From trot singer to 'fighting champion' of 'True Education'.. Re-discovering Ok Jin-wook [★FULL Interview]

*This content was translated by AI.

This is a re-discovery of Ok Jin-wook. Having entered the entertainment industry as a trot singer, Ok Jin-wook rose prominently as an 'actor' through 'True Education'.

Recently, StarNews conducted an interview with Ok Jin-wook, an actor in the Netflix original series 'True Education' (script by Lee Nam-gyu, directed by Hong Jong-chan), at its Seoul Jongno-gu headquarters.

Released on the 5th, 'True Education' is a series depicting the refreshing and satisfying 'True Education' carried out by the National Education Rights Protection Bureau, established to defend the educational rights of teachers and the educational landscape of the Republic of Korea, which were crumbling due to overstepping students, teachers, and parents. In the series, Ok Jin-wook played Jo In-beom, the 'No. 1' of the Automotive Department at Gwunhaitech High School, appearing in episode 2.

Through this interview, Ok Jin-wook recalled his first encounter with 'True Education'. Ok Jin-wook, who joined 'True Education' through an audition, said, "During the audition, I did boxing in front of the camera, and the director said he liked it." He added, "I had a gap of about one year and four months before 'True Education'. I had been doing boxing before, but I had learned it more deeply during that gap. I had even obtained a professional license."

During the audition, Ok Jin-wook had a long-haired style, just as he appeared in the work. This became one of the reasons the production team cast him. Ok Jin-wook said, "There was no long-haired character in the original work. But the makeup team said, 'You can go with your long hair as is.' I secretly wanted long hair too. I grew it during breaks, but it's not easy to grow it that long. The reason I grew my hair was to handle various characters. Still, I thought I wanted to keep my long hair, and I was able to keep it for Netflix."

Playing Jo In-beom, the 'No. 1' of the Automotive Department at Gwunhaitech High School in the series, he underwent tattoo and scar makeup for the character. Regarding this, Ok Jin-wook said, "It was so fun and fascinating that my tension changed depending on the outfit. When I was in Jo In-beom makeup, I somehow became arrogant and rough. I felt like I was really good at fighting." He continued, "When we gathered without makeup, we all looked cute, but after putting on makeup, it felt like we were about to do something bad. Makeup gives power."

Regarding the harsh profanity-laden acting, he said, "Since I am from Busan, there are exclamations like that. So, acting with profanity wasn't difficult. But I only found out after post-recording that I used so many profanities. Almost all of them were 's***'." He revealed this. However, he emphasized that his actual school days were completely different from the depiction in the work. He said, "My school days went smoothly. I attended a school where students studied well. So, I either went home from school or went to karaoke with friends. I have no memory of fighting."

On set, he learned a lot through his chemistry with senior actor Kim Mu-yeol. Recalling the car action scene, Ok Jin-wook said, "When filming the overall wide shots, stunt actors were used, but there was a scene where senior Kim Mu-yeol drove himself. I didn't know beforehand that he would drive himself. Usually, when the face is shown, the scene is filmed, but suddenly senior Kim Mu-yeol touched the gear stick and just drove off."

He continued, "I was really surprised at that time. So, the surprised expression in the car scene came out more realistically. Later, when I asked why he drove himself, he calmly said, 'I did a lot of action.'" He also recalled, "At that time, the car door was missing. Still, senior Yoo Tae-ju, who had a large build, was sitting next to me, so I was safe," and smiled.

He also added a behind-the-scenes moment where the atmosphere on set changed. Ok Jin-wook said, "The students' reaction after the car scene was not originally like that. They were just murmuring, but after senior Kim Mu-yeol drove, exclamations and applause erupted. So, the reaction on set changed to that."

He expressed deep respect for Kim Mu-yeol, whom he observed on set. Ok Jin-wook said, "Senior is really too good. Of course, I haven't met a bad person, but he was particularly good." He added, "(In the work) you will change schools every time and meet many actors, but you tried to call and remember the names of our 20 to 30 members. You also wanted to talk with us during breaks and blend in with us." He concluded, "He was someone who made me think, 'I want to be such a senior too.'"

He also praised Kim Mu-yeol's unique action know-how and solid physical condition. Ok Jin-wook said, "He is really good at action. He touches lightly so it doesn't actually hurt, but he has a know-how that makes it look like he's hitting hard. It was amazing." He continued, "His body is really good too. How long has he been exercising?" expressing surprise at Kim Mu-yeol's thorough self-management.

Ok Jin-wook, who once dreamed of being a musical actor, made his first step into the entertainment industry as an actor trainee after being selected through JYP Entertainment's public audition after his military discharge. Ok Jin-wook said, "At that time, there were dance, singing, acting, and modeling parts, and I applied as an actor. Then I became an actor trainee." He added, "Since it was the same acting path, there wasn't much difference, but the person in charge at the time told me to try 'Mr. Trot'."

He also honestly confessed about his worries during his appearance on TV Chosun's 'Mr. Trot' in 2020 and his time as a member of the trot group Dasejang. Ok Jin-wook said, "Honestly, I was scared. At that time, the trot genre was for the elderly. I wanted to be an actor, but trot was different from acting, so I thought, 'When can I act again?' But my mother said, 'Don't worry about useless things without even trying.' So, I did it." He revealed, "If I hadn't gone through this process, it would have taken longer. I overcame my fear, and now I can receive more attention like this."

His 'Mr. Trot' colleagues are still a great source of strength. Ok Jin-wook shared anecdotes with fellow-age singers Hwang Yoon-seong and Lee Chan-won, saying, "I get along well with people born in the Year of the Rat. (Hwang) Yoon-seong lives nearby, so we run together." He added, "(Lee) Chan-won is busy and lives far away, but we meet occasionally. Recently, I got a KakaoTalk message. He said, 'You finally made it. Great.' I felt good. Both of us started by getting recognized as 'Mr. Trot' from being ordinary people, and Chan-won is rising higher, while I was stepping forward again as an actor. Chan-won was watching me, and when he said 'Great,' I felt good."

The one-year and four-month gap he experienced before meeting this work was like a growing pain for him. Ok Jin-wook said, "I was depressed during the gap. I also worked part-time at a cafe, exercised, and tried many other things." He confessed, "Anyway, the anxiety that comes when you are alone seems unavoidable. I was worried because I wasn't yet imprinted on people's minds, and I felt like I was being forgotten before I could be imprinted."

But the support from those around him became a pillar. Ok Jin-wook said, "The director of my previous work 'Running Mate' always cared for me. Especially, he said, 'I saw your audition and cast you, and you are good, so don't be anxious.' When an employer says you are doing well, it helps a lot."

Now continuing his acting career in earnest, he is aiming for a clear goal as an actor. Ok Jin-wook said, "When I was active as a singer, the thing I wanted to hear most was 'He sings well,' but now the thing I want to hear most is 'He acts well.'" He added, "There is no confirmed next work yet, and there is so much I want to do. I want to try everything." He continued, "I want to be an actor who people say, 'He is really good,' and 'I must watch when he appears.'" He concluded, "My personal goal is to secure another new work this year and work hard. I want to work hard with this momentum. I will strive to become a good actor."

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*This content was translated by AI.