[Interview] 'Chungmuro Blue Chip' Im Seongjae "Passion for Acting, Like an Unquenchable Flame"

'Unframed' Movie 'Rebroadcast' Im Seongjae

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Isul] He was full of confidence. Im Seong-jae became known through the 2017 film 'Byeonsan,' and over the course of four years, he steadily appeared in increasingly substantial works, rising as a 'Chungmuro blue chip.'

Turning his head, he might seem like someone sitting next to you on the subway, but if you quietly observe the roles he has played, their colors differ so much that they don't immediately connect. When this was mentioned, he laughed heartily, saying, "That's because I have a thousand faces."

Im Seong-jae recently met with Asia Economy at the Hardcut production office in Dogok-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, greeting, "This is my first interview since my debut."

The Watcha original short film project 'Unframed' is produced by Hardcut, established by actor Lee Je-hoon, director Yang Kyung-mo, and CEO Kim Yu-kyung, and features works directed from different perspectives by Park Jung-min, Choi Hee-seo, Son Seok-gu, and Lee Je-hoon. It has received enthusiastic support and attention as a spirited challenge by young filmmakers coming together.

Casting new faces as leads in directorial debuts is itself a dazzling attempt. Whether or not the sound is perfect or the mise-en-sc?ne flawless, the combination of passion and enthusiasm shines brightly, and the sincerity of taking on a challenge is very valuable.

At the heart of this sparkling film filled with sincerity and passion is Im Seong-jae. The film 'Rebroadcast,' directed by Son Seok-gu, stars Im Seong-jae, Byeon Jung-hee, and Oh Min-ae, portraying a troublesome yet tender day shared by an aunt and her nephew attending a wedding.

The film 'Love, Again' became the bond between director Son and Im Seong-jae. The two, who first connected as friends, expanded their relationship into director and actor.

Im Seong-jae recalled, "I naturally had long conversations with Son Seok-gu, and our film discussions matched well. We had similar tastes in favorite films, acting philosophies, and perspectives on works."

'Unframed' segments 'Class President Election' (director Park Jung-min), 'Firefly' (director Choi Hee-seo), 'Rebroadcast,' and 'Blue Happiness' (director Lee Je-hoon) were screened at the 24th Busan International Film Festival held last October. Im Seong-jae recalled, "I watched them together with the actors in Busan without seeing them beforehand."

He said, "I'm not good at watching works I'm in, but I really wanted to see it because I like senior Byeon Jung-hee. The film was cute. It effectively conveyed its message within a short time." Then he laughed heartily, saying, "I felt like a star for a moment."

Im Seong-jae also said, "Director Son Seok-gu must have felt the responsibility to finish shooting within the given time, but he tried to let go of the burden as much as possible and extended the length of takes to draw out good acting from the actors. Thanks to that, it was good to act."

Son Seok-gu was impressed by Im Seong-jae’s brief appearance in 'Deliver Us from Evil' (2020), where he played a role interpreting the local language for the police. He said, "I think nothing is harder than doing nothing in front of the camera, but Im Seong-jae pulled it off," expressing admiration. After seeing him in 'Josanjeobo' as well, he decided to definitely cast him as an actor in his directorial works.

Im Seong-jae said, "Actually, 'Deliver Us from Evil' was thanks to Park Jung-min, director Hong Won-chan, and cinematographer Hong Kyung-pyo helping me. It was an ordinary scene, but the directors suggested trying this and that, so I got to shoot it. Park Jung-min made sure I was positioned in the center of the frame, which I appreciated," adding, "I acted with more excitement."

After finishing shooting 'Deliver Us from Evil,' Im Seong-jae signed an exclusive contract with Sam Company last year. He said, "I first met Park Jung-min through the 2015 film 'Pure Love,' and he helped me in various ways. While shooting 'Deliver Us from Evil,' he advised me that I might need agency support and suggested meeting our company, so I met them and started working together."

Following 'Byeonsan' and 'The King's Letters,' and the drama 'Hush' and 'Unframed' project 'Rebroadcast,' Im Seong-jae is set to diligently meet audiences through upcoming releases such as 'Emergency Declaration,' 'Bogota,' 'Confidential Assignment 2: International,' 'Night Journey,' and 'Hunt.'

He recalled, "I temporarily stopped theater and met film, and after meeting film, I started studying acting from scratch. On stage, I focused on immersion and emotional acting, but later, in the harsh field, sometimes being ignored and losing self-esteem, I struggled and was worn down, becoming calmer. It was a time to look back on myself and learn acting."

When asked about his goals as an actor, Im Seong-jae shyly smiled and said, "My passion for acting will be an eternal flame that never goes out." He added, "I learned a lot thanks to good friends I met on film sets in my 30s who gave me advice," and said, "I am very ambitious."

"Actors live on the interest and love of the audience. I want to try playing strong, intense images, and also roles that are ordinary but have clear personal standards. Someone once said, 'It's easy to be evil, but being good requires a reason.' I want to play good roles. Roles that make people wonder, 'Why are they so good?'"

Finally, Im Seong-jae said, "As an actor, I try not to be shaken by popularity or be overly elated or depressed. There were hardships in my family, but my mother and father never once told me 'Do this or that.' Even when the family fortune declined, they fully trusted me and always supported me. If I get the chance to receive an award at a ceremony, I definitely want to express my gratitude to my parents."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.