INTERVIEW Im Si-wan satisfied with his first comic role in 'Boyhood'

Since making his way into acting in 2012, singer-turned-actor Im Si-wan has taken on various roles from a struggling newbie in the series “Misaeng: Incomplete Life” (2014) to a psychotic terrorist in the film “Emergency Declaration” (2021). Yet, comedy had remained uncharted territory for him until now.

Coupang Play’s latest original series “Boyhood,” sees the actor tackle a comic role, playing an uncool high school student.

“Throughout life, I’ve learned that there is a power in wit even in any circumstances. If a story has wit and comedy at the right moments, it can have a tremendous impact. So I’ve been wanting to try it someday and I was able to work up my courage after meeting the right director who can handle it well,” Im said during an interview with The Korea Times at a cafe in Jongno District, Tuesday.

“For me, 'Boyhood' is a work that I didn’t have to try to be cool and unapologetically show my flaws. So I’m hugely satisfied with it.”

The teen comedy series, which premiered Nov. 24, is set in 1989 in South Chungcheong Province and revolves around a high school student called Jang Byeong-tae (Im). Jang has always been a punching bag for his classmates, trying hard to just get through the day without getting beaten up.

One day, Jang and his family run off to a nearby town after his father gets caught running an illegal dance studio. Forced to transfer to a different school, Jang finds a whole new life when he gets mistaken for the town’s best fighter who has a similar name: Jung Gyeong-tae (Lee Si-woo).

The 10-part series is led by Lee Myoung-woo, whose previous works include the hit comedy series, “The Fiery Priest” (2020), and the rom-com series “Backstreet Rookie” (2020).

Im shared that his trust in the director and the script led him to take his first comic role.

“I’ve been wanting to try comedy. At that moment, I happened to come across the Boyhood script. And it turned out it’s led by a director who does comedy well and whose works I have enjoyed. So my interest grew stronger,” he said.

“They usually give you the draft of the script but the draft felt like an already completed script. It genuinely felt funny. I’ve always felt that seeking works like this is a duty as an actor. So it was fulfilling to find such a project. Although I don’t have much of a sense of humor, I anticipated that I could rely on the director.”

The actor noted that he approached the character with careful consideration, mindful of his inexperience in comedy. First, Im went through an image transformation, getting a bowl-cut hairstyle and pulled his pants up high.

“There was some pressure for doing (comedy) for the first time, so I felt I needed to prepare it more thoroughly and spent an extensive period. My mindset was that I should stay humble although I might not achieve immediate success on the first try,” he said.

“Since I don’t excel in comedy, I approached it thinking I should not overdo it. I didn't attempt to expand beyond my comedic comfort zone. Because if I do, I would be doing comedy that even I don’t relate to and it wouldn’t convince the viewers as well … So I only did what I established with the director and the writer.”