Interview of Bae Hyeon-seong with Sports Chosun. Rookie actor Bae Hyeon-seong (25) has transformed from an innocent young man into a cold character.
The Netflix original series Gyeongseong Creature 2 tells the story of “Ho-jae,” who resembles “Taesang” in every way, and “Chae-ok,” who survives the spring of Gyeongseong. Together, they uncover the unfinished relationships, fate, and ill-fated circumstances of Gyeongseong in 2024 Seoul. With the release of Season 2 following Season 1, the stage has moved to the present day, and the introduction of a new character, Seung-jo (Bae Hyeon-seong), has garnered attention. Seung-jo adds tension to the drama by pursuing Ho-jae (Park Seo-joon) and Chae-ok (Han So-hee) with his unique ability to freely use tentacles. He has also been praised for making the new character feel familiar.
Bae Hyeon-seong met with Sports Chosun on the afternoon of the 30th at a café in Jongno-gu, Seoul, and said, “I had so much fun watching it. I noticed many new scenes when I recently watched it again on a big screen. I passed the audition and joined the production because I really wanted to show a different side of myself. I’m so happy to be part of Season 2 after Season 1.”
Gyeongseong Creature is a blockbuster production that invested over 70 billion won in production costs for both seasons. It has also attracted attention as the new work of writer Kang Eun-kyung, who has created numerous masterpieces, and director Jung Dong-yoon, known for impressing viewers with Stove League. The addition of top stars Park Seo-joon and Han So-hee has also become a hot topic. Bae Hyeon-seong admitted that he felt anxious about being part of such a prestigious production. He said, “I felt a lot of pressure when I joined. I felt the need to ‘do well.’ As a new member, the character of Seung-jo was a challenge for me, allowing me to show a different side of myself than I have before.”
In reality, Bae Hyeon-seong has maintained the image of a pretty boy with kind eyes and a charming face, having built a positive reputation through tvN’s Our Blues. It was unfamiliar for him to portray a creature who interacts with others in a cold manner. He said, “I wanted to explore gazes that I’ve never used before. I diligently attended action school and prepared for filming. I aimed to bring forth expressions I’ve never tried before.” He continued, “This was a character I had never played before, and I was worried about whether I could do it well. After discussing the character with the director, I realized it could broaden my acting range.”
Bae Hyeon-seong thoroughly analyzed his character with director Jung Dong-yoon before filming. He said, “At first, Seung-jo is threatening, ruthless, and aggressive, but as the story unfolds and his emotions are revealed, I believed I could express both sides well. I aimed to portray a character that can be playful yet suddenly cold when he’s evil. We discussed how to show more of the emotional depth I’ve explored in my previous roles when he’s feeling sad.” He added, “The eyes filled with sadness are a key part of Seung-jo’s character.”
His complex relationship with Ho-jae, played by Park Seo-joon, also attracted attention. Seung-jo relies on Ho-jae to the point of exhibiting a form of “love.” Bae Hyeon-seong explained that Seung-jo’s feelings for Ho-jae could indeed be considered a type of love. He said, “Seung-jo harms others and lives mercilessly, but when he meets Ho-jae, he learns what it means to live like a human. Ho-jae was the first to recognize Seung-jo as a person and validate his existence, which fostered a strong desire for recognition in Seung-jo. This could be seen as a form of love. Raised as a special experiment subject, he wanted to be fully acknowledged and loved, but that never happened until Ho-jae came along.” His desire to recover Ho-jae, whom he thought he had lost, is also an extension of this love. Bae Hyeon-seong elaborated, “I thought Ho-jae hyung was dead, but then I found out he was alive. Jeonseung Pharmaceutical said he was dead, and I wondered if he was the Ho-jae hyung I was looking for. Initially, I searched for him that way, but after realizing he had lost his memory and couldn’t remember me, I wanted to help him regain it. I wanted him to remember me. However, Maeda insisted he should make Ho-jae kill Chae-ok. Seung-jo must have thought he should protect Chae-ok because he didn’t want Ho-jae hyung to suffer.”
His relationship with Park Seo-joon mirrors this dynamic. As fellow members of the same agency (Awesome ENT), Bae Hyeon-seong relies on Park Seo-joon and has received practical advice from him throughout the filming. Bae Hyeon-seong laughed, saying, “He gives me a lot of realistic advice and encourages me. I’m grateful that he takes good care of me. I’m glad we’ve grown closer while working on the same drama.”
Gyeongseong Creature 2 represents a new challenge for Bae Hyeon-seong, who has previously showcased an innocent persona. He said, “At first, when I was talking about the silver swallow at the bar, I thought that scene was crucial because it’s where Seung-jo first appears and speaks his lines. I enjoyed portraying those cold eyes and his expression that didn’t seem to smile.” He continued, “This time, while embodying a character like Seung-jo, I became interested in this type of role and action. I believe that if I focus on improving my acting in this area and take on stronger roles, I can have fun with it. My expectations were really high before the action scenes, and I felt a tremendous sense of accomplishment. I hope to have more opportunities to explore this in the future.”
Bae Hyeon-seong, who dreams of being the “Son of Netflix,” said, “It would be nice to become the Son of Netflix,” but added, “Actually, I had more worries than expectations while working on this project, primarily because I was surrounded by famous senior actors in a large production. I didn’t want to cause any trouble. This was my first time doing action scenes, so I felt burdened and anxious, but it was rewarding to hear the action director say, ‘Well done.’ I liked that I could showcase a look in my eyes and an expression that people hadn’t seen before. Since it was different from my past acting, it felt refreshing, and when I looked at the monitor, I thought, ‘I can do that too,’ upon seeing an expression I had never used before. I felt a sense of accomplishment from that. It makes me eager to express a wider range of emotions in the future.”
Bae Hyeon Seong also appears in the upcoming family drama ‘Family By Choice’.
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