Actor So Ji-sub met with the magazine ‘Arena’.

So Ji-sub is about to release his comeback drama, ‘The Square’, after three years.’The Square’ is a Netflix series based on a webtoon of the same name, and So Ji-sub plays the role of Nam Ki-joon, who returns to the organization he left to avenge his younger brother’s death.

So Ji-sub introduced his decision to appear in ‘The Square’ as a ‘noir action film with a strong masculine feel.’ What kind of person did he want the character he played, Nam Ki-joon, to be like?

“In the original, Ki-jun is a man of steel.He doesn’t seem like he’ll lose to anyone.I wanted to feel a sense of desperation from Ki-jun.That’s what the director and I had the most trouble with.Of course, Ki-jun isn’t a good person, but I wanted him to feel pitiful on the other hand.As the story progresses, I wanted the viewers to realize that Ki-jun is also a person with wounds.”

So Ji-sub said that as an actor and as an audience member, they have different tastes in choosing works.I was curious about what kind of works he would prefer as an actor, since he chose ‘Romeo and Juliet’ as the movie of his life.

“When acting, I tend to like works with a heavy atmosphere like ‘The Square.’ I prefer someone who doesn’t have a lot of emotional ups and downs, and someone who expresses himself with his eyes rather than words.The acting I want to do and the acting that others want to see are different.People who like So Ji-sub and watch him prefer romantic comedies.Even now, I often get asked, ‘When are you going to do a romantic comedy?’ It’s the same with all jobs, but there’s a gap between what I want to do and what I can be recognized for.”

So Ji-sub also shared his thoughts on what he thinks makes a ‘good actor’.

“I think a good actor is someone who is healthy in body and mind, who does his best in his work and has no regrets.I believe that the fastest way to become a good actor is to become a good person.Regardless of whether you are good at acting or not, you should have a healthy attitude toward acting.That way, you can do your best without being late, and you can do your best without regrets.”

The pictorial and interview containing the candid appearance of actor So Ji-sub can be found in the May issue of ‘Arena Homme Plus’.

Reporter Jeon Hyo-jin, Donga.com jhj@donga.com

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