InterviewIdol-turned-actor Cha Hak-yeon tackles first dual role in 'Absolute Value of Romance'

Actor Cha Hak-yeon, better known as N of K-pop boy group VIXX / Courtesy of Coupang Play

Cha Hak-yeon, charismatic leader of the K-pop group VIXX who is widely known as N, is proving that his artistic range extends far beyond the concert stage. In the trending series "Absolute Value of Romance," he has taken on the ambitious challenge of a dual role that effectively bridges the gap between cold logic and fictional fantasy.

The drama utilizes a clever story-within-a-story structure that follows the life of Eui-ju (Kim Hyang-gi), a high school student secretly moonlighting as a popular web novel author. This meta-commentary on storytelling allows Cha to flex his acting muscles by portraying two vastly different personas within a single narrative.

In the show’s reality, he plays Woo-su, a cold, calculated high school teacher. Conversely, within the pages of Eui-ju’s BL (boys' love) novel, he transforms into Si-on, a mysterious and alluring protagonist defined by over-the-top styling, exaggerated acting and a penchant for spitting out cringeworthy lines.

"I felt a great deal of vitality from the script," Cha said during an interview with The Korea Times at a cafe in Seoul on Monday. "The character of Woo-su possesses many traits that I personally lack, so there were many aspects I wanted to challenge myself with as an actor.

"Woo-su and Si-on exist in entirely different universes. Woo-su is a complex character with a complicated backstory, so I prepared for him meticulously. I even memorized the math formulas so I could write them on the chalkboard without looking at my notes," he explained.

Si-on, on the other hand, is more of a one-dimensional character. "He’s driven by the singular goal of winning over his partner — so I approached him with a focus on fun. I relied heavily on the energy of the set, utilizing everything around me and just enjoying the process," Cha said.

Cha Hak-yeon is seen in a scene from Coupang Play's "Absolute Value of Romance." Courtesy of Coupang Play

Since beginning his acting career with the 2014 MBC drama "Hotel King," Cha has been steadily building an impressive filmography. Following Tving original "The Killer Next Door" (2025), he has once again taken on a project featuring BL elements.

However, he clarified that this series feels different from a traditional BL drama. "Rather than being a BL, this project is closer to a high-school comedy and a coming-of-age story about a student who writes romance novels," he explained.

Regarding his character, he noted, "Woo-su is someone who lives in an egocentric world, interacting only with mathematics. After meeting Eui-ju and becoming a homeroom teacher, he starts to realize, 'Oh, there’s a world like this around me.' There is a major incident in the latter half of the show, and I think it will be fun for viewers to watch how Woo-su handles it and see how much he has grown."

He called himself the type who "rehearses extensively," saying he dedicates a room in his home to creating a practice environment tailored to each role — including a chalkboard and chalk for his teacher persona.

"A lot of things change once you get to the set, but for me, these rehearsals are like carrying a weapon into battle. I was actually flustered at first because the set had an electronic whiteboard instead of a chalkboard, but because of those rehearsals I was able to stay calm," he said.

Cha described the set of "Absolute Value of Love" as a place where he gained a great deal of confidence as an actor. "With every project, I feel like I’m climbing a staircase one step at a time. I don't think I've ever stood still or taken a step backward — but I've also never skipped two or three steps at once, either," he reflected.

"Moving forward steadily gives me motivation and makes me feel more grounded. Lately, I’ve felt my ability to handle any situation on set gradually improving."

Looking back on his journey, he concluded: "During this project, I realized there is still so much I don't know and so much more to do. I’m finally starting to truly understand what people mean when they say acting is a lifelong career. I want to keep going just like this — one step at a time.

"I want to build a solid foundation until I can fully carry a project on my own strength and become an actor that others truly want to work with," he added.