'The Murky Stream' Rowoon, shedding 'handsomeness' to focus on acting... "I wanted to show a different side"

Actor Rowoon (real name Kim Seok-woo), who comes from an idol background, revealed that he has shed his existing image and attempted a new acting transformation.

On the 15th, Rowoon met with reporters in Samcheong-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, and said, "Handsome looks don’t last long. I always thought about whether I could compete with just that," adding, "I wanted to be evaluated based on my acting after shedding my handsomeness for a while."

Until now, Rowoon has taken on only major roles such as the prince who falls in love at first sight in the drama 〈The Matchmakers〉, the mysterious and taciturn male student in 〈Extraordinary You〉, and the handsome elite marketer in 〈She Would Never Know〉. However, in the recent Disney+ original series 〈The Murky Stream〉, he showed a completely different side as a rough character covered in sweat and dirt.

Rowoon stated, "In previous works, I had makeup done to look fair and took on only polished images," and added, "When I was wondering if anyone would recognize that I have a different side, I was really excited to be offered 〈The Murky Stream〉."

〈The Murky Stream〉 is directed by director Choo Chang-min of the film 〈Masquerade〉 and written by writer Cheon Sung-il of 〈The Slave Hunters〉. Rowoon plays the role of Jang Si-yul, a rough character and the second-in-command of Mapo Naru during the Joseon Dynasty.

Rowoon explained, "When I first read the script, my eyes lit up," and added, "The character I play, Jang Si-yul, is a lonely wolf with no name to be called or home to return to. I really liked the line, 'I am not a good-natured person.'"

The directing style of the meticulous director Choo Chang-min was also a new challenge for Rowoon. He emphasized, "If we filmed two scenes in a day, it was considered a lot because the direction was really delicate," and added, "It was fun to create perfect scenes by trying again and again in a situation where there was time to spare."

Rowoon recalled, "I think I did my best acting every day," and said, "So after finishing each scene, I would shout 'Wow, that was delicious' as a way of feeling relieved."

With this work, Rowoon is preparing to enlist in the military. He said, "I lived my twenties very intensely, but I had many complaints," and added, "Now I feel more relaxed as I trust myself more."

He continued, "After enlisting, I will train hard, and since I want to advance to Hollywood, I will learn English in my spare time," expressing his cheerful aspirations.