"Envy of 'True Education'": Choi Min-sik and Choi Hyun-wook in the Challenging 'The Boy at the Back Row' [Comprehensive]

*This content was translated by AI.

Acting master Choi Min-sik and rising star Choi Hyun-wook share the screen as teacher and student in 'The Boy at the Back Row'.

A press conference for the Netflix series 'The Boy at the Back Row' was held on the 24th at Seoul M Gallery in Mapo-gu, Seoul. Director Kim Kyu-tae, actors Choi Min-sik, and Choi Hyun-wook attended the event.

'The Boy at the Back Row' is a suspense drama depicting the story of 'Heo Moon-oh' (played by Choi Min-sik), a failed writer and Korean literature professor, who discovers the genius of 'Lee Kang' (played by Choi Hyun-wook), the boy sitting at the very back row of the classroom, and becomes obsessed with his writing.

Director Kim Kyu-tae stated, "I read the script very quickly because it was so fun. It is a six-part series, and I watched it without stopping. The writer's style itself has the power to easily and concisely convey the situation and characters' emotions while making the audience curious about the next story. It is a work where popular entertainment and literary depth coexist, so I felt a strong desire to direct it."

Acting veteran Choi Min-sik and rising star Choi Hyun-wook meet through 'The Boy at the Back Row', showcasing a fresh yet overwhelming acting synergy.

Choi Min-sik took on the role of 'Heo Moon-oh', a Korean literature professor consumed by a sense of defeat. He said, "When I received the offer, I heard the story of the work over the phone first, and I felt like I had heard a similar story somewhere before. As expected, the original work was the play of the same name by Juan Mayorga. It was a work that felt like it had a literary scent for the first time in a long while, so I was happy."

He continued, "While popular works are good, this one leaves room for the audience to think. There are also points where viewers might feel a chill thinking, 'Isn't this my story?' The message the work delivers was clear, and the composition centered on the relationship between a professor and a student also felt fresh, which is why I joined the project."

The boy 'Lee Kang', who always sits at the very back row of the classroom while exuding an ambiguous atmosphere, is played by Choi Hyun-wook. Choi Hyun-wook said, "For me, the biggest charm of this work was that it was directed by Director Kim Kyu-tae and starred Senior Actor Choi Min-sik." Choi Min-sik praised him, saying, "He is good."

He further added, "When I read the script, I think I fell into it instantly right there. I chose this role because I thought I could show another side of myself through 'Lee Kang'."

Choi Hyun-wook joined 'The Boy at the Back Row' through an audition. Choi Min-sik, who was present at the casting scene for the role of 'Lee Kang', said, "Saying that I cast Choi Hyun-wook is absurd. However, as my co-star, I was indeed curious. Since I don't know young actors well, I asked if I could be present at the audition to see their raw feelings, and the director kindly agreed."

He continued, "As I had many conversations with the director and the assistant director, we narrowed down the candidates, and in that process, I judged that Choi Hyun-wook was the right person. After the audition ended, it was evening, so I asked, 'Shall we go eat?' and Hyun-wook said, 'I'll treat you.' In reality, it was probably paid by his agency," he added with a smile.

Recalling that time, Choi Hyun-wook said, "I prepared about two scenes for the audition. Among actors my age, I don't think anyone has not seen Senior Actor Choi Min-sik's works. Thinking that I would be acting in front of him, I was very nervous, but I tried my best to show what I had prepared."

Director Kim Kyu-tae said, "As a director, I was so happy. I had a desire to work with Senior (Choi) Min-sik at least once, and it was a happy experience. He made the atmosphere on set enjoyable and cheerful, and he has a side that is like a pure boy yet like an enlightened adult."

He continued, "He is a senior I have always respected and wanted to emulate, and through this work, I was able to learn a lot not only in acting but also in the perspective as a director and as a human being. There is no need to talk about his acting skills, but there were many moments on set where I felt a thrill."

He added, "Especially, the way he expresses complex emotions in a fleeting moment and naturally continues those emotions while constantly varying them was truly amazing. He is an actor who has the power to keep drawing the viewer's gaze no matter how many times you watch him, and I expressed my respect for Choi Min-sik."

Regarding Choi Hyun-wook, he said, "He was perfect for a role with a pure exterior and a strange inner side. His eyes themselves have suspense. He has a very calm, quiet, and warm presence, yet a power that makes you tense as if something is about to happen. He expressed 'Lee Kang' very well."

He further added, "What surprised me was that when the shot went in on set, he emitted explosive energy and was fully immersed. I am looking forward to how far actor Choi Hyun-wook can grow and his potential."

In addition, Heo Jun-ho plays 'Kim Soo-hoon', a successful famous writer and Heo Moon-oh's college senior, who is a one-sided rival that Heo Moon-oh admires and envies. Kim Yun-jin plays 'Ahn Eun-ju', Kim Soo-hoon's wife and Heo Moon-oh's college junior and first love, leading another axis of the story.

Choi Min-sik said, "It was as welcoming as reuniting with separated family members. I met actor Heo Jun-ho for the first time in a long time since the movie 'Cheonmun: Asking the Sky' (2019). He is my junior in the military, and we worked together. Even now, when he sees me, he salutes," expressing his affection.

He continued, recalling, "Kim Yun-jin and I worked hard together as undercover agents in 'Shiri'." He added, "What's amazing is that over 20 years have passed, yet I don't feel a gap in time; it feels like I saw her the day before yesterday. So I asked, 'Aren't you a gumiho?' It was heartwarming and so happy that everyone has been consistently acting and fitting into a single frame."

Finally, director Kim Kyu-tae explained, "The directorial direction was not to pursue aesthetic forms, but to focus on the characters' inner minds and psychology."

'The Boy at the Back Row' is a Netflix series that will follow the global success of 'True Education'. Director Kim Kyu-tae said, "I am envious that 'True Education' did well, and I congratulate Director Hong Jong-chan."

He continued, "I hope our work also achieves equally good results. We worked hard, and the process itself was so happy. It is a work where I, as a director, am highly satisfied with the quality. I hope you look forward to it."

Choi Min-sik emphasized, "This work may not be refreshing, but it will leave much room for thought. It seems to be a work that makes people think deeply about what humans are and what life is. You will watch it from episode 1 to episode 6 in an instant."

Meanwhile, 'The Boy at the Back Row' will be released on Netflix at 5 p.m. on the 26th.

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*This content was translated by AI.