[Interview] ‘Absolute Value of Romance’ Cha Hak-yeon on BL Themes: “I Just Followed the Script!”

Cha Hak-yeon (37), who first hit the music scene in 2012 as the leader of VIXX, transitioned into acting in 2014 with the MBC drama ‘Hotel King’. Since then, he’s built an impressive filmography with roles in ‘Perfect Wife’, ‘Tunnel’, ‘Familiar Wife’, ‘Joseon Attorney’, ‘Castaway Diva’, and ‘Labor Attorney No Mu-jin’.

In the Coupang Play series ‘Absolute Value of Romance’, Cha Hak-yeon is currently shining as ‘Ga Woo-soo’, a cold-hearted math genius and Mensa member with an IQ of 156.

‘Absolute Value of Romance’ is a teen series that follows a high school girl who writes BL novels featuring flower-boy teachers, only to find herself entangled with them in real life.

Having previously appeared in the BL short-form drama ‘The Killer Next Door’ on TVING, Cha Hak-yeon shared, “‘The Killer Next Door’ was BL, but I viewed ‘Absolute Value of Romance’ as a teen growth story.”

He added, “I don’t feel it’s drastically different just because there’s a BL theme. I simply understood the script and tried to act it exactly as written. I didn’t interpret either ‘The Killer Next Door’ or this project differently just because they were BL.”

He also spoke about his chemistry with Kim Hyang-gi, who plays Yeo Ui-ju. Although there is a 10-year age difference between them, Kim Hyang-gi is a seasoned actress from a young age, to the point where she’s called ‘Teacher’ on set.

“She’s such a veteran. I was impressed by how she remains unfazed by anything,” Cha Hak-yeon praised. “While I tend to react to even the smallest things, seeing her stability made me feel secure and inspired me to learn from her. She has a presence that anchors the set.” He continued, “I could really feel the strength that comes from her long acting career. I drew energy from her while acting. It was a set where I relied on and learned a lot.”

‘Absolute Value of Romance’ consists of 16 episodes, with 10 already released. Cha Hak-yeon teased, “In the upcoming episodes, you’ll see that Woo-soo isn’t just a cold character,” leaving fans with much to look forward to.

He’s also preparing for VIXX’s 14th anniversary! He hinted, “I recently met with the members to discuss what we should do. I can’t give any spoilers right now, but we’re quietly putting things together.”

Finally, Cha Hak-yeon reflected on the project, saying, “‘Absolute Value of Romance’ is a very meaningful work for me because I could try out various characters and broaden my acting spectrum.” He concluded by hoping to show even more great sides of himself in future projects.