Singer and actor Yook Sung-jae shared his thoughts on the end of ‘Return to Palace’.

In SBS Friday-Saturday drama ‘Gwigung’, which ended on the 7th, Yook Sung-jae gave a passionate performance in the dual role of Yoon Gap, a prosecutor possessed by the evil spirit Kang Cheol-i.He received favorable reviews for his diverse acting spectrum, from humorous acting to deep emotional lines.

‘Gwigung’ is a fantasy romance comedy about a shaman named Yeo-ri who rejects the fate of a shaman, and Kang Cheol-i, an imoogi trapped in the body of Yeo-ri’s first love, Yoon-gap, who face the eight-faced ghost who holds a grudge against the royal family, and their bodies and souls become tightly entangled.

The drama took first place in viewership ratings for its time slot before airing and first place in viewership ratings for a miniseries aired for a week(based on Nielsen Korea), turning home theaters into a ‘Gwigung’ craze.In addition, it achieved global success by reaching first place in 89 countries, including major countries such as the US, UK, and France.

After earning the title of ‘possessed actor’ through his performance in fantasy works such as ‘Goblin’, ‘Golden Spoon’, and ‘Ssangappocha’, Yook Sungjae once again displayed his strong charm through ‘Gwigung’.Through a Q&A session, he revealed his thoughts on the end of the show, behind-the-scenes stories of filming, and his honest thoughts on acting.


The following is a Q&A with Yuk Seong-jae.

Q The drama ‘Gwigung’ has ended.Please tell us your thoughts.

I’m so sad and it still doesn’t feel real that it’s over.’Gwigung’ was a work that had a really big meaning to me, and through this work, I gained confidence in acting and the determination to be more proactive.I sincerely thank everyone who loved ‘Gwigung’.

Q You received favorable reviews for your performance of a possessed dual role, going back and forth between ‘Imugi’ Kang Cheol and ‘human’ Yoon Gap.Were there any parts that were difficult or good?

Although it was burdensome to have to play two roles without any special effects, I think I was able to overcome my limitations by filming each scene with the mindset of solving a big mission one by one.In particular, I became more and more interested in delicate acting that expresses facial expressions, speech patterns, and even endings as I thought more and more about it, and I felt proud when I saw the finished product.

Q ‘Gwigung’ received a lot of love, surpassing 10% in viewership ratings and taking first place for 9 consecutive weeks.I’m curious whether you expected it to be a hit and what the reactions were from people around you.

I am so grateful for all the interest I have received since the first episode.There are more people who recognize me, and although I personally feel that there are many things I regret and lack, I sincerely thank you for viewing me favorably.

Q What was the atmosphere like on set? Are there any memorable episodes?

The director and the staff all seemed to have a special affection for the characters in the play.Thanks to that, Kang Cheol’s charm could be better expressed, and in the scenes with actors Kim Ji-yeon and Kim Ji-hoon, with whom I worked most often, they helped each other look more attractive.I think I was able to persevere until the end because everyone was one in heart and mind and poured their love into the work called ‘Gwigung’.

Q This was your first historical drama challenge.Are there any changes or growth you have gained as an actor while acting in this piece?

I think my fear of genres has disappeared.Since it is a work that mixes so many genres, I was able to experience a variety of acting, and in the process, I felt the fun of each genre.I think I also gained confidence that I can do this kind of acting in the future.

Q How was it working with the other actors you acted with?

Actress Kim Ji-yeon is an actress who is very detailed in her analysis of the script.She pointed out every single part that I missed, and I was impressed by her focus without any negligence until the last filming.Actor Kim Ji-hoon seemed to have a great affection for the drama and the character.He gave me a lot of feedback for my relationships with other actors, and he seemed like a great actor who made it possible for me to immerse myself in the play while acting with him.

Q Is there an acting genre or role you would like to try in the future?

I want to try a variety of things.Having experienced the fantasy genre, I now want to try acting in stories about everyday people, like a normal country boy or a monotone human drama.

Q Lastly, please say a word to the viewers and fans who love ‘Gwigung’.

Thank you very much for loving our drama ‘Gwigung’ so much.To everyone who watched ‘Gwigung’, I hope that only happy things will happen to you in the future, and Kangcheol and Yeo-ri will take away all the bad things! Evil spirits, go away!

Meanwhile, Yook Sungjae released concept photos of his first mini album ‘All About Blue’ filled with boyish charm through his official SNS on the 7th and 8th.’All About Blue’ will be released through various online music sites at 6 PM on the 19th.He will then meet his fans through his solo fan concert ‘THE BLUE JOURNEY’ on the 21st and 22nd.


Reporter Yang Ju- juyeon@donga.com

This article is automatically translated using Google AI. If you notice any inaccuracies, please let us know at allkstar@donga.com.