the 5th as a lead actor. He made a strong impression by enjoying Busan properly, meeting audiences at various official events, and taking photos at the beach. He smiled and said, "It was really great. It was my first time being invited to the Busan Film Festival in my life. I was thrilled by the audience's response. The three days passed like a single day. I ate a lot of delicious food. The daegutang was really tasty, so I went again the next day, but it was closed. I want to go to Busan again."