Actor affair

Ah In meets his Thai fans

By Suwitcha Chaiyong
Photos courtesy of Neo Creation

After dropping out of school in 2003 to pursue an acting career, Korean star Yoo Ah In worked hard with several small roles until he got his breakthrough part playing the hot-headed university student Geol Oh in the popular 2010 series, Sungkyunkwan Scandal.

Since then, the 28-year-old actor has played leading characters in the TV dramas Fashion King in 2012, Jang Ok-jung: Living by Love in 2013 and Secret Love Affair in 2014. Though some of the shows didn’t attract high ratings, Ah In always received critical acclaim for his convincing acting. He received particularly good reviews for his role as the young pianist who falls in love with his attractive teacher in Secret Love Affair.

IN WITH AH IN

With his natural charm, Ah In had no problem attracting a large crowd of fans to his 2014 Yoo Ah In Fan Meeting Tour in Thailand event at Aksra Theatre King Power on November 29.

At the event, Ah In was touched by the warm welcome and wild screams he received form his Thai fans. He thanked his fans and said that he had never received that kind of welcome before.

FUN WITH FANS

The highlight of the meeting was when four lucky fans posed with the star as if they were in romantic scenes from his TV dramas. One lucky fan drank tea and chatted with Ah In, but unfortunately she was too nervous to ask the actor anything. Instead, she just held his hand.

Ah In put great effort into singing the slow song “Thought of You” at the end of the meeting. Although he sometimes sang off-key, the fans screamed loudly and applauded anyway.

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Here are parts of fan meeting interview, as well as excerpts from Ah In’s press conference at Grand Center Point Hotel Ratchadamri on November 28.

Question: Of all the characters you’ve played so far, which is your favourite?

Ah In: I like my character in Sungkyunkwan Scandal. I played Geol Oh, who is dedicated to his loved one. But my character in Fashion King, Kang Young Gul, is the one most similar to me in real life. He’s tough and straightforward.

Secret Love Affair is the TV series that I like the most. I’d like everybody to watch that one.

Question: What kind of character would you still like to play?

Ah In: I want to play a bad boy. I actually just had a bad boy role in an action movie called Veteran, which will be released in 2015. I also have a period movie called Sado coming out soon.

Question: How do you feel about Thailand, since you’ve visited here many times?

Ah In: I’ve been to Thailand more than 10 times. It’s the country that I visit most often. The weather here is hot, but it’s always very cold inside the buildings. Thai people are gentle and have beautiful smiles, but their screams are extremely loud! [Laughs.] I’m glad to meet my Thai fans.

Question: What do you think is the most charming thing about Thailand?

Ah In: The hot summer weather. It’s a warm country. When I visit Thailand, I feel like I’m in my home town.

Question: Have you ever considered having long hair like your character in Sungkyunkwan Scandal?

Ah In: I’ve never had long hair. I have shorter hair than most actors my age. My long hair in Sungkyunkwan Scandal might have looked good, but it was actually a wig and it smelled really bad!

Question: What did the success of Sungkyunkwan Scandal bring you?

Ah In: After I filmed that drama, the owner of the agency liked me a lot because viewers started to recognise me. [Laughs.]

Question: Since you’re considered a fashionista, can you give your fans any advice about dressing up?

Ah In: I’m an actor, not a fashionista. The most important thing about dressing up is wearing clothes that suit you. If something doesn’t look good on you, it’s not for you.

Question: Is it true that you lost seven kilogrammes while filming Jang Ok Jung: Living by Love?

Ah In: I didn’t intend to lose weight, but I usually do while filming. I felt that I looked better after losing weight. It was enjoyable working on the set of that drama. I had fun working with actress Kim Tae Hee. She’s so beautiful.

Question: Can you really play piano like your character in Secret Love Affair?

Ah In: No, but I practised very hard and studied the details of piano playing. When there was music playing during the filming, I knew where to put my hands. I think the scenes where I played the piano looked cool.

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