“I am not a young man anymore”- Yoo Yeon-seok reflects on taking romantic roles in his 40s amid When the Phone Rings global fame

Yoo Yeon-seok recently made headlines for his performance in When the Phone Rings. As a forty-year-old actor, he has started thinking about the kind of projects he wants to take on further, as he revealed in an interview for the finale of the drama held at the King Kong by Starship building in Cheongdam-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul on the 6th.

The highly-anticipated romance thriller premiered on November 22. According to Nielsen Korea, the first episode garnered an average nationwide rating of 5.5 percent, climbing to 6.0 percent in the second half.

Though fans found the ending absurd, overall, the drama was well received by the audience, thanks to its engaging storyline and the chemistry between the lead actors.

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Han Suk-kyu helps Yoo Yeon-seok gain insight about working through his 40s

Yoo Yeon-seok reflected on his thoughts about turning 40 this year and the kind of image he hopes to project in this new chapter of his career. He admitted to grappling with concerns about how long he could continue playing romantic roles at his age, noting that he is no longer a young actor and now carries the weight of seniority on set.

"I wondered how long I'd be able to do romance when I turned 40. I'm not a young man. Even on set, I was too senior to say I had no experience." he said.

These factors left him feeling burdened and exhausted. However, Yoo Yeon-seok shared that his perspective shifted after a meaningful conversation with senior actor Han Suk-kyu, who offered him valuable advice.

Han reassured him that his 40s would be a time to truly flourish as an actor and urged him not to succumb to anxiety or temptation. Instead, he encouraged Yoo to focus deeply on his characters, emphasizing that this stage of life could bring out the best in his craft.

Han Suk-kyu also shared his personal philosophy, revealing that he once promised himself to leave behind at least one remarkable work every decade and that creating just three exceptional projects in a lifetime would be an achievement.

"He said that it would be great if an actor leaves behind only three works in his lifetime. Of course, he has more works (laughs), but looking back, I think he met 'Deep-Rooted Tree' in his 40s, 'Kim Sa-bu' in his 50s, and 'Lee Chin-ja' in the meantime." said Yeon-seok.

Inspired by these words, Yoo Yeon-seok resolved to approach his 40s with patience and confidence.

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Yoo Yeon-seok talks about working with Chae soo-bin and addresses dating rumours

When asked about working with Chae Soo-bin, Yoo Yeon-seok shared his experience, noting that while the script progressed quickly, he initially approached the earlier scenes in a more detached manner, delivering his lines almost like a monologue for about two months.

However, as filming continued and they reached emotionally intense episodes, such as the sixth and tenth, he was struck by her passionate performance.

Yoo Yeon-seon and Chae Soo-bin on the sets of When the Phone Rings (Image via @mbcdrama_now/Instagram)

This shift led to greater emotional exchanges during filming, allowing them to work with heightened focus and collaboration. Regarding the growing buzz on social media suggesting the two appear like a real couple, with international fans even urging them to get married.

"That's not something I can do on my own. I think they're cheering me on a lot. It's a thriller, but I wanted the romance to be well-done" Yoo Yeon-seok responded laughing.

He expressed gratitude for the support and shared that, although the drama is a thriller, he was keen on portraying the romance authentically, ensuring it was balanced with the comedic and suspenseful elements.

He emphasized that, at its core, the story is a love story with the thriller serving as the connecting medium, and he was pleased to see that audiences appreciated the romantic aspect.

When asked about the possibility of a real-life relationship with Chae Soo-bin, Yoo Yeon-seok admitted that their dynamic was initially awkward as both were shy, and it took time to build rapport.

Early on, he was the one delivering most of the dialogue, but as time went on, their shared experiences, including being in the same agency, helped them grow closer. He noted her bright personality and shared how she gradually began to rely on him during challenging scenes, for which he was deeply thankful.