[INTERVIEW] So Ji-sub has full year ahead with film, TV drama

Top actor So Ji-sub stars in the new movie "To Be With You." He will also return to the small screen with a drama. / Courtesy of FiftyOne.K

By Kim Ji-soo

Heartthrob actor So Ji-sub, 39, has worked consistently throughout his career, but he often needs a "refresh period" between filming movies or dramas, which has kept his fans wondering what this top actor has been up to these days.

So returns with "Be With You," a romance film co-starring the heroine Son Ye-jin.

Directed by Lee Jang-hoon, the movie's opening on March 14 was timely as it coincided with "White Day" which in Korea is considered a day for men to gift women candy as a token of their affection.

"It feels good to star in a romance film that has a good, warm-hearted feeling," So said in an interview held last Friday. In a way, it evoked memories of his first love, which was in his first year in high school, he said.

"Be With You" is a remake of the 2004 Japanese film based on the namesake novel by Takuji Ichikawa. It's about Woo-jin, played by So, and his wife, played by Son. The wife returns a year after her death when the summer rain starts to fall. The two fall in love again, but she leaves again when the rainy spells end.

Naturally rain — its sound, sometimes soft, sometimes ominously belligerent — is an effective tool for this story about love, destiny, family and death.

So said he was cautious to compare the Korean film with the Japanese source material. Nevertheless, he said the Korean film has more humor, and the focus leans toward family.

As for humor, there was plenty as veteran supporting actor Ko Chang-seok plays So's lifelong friend. Indeed the audience laughed along throughout the film.

So said he had been most worried about his role in the film as a father, appearing together with a son. However, those concerns have been relegated to the past. Child actor Kim Ji-whan carried off a superb balance among all the adult characters.

"I hope the viewers will say So looks comfortable in that father role, appearing together with the young son," he said.

"Be With You" faces direct competition with another domestic film "Cheese in the Trap" starring top actors Park Hae-jin and Oh Yeon-seo. Asked how he wants to fare in the competition, So said he hopes that both works would do well at the theaters. "When movies do well at theaters, it means that we are able to make further works," So said.

So far, "Be With You" is rallying at the top, followed by film "The Vanished."

Having reached close to 40, So hopes to marry someday but doesn't know when that will be. "I am not what you would call an avowed single."

While filming the movie, there weren't that many blooper scenes, prompting the reporters to ask him if the chemistry between the actors was that good.

On his co-star Son, So said it was the first time for the two to reunite through a creative work in 17 years.

"That played a role. But also, I do not like to go for repeated takes, just one rehearsal and then the take. My thinking is that too many takes can feel contrived," So said.

He took the same line of thought in particular for the swimming scenes. So's character is a former swimmer who suffered an injury; coincidentally the actor was a professional swimmer for 11 years before he turned to modeling and acting. There is indeed a speedy pace in his swimming scenes the audience will appreciate.

Asked what roles fit him best, So said he did not want to typecast himself.

"It's up to the audience to determine what role I shine in but also I don't want to do only what I can do well," he said.

He returns to the small screen in the second half of the year in a drama tentatively titled "Terius Behind Me." It will be his first television drama since 2015's "Oh My Venus."

Having started out as a model, So's breakthrough work came first through the small screen in 2004, when he starred in "What Happened in Bali" and "I'm Sorry, I Love you" with his soulful -eyed characters. He also got his movie break in 2008 with "Rough Cut."

Asked if in real life, just like in the movies, he might have a chance to be reunited with a deceased love one, So said. "It's not going to happen in real life. But I think ... we would have a cup of soju together."

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