▲ This photo of actor Jung Joon-won is provided by Alien Company. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

 

SEOUL, May 20 (Yonhap) -- "I’ve never received this kind of response before. I’ve been watching YouTube videos and smiling at the kind comments. I’ve even been sending them to my mom — I have no one else to brag to," actor Jung Joon-won said with a laugh during an interview in Seoul on May 13.

 

The actor, who landed his first leading role in the tvN mini-series "Resident Playbook" (Korean title: "Someday, a Wise Resident Life"), said he is cherishing what he called "an unforgettable six weeks."

 

"I really didn't expect this level of attention. It’s been like a dream come true," he said. "But I know it’ll quiet down once the drama ends, so I’m trying to stay grounded."

 

"Resident Playbook," which wrapped up on May 18, is a spin-off of the popular "Hospital Playlist" series. It shifts the focus to first-year medical residents, while maintaining the same backdrop and key elements.

 

Jung played obstetrics and gynecology resident Gu Do-won, a calm and resolute fourth-year doctor who capably leads high-pressure situations and is beloved by colleagues and superiors alike. The arrival of new first-year residents dramatically changes his once orderly routine.

 

"I remember the audition and meeting being really relaxed and fun," Jung recalled. "The director seemed to care just as much about who I am as a person as he did about my acting."

 

While he never directly asked why he was cast, Jung speculated that his calm personality may have resonated with the character. "I think the goal I had was simple: I hoped viewers would think, ‘I wish someone like Gu Do-won existed in real life,’" he said.

 

The show debuted with a 3.7 percent viewership rating and steadily climbed to a peak of 7.5 percent in the final episode, according to Nielsen Korea. Much of the buzz centered around the romantic subplot between Gu Do-won and Oh I-young (played by Go Youn-jung), a first-year OB/GYN resident and also his relative by marriage.

 

"I really didn’t expect the romance aspect to gain that much attention, especially since the main story is about the residents’ growth," Jung said. "But I think it’s all thanks to Youn-jung. Her reactions made my performance shine. Even though she's younger, I learned a lot from her."

 

Jung made his acting debut in 2015 with the short film "Avian Human" and has appeared in dramas such as "Neighborhood Lawyer Jo Deul-ho 2" and "Hush."

 

Asked whether he considers Gu Do-won his "lifetime role," he responded without hesitation: "Absolutely."

 

"I hadn’t been getting many opportunities, so I was very hungry to act," he said. "Meeting this character changed a lot for me. It helped fill that void and gave me the strength to move forward again."

 

Jung emphasized that while he appreciates the attention, he remains level-headed. "I’m someone who’s good at self-objectivity," he said. "I don’t crave long-lasting popularity. I just want to keep taking on meaningful roles in good projects — no matter the size of the part."

[ⓒ K-VIBE. 무단전재-재배포 금지]