Jo Won, with no scandals for 19 years of sustained success "No rush during breaks... will continue acting even after 30 years" [★FULL interview]

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배우 주원이 영광의 'AAA 2024' 수상까지, 19년간 숨 가쁘게 달려오며 써 내려간 놀라운 행보를 돌아봤다.

Joowon is one of the stars who made a mark in 2024, showcasing his enduring popularity. As the lead actor in "Firefighter," which ranked 6th in the box office among all Korean films released last year (with 3.85 million viewers), he achieved significant success. Additionally, he captivated the hearts of viewers once again with his role as Seok Joo in the GenieTV fantasy drama "Night-Limited Photo Studio." This demonstrates that since making his debut in the musical "Altboyz" in 2006, Joowon has proven his formidable strength by expanding his presence from stage and television to the big screen over the past 19 years.

'30s top male actor' Joowon truly lived up to his reputation when he won the 'Best Artist Award' at the '9th Asia Artist Awards (AAA 2024)' held in Bangkok, Thailand on December 27, 2023. The 'AAA' is the first authoritative integrated award ceremony in Korea that combines awards for actors and singers, first held in 2016.

Especially, Juwon not only grabbed the honorable first 'AAA' trophy, but also gave a twist with a fresh combination by kissing Kim Chaewon, a member of the 'rising star idol' Le Seraphim. The two performed the animation movie 'Frozen' OST 'Love Is An Open Door' at the 'AAA 2024' opening, presenting a never-before-seen legendary duet stage that could not be seen anywhere else.

As much as his presence was indispensable at 'AAA 2024', Juwon recently conducted a winners' interview at the UD News building in Seoul's Gwanghwamun.

First, I listened to Joowon's impressions of attending the large-scale overseas award ceremony 'AAA' for the first time, which lasted a grueling 4 hours. Joowon said, "It's so different watching the stage on TV compared to seeing it right in front of you. It was really fun, and the artists were so cool. I enjoyed it so much, it felt like I was watching a concert and I didn't even notice the time passing. I can understand why there are so many audience members; I would have gone crazy too. I struggled trying to hold back my excitement. As a fellow Korean, I also felt a sense of pride." This revealed how deeply enchanted Joowon was by the K-pop stars at the 'AAA'.

When asked about the most memorable stage, they confessed their fan heart by saying, "The SEVENTEEN stage was one of the stages I definitely wanted to see. It was really good when I actually saw it." They also added, "And personally, I usually like DAY6's songs, so I watched it impressively. The NCT 127 stage was really cool too."

In addition, Jo Won said, "There were many overseas fans at the scene, and I also felt a determination to become an actor who could be better known to these people. Of course, I received great love for 'Firefighter,' but since the overseas fans don't know much about it, I hope to attend with a work that the overseas fans will like next time." He expressed his enthusiasm.

He also revealed the behind-the-scenes story of the duet stage with Kim Chae-won, which caused a big controversy. Joowon recalled, "When I first received the offer for the opening stage, I was very nervous and had the thought, 'Will it be okay?' It was completely different from a musical stage, so I remember being very nervous." He continued, "The song selection was decided through communication with the agency. Coincidentally, both of us liked the song 'Love Is An Open Door,' so we decided on this song."

Meanwhile, Juwon confessed, "On the day of the rehearsal, I was surprised because the stage was much bigger than I had imagined. Also, being a fan who had watched LE SERAFIM's stages a lot, and knowing that (Kim) Chaewon does vocals so well, it added more pressure to me. So during the rehearsal, my movements felt very awkward. The sound also seemed different, and I understood why singers wear in-ear monitors. It was quite confusing, and I could feel the difficulties that the singers go through. I thought to myself how amazing they are."

He said, "I was worried I might make a mistake, but I managed to wrap things up well. Thanks to 'AAA 2024,' I had a happy end to the year, and it was a meaningful experience for me." He added with a smile, "Chaewon seems like a veteran. I just followed what she said. She even gave advice on the ending pose."

In particular, June 9th, when he participated in the interview, was exactly 15 years since Jo Won made his debut on terrestrial TV through the popular drama "King of Bakers, Kim Tak Gu" in 2010, making it a day with significant meaning.

This is the translation of the provided Korean text:

Having received an extravagant debut celebration event from fans with a large-scale billboard ad in the heart of Gwanghwamun, a newcomer actor who had returned to UD News after 15 years can't but be considered a 'successful top star'.

Moreover, Juwon was exceptional from the very beginning, as his debut work on terrestrial television, 'King Tack-ku the Baker,' broke records by achieving a viewership rating of over 50%, making it a 'national drama.'

Joowon recalled, "At that time, as a newbie, I thought 'Do they really recognize me?' and wanted to confirm my recognition. So I went to a coffee shop where I used to sit all the time, and people there recognized me. It was then that I realized 'I need to be careful with every move and action.'"

Lee Na Joo-won said, "'The Great Baker King Kim Takgu' teachers, and whenever I see teachers, I feel so respectful. Rather, seeing their passionate efforts to memorize the script more than young actors, I wanted to follow them. I dreamed that I would become an actor like that in the future, and now that I'm doing well, I feel like I'm on the right path."

He still proudly displayed his burning passion for acting, saying, "I definitely expected to be an actor for a long time even from my rookie days. Because from the start, I had the desire to play roles like a father or a grandfather, and I always dreamed of the day that would come. Even if acting isn't my true calling, I've never once thought about taking another path or quitting acting."

Including 'The Great Baker Kim Tak Gu', 'Masked Dancer', 'Public Servant Level 7', 'Good Doctor', 'Yong Pal', he pointed out that among numerous hit works, 'The Photo Studio' is considered his 'life work'. Joowon mentioned, "'The Photo Studio' is the work I have the most affection for, regardless of its box office success. Personally, I found the year of filming to be incredibly happy. No matter how difficult the shooting was, or how little sleep I got, just going to the set was enjoyable. The actors and staff were all wonderful. Additionally, the drama's premise of being able to see who you want to see really resonated with me. It's my 'life drama'."

This is Joo Won, taking a breather after surpassing his career-defining work. He said, "(The break is) seems inevitable. I keep wavering between thinking 'Should I do this piece?' and 'No, I shouldn't.' This is because I consider artistic value quite important by my own standards, so I have to be more cautious. Even though I know fans are eagerly waiting, I'm trying to gather my thoughts and carefully review the script. Although it feels like it's taking longer than expected, I firmly believe in what I'm doing and don't want to rush it," revealing his composed attitude.

Joowon chose "Gaksital" (2012) and "Good Doctor" (2013) not because of their popularity but undoubtedly for their acting and artistic value. Although participating in such works may not directly change anything, they can convey meaningful messages that could alter public opinion and lead to positive improvements. His recent participation in "Firefighter" is no different. It made him feel that "we can create a slightly better world through our works." This sense of purpose seems to be what makes him truly interested in a project.

However, 'Fireman' is a term that, contrary to the meaning of the work, led Kwak Do-won and others to encounter ups and downs as risks erupted everywhere. Despite this, Joo Won said, "I had a strong attachment to this work. Above all, it was a movie I shot always thinking about the hard work of the firemen, so I had a definite desire to show it to the public." He added, "When would it come out? The waiting was long, but fortunately, a company took a big risk and allowed it to be released safely to the outside world. This was very meaningful for me, not just because of the box office success, but because it created a boom in this difficult movie market. I was happy about that. Now, I think it's good that it happened when it did because the timing worked out well and we're receiving such great love and good things."

He then said, "At first, I was very surprised, and among ourselves, we were afraid, wondering if we could overcome this. But it wasn't because of some misfortune; rather, since this is my movie too, I decided to do my part. Since it's our movie, I just wanted it to do well, so I worked hard to promote it, doing everything I could." He expressed his sense of responsibility.

It's also mentioned that for about 20 years, he has been able to walk without any major scandals, and he shared the secret behind this as well. Jun-won said with a humorous tone, "Fortunately, I don't drink, so it reduces that kind of worry," which drew laughter.

He said, "I am not an outgoing person by nature, and I tend to be very cautious. There was a time when I thought I needed to change my personality, but now I think that my introverted nature might be the reason why I can still operate without any major issues. It seems there are both pros and cons to it."

In addition, Juwon stated, "I think it's good to just keep going. Of course, it would be great if we hit it big, but the probability seems low. So, I believe consistency is important. However, not in the same way; each work should have a different appearance. While a typical path is good, I think a diverse range of activities, as we've always done, will continue even in the future. I believe I will still be acting 30 years from now."

He also didn't forget to express his gratitude to the fans. Joowon said, "As always, our unwavering fans, thanks to you all, I seem to be able to continue my activities well. As I always say, I am grateful for your love, and I am thankful for the on-screen events as well. Now, I feel like we are growing older together. Among the fans who have been with me since my debut, some have secured positions in companies, and I hope we can continue to grow older together in the future. I will keep moving forward so that my actor can be felt as a 'good person.'" He expressed his affectionate feelings like a family member.