Hong Jonghyun for Mizuno + Interview with The Fact

[crystalheng.livejournal.com]

Source: Mizuno Sports Korea

Interview with The Fact

Model turned actor. Outstanding tall height and 'Cold City Man' aura from the haughty expressions on runways come to mind just by looking at these words. Actor Hong Jonghyun (24) too is one of the model-turned-actors with sharp features and handsome young looks. But through a pure-hearted character who loved like a sunflower on MBC drama "Mama," he captured the hearts of the audience.

Hong Jonghyun, who recently had a breakthrough in his image with "Mama," came to meet us at The Fact's office. It was obvious at the interview that he was tired from filming MBC variety programme "We Got Married" right after finishing a drama as the man who quietly protected the terminally ill Han Seung Hee (played by Song Yoon Ah). But he immediately expressed his delight about finishing "Mama" when asked about it.

"It was a project that I worried about before filming began and I'm glad that it ended well. Only younger people knew who I was in the past but even aunties and uncles recognise me at the mart now so I'm grateful. My mother also said that she received many phonecalls from her friends who told her, 'I'm enjoying the drama.' "

Even though he shone in previous works on TV through dramas "Wild Romance," "Jeon Woo-chi," "Dating Agency: Cynaro," etc., it was through "Mama" that he established a bigger presence. After acting in roles that were mainly handsome, quiet and cool-headed, he played a warm man who loved Han Seung Hee like a fool in "Mama."

"It's not that I purposely chose cool characters but I think those kind of characters were offered to me because of my image as a model. "Mama" was a drama with a heavy atmosphere but Goo Ji Sub was an imprudent character that smiled brightly. Such character is difficult. It's differs from my personality but if I avoid it because it's difficult, I will never be able to do it. I can have fun playing broken characters in the future too."

Hong Jonghyun is 17 years younger than Song Yoon Ah, who played Han Seung Hee the woman he loved with utmost sincerity in the drama. Away from the cameras, Song Yoon Ah is the wife of someone and a child's mother. Only then did Hong Jonghyun felt the difference from Song Yoon Ah. He also revealed his desire over the nickname "Younger Man."

"Song Yoon Ah didn't usually say anything that made me feel the age difference. There are many married people around me so I didn't feel anything when she spoke about her husband but when she spoke about her child growing up, I thought, 'So there is a difference.' I like 'Younger Man.' Someone in his late 20s can't be a 'Younger Man,' right. I couldn't if I were older. It's fine because I'm still young. (Laugh) I want to become a cool person even when I'm in my 30s."

In the drama, Goo Ji Sub and Han Seung Hee also had a large age difference. Goo Ji Sub even extended his devoted love to Han Seung Hee's son. Hong Jonghyun too thinks that there is no wall too climb in love.

"It's 'If I like her, ding!' for me. Older, younger, same age? I've never strongly compared between them but rather than age difference, the difference in temperament is important. I am not someone who is sweet and sensitive to my girlfriend but I don't grumble or get angry easily. I try to take care of her a lot and help her as much as I can. I'm the type to date comfortably like a friend."

He is also experiencing a virtual marriage life with Girl's Day's Yura on "We Got Married." In "Mama" he was a matured man who had a ceremony to exchange vows in order to protect someone. The two programmes changed his views about marriage.

"Before going on 'We Got Married' I thought there would be a drastic change in something when I get married. I also felt burdened from needing to be more capable. But now I think it would be nice to have a lovey dovey marriage life like a couple dating. A marriage like dating. Around my early 30s? I wanted to marry early because I didn't want to have a large age difference from my children. I want to be a father who's like a friend."

He, who is inclined to dating comfortably like a friend and a marriage like dating, is extremely shy around strangers. So much so that the people around him were surprised by the wide variance of his personality when he opened up to them.

"Since I don't speak much and I'm shy around strangers, there are many sides to me. I'm very relaxed when I'm with my close friends. I want to show these sides of me in projects but I don't have that experience and it's difficult so it troubles me. I wish to freely show myself being sly one moment then timid another moment through different characters. I can't possibly be good at everything but I feel the charms of characters that I haven't tried. I will find something that I'm good at as I try, and as I get used to it, it will become my weapon. By accumulating such experiences, it will benefit me when I grow as an actor, right?"

Source: The Fact
Translated by: crystalhyl @ Soompi
Please keep the credits when re-posting, thank you.

Comments

[laeryn.livejournal.com]

So I was sure I knew Hong Jonghyun from somewhere, from before he became kinda popular, and I just realized... I USED TO CALL HIM "THE UGLY ONE" IN WHITE CHRISTMAS. lmao.

[modestgoddess79.livejournal.com]

usually not my type but he looks great here

[ah0000.livejournal.com]

I recently saw pictures of him with his long hair...crazy how this haircut makes him look so much more attractive

[aeries-amethyst.livejournal.com]

Unf, he is so attractive *O*