Sung Hoon prefers acting to singing
The South Korean actor tells Bibi Nurshuhada Ramli he will ‘absolutely not’ join a K-Pop group
PERHAPS he isn’t as globally renowned as Song Joong-ki, Lee Min-ho and Park Bo-gum. But South Korean actor Sung Hoon is popular in Malaysia in his own right. That was proven when a throng of screaming girls greeted him at 1Utama Shopping Centre recently when he arrived for his meet-andgreet. A barricaded path, lined by fans, had been set up from the entrance to thes Centre Court for him.
From the moment he arrived, his movements were filmed and the footage broadcast live. He was like a VIP! And when he finally stood on stage, all smiles, suave and lanky, the screams became even louder. Even Sung himself, 36, couldn’t believe that his fan base here is that large.
“Malaysia is not a country I can come to often. I am ever so grateful for the fans here,” he had told Life & Times in an interview earlier that day.
GOOD LOOKS AND TALENT
Prior to becoming an actor, Sung was a swimming champion at his university. After being in the sport for 14 years, he had to quit due to a spinal injury. He then became a swimming coach.
In search of a new life path, he got an opportunity in acting in 2011. His first drama series, New Tales Of Gisaeng, brought him a Best New Actor award. He went on to star in other series, including My Secret Romance;
Noble, My Love; Five Enough; and Level Up.
However, it was when he appeared on the reality show I Live Alone, which depicts the lives of single celebrities, that his popularity went through the roof. Incorporating unfiltered, documentary-style filming, the show received high ratings as viewers found the cast’s single lifestyles relatable.
The rating was at an all-time high for the segment involving Sung and fellow cast member Henry Lau. I Live Alone, airing in Malaysia on Oh!K (Astro Channel 394), marks Sung’s first experience as a cast member on a reality show. He had only worked on dramas and movies before this.
”When I first joined, I didn’t know what to expect. But filming one episode after another, I learnt not to appear awkward on screen,” said Sung with a laugh.
“It was daunting at first. I wasn’t used to joking around and being made fun of, but that’s how things are on set with the team. Now I am thankful for this opportunity as there is variety in my projects. Plus, it taught me that I could live my life just the way I like it.”
Other than filming I Live Alone, Sung is not in any TV shows now. He promises to return to acting early next year. He added: “In the meantime, I spend my free time learning English.”
CHARMING AND FUNNY
Sung’s meet-and-greet event was held in celebration of Oh!K’s fifth anniversary. He came to Malaysia as a gesture of appreciation for fan support for the channel’s variety shows and drama series.
Like most meet-and-greet events involving South Korean stars, this one included a game segment where selected fans got to meet Sung on stage. One of the games was “Guess
What’s In The Box”, where Sung chose a few items contestants had to guess by feeling with their hands while blindfolded.
In “Fan Service”, Sung performed specific tasks, including filming a sweet and short video message, taking a selfie and staring into a fan’s eyes while saying Saranghaeyo.
Seemingly serious in demeanour, Sung turned out to be quite the charmer, however, when entertaining the crowd.
His cute antics sent the fans howling with laughter.
And at meet-and-greet sessions, usually the star performs a song. But at his event, Sung chose to play deejay instead. He showcased his skills at the turntable as DJ Roiii .To his chagrin, the crowd did not seem to enjoy the EDM tracks he played. They didn’t jump to the beat like he asked them to. Most likely they preferred K-Pop hits but perhaps Sung isn’t a fan.
In the interview earlier, when asked if he’d want to be in a K-Pop group, his reply (in English) was “absolutely not”. Visibly shuddering at the thought, he said: “Oh, I can’t even imagine it. Besides, my dancing skills are terrible.”
To his Malaysian fans, he said: “It’s not often that I get to meet you, so I cherish this opportunity very much. I look forward to meeting you in the future. I’ll live my life fully, and I hope you do the same.”
Oh, I can’t even imagine it. Besides, my dancing skills are terrible. Sung Hoon