[Interview] Kim Yohan: "My Father Posted 'Watch Try Live' at the Gym"

Three Projects Canceled Amid Production Slump, Four-Year Hiatus
"Realized the Value of Acting, Returning with WEi Activities This Year"

Actor Kim Yohan. Photo by Wi Entertainment

Actor Kim Yohan experienced an almost four-year hiatus after three consecutive projects fell through following "School 2021." The projects, which had progressed all the way to script readings and filming preparations, were canceled at the final stage. Kim said, "It felt like I was crashing into the ground." He felt lost, as if he had lost his job, and endured the time by staying at home, clinging only to scripts. His income dropped to zero. He kept telling himself, "This too shall pass," and was encouraged by his mother's words, "If things don't work out, come back to your hometown and let's run the gym together."

The project that finally came after this difficult period was the SBS drama "Try: We Become Miracles." In the series, Kim Yohan plays Yoon Sungjun, a third-year student at Hanyang Physical Education High School. Sungjun is a youth who considers rugby his entire life and is facing his final season before entering college. When we met at a cafe in Cheongdam-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, on August 28, he said, "I practiced taekwondo for 14 years," and added, "I lost a season due to an injury in my second year of high school, so I could really relate to Sungjun's desperate feelings."

His preparation was intense. Before joining the project, he underwent three months of rugby training. He met with fellow actors every day to repeat basic drills and also participated in separate acting studies. Kim Yohan said, "To build a physique like a rugby player, I ate four meals a day for over two months and increased my weight to 78 kilograms before filming began." He performed most of the game scenes himself and did not shy away from tackles and physical confrontations with active players.

"I thought injuries were inevitable. Not just me, but all the rugby team members carried big and small injuries. I believed that was necessary to make the game scenes feel authentic. There was a scene we filmed in the middle of winter under a water truck, and I couldn't tell if I was shivering from acting or from the cold."

His gaze was the key to the character. After his idol, former national team member Joo Garam (played by Yoon Kyesang), falls from grace due to a doping scandal and returns as a coach, Sungjun experiences confusion and conflict. Kim Yohan explained, "I tried to convey the complex emotions of being both displeased and glad at the same time." He especially cited the hospital scene as the most memorable. "I liked that Sungjun's brighter side emerged from his darkness. Viewers told me, 'You smiled a lot,' and just hearing that made me feel rewarded," he said.

Drama 'Try' still cut. Photo by SBS 'Try'

Filming lasted for nearly a year. After three months of practice and seven months of shooting, Kim Yohan finally saw the show air. He shared, "I was relieved that all the hard work was captured on screen. I'm grateful for all the love and support."

Kim Yohan confessed, "During the break from acting, I realized more than anyone how much I longed for and valued acting." During his darkest times, it was his family who supported him. His father was so happy about his return that he posted a sign reading "Try - Watch the Live Broadcast" on the wall of the gym he runs. Kim said, "My mother took a picture and sent it to me, saying, 'I told your dad not to do it, but he insisted.' My parents were really happy to see me on TV again after such a long time."

As "Try" received a positive response, Kim Yohan confirmed his appearance in the upcoming drama "The Fourth Love Revolution" and the film "Made in Itaewon." He reflected, "This is a project I'm grateful for because it gave me a new start. It became a turning point for me."

He will also continue his music career. As a member of the group WEi, he is preparing for a comeback in the second half of the year. He said, "I'm happy to be on stage with my members again after two years. I want to repay the fans who waited for us by showing them my best." He also said he will not take a break from acting. Looking ahead, he shared his desire to take on detective dramas and psychopathic characters.

"I was amazed watching Im Siwan's acting. I want to challenge myself with roles that show a different side behind an innocent face. My goals as an actor are long-term. In 10 or 20 years, I want to become someone who guides younger actors, just like my seniors do now. For now, I am the one being led, but someday, I hope to take on that role myself."