"I have become rich in expression" - Byeon Woo-seok opens up about expressing love and emotions in latest GQ pictorial

Byeon Woo-seok's latest pictorial with GQ, released on Tuesday, August 20, 2024, captures the actor getting candid about his take on expressing love and emotions without hesitation. In the interview, the 32-year-old discussed his approach to acting roles and his thoughts on maturity. He opened up about how he wants to approach his future roles, among other topics.

The heartfelt conversation also took off on his beliefs about love and the importance of expressing feelings as they come. He stated that love brings him great joy and the strength to keep doing his work, as his keen nature to pick up others' feelings leads to good communication and teamwork.

In the same line of discussions, the interviewer asked him if he still kisses his father and what gift that environment has offered the K-drama icon. Byeon Woo-seok says he has grown rich in expressions to the point where he conveys everything directly, without hesitation.

"The fact that I have become rich in expression? (laughs) I don't play around with words to express the emotions I want to convey. If I love someone, I say, "I love you." If I'm grateful, I say "Thank you." If I'm sorry, I say, "I'm sorry," without hesitation, expressing the meaning exactly as it is."

While the interviewer replied that it is not easy to wear one's heart on one's sleeve, Byeon Woo-seok said one needs to comprehend a person's mood or state for such straightforward communication to be well-received. He further admitted being confident in that aspect, stating he is generally perceptive, amidst laughs.

On being asked if that helps with his professional role as an actor, Byeon Woo-seok revealed that his open-hearted nature and quick reflexes help with the on-set dynamic with the crew, leading to good work.

"Absolutely. In acting, harmony with the director, writer, co-actors, and staff is crucial. I attempt to quickly understand what the other person wants and align myself accordingly. A kind of quick-wittedness? (laughs) I feel that this flexible communication, when layered over time, might help contribute, even just a little, to creating a great piece of work."

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Excerpts from Byeon Woo-seok's GQ interview that reflect the actor's thoughts on his life, feelings, and work

The GQ pictorial provides fans with a new striking set of photos, deep dives into the heart of the actor-model, and explores the principles in his life that build his image. Here are some of Byeon Woo-seok's responses in the interview.

When the Lovely Runner fame was asked what love means to him, he responded that it is an emotion that adds beauty to a moment. He also credits it as an emotion that brings him "happiness."

"For me, love is an emotion that makes the moment beautiful. At the same time, it seems to be an emotion that gives me happiness."

When asked how else he would try to express the word "love," he said, "happiness and joy." The actor was asked whether he felt happier than ever at the moment, to which he voiced how the love he receives is the source of his strength to move forward.

"While feeling much love from so many people, I also think, "Do I deserve to receive such overwhelming love?" This makes me feel even more grateful, and I derive immense strength from it. That's why I believe love is something that gives me great strength in life and the courage to move forward."

Byeon Woo-seok even spoke about his memories of difficult moments in the past when he had just begun working.

In a bona fide statement, he revealed how his perseverance to succeed during difficult days slowly transformed into a sort of "luck," further elevated with the support of his family, friends, and agency. He considers himself "a lucky person" owing to these instances.

He was open about his thoughts on reliving happy moments. If he ever landed in a situation where he would forget past details every new day, he would wish to jot down the special memories in his notebook and remember the good parts he did not want to forget.

As for his work, Byeon Woo-seok said that he likes to store away the characters he plays, getting nourishment from his roles. His most recent role as the famous but troubled actor-singer Ryu Sun-jae in Lovely Runner solidified his standards as an actor, building "empathy." When enquired about his future roles, he translated his wish to put effort into grasping the characters.

"If I get the chance in the future, I wish to seek out projects that I can understand and empathize with, and I don't think I'll neglect making the effort to fully understand the characters."

Another extract from the pictorial that stood out was his take on immaturity and inexperience. The interviewer brought up a point Byeon Woo-seok had previously pointed out, that there is nothing wrong with being immature. When asked about his thoughts on the topic today, he said,

"My beliefs are still the same. How can a person always be mature and know everything? I believe that people sometimes make mistakes, overcome those mistakes, and learn and improve through studying and effort when they don't know something. Even in 2024, I'm still very immature, and there's so much I don't know."

However, he added,

"I'm constantly striving to become a mature person. I keep falling and getting back up again every day."

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Byeon Woo-seok debuted as a model in 2010 and forayed into acting in 2016 with tvN's Dear My Friends. He has been evolving in his career over the years. His widespread renown after works like Strong Girl Nam-soon (2023) and Lovely Runner (2024) have lent to his growing fanbase worldwide.

In early July, the star wrapped up his Asia fan meet tour named "Summer Letter," where he stopped by locations like Taipei, Bangkok, Singapore, Jakarta, and more.