The Magic of Choi Woo-shik, the Youth Who Makes Fantasy Real, 'Number One' Choi Woo-shik② “Everyone loves my unassuming face, allowing me to grow with the character”

▶ 〈Number One〉 Actor Choi Woo-shik Interview Continues Part 1.

〈Number One〉 is a film where dialogue is important, but there are many significant eating scenes. Local foods from Busan, like pickled perilla leaves and beef radish soup, also appear. It seems you put a lot of effort into acting out the eating scenes. How did you prepare for the 'eating show' acting?

There was a food team on set. Delicious food was always prepared, and during filming, they made beef radish soup right next to us, preparing everything from side dishes to rice. So I didn't feel the need to act like the food was more delicious; I just enjoyed eating the delicious meals happily throughout the shoot. When asked, 'What is the home-cooked meal you miss the most?' I think of my mom's spam, fried eggs, and kimchi stew. Any food my mom made is precious to me, and I focused on making the eating scenes in 〈Number One〉 look like those precious moments. The food was really delicious. Have you tried perilla leaves? They really feel like fallen leaves. Wet leaves, salty leaves. So I found the beef radish soup tastier.

There's a scene in the movie where Hamin makes beef radish soup. Can you actually make beef radish soup? Have you ever served it to your parents?

Yes. I can make it now. I haven't served it to them yet. I should do it someday. I need to do it like Hamin, without delay.

What kind of son is actor Choi Woo-shik at home?

I'm like a daughter-son. Hamin jokes a lot with his mom and calls her 'Eun-sil,' and I also tell my parents I love them a lot. I try hard, but I'm still a lacking son. I was a late child, so I received a lot of love growing up, but I should give more, yet I haven't been able to.

Have Choi Woo-shik's parents seen 〈Number One〉?

They haven't seen it yet. But my parents don't like seeing me struggle; they prefer when I'm on variety shows or doing melodramas. They don't like seeing me cry, run away, or get stabbed and stabbed. They'll probably be sad this time too.

What is the work your parents liked the most and the one they disliked the most?

My parents love variety shows the most. Since they air reruns often, they see me a lot on TV when I'm on variety shows. They also really liked 〈Our Beloved Summer〉. But they struggled with 〈Parasite〉, and also with 〈Set Me Free〉 and 〈Giant〉. They'll probably struggle a bit this time too. They watch all my movies, but they seem to like it more when I show a bright side, like in 〈Our Beloved Summer〉 or variety shows. I guess I look a bit pitiful, so they find it hard to see me cry pitifully. (laughs)

Various Korean films like 〈The Man Living with the King〉 and 〈Humint〉 are being released during the Lunar New Year holiday. 〈Number One〉 is a relatively small-scale film. Why should people watch 〈Number One〉 during the holiday?

Not just for promotion, but reading the script of 〈Number One〉 and watching the movie made me feel like I grew. Watching the movie, seeing Hamin's growth, and asking yourself questions is also growth. When focusing on work, society, and relationships, we tend to forget the importance of our parents, but watching the movie allows you to ask those questions together. Also, there are people who can't eat home-cooked meals anymore, and I think they might find comfort in watching our movie.

What question did 〈Number One〉 leave you with?

When I was young, I always carried the same worries as the theme of 〈Number One〉. My parents are older than my peers', so I thought, when I'm in my thirties, my parents will be in their seventies or eighties. But at some point, I got so caught up in work that I forgot those questions. Now that I'm in my thirties, I realize there aren't many seasons left to spend with my parents, and I need to pay more attention. I also thought I should record videos instead of just taking photos.

Director Kim Tae-yong said that Choi Woo-shik's strength is his delicate emotional acting, and that he resonates more on a big screen than on a monitor. How do you feel when you see yourself on a big screen?

It's different from dramas. I still can't see myself objectively when I see my face tightly on the screen. I keep noticing other things, like 'Why did I look there while talking?' So when I first watched 〈Number One〉, I couldn't focus well because I kept seeing other things. I should have acted more neatly. Anyway, watching movies in theaters is the wisest choice. Not just asking you to watch our movie, (laughs) but watching any movie is a meaningful activity. From preparing to watch with a loved one or friend, to discussing the movie on the way back, it's a significant experience. It's a shame that such experiences are decreasing these days, but there are many movies to watch in theaters this time, so I hope many people visit the theaters. Watch 〈Number One〉 first. (laughs) I hope 〈Number One〉 becomes number one, as the title suggests.

From Young-jae in 〈Giant〉 to Hamin in 〈Number One〉, it seems like the characters of youth portrayed by Choi Woo-shik have become a category of their own. Sometimes timid and awkward, yet realistic and growing through challenges, you've played many such roles. How do you feel the 'Choi Woo-shik style youth face' is evolving?

I think it's true that I have an unassuming face. Like senior Jang Hye-jin said I resemble her son, I seem to have many similarities with people around me. I've done many dramas and films where the protagonist grows, and fortunately, I've been able to incorporate a lot of my experiences. Director Bong Joon-ho chose me for 〈Parasite〉 after seeing Young-jae's struggle to grow in 〈Giant〉, and I'm grateful that people seem to like those aspects of me. I've been able to grow with the characters.