Actor Choi Dae-hoon has revealed the secret and driving force behind his ability to turn “unlikable” characters into something charming and cute, earning him high praise for his acting.
Choi Dae-hoon recently met with YTN Star at a cafe in Samcheong-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, to celebrate the release of the Netflix series ‘Wonderfools’. Released on the 15th, ‘Wonderfools’ is a series set at the end of the century in 1999, following a group of local misfits who accidentally gain superpowers and fight against villains threatening peace.
In the show, Choi Dae-hoon plays Son Kyung-hoon, the official “nuisance” of Haeseong City. He is the type of person to exhaust civil servants with malicious complaints. While he isn’t the type to sacrifice himself or help others among the misfits, he eventually uses his superpowers to protect the town against ‘Wunderkinder’.
“I’m not actually that unlikable,” Choi laughed. He explained, “When I encounter someone sharp or unique in daily life, I instinctively observe them. I think the characteristics I’ve collected from various places blend together and manifest in my acting. I was cast in this project before ‘When Life Gives You Tangerines’ was released, so I tried not to think about my previous work.”
When asked if there is a new nickname he would like, similar to how he earned the nickname ‘Uncle Hak’ in ‘When Life Gives You Tangerines’, he smiled and said, “Since I don’t think I’ve ever been the best in any particular field in my life, it would be an honor to be the best at something. I think being called the ‘Master of the Unlikable’ would be great.”
While he spoke humbly about his own shortcomings, Choi Dae-hoon brilliantly captured the essence of his character in ‘Wonderfools’ and showed great chemistry with his fellow actors. He brought a lot of fun and quality to the series by playfully portraying the scenes where his “sticky” superpower activates.
He admitted to feeling a lot of pressure before filming regarding how to express the character. “This character doesn’t give stability to those around him; instead, he causes anxiety and interference, while simultaneously having to be helpful. There was a lot to figure out. I worried about how to blend in with the others while showing his hidden side. However, I found the preparation process fun,” he said.
Regarding the superpower scenes, he said, “The staff prepared so much that the physical difficulties were overcome. There were many situations where I was hanging from wires, which was physically challenging. The director mentioned that I suffered the most, and I suspect he said that because I’m the oldest,” he added with a laugh.
He also revealed a scene completed through ad-libs. In a scene where he makes objects stick by repeatedly mentioning the names of various singers saying “I am [Name],” and then makes them fall by telling the truth, “I am Son Kyung-hoon,” he shared that this funny moment was his own idea.
Choi recalled, “It was a section that needed to be passed quickly, so I thought I’d try lying fast and shouted over a dozen names, but it didn’t go well because I was rushing. So, I lay down, and the staff displayed the names on a tablet for me to read quickly.” He jokingly expressed disappointment that “it didn’t end up being as long as I thought” in the final cut.
Regarding certain reports, Choi responded cautiously, “I saw them through articles, and I can’t say I wasn’t flustered. However, all the actors and production crew worked hard, and we were at a point where the viewers’ choices and evaluations were inevitable. I think I faced the 15th with a grateful heart just that the work could be released.”
Finally, he shared the meaning of the project. “Since superpowers don’t actually exist, if viewers can smile, chuckle, or even burst out laughing while watching ‘Wonderfools’, I think that’s reason enough for us to exist. We are beings who should provide both sadness and joy, and I hope to fulfill that duty,” he stated.
Meanwhile, ‘Wonderfools’ is now streaming on Netflix.
