Lee Sang-yoon: On becoming a grade-schooler, dancing for his craft, and the power of hair

104 October 25, 2015October 25, 2015

Lee Sang-yoon: On becoming a grade-schooler, dancing for his craft, and the power of hair

by girlfriday

It’s only been a week since tvN’s ajumma-turned-college-freshman romantic comedy Twenty Again wrapped, but lead actor Lee Sang-yoon has already done a gazillion interviews and been on a vacation. Who feels lazy? The heartwarming series, starring Choi Ji-woo as a woman who rediscovers herself at 38, was another hit for the cable network’s Friday-Saturday drama slot (the show peaked at 7.6% average ratings for the finale), and cast and crew were treated to a getaway in Phuket. Adorable pictures with costars Choi Ji-woo and Choi Won-young below.

This is a collection of quotes from multiple interviews, in which Lee Sang-yoon discusses Twenty Again and his character at length, and his experiences working with Choi Ji-woo and writer So Hyun-kyung (Two Weeks, My Daughter Seo-young, 49 Days, Prosecutor Princess, Brilliant Legacy) again.

The 34-year-old actor debuted, ironically, as Choi Ji-woo’s first love in Air City (2007), only to come full circle as her leading man in Twenty Again who can’t get over his first love. Do all drama roads just lead to Choi Ji-woo? When asked about his prickly-but-thoughtful, petty-but-swoony character Cha Hyun-seok, he said:

“I had fun because it was my first time playing a character with so many different personality traits — a man in his 30s who on the outside looks successful and cool, who becomes a childish grade-schooler in front of his first love. I thought, ‘This is the fun of acting,’ and it made me want to play lots of varied characters.”

About Cha Hyun-seok’s thoughtfulness towards Ha Nora (Choi Ji-woo), he said: “Truthfully it’s hard for a man to be that meticulous in caring for someone — in secret when you don’t want her to know, coming out strong when you need to, sometimes caring for her humorously. I think a lot of women liked that. Even I thought, ‘That guy is impressive.’ I can’t even take care of someone and pretend I didn’t, because I’m not that nice to begin with. Cha Hyun-seok and I are about 50% alike.”

“Writer So Hyun-kyung wrote Cha Hyun-seok to be cool. When he’s preparing everything for the woman he loves and helping her, I wondered if there really is a man who would go to that extent. He’s an awfully diligent guy,” he said with a laugh. He concluded, “I think he’s an ideal. I’m sure he could exist in real life, but it wouldn’t be easy.”

He talked about having to dance for the first time (when Hyun-seok takes Nora on a blast to the past in their school uniforms): “Truthfully I can’t dance. But I let go of myself, and let go of my sanity, and danced for the role. But people who have danced before should do the dancing, because I pulled something in my neck and was in pain the next day.”

When asked about whether he thought his character Hyun-seok had dated anyone else in the 20 years that he hadn’t seen Nora, he said, “It’s like he was stopped and then started living again. I saw it that way. Actually we talked about it a lot, especially the director and I, about whether Hyun-seok had dated or not. I think that even if Hyun-seok dated, he’s never been in a relationship where he opened his heart. You can say that the scars from his first love kept him from giving his heart away. That heart opened up for the first time in 20 years.”

He was asked about his reunion with Choi Ji-woo since 2007’s Air City, and he said, “It was fun. Sunbaenim’s bouncy charisma and innocence fit the character well. The writer told us that our chemistry came across onscreen. Choi Ji-woo sunbaenim remembered me from Air City — after the script reading, she told me she remembered my incredible foot-acting [terrible acting] back then. I knew I was bad, but I didn’t know she’d call it foot-acting. I want to ask her now, ‘Was I okay? I tried really hard this time. To redeem myself for the foot-acting.'”

About acting with her this time around: “The drama itself was so fun, and the character was good. And because I could be immersed in my partner Choi Ji-woo sunbaenim’s emotions, I think the result was naturally fun. I think I just benefited from Choi Ji-woo sunbae — more than doing anything, I just followed Nora’s emotions and helped her, which ended up making me look cool.”

“The chemistry on set was really fun. [Choi Ji-woo] is such an upbeat person that she made Ha Nora even more vibrant and energetic. It could’ve been a heavy story, but she made it bright and happy. She even played the bickering scenes in a cute way, so I think my reactions were more fun.”

This is Lee Sang-yoon’s second time working with writer So Hyun-kyung, after the hit weekend drama My Daughter Seo-young alongside Lee Bo-young. When asked about his chemistry with his costars, he said, “I think the dramas’ color was determined by them [Choi Ji-woo, Lee Bo-young]. The writer wrote the characters well, of course, but Seo-young and Nora were changed because of the way Lee Bo-young and Choi Ji-woo played them. I just worked hard to follow them; there was nothing else that I did.”

For future projects, he named Jeon Mi-sun and Ha Ji-won as actresses he’s always wanted to work with, and his Life Is Beautiful costars Song Chang-eui and Lee Sang-woo as the actors he’d want to reunite with: “We’ve talked about what it would be like to do another project together. All three of us are busy working so I don’t know if it’s possible, but we’re so close that I think it would be really fun to play three brothers.”

Apparently the writer didn’t initially consider Lee Sang-yoon for Twenty Again: “Writer So Hyun-kyung told me that she didn’t even consider offering me the role because she thought I wouldn’t do it — that I wouldn’t want to play an older character who reunites with his first love who has a 20-year-old son. But I would do any project if she wrote it, no matter what the role is. As long as it’s not a grandpa, if it’s within the scope of possibility, I want to do it.”

About the loveline in Twenty Again, he said, “The writer warned us that if we’re not careful, it’ll end up looking like Nora is having an affair. She entreated us to be careful even if Nora was divorced in practice, and asked us to portray it well. She said that we would be a hair’s breadth away from being unlikable, and we couldn’t be unlikable. She said, ‘If it feels like you like her as a woman, it’ll look like you’re trying to steal her away from her husband.’ She took great pains to make it so that this wouldn’t be the case, but could still have a man being good to a woman.”

He thought that the amount of skinship was appropriate given the story: “I think it was just right. If it had been any stronger or any milder, I think the audience would’ve said, ‘What?'”

I was interested to learn that there was a reason behind Cha Hyun-seok’s super prickly characterization that softened as the drama went on: “At first we had slightly different interpretations about the direction of the character. We only had a short time to prepare and went straight into production right after the script reading. The director and writer thought of the character in a different way than I had.”

“So you’ll see that in Episodes 1 and 2, Cha Hyun-seok is pricklier and more unrestrained, and then later he changed to become gentler on the outside, smiling when he talks, but very exact in his opinions. We also discussed at length whether he would be serious or bouncy. The person who took care of that was Choi Ji-woo sunbae. Her acting was bouncy and [Choi] Won-young hyung was funny, so that determined the overall color.”

When asked what he would do differently if he were 20 again, he said, “I want to play without regret.” As for his real-life first love? “I was extremely timid. I couldn’t even confess my feelings. Now I would be proactive and confess. I don’t do the push and pull very well but I don’t hide my feelings anymore. My personality changed when I began acting. I used to be afraid of expressing my feelings to someone else, but now I’ve become bold.”

He was asked what he gained from Twenty Again, and he said, “I gained young fans. And more than anything, I think I showed that I could play varied characters. I didn’t understand it before when actors would say, ‘I want to be an actor to live varied lives,’ but I came to understand that now. I am worried about gaining teenage fans though [which he says began with Liar Game]. I started getting young fans when I changed my hairstyle. When I wear my hair down I look younger, and my real age comes out when I put my hair up. I think they’ll look at me and say, ‘Why did he get so old?'”

But he’s finding that there are upsides, as an actor: “As I get older, I think I learn more of the world than I knew before, and I’m better able to express the taste or depth of an emotion. It’s a small difference, but I think the audience feels it.”

His goal: “Aging well like an adult. It’s something I’m always thinking about in my 30s. I want to become someone who is appealing at my age as I continue to get older, who leaves a lasting impression.”

Via Asia Today, Chic News, OBS, OBS 2, DongA, Kookje, Asiae, Star News, Sports Chosun, BNT, BNT 2, TV Report, Herald

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1 mindy

October 25, 2015 at 8:14 PM

What a cute and humble guy! This interview made me love him even more.

"But people who have danced before should do the dancing, because I pulled something in my neck and was in pain the next day." This made me laugh out loud. Truer words have never been said!

I also laughed at the fact that Choi Ji Woo actually called his acting in Air City "foot-acting", oh my goodness I love her.

And the younger fans part... I'm one of those younger fans (since Liar Game, like he said) and I love him no matter the hairstyle! Although I DO think I prefer it down... I was so shocked in the final episode of Twenty Again when he had it up, he looks quite different! I don't think he really looks THAT much older with it up, though, just different,

Thanks so much for these translations! With both this and the Joo Won post, I'm loving the interviews! Thanks so much, GF! <3

And thanks to Lee Sang Yoon for being such a cutie pie, hehe.

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ZENITH

October 26, 2015 at 6:05 AM

Same here
start of the liar game: who is he
after Liar game : what will be his next project
During Twenty again : Couldn't wait for next episodes and watched angle eyes and liar game twice
After twenty again:What will I do with my Fridays and Saturdays
In short became a hard core fan
Hair up or down doesn't matter (But prefer it down)as long those dimples and awesome acting with gazing eyes will be there I always be in His fan list...

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Daehoney

October 26, 2015 at 6:13 AM

Hair up or down or anything is welcome but NOT that one from the end of Liar Game LOL it's like so weird.

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ZENITH

October 26, 2015 at 6:54 AM

yup I totally agree that's just a no or should never be his hair style

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Emi

October 26, 2015 at 11:47 AM

The ultimate worst hair is the faux-hawk business with the highlights from Angel Eyes. Just say no, LSY.

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Alessar

October 26, 2015 at 6:52 AM

Yes! Exactly my feeling. I was going to go back over his earlier roles but maybe I will skip Air City...

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Reene

October 27, 2015 at 12:53 PM

I have to agree with LSY in that his hair up does make him look older. For example I thought he looked older in Angel Eye then in Twenty Again and it is because of the hair. Bangs do give a more youthful look to anyone.

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2 Carla

October 25, 2015 at 8:18 PM

I loooooove him. I love him I love him I love him. I miss Twenty Again! I love how everything was so well thought of by the writer and the director, all the way down to the skinship!

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3 etroxon

October 25, 2015 at 8:18 PM

ugh I am such a fan

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4 yukie

October 25, 2015 at 8:20 PM

Lol. Last pic where the grumpy Husband look so unkept is epic!!

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meowingme

October 25, 2015 at 9:06 PM

Aaw, Choi Won Young looks like he's 12, super cute smile!

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natalie

October 25, 2015 at 11:19 PM

I like him as an actor!!!! I want to see him more in a lot of dramas!

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minathens

October 26, 2015 at 5:44 AM

Yeah, he's super cute rumpled up.

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Alessar

October 26, 2015 at 6:54 AM

Yeah that actor is so good though. He was one of the best actors in Heirs, he was a tough act to follow as the old king in the first episodes of Night Watchman, he was perfectly nice (but not a standout) in Kill Me Heal Me, he was creepy as heck (but not actually as creepy as Namgoong Min in Sensory Couple was) in I Remember You. Just solid performances every time.

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ZENITH

October 26, 2015 at 6:59 AM

+1 he was sooo hot but its sad I have only seen his upright look from heirs, kill me heal me , i remember you

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5 Quiet Thought

October 25, 2015 at 8:21 PM

Just to avoid any awkward mixed Korean-English conversations, what is the exact pronunciation of "Phuket?"

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Requiem

October 25, 2015 at 8:52 PM

It's actually Thai, not Korean.

It's pronounced Foo-ket with the accent on the second syllable.

It's a really popular resort city in Thailand where supposedly a lot of Europeans go. Or at least that was the case when I went there almost 10 years ago.

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Dwarf

October 25, 2015 at 9:29 PM

It should be pronounced as pooket actually. Nice place for a getaway, especially for the cast and crew who worked so hard for this wonderful show. I love Nora's growth. Inspiring

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Qq

October 25, 2015 at 9:09 PM

It's in Thailand.
I think it's something like p(who)ket

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PeepsLeAwesomePotato

October 25, 2015 at 11:04 PM

https://youtu.be/xdzoLtSiUn8

The above link shows how it should sound like. There is no F sound whatsoever in Phuket. 'Ph' represents a softer P while the K here is less hard than pronounced in English. It actually sounds like it comes from the back of the throat, like the K/G sound in Korean. T is not expressed with an extra burst of air like in English but is simply a complete stop, like T/D (ㅌ/ㄷ) sound in Korean when the characters are batchim. And like A Thai mentioned below, the two syllables are equal in length with no accent/ intonation.

For those that are mentally 12, it is not pronounced "Poo-cat" and is also definitely NOT pronounced "F*ck it".

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Sue

October 26, 2015 at 6:01 AM

I'm glad to know that I'm not mentally 12 years old, because the last two alternatives did not cross my mind!! Funny though.

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6 damianna

October 25, 2015 at 8:43 PM

I am watching My Daughter Lee Seo Young right now for I miss him so much. But it's turning makjang-ish so I'm gonna watch it little by little instead of having it in one go. I usually avoid long family dramas. I could see some traces of Choi hyun seok in Woo jae character so maybe that's why the writer didn't want him be in twenty again at first. But then, why change something that worked so well before though right?
Looking forward for more from him. I need to finish Liar Game and then Life is Beautiful.
Not enough dimples in the photos though.

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Jackeline

October 25, 2015 at 10:47 PM

It does get pretty makjang in the middle/near the end but honestly? Stick with it. The ending is soooooo satisfying! My Daughter Seo Young is probably the only 50+ episodes family drama that I've finished, and I don't regret it. Granted, I did FF a few scenes (read: episodes) heh.

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damianna

October 25, 2015 at 11:22 PM

Yeah, I could sense makjang coming once she lied that she didn't have a father. I'll try to finish it for him. Thank you, Jackeline. Crossing my fingers for a satisfying ending.

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little-muffin

October 26, 2015 at 1:16 AM

Watch it all the way to the end! I love My Daughter Seo-young though honestly I liked Park Hae-jin the most there.

Anyway, MDSY has one of the best ending, and overall the drama is very heart-warming and beautiful. Two thumbs up.

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damianna

October 26, 2015 at 1:30 AM

I like how this writer ends Twenty Again too. Will surely finish MDSY however long it'll take.

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fab

October 26, 2015 at 11:01 AM

Started watching when it was still ongoing, but I couldn't commit to so many episodes. I'm glad you all liked it, I might give it a go again.

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annflln

October 26, 2015 at 3:40 AM

Trust me...its worth the long hours. I even re-watch MDS after twenty again ends. Really missed LSY.

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damianna

October 26, 2015 at 5:10 AM

Well if I've watched it before like you then I'll know which parts to skip instead of fastening the video just so I could still catch the sub zooming by. Ha. Wow, lots of beanies seemed to enjoy MDSY apparently, though I know it's very popular in korea.

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damianna

October 26, 2015 at 6:47 AM

Ooops, I mean speeding up the vid. Fastening? Oh My English.

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momosa

October 26, 2015 at 4:45 AM

I bump into an episode of Running Man which has Lee BY and Lee Sang Yoon in it. He is tall, quiet and grins all the time. Non-stop showcase of dimple. It s episode 142. I swear I didn't intentionally look for it. ?

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damianna

October 26, 2015 at 5:16 AM

Well he guested twice in RM. Ep 142 and 190. Happy watching.

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AruPi

October 26, 2015 at 8:58 AM

ooh! thanks for the tip :) so gonna watch that ep! can't get enough of those dimples <3

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crazyahjummafan

October 26, 2015 at 7:38 PM

@momosa
I too accidentally found out that he guested on RM and couldn't resist watching it. He's everything you said - tall, quiet and fulls of dimples!

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7 Valerie Gudorf

October 25, 2015 at 8:50 PM

I can't remember a drama that I've loved more than 20 Again. To me, it was about as perfect as a K-drama gets. The main characters were so well drawn, and evolved so beautifully before our eyes, that I could hardly wait for the following week's episodes. But the shallow part of me (where my muscular appreciation of the aesthetic strongly resides) must admit that LSY's dimples comprised no small amount of this drama's appeal. ***Cue sheepish grin...***

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8 Diana

October 25, 2015 at 9:06 PM

Oh My Godddddddddddddd,..
You made my monday super better Girlfriday,.. ^_^
There is nothing better than Lee Sang Yoon,..
Sexy Brain, Sweet Dimples, Humble and Down to earth Personality, Funny, Humorous, Sporty,..
(Okay,,, i will make him to be my husband if he also goes to church,,, kwkkwkwk)
I am already crazy over him since his acting in Liar Game,
(he is more handsome and hotter in liar game than in twenty again,.. i swear.... heheh)
I've watched his commercials video, drama, movies, Reality show, i still can't get enough of him...
I also read another interview where He said that he will take an Action Drama if he offered the lead role,..
And my wish,,. I hope the writer of Liar Game will make the second season of it.
Action/Crime/Thriller/Spy/Policy Drama,.. Sure, you have to take it Sang Yoon shiii!!!
So many girls and Ahjumma wantto be kidnapped and saved by you... hahahhah

Love you Sang Yoon Shii..
Thank you GF,. You Rock!!!!

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HyeYoon

October 25, 2015 at 11:56 PM

I hope so, actually I just want to see the cast again, their bts clips were so fun! opposite of the drama's environment. and seems like they really formed friendship, they still hangout even after the drama ended.

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Diana

October 26, 2015 at 12:32 AM

Yeah,,
They are so funny crazy behind the scene... wkwkkw
i love the moment when they were laughing together and joking around each other.. Especially between Jo Dal Go (loanshark ahjussi, i forgot his name, hehe)and LSY...
You better check out their funny pictures as a couple on the net. ^_^

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halo120

October 26, 2015 at 9:41 AM

Diana: I've read in older, translated interviews, that he does/did attend church. In one interview during the My Daughter Seo Young drama, he stated that he felt his popularity grow when he noticed people saying hi to him a lot more when going to church with his parents. The only other reference was reading one of his own posts to his fan cafe (I think that's what it's called in Korea), and he wrote he was on his way to a New Year's Eve worship service. :)

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Diana

October 26, 2015 at 4:52 PM

Cinchaaaaaaaaa?
Oh my Godddddddd,..
(I'm dying... wkwkkwkw)

Thankyou @halo120 for making me love Lee Sang Yoon more..

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halo120

October 26, 2015 at 6:30 PM

I was glad to read it too. I've only recently discovered LSY as well. I read an old article here on Dramabeans, something about "sexy brains" regarding Liar Game, that and eyeliner. So I started reading the recaps but didn't watch the actual drama. During the recap reading promos for Twenty Again began and I noticed it was the same actor so it piqued my interest. Stumbled upon something called soompi and they have a "thread" (think that's what it's called) on LSY. There's over 600 pages to the thread and I don't have the patience to wade through it all, so the articles regarding church must have been in the beginning if you want to check it out for yourself. Just google soompi lee sang yoon. I can't figure out how to just go to a certain page in it though. I'm behind the technological times I guess.

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Diana

October 26, 2015 at 8:28 PM

The soompi forum :/
I've been lurking there since liar game ended last year heheh,
and then i went crazier over him when he selected to be the most valuable player in basketball match among actors and entertainers there.
What a great man,..
There is no medication to stop me from lee sang yoon addiction,..
hoho,..
Thanks @halo120,.. for sharing this to me,..
Bravo!

Malou

October 26, 2015 at 10:45 PM

I'm dying with you at this info wkwkwk

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Diana

October 27, 2015 at 12:35 AM

Let's dying together malou shii ^_^

9 erwinia

October 25, 2015 at 9:10 PM

When he mentioned about Choi Ji Woo say talking about his foot-acting in the early days, I thought he has improved lots since then. Ironically I think it was CJW's acting that hasn't improved or changed since Winter Sonata. The facial expressions, gestures reminds me so much of her character in Winter Sonata and I don't think it was because it made such a lasting impression.

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nmas

October 25, 2015 at 10:55 PM

strange..becoz most of the korean viewers said that she had portrays her character as Ha No Ra perfectly....even the director and crew of twenty again were pleased with CJW performance as Ha No Ra character

i guess different people have different views, different perception, different opinion

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moonpetal

October 26, 2015 at 2:17 AM

Actually me too.. I feel CJW acts the same ways in Twenty Again and Winter Sonata.

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moonpetal

October 26, 2015 at 2:24 AM

But imo that's not make her not good in TA. That (acts) was perfect for Ha Nora's character. Light and bright.

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10 crazyahjummafan

October 25, 2015 at 9:11 PM

It would be lovely if there was a drama with Lee Sang-yoon, Lee Sang-woo and Song Chang-eui as 3 brothers. Writers, are you reading this?

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Georgie

October 25, 2015 at 9:53 PM

Ditto... This would be sooo amazing...

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11 A Thai

October 25, 2015 at 9:16 PM

It's ''Pu'' as in ''Pull'' and ''Get'' with lower sound as in ''Gate''. So it is ''Pu-Get'' with equal general sounds in both syllabuses, no intonation.

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12 mary

October 25, 2015 at 9:39 PM

"What have you gained from Twenty Again?"

Anyone else hoping he'd say "A girlfriend. Choi Ji-woo noona and I are dating now"?

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scully

October 25, 2015 at 10:32 PM

LMFAO

Me. :3

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mjfan

October 25, 2015 at 11:58 PM

yes , yes , yes

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mary of bethany

October 26, 2015 at 1:17 AM

me me me... me too.
(as in hoping he win JW's heart.) but i guess not, because Hyun suk and Nora isn't LSY and CJW.

top of that, when we start shipping LSY and CJW, we will incur "fury and wrath and blood-shed", as there is a growing legion of fans shipping Lee Seo Jin and JiWoo, because of Grandpa over Flower, and 3 Meals aDay.... and boy are they fierce..... soompi has a separate thread devoted to ship SJ and CW. i have nothing against LSJ, just that CJW is super secretive and private about direction where her hearts belong.... hard to tell whether LSJ won it..... i guess will she ever reveal who she dates until near wedding date.... LOL.
LSY himself has been acting with many pretty actresses, much as i really really really desired, don't think LSY has shown any signs that he favoured CJW above all. and he wanted to act against Ha jiWon, excuse me?! mmmm.... HJW seems to garner loads of awesome hunks as co-acting partners....
i was so hoping LSY will say, wanna act with CJW again, then will be his 3rd Times co-starred JW.

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mjfan

October 26, 2015 at 3:00 PM

Hi , mary of bethany
( I was so hoping LSY will say, wanna act with CJW again )
YES , why couldn’t he say that ?
yes , those fans of Lee Seo Jin and JiWoo are fierce , funny because I was shipper too before watching Twenty again , then it all became history :D

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13 greenie

October 25, 2015 at 10:03 PM

<3 <3 <3 <3

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14 hanny

October 25, 2015 at 10:31 PM

Ahh you voice my mind, mary.

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15 momoflag

October 25, 2015 at 11:31 PM

And did anyone else notice the ring on a long chain around Choi Ji-Woo's neck in the first shot of her wth LSY? Could it be from the real-life Mr. Grumpypants, Lee Seo Jin? Wishful thinking!

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Reene

October 27, 2015 at 12:31 PM

That would be nice but I believe she has worn that ring on a chain for a few years.

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16 vongole

October 25, 2015 at 11:34 PM

I LOVE that there are so many photos in this post ;)

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17 ObsessedMuch

October 25, 2015 at 11:44 PM

He is so humble!- "The writer wrote the characters well, of course, but Seo-young and Nora were changed because of the way Lee Bo-young and Choi Ji-woo played them. I just worked hard to follow them; there was nothing else that I did.”

I haven't seen the show with Lee Bo Young but the main contribution in the chemistry between the pair in 20nAgain came from him. He was so wonderfully cute there.

He really seems like a good person apart from being a good actor.

Though I must say, I like any hairstyle on him. He looks equally handsome, though quite different each time, in Angel Eyes, Liar Game and now 20 Again

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18 nuWOy🍄🍄

October 25, 2015 at 11:51 PM

So handsome..I'm melting

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Reene

October 27, 2015 at 12:32 PM

And he is very natural looking too. No surgery's like other leading men.

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19 Tarsoe

October 25, 2015 at 11:52 PM

Cha gyso niiiiiiiimmm... ???
I've never had a withdrawal syndrom this bad before

Thank you so much for the post

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20 Hannah

October 25, 2015 at 11:53 PM

OMO!!! I am a new fan of Lee Sang Yoon, thanks to Twenty Again. Didn't enjoy that drama as much as most of the readers here, but I LOVED LSY!!! Those dimples and eyes when he smiles! *swoons* Also, I read that he is smart, too! Now, that's +10millions points for me!! Hope he makes another drama VERY very soon!!

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21 mjfan

October 26, 2015 at 12:00 AM

( she told me she remembered my incredible foot-acting [terrible acting] back then. I knew I was bad, but I didn’t know she’d call it foot-acting. I want to ask her now, ‘Was I okay? I tried really hard this time. To redeem myself for the foot-acting.'”)

died laughing , OMG , LOVE them

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22 Ivoire

October 26, 2015 at 12:00 AM

Thank you for the translations of some of his interviews. Can someone explain to me what the implications of his interactions and relationships are with CHJ and CWY, please? He addresses CJW as a sunbae (which I can understand), and he addresses CWY as hyung (why not sunbae as well? Is it because CWY is not more advanced than him when it comes to acting, or is it because LSY feels closer to CWY?)
I feel like the fact that he calls them differently means something, I'm just not sure what. Thank you for any guesses and answers.

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PeepsLeAwesomePotato

October 26, 2015 at 1:42 AM

Could be because he feels closer to Choi WonYoung and Choi WonYoung doesn't mind admitting he's older and being called Hyung.

On the other hand even if he's close to JiWoo, she might balk at being called Noona because everytime he calls her that it'll remind her of her age and you know, girls and their ages... Sunbae doesn't have that strict age age implication inherent in it.

Or it could be just because they've worked before long ago when she was the esteemed senior and he was the rookie with foot-acting and the sunbae label just stuck because that's how he thought of her all these time and they never bothered to change.

At least he doesn't call her Teacher because that really tips the power balance in her favour... and she might actually whack him because the image of a person worthy of the 선생님 label in anything other than the academic profession is one who is old and wise. She might like the wise part but not so much the old part.

Plus this IS from an interview and JiWoo does have the larger impact on the acting sphere than Choi WonYoung does so the difference in address. Who knows what he calls her in private.

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blnmom

October 26, 2015 at 11:28 AM

Choi Won Young started acting late, when he was almost 30, so he's most likely not a sunbae to LSY. But he's older, so hyung is probably the most respectful way of referring to him.

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23 Deena

October 26, 2015 at 12:42 AM

GF, thank you so much for this post. I was looking for those interviews since the beginning of Twenty Again.

I started the morning with a smile :)

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24 koreandramalover/kay

October 26, 2015 at 1:03 AM

*DIMPLES*!!!! Aaahhhh....

But the photo that I love most is the 4th one -
the way he sits so comfortably,
so politely,
looking so calm, so cool, so drop-dead gorgeous without a big smile...aaaahhh...

I am surprised no woman in Korea has snatched this fine specimen of a man yet!

He is such a dream -
drop-dead gorgeous,
full of humility,
calm,
mature,
hardworking,
loyal
and so much more.

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25 koreandramalover/kay

October 26, 2015 at 1:04 AM

Thank you so much Girlfriday for sharing with us this wonderful insight into this wonderful man! ;)

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26 Ree

October 26, 2015 at 1:15 AM

Thank you for translating! I could cry with happiness!!
Is there perhaps a recap of Eco Village episode of those 3- LSY, LSW and SCU?

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halo120

October 26, 2015 at 9:43 AM

Oh I have searched for english subs of that episode to no avail. I cannot even find the full non subbed episode, only very short clips. If you do come across it please share the link please :)

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27 little-muffin

October 26, 2015 at 1:22 AM

I think Lee Sang-yoon ages backwards! My first time seeing him was in My Daughter Seo-young and he definitely looks older there (it's really the hair that makes a difference!)

Anyway, I'm just glad that he has more exposure now. Though he belongs to the slightly older actor, his dimples will make all the old and young fall on their knees.

I'm glad that he did Cha Hyun-seok. Couldn't imagine anyone else taking up this role and made me so happy the way he does.

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Reene

October 27, 2015 at 12:35 PM

I can see his aging especially around the eyes, but don't get me wrong, he is still attractive as most men do age well.

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28 ultramarineblue

October 26, 2015 at 1:56 AM

Yes!!!! More 20 Again news ❤️❤️ I am so sad this drama has ended and I hope to see Lee Sang Yoon back in dramaland soon ☺️☺️☺️

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29 Valerie Gudorf

October 26, 2015 at 2:40 AM

If you watched Suspicious Housekeeper, you know that Choi Ji Woo DOES NOT use the same facial expressions for all her roles. I could hardly believe she was the same actress while watching the first episode of 20 Again because her characters in the two dramas were such 180 degree opposites. The SH role was intense, and she was actually pretty scary at times, seething with rage, yet cold as ice. There was nothing NoRa-like about that character. I'll admit I don't remember much about the character she played in Winter Sonata, a drama I watched, and then quickly out out of my mind. I look forward to seeing her in more dramas in the future, though.

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Reene

October 27, 2015 at 12:39 PM

CJW is an amazing actress and every time I see her in a drama or movie, she is completely different and you can see what a great actress she is. I think some people took to heart when she said LSY did foot acting so they made a negative comment about her. I watched Air City, and LSY acting really was terrible, but has improved since. He still has improvements to make but that does not mean I don't like his acting.

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Reene

October 27, 2015 at 12:41 PM

Check her out in Stairway to Heaven, Temptation, Stars Lover and WS. Completely different in each. She would not be the highest paid actress in asia if she were not good.

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30 biya.ilgoopalpal

October 26, 2015 at 2:46 AM

He's basically saying guys like Cha Hyun-seok only exist in dramas. haha!

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Reene

October 27, 2015 at 12:43 PM

Or that he himself can not identify with. He is a sweet guy and humble but does admit to being not as nice of a guy as his character.

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31 whitewire

October 26, 2015 at 3:20 AM

Now Lee Sang-yoon baby. Care to marry me? Maybe right now, later or someday. Been lovin' you ever since forever. Yes I adore Twenty Again to bits!

It is so nice to see MEGA STAR Choi Ji-woo posing between hotties Lee Sang-yoon (single man he's mine tho) and married Choi Won-young (huhuuuu I love him so).

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32 dkaoru

October 26, 2015 at 3:47 AM

thanks for this post Girlfriday! Cha Hyun seok manse!

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33 maieutikos

October 26, 2015 at 8:32 AM

Too cute. XD Thanks for translating/summarizing, girlfriday!

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34 halo120

October 26, 2015 at 9:49 AM

The soompi Lee Sang Yoon thread had a post from the writer of Liar Game that s/he is working on season 2 of Liar Game for 2016. Also read in that thread that they (writer?, tvn?) are considering a sequel to Twenty Again called Thirty Again revolving around Ha NoRa entering the corporate world. Not sure how I feel about Thirty Again but would definitely tune in for LG season 2.

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fab

October 26, 2015 at 11:04 AM

THIRTY AGAIN?? No way, that can't be happening.
Liar Game on the other hand can't come sooner!

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Reene

October 27, 2015 at 12:44 PM

Thirty Again? I am on board!!!

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35 fab

October 26, 2015 at 11:35 AM

Thanks for posting this Girlfriday, I would not have otherwise read his interviews. I've been watching Lee Sang-yoon's dramas for years now, and he has improved after every role. Cracking up at CJW's "foot acting" comment, now that's constructive criticism.

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36 Wag-a-muffin

October 26, 2015 at 12:41 PM

I first saw him in "The Duo" (and loved him, the ending? I'm not gonna spoil it, but it is NOT one of my favorites.) Then I saw him in Angel Eyes, not real wild about that show either, again, wasn't a big fan of the ending. I thought he was super in Liar's Game and just so dang likeable in 20 again.
(And I remember him from Running Man too. I think they were plugging Angel Eyes.)

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37 earthna

October 26, 2015 at 1:04 PM

Thank you for this! It's so nice to have a look inside the actor's mind. I knew it! Even Sang Yoon thinks that Hyun-suk is too good to be true. HAHAHAHA. It seems like this writer goes to great lengths for her works. I like a lot of her dramas and now I'm starting to like her more. Aww, those pictures are so cute! Choi Ji Woo is such a cute diva. Probably a total child at heart. Choi Won Young is almost perfect. I love that guy so much!

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38 miroufleur

October 26, 2015 at 1:27 PM

Love him!! Im a huge fan <3

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39 CHRITINE

October 26, 2015 at 1:56 PM

love all your shows and can not wait for you and Lee Sang Woo to be in the same project please make it happen

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40 yuyabear

October 26, 2015 at 5:31 PM

He "took" my internet quota coz of MDSY and Twenty Again... and now.. liar game and angel eyes is on the waiting list.. lee sang yoon-shiii.. please don't do 50 episodes drama again, okay? Download and watching it at the same time is tiring.. lol....

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Diana

October 26, 2015 at 5:53 PM

Liar game1000000x better than angel eyes, it's only 12 eps, short but leaving a really great after taste..
it won't eat your inet quota heheh

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41 littlemissgoodie

October 27, 2015 at 12:09 AM

"I am worried about gaining teenage fans though [which he says began with Liar Game]. I started getting young fans when I changed my hairstyle. When I wear my hair down I look younger, and my real age comes out when I put my hair up. I think they’ll look at me and say, ‘Why did he get so old?'” HAHAHHAHAHAHAHA.
IT HIT ME HARD WHEN HE SAID THIS, BECAUSE THIS IS EXACTLY THE REASON WHY I AM A HUGE FAN OF HIS. ALL STARTED BECAUSE OF HIS LOOK IN LIAR GAME!! >///<
I can't wait for his next drama!!! <3
For the meantime will be watching Angel Eyes to see more of him. <3 <3 <3

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42 findinglosttime

October 27, 2015 at 1:59 AM

it was so nice to read this article on LSY, post 20A, as was just thinking what's next for him after this drama and the Phuket trip. thank you, girlfriday, for helping us understand more about him!

before watching Liar Game, I was like "what happened to LSY's hairstyle" when the photos were out initially. well, watching LG recently just changed every thought abut that hairstyle and kudos to LSY for showing us a different side to his acting via Ha Woo Jin - the attraction of the silent type! still, when he worn his hair up for the last in 20A, he looked so suave :)

look forward to seeing LSY again and his endearing dimples..

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43 Rie

October 27, 2015 at 5:07 AM

Loved him from MDSY. He did well in Angel Eyes too.

I didn't finished Liar Game though. Shin Sung Rook's acting was too good, as in very creepy :|

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44 vietngo

October 27, 2015 at 8:36 PM

After reading this article, I think LSY must enjoy very good upbringing so as to be very modest and honest when saying it was LBY n CJW that that made the plays successful while He really portrayed the characters so outstangdingly that we feel n hope that there may be a real WJ or CHS in our life . In comparison with Siwon in the drama SWP, which is currently hot now , we can see big difference. SW n LSY are both cute with dimples .....SW seems even cooler than LSY .However , he can't show different corners of feelings as well as LSY. As we can see in the DUO , CJM played the main role ,handsome with dimples .....and that's it whereas it was LSJ that showed us all levels of emotion of the one who accidentally stole the happiness of his best friend I wonder why he couldn't get any award for the role . Similarly , in GOF, I think the PD was right when choosng MGM , with childlike face, as the leading female role . LSJ again was really good , showing his powerlessness in a very powerful prince when he couldn't do anything to protect his love n his lover .....I highly appreciate LSY's acting .IT's definitely unfair if he doesn't get any award by the end of the year .

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45 findinglosttime

October 28, 2015 at 12:21 AM

hi rie,

the LSY craze for me started from MDSY too. usually shun the many episodes for family dramas, but LSY and LBY's acting made a difference for me to watch every single of the 50 episodes, witnessing the growth in Kang Woo Jae and Lee Seo Young's relationship. it's ironic as i felt Kang Woo Jae looked really annoying in the first few episodes, but the later episodes were so real in terms of LSY's portrayal of his character's love for the female lead. who knows how many gals' hearts he set on fire with that loving husband role.

hi vietngo,

now that you mentioned the comparison of LSY and Choi Siwon, think you are spot on. i enjoyed CSW's acting for the laughs (he looks good but feels remote again due to his looks - paradox?), but LSY's acting emotes different vibes altogether. can't really describe it - like one can relate better to LSY in most of his dramas whether as rich Kang Woo Jae, smart Dr Park Dong Joo, cool Prof Ha and at times childish Pro Cha - he still is very grounded and hot regardless of his hairstyle *swoons*

haven't watch the duo, maybe it's time to start..