Actor Choi Woo-sung reflected on his first encounter with Go Yoon-jung.
Choi recently starred in the 12-episode Netflix series “Can This Love Be Translated?” (penned by the Hong Sisters and helmed by Yoo Young-eun). He portrayed Kim Yong-woo, the manager of global superstar Cha Mu-hee (played by Go Yoon-jung), showcasing his versatility as an actor.
In the early episodes, Choi embodied a loyal and warm-hearted go-getter manager, developing a strong sibling-like rapport with Cha Mu-hee. As the story progressed, he engaged in a whirlwind romance with Shin Ji-sun (portrayed by Lee Idam). With his appealing looks and transformation into a charming younger man exuding puppy-like charisma, Choi Woo-sung received praise for his debut romantic performance.
Choi has honed his craft by taking on diverse roles across genres in series such as “My Roommate Is a Gumiho,” “Police University,” “Investigation Team 1958,” and “Running Mate.” His foray into romance with “Can This Love Be Translated?” has sparked interest in his future career moves.
The show has gained significant traction, even topping Netflix charts.
“I can tell it’s doing well because I’m getting messages from people I know,” Choi shared. “My social media following has grown by about 300,000. It’s incredible. International fans are learning Korean and leaving comments in Hangul, addressing me as ‘manager’ or ‘Yong-woo.’ They say things like, ‘Please take good care of Mu-hee, sis.’ It’s quite amusing.”
When asked about joining the project, Choi explained,
“I was cast about a year before filming began. I believe the Hong Sisters saw my performance in ‘My Roommate Is a Gumiho’ and recommended me to the director. We had about three meetings where they assessed my image, the character of Yong-woo, and my chemistry with Director Shin Ji-sun. After that, I filmed ‘Investigation Team.’ When I wrapped up ‘Investigation Team,’ I weighed 110 kg (242.5 lbs). I had two months until filming for ‘Can This Love Be Translated?’ While my weight was close to the pre-gain figure, muscle loss was faster than expected. I needed some time to adjust during filming.”
Regarding the Hong Sisters’ offer, Choi expressed,
“I was thrilled, thinking, ‘The Hong Sisters know who I am!’ I’ve enjoyed their works like ‘The Master’s Sun’ and ‘Alchemy of Souls,’ and my mother is a big fan of their shows too. During our meeting, we did a group reading, and they even demonstrated some acting. I immediately grasped the character and the vibe. ‘My Roommate Is a Gumiho’ was one of my earliest dramas. Knowing they reached out after seeing my debut work made me realize that my hard work was paying off.”
On his approach to playing a manager, Choi shared,
“The character’s backstory is that he has a strong bond with Cha Mu-hee even before her rise to fame. Although he’s her younger brother, he has a dependable and caring personality. He’s determined to make Cha Mu-hee a star. I wanted to convey a warm, sibling-like relationship, showing his caring nature. Even if it’s not always visible on screen, I aimed to be in Cha Mu-hee’s line of sight. I wanted their relationship to provide her with a sense of security.”
Choi recalled some memorable reactions, saying,
“The agency’s representative told me, ‘Your innate kindness really shines through as Yong-woo.’ I also noticed comments like, ‘I love the sibling-like chemistry between Mu-hee and Yong-woo.’ That was exactly what I aimed to express while acting, so it really stuck with me.”
Describing his chemistry with Go Yoon-jung, Choi enthused, “The atmosphere on set was incredibly upbeat. It was lively, with constant laughter. When I first met Go Yoon-jung, she extended her hand and said, ‘We’re only a year apart, so let’s speak casually.’ I was initially intimidated, thinking, ‘Can I really pull off this manager role?’ because she was so stunning, but her friendly demeanor immediately put me at ease. I felt confident working with her. Go Yoon-jung was incredibly thoughtful. On our days off, she would go shopping with the staff and bring back things we needed. I remember asking her for shorts because I wanted to go for a run. It was quite funny.”
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