'52-Year-Old Unmarried' Kim Hyung-mok: "Many Dating Variety Show Offers... Indirectly Experienced Marriage Through 'Prescribing Love'" [★FULL Interview]

*This content was translated by AI.

"Through this experience of indirectly experiencing marriage, family, love, and children, I said that if there were a woman like Cha Se-ri, I would want to get married right away. I became more positive about marriage and love. Dating program offers have come to me frequently for a long time, but I haven't been able to accept them yet. However, I am not an anti-marriage advocate."

Actor Kim Hyung-mok indirectly experienced being a 'husband' and a 'father' through the KBS 2TV weekend drama "Prescribing Love" (script by Park Ji-sook, directed by Han Jun-seo, hereinafter referred to as "Love Prescription").

"Colleagues asked me why I haven't gotten married yet. They said I would love children very much. Even now, when I think about it, the most beautiful thing in life seems to be family and love."

"Prescribing Love" is a family makeup drama about two families entangled by bad relationships for 30 years who resolve misunderstandings, embrace each other's wounds, and are eventually reborn as one family.

Kim Hyung-mok played the role of Yang Ji-bar, a Han (Rep.) Yang Dong-ik (Director), in the drama, showcasing his enduring love for his second wife Cha Se-ri (played by So Yi-hyun) as a devoted husband. Yang Dong-ik, after his biological daughter Choi Min-seo (played by Park Ri-won) returned to the United States, felt empty and tried to fill Cha Se-ri's void by urging his son Yang Hyun-bin (played by Park Ki-woong).

Kim Hyung-mok began his acting career in 1999 with the musical "Cats," building a solid foundation of acting skills across stages and media. He has demonstrated a wide range of acting spectrum, portraying both good and evil characters in dramas such as "Undercover Miss Hong," "The Tyrant's Chef," "Vincenzo," "Hot Blooded Priest," films like "COLONY" and "There's No Way Out," and the musical "Suga."

-What are your thoughts on the conclusion of "Love Prescription"?

"▶It was a drama I loved so much that I could even make a three-line poem with 'Love Prescription.' It is still a good work that I want to watch periodically. The director, writer, and senior and junior colleagues were particularly wonderful. Later on, the situations in the drama felt like a real family. These days, there isn't much talk about families, but we are grateful that our story was led by love until the end. I also wanted to do a weekend drama. When I first went to the dinner party, the characters were already sitting there."

-Isn't this your first time doing a long-running drama?

"▶It was also my first time filming on a large set. It felt like theater. Especially with set filming, it seemed to be carried out continuously like a play."

-Yang Dong-ik was a vulgar acupuncturist who had inferiority and a desire for recognition stemming from emotional deprivation.

"▶Personally, I like roles with wounds, and this time I got to play such a role. First, I reflected on myself a lot. Although I have played many strong characters before, I realized that since I am actually a sensitive person, I could portray various characters. Yang Dong-ik had many similarities to me, so I projected myself a lot into the role. It came out from a combination of imagination, observation, and myself. From the first dinner party, Kim Seung-soo hyung told me, 'You are already Yang Dong-ik.' Later on, I grew and became like a fair character. When Yang Dong-ik was hurt, his explosive yet endlessly warm, affectionate, and mischievous side resembled me."

-What is your MBTI type?

"▶It comes out as ENTJ or ISFP. Others say I am an 'E,' but I am actually very 'I' while also being intuitive, valuing experience, and logical. When traveling or acting, I am a 'J,' but I adapt according to the situation."

-How was your chemistry with actress So Yi-hyun in "Love Prescription"?

"▶Meeting Lee-hyun was a miracle. Lee-hyun even told me, 'I think you would get along well with In-gyo-jin oppa.' She is too positive, beautiful, and has a great personality. I want to receive the Best Couple award at the end of the year with hyung Seung-soo. I am grateful to have met such a good partner. In-gyo-jin visited briefly when I was performing in 'SUGAR,' and he seemed like a wonderful person."

-How was your chemistry with actor Kim Seung-soo?

"▶Meeting hyung Seung-soo is a blessing. Meeting other actors like Ki-woong and Se-yeon is also a blessing. Hyung Seung-soo was truly fair and treated me like a friend. When I had complicated thoughts while acting, he gave me a lot of advice. In the scene where Ki-woong and Se-yeon get married, hyung and I said, 'We are still unmarried, yet we are here.' (laughs)"

-You showed strong characters in previous works like "The Tyrant's Chef" and "Undercover Miss Hong."

"▶Fortunately, the works were well-received. Although I have been acting for a long time, it has been 10 years since I transitioned to media acting. When I act, I often feel like someone inside me comes out and performs. I think if I am always prepared, some luck and energy will come my way. That is why I try to live humbly. I am living intensely."

-You mentioned that marriage is still not for you; are you still thirsty for your career?

"▶It's not a lie; I think I haven't even started yet. I believe many people do not know me well. I want to be an actor who brings works to life. If I do that well, I can become a good actor, but if I don't, it will be difficult to become one. Some officials told me to go to Hollywood, and I would like to go there. I think I still have much to show in musicals, theater, films, dramas, variety shows, concerts, dance, etc. I plan to show various sides of myself while doing North American tours. I am from the devil Goyang in 'Cats.' (laughs) I can do many things like piano and dance, and I want to become a 'middle-aged idol.'"

-You are known for being good at dancing, similar to singer Park Jin-young.

"▶I have liked senior Park Jin-young since my debut. When I imitated him on a variety show, he contacted me, and we still keep in touch occasionally and go to concerts together. I can do jazz, Korean dance, acrobatics, etc., and there was a time when I could only do musicals by doing those things. I also performed opera for a long time."

-You received good reactions when you appeared on "Radio Star" and "My Little Old Boy." Are you interested in appearing on other variety shows?

"▶I truly respect those who do variety shows. Doing variety shows helps with acting. It is too much fun."

-Will there be a parody character following Park Jin-young?

"▶I don't mind being told that I resemble Park Jin-young. There are many versions of me inside me. I can also imitate the expressions of the judges on 'King of Mask Singer.' On 'Han-blee,' I even imitated the rear view of a car. (laughs) Since I was young, I have liked imitating things."

-What are your plans for activities in the second half of the year?

"▶When I get a little free time, I plan to turn my house upside down and do a thorough cleaning. I have obtained an office hideout in front of my house, where I will read books and practice scripts. I am scheduled to appear in about two one-off dramas in the second half of the year, and I am looking at proposed works such as musicals. I work with acting, relieve stress with acting, and find happiness through acting. I have not yet been able to travel to Europe or Hawaii for leisure; I mostly rest due to work. I really love acting. I want to become an actor who is recognized not only by the audience but also by my colleagues."

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*This content was translated by AI.