Kim Seon Ho Reflects On His Rising Popularity, First Advertisement, "Start-Up," And More

Nov 20, 2020

Kim Seon Ho, who has been receiving love for his role in tvN’s “Start-Up,” recently took time for a photo shoot and interview with Esquire Korea.

The actor arrived after completing the shoot for his first ever advertisement. He shared about the experience, “I was really nervous, but thankfully it ended successfully.” He continued, “At first, I was so stiff that I thought my neck was going to break, but I gradually grew more comfortable,” explaining that he was so nervous because it was his first time even meeting advertisers.

He went on to talk about his current drama “Start-Up,” revealing that he chose the project because he was a fan of previous dramas by writer Park Hye Ryun and director Oh Choong Wan. “Just the thought of taking on a project created by them made me nervous, but the script was also beautiful. It was a story with fairytale-like beauty, yet it was also realistic. I wished to be a part of this picture, so I said that I want to do it.”

Kim Seon Ho added that he gets excited when he watches the drama, elaborating, “Sometimes I feel like I’m not on set but actually living in Sandbox (the fictional setting of ‘Start-Up’). I have become immersed, and sometimes it makes my heart race, so watching the drama has become a driving force for me.”

The interviewer mentioned that some actors don’t like to watch their own dramas, to which Kim Seon Ho replied, “I wasn’t able to watch [my own dramas] at first either. I felt like my face looked weird, my facial expressions and tone seemed awkward, and I didn’t seem to fit in with the other characters. To be honest, I still don’t like my acting at all. However, if my acting felt excessive for example, I can figure out which aspect was too much.”

He continued, “I think I should never lose composure as an actor. If I’m too hyper when filming, I might be unable to show that scene’s important purpose or essence. On the other hand, if I’m feeling too down, I wouldn’t mesh with the other actors, so the scene might be unnatural. That is why I always try to maintain composure, so it helps to watch my dramas and think, ‘Why was I like that then?’ or ‘What was the situation like on set then?’ I’m still learning, so such monitoring is necessary.”

When complimented about his good looks, Kim Seon Ho insisted, “I’m honestly not handsome though,” and when the interviewer reassured that he is, he responded, “No, well, although I am very thankful that you say that…like [Nam] Joo Hyuk is someone who is very attractive. When I first saw him, I thought he came straight out of a manhwa (Korean comic book). There are so many other handsome people.”

Kim Seon Ho was also asked about his past dramas receiving spotlight these days. He answered, “I recently heard from a ‘2 Days & 1 Night Season 4‘ writer that a YouTube clip from my drama ‘You Drive Me Crazy‘ surpassed 10 million views, so I checked, and it was true. I felt happy because it’s a good thing that a short drama I was a part of can give joy to someone, so I texted the director for the first time in a while, and I watched it all day.”

On his rising popularity, he explained, “I don’t really feel the response because I’m just busy filming all the time these days. However, when directors and senior actors who I previously worked with or friends contact me to say I’m doing well, it’s really heart-fluttering and makes me feel good.”