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| ▲ This image of South Korean actor Woo Do-hwan is provided by Netflix. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
SEOUL, Nov. 14 (Yonhap) -- “I used to have a ‘romance phobia.’ Action scenes have a set answer, but with romance or comedy, just because something feels exciting or funny on set doesn’t mean it’ll come across that way on screen. So I wondered, ‘Can I really do romance?’” said actor Woo Do-hwan, who plays the lead role of Hae-jo in the Netflix series "Mr. Plankton."
The South Korean heartthrob shared these thoughts during an interview on the 13th at a cafe in Seoul's Jongno District.
Known for his strong action roles in works like "Save Me," "Mad Dog" and "Bloodhounds," Woo takes on a heartrending story of love that ends in tragedy in this series.
His character, Hae-jo, is diagnosed with a terminal illness and impulsively kidnaps his ex-girlfriend, Jae-mi (played by Lee Yoo-mi), on her wedding day, taking her on a journey across the country. Though impulsive and selfish on the surface, Woo transforms Hae-jo into a sympathetic character whom the audience feels compelled to care for.
“I’ve done quite a few projects, but this is the first time I’ve been loved for an emotional, rather than action-driven, role,” Woo said, smiling. “Even my dad gave me a ‘praise sticker’ after watching it!” However, he admitted that he hasn’t entirely overcome his fear, adding, “I still have to work on breaking down that ‘romance phobia’ little by little.”
Woo described Mr. Plankton as “the warmest project” he has ever done, noting that its core message—“There is no one in this world who doesn’t matter”—was something he himself needed to hear. “I hope it can be a source of strength for those who feel lonely.”
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| ▲ This image of South Korean actor Woo Do-hwan is provided by Netflix. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
Reflecting on the role, Woo added, “Since reading the script, I thought it’d be amazing to portray such a free-spirited and eccentric character while I’m still young. I felt like, ‘This is the project that allows me to show my strengths and do romance as well.’”
The laid-back atmosphere on set helped bring out Hae-jo’s character. “The director often said, ‘We’re like grass in the field; we sway wherever the wind takes us.’ We would keep the camera rolling, play around, and improvise scenes,” Woo explained. Iconic scenes, like the two characters sledding in the snow or feeling defeated in front of a closed convenience store, were all created organically.
Looking ahead, Woo plans to return to action—his signature genre—for his next project.
He said, “After Mr. Plankton, I feel like I need a break from romance, wondering, ‘How could I top this heartfelt love story?’ Much like finishing Bloodhounds made me want to try romance, completing Mr. Plankton makes me want to dive back into action. Right now, I’m preparing to start filming Bloodhounds 2.”
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