#actorsoo

Swing Kids

“This team is…we’re made up of a Chinese prisoner who would have been a brilliant choreographer if it wasn’t for the war. A bright, confident, strong willed young woman who was forced to provide for her family after losing both her parents. A civilian who became a prisoner only because he was wrongfully accused of being a communist. A communist dancer who could have stood on the stages of Carnige Hall if it wasn’t for politic ideology; and a humble black man who has found his only friends in life in these four individuals.

Ladies and gentleman…we are…The Swing Kids. 

And the title of this performance is…f*uck ideology”

bonus: Roh Kiss-soo

Leading Actor of <100 Days My Prince> Doh Kyungsoo (plays Lee Yool / Wondeuk)

Not just wildly popular in Korean, EXO has fans in Asia such as Japan and China. Active as main vocalist D.O. in the group, he debuted as an actor with his birth name Doh Kyungsoo. The first among members to embark on acting, Doh Kyungsoo has steadily shown improvement in his acting via both films and dramas, and challenged his first period drama <100 Days My Prince>. 

"I play both the cold and arrogant Crown Prince Lee Yool and clumsy and silly commoner Wondeuk. When I first read the scenario, I found the story interesting and really wanted to try playing Lee Yool and Wondeuk. (I decided on this project) Because I thought this was a good opportunity to showcase a different side of me to the audience. Although the parts where the Crown Prince was plotted against by the others in the palace were pretty dark, the way the story developed in Seongjoo Village was exceptionally interesting, so the more I thought, the more I wanted to participate in the project, I really wanted to visit this village! (laughs) I recall I was feeling excited as I was reading the script."

As there are many parts that are different from modern dramas, hence the filming process of period dramas are often labelled as "too challenging" by many actors. Despite being at the filming set of such a period drama, Doh Kyungsoo is serious and had put in a lot of thought into it, and took up the challenge with a positive attitude.

"I was very nervous as this is the first time I am participating in a period drama. With the unique manner of speech and delivery of lines as well as mannerisms in period dramas being exceptionally difficult, I had addressed these questions with the Director and Scriptwriter adequately, and so was able to overcome them one by one. As there were many scenes of swordplay and horse riding, I also had extensive discussions with the horse riding and stunt instructors before filming. As I did not have ample time to practise before filming, I spent all my free time between filming to practise as well as learn on set. Bearing in mind the need to learn swordplay and horse riding within a short period of time without getting injured, I also managed to resolve this issue after careful thought and consideration. Although there were many instances that things felt unfamiliar or areas that I were clumsy in, it's really interesting to film a period drama. After gaining a better understanding of how people used to live and the tools that they used, I really benefited and learnt a lot. I felt like this drama was spent discovering many new things and I was anticipating all through the filming process."

All-rounded Wondeuk and clumsy Wondeuk. How did you differentiate the two characters in your acting?"Lee Yool and Wondeuk are ultimately the same person. Hence, when I was playing the characters, I did not intentionally try to play them too differently. Instead, I played them as one single character. As the drama was set in the palace as well as Seongjoo Village, I used these settings to present the drama and story, and the two characters were naturally presented because of that." We've heard that you're closer to Wondeuk in terms of character. "Besides being similar to Lee Yool's manly side, I don't think I come across as aloof. As for Wondeuk, Besides being silly (laughs), I think i'm quite similar to his personality. 

“Who am I...I am...”