[INTERVIEW] Park Si-hoo – Part. 2

Your next project is that of your specialized genre, a romantic comedy “Cheongdam-dong Alice.” What kind of man is Cha Seung-jo?

Park: He is a very funny guy, more so than Goo Yong-shick. (laugh) The scriptwriter gave a big emotional difference in his personality so he is really pathetic at times but when he wants to protect someone, he is like Daddy-Long-Legs. He has a mix of characters I have played before.

You still exude your romantic guy charms on the small screen. What is Park Si-hoo like in real life?

Park: I’m very clumsy. I want to be calm but once I realized I called a kitchen towel as a chicken towel in “Star Life Theater,” haha. But my ex-girlfriends said those things make me cute and charming. Bad guys exist only in TV dramas.

You began your acting career in 1997 and took a leading role in “Glory of Family” in 2008. What made you carry on in those 10 years?

Park: I was really brave, fearless and full of confidence. I started out like a babe in the woods after someone told me in my country hometown that “you’ll do well on TV.” I agonized only for a few months before deciding to be an actor and thought everything would be alright after moving to Seoul. That lasted 10 years.

Did you aim at an actor or a star?

Park: I dreamed of becoming a movie actor but I wanted to be successful. I`m very used to watching movies since when I was six or seven, my father took me and my brother to the movie theater a lot. But I lived deep in the countryside and I was shy of strangers so tt was not easy for me to show something to others. No one thought I could be an actor. My mother allowed me to be an actor in hope that I would gain more confidence. My father told me to go for it because he thought I would give up soon anyway. I had no talent in acting to begin with, just a lot of perseverance.

There were 100 people in the acting academy at the beginning but only five, including myself, made it to graduation. I was more confident running long-distance than sprint when I was little and I brought home a perfect attendance award every year. I never won any other prizes.

You first started out in the theatrical circle in Seoul.

Park: I put up posters and gave out flyers for plays. I appeared on the stage as extra from time to time. That was how I built up my experience. I kept doing bit parts even though it was sometimes just sitting behind the main guy. I kept going on like that and suddenly they gave me a lead since my looks are okay. It was based on my looks and I didn’t have many lines, anyway. (laugh) Then I got a TV commercial offer, again thanks to my looks and the agency introduced me a management company.

During those years, did anything happen to dent your confidence?

Park: Never. I was always fairly popular with people. (laugh) A colleague once told me, “I have no idea where you come from, but you are always well-received.” Without my self-confidence, it would have been impossible for me to do this job. For an actor or an athlete, self-confidence is the most important thing. The person is on the mound because he or she is qualified. My mom also helped with my self-esteem since I was little. Even though I`m quite clumsy, she always praised me than pick out my faults.

While some young people shoot to stardom, I built up my career little by little, getting positive responses through my work. After I became known with “Let’s Get Married” and “Which Star Are You From” on MBC, I had a period of being in a rut. I got some favorable responses with “How to Meet” and jumped up to the next level with “Glory of Family.” It was literally one step after another.

Is that why you don’t have excessive greed?

Park: I have a big plan but it’s also fun to take it step by step. “The Princess’ Man” was popular but my other roles weren`t that bad either, haha. They weren’t big hits but got favorable responses and all the characters were well-received.

Then what is your big picture?

Park: I’d like to achieve recognition not only in Korea but also overseas. You know, everything is global these days. My first goal is Asia. I think the Chinese market would be the first step.

Do you want to go Hollywood, too? (laugh)

Park: Hollywood may be a bit hard for me because of the language, haha. But you know, I can start with a role with no lines. I will get better along the way.

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