[On the Record] Ahn Hyo-seop "Love Also Needs Practice Like a Musical Instrument"

Actor Ahn Hyo-seop Interview

Netflix's 'Into Your Time' Dual Role
"I Believe in Fate... Feeling Responsible as a One-Person Agency"

"No matter what time you are in, I will find you. I will come to you." (Line from Siheon in 'Into Your Time')

If someone loves another person deeply and truly connects, can they recognize each other beyond time and space? Can they love each other’s souls? Nowadays, when it’s common to easily fall for someone and just as easily forget, the Taiwanese drama 'Someday or One Day' (2019?2020), which portrayed the value of eternal, unchanging love and gained popularity, was remade into a Korean version. Through this, the role originally played by Taiwanese actor Hsu Kuang-han was taken on by Korean actor Ahn Hyo-seop (28, Paul Ahn). The recently released Netflix original series 'Into Your Time' adds a wistful and fresh charm while differing from the original. It amplifies Korean retro sensibilities, evoking nostalgia.

Actor Ahn Hyo-seop [Photo by Netflix]

Meeting Ahn Hyo-seop recently at a cafe in Samcheong-dong, Jongno-gu, he said, "I didn’t watch 'Someday or One Day' before filming because I was worried it might influence me. I’ve been watching it comfortably since yesterday (the release day)," and smiled. He confessed that appearing in a popular remake was a big burden. He said, "But I focused on my character and poured my passion into the work."

He added, "I approached it not as a remake of 'Someday or One Day' but as a new work called 'Into Your Time'." He continued, "It was a work that required a lot of imagination. I talked a lot with director Kim Jin-won. Since we couldn’t shoot in chronological order, I had to use my imagination when jumping back and forth between different ages."

"One thing that can’t be changed on a person’s face is their gaze. I tried to give Siheon’s gaze a different quality for each age. I tried to understand and imagine his life. I immersed myself in the scenes hoping the depth of his gaze would look different each time. There’s no right answer, but I closely consulted with the director about his emotions while filming."

Actor Ahn Hyo-seop [Photo by Netflix]

In the drama, Ahn Hyo-seop plays Gu Yeon-jun in 2023 and Nam Siheon in 1998, unfolding a romance that transcends time and space. With unwavering devotion and pure love, he brings excitement, leading the story through youthful friendship and mature love. When asked if he believes in love that connects souls, he said, "I want to believe." "I’ve never experienced that kind of love myself, but I wondered how it would look if I portrayed a love that sacrifices one’s entire life. I thought hard about how to express this love. The best thing was just to believe that such love exists."

Ahn Hyo-seop emphasized that friendship is also a form of love. However, he made people laugh by saying, "If I had to choose between love and friendship, I’d choose love." Is such selfless love, where one completely devotes themselves to someone else, possible in reality?

"Love shouldn’t be selfish or selfless. Both people have to work together and build trust as a foundation. If you love blindly and sacrifice yourself, or only think about yourself, the balance will eventually collapse. Some say love is something that 'comes to you,' but I think love is something you study. Like learning a musical instrument, it requires practice."

Actor Ahn Hyo-seop [Photo by Netflix]

When asked to define love, he answered, "I believe in fate," but gave a slightly different reason. "I believe in fate, but that fate is something I can create. Everything changes because of my choices. What’s important is feeling gratitude. When you think that way, everything you choose becomes precious."

Ahn Hyo-seop said he cried alone while watching the final episode of 'Into Your Time.' Although he usually prides himself on not shedding tears, they flowed uncontrollably, and he smiled brightly. He found the loneliness he has felt in real life reflected in his role. He said, "There was a sense of empathy from having spent a lot of time alone."

Ahn Hyo-seop immigrated to Toronto, Canada, at age six and spent his childhood and school years there. Now active as an actor living alone in Seoul, his family still resides in Toronto.

"I felt how hard Siheon’s life must have been and how he endured it alone, and I thought about his final emotions. I also had lonely times, but back then I didn’t realize I was lonely. I had been in Korea alone since I was young, and many people around me took care of me. But looking back, I think I just ignored it, and loneliness accumulated inside me. Those feelings probably projected onto Siheon. I cried quite a bit."

Still from 'Into Your Time'
[Photo by Netflix]

Recently, Ahn Hyo-seop established a one-man agency and opened a second chapter as an actor. In May last year, he founded The Present Company with his manager, who had been with him since before his debut. He also built a strategic investment and partnership collaboration system with Barunson E&A, the production company behind the film 'Parasite' (2019). As a global star active through dramas like 'Lovers of the Red Sky' (2021), 'Business Proposal' (2022), and 'Dr. Romantic,' his vision is clear.

"I like working alone, but I also wanted advice from experienced people, so I contacted Barunson. They produced famous films that introduced Korea to the world. I wanted help from a company with great achievements, and I received tremendous energy. I created a one-man agency because I wanted to take responsibility for my own choices. In an agency, decisions go through many people. Of course, it’s good to hear various opinions, but sometimes you have to do things you don’t want to. Since this is a time when I can try many things, I wanted to experience both good and bad. Whatever happens, I challenged myself with the determination to fully accept the results."