"'Are they dating?' I was happy with that reaction." Hwang In-yeop, who fell for Hye-ri in 'Aing', stands out as the 'first love man' [★FULL Interview]

*This content was translated by AI.

Actor Hwang In-yeop (35) shared his meaningful reflections on taking on the lead role in a 'roco' (romantic comedy).

Hwang In-yeop debuted in 2018 and gained recognition with tvN's 'True Beauty' in 2020. Since then, he has steadily built his filmography with Netflix's 'All of Us Are Dead' (2022), SBS's 'Why Oh Soo-jae?' (2022), JTBC's 'Assembled Family' (2024), and TVING's 'Dear X' (2025).

Now, with the ENA Monday-Tuesday drama 'Dream for You', which concluded on the 18th of this month, he has finally showcased a top-billed romantic comedy and achieved a breakthrough. In the drama, Hwang In-yeop played the role of Woo Soobin, a genius film director. Particularly, his chemistry with Lee Hye-ri, who plays Su Ji-jae, a reporter struggling to make a living, captivated fans with a fresh first-love reunion romance that spanned from their innocent high school days to a matured melodrama.

In an interview with StarNews conducted recently, Hwang In-yeop reflected on the special significance of this role: "I really wanted to do a romantic comedy. My personal goal was to become an actor who could take on such roles. So if you ask me whether I achieved it, I feel like I accomplished my personal goal through 'Dream for You'."

He added, "I did my absolute best to portray Woo Soobin in a way that truly showcased my acting abilities. There were certainly parts where I felt lacking, but the chemistry with Hye-ri was excellent and we fit well together. Because of this, romantic comedy is another genre I would like to try again."

However, 'Dream for You' exited with a disappointing viewership rating of just 2.3%, making Hwang In-yeop's unique challenge seem in vain. Regarding this, Hwang In-yeop calmly stated, "I wish the ratings had been higher, but since the process itself was so wonderful, we jokingly told each other among the director and actors that 'viewership is something we cannot control.' I still occasionally revisit dramas from quite some time ago. I hope 'Dream for You' becomes a drama that viewers will think of occasionally after some time has passed and decide to watch it again."

He continued, "'Dream for You' was truly enjoyable throughout the process. After watching the final episode, Director Yoo Sun-dong and I exchanged text messages wishing each other well in our futures. It was great and fun to film this drama. Hye-ri and I talked a lot and supported each other greatly. We exchanged many words like 'we support you.' I feel we've become good friends, which is wonderful."

In fact, the perfect chemistry between Hwang In-yeop and Hye-ri received a huge response. Their chemistry was so good that netizens even speculated, "Aren't they dating?"

Responding to such remarks, Hwang In-yeop joked, "I am always very happy when I hear those words," eliciting laughter. He then added, "Because in the romantic comedy genre, showing great chemistry is the most important thing. I think those reactions help viewers immerse themselves more in the work, so I am grateful that they viewed us this way."

At the same time, Hwang In-yeop emphasized his close friendship with Hye-ri, saying, "For me, it was a joy to have made a new good friend."

Especially last month, Hwang In-yeop became a hot topic when a sweet two-shot of him and Hye-ri watching a baseball game together at the stadium was released. He cheerfully recalled, "At that time, Hye-ri had eaten something spicy and was complaining about it, so I just gave her the tumbler that was right next to me. I had no idea where it was filmed or that anyone would take a picture of it. Some time later, I heard there was such a video and watched it, and I liked it."

Hwang In-yeop also said, "It was the first time since elementary school that I went to a place with such an encouraging atmosphere, so it was so much fun. Hye-ri and I even talked about this video over the phone. She found it amazing too. Still, since we showed a good relationship in any case, I felt relieved that our image came across naturally like that. But we didn't act with any specific intention."

Despite being in his mid-30s, how did he feel about broadly portraying a high school student while wearing a school uniform? Hwang In-yeop recalled, "I was worried that if I wore the uniform again, it might look awkward. But Hye-ri and I discussed that perhaps viewers would appreciate it if we portrayed ourselves looking pretty and beautiful. We filmed the scene where we wear uniforms early in the drama, which actually made me nervous, but it seems to have worked well for my acting."

Although he is a veteran soldier, his youthful appearance continues to spark curiosity online about 'Hwang In-yeop's military service.' When asked about this, Hwang In-yeop immediately revealed with a laugh, "I've already finished my reserve duty. I am in my third year of civil defense."

He shared, "When I was in the army, Girl's Day was very active. My senior recommended their song 'Expectation' and told me how pretty Girl's Day was. I remember that clearly. I also liked Hye-ri through 'Reply 1988,' and I had seen her cute moments on 'Real Men,' so acting with Hye-ri itself was a great honor for me. I actually told her this, and she replied, 'Then treat me well.'"

Soon after, Hwang In-yeop added, "I have never made any special effort to maintain my youthful image. It seems that viewers liked the roles I played as a rookie wearing school uniforms, and that appreciation has continued. People tend to see me as younger than my actual age."

In particular, Hwang In-yeop revealed, "At this point, I've started wondering if it's time to show a more masculine side. I also mentioned this at the 'Dream for You' production conference; perhaps wearing school uniforms will be the last time. I feel like I have reached a stage where I want to transition from boyhood to manhood. For this drama as well, I worked out very hard to project a different image. I even gained weight and used expensive face masks sold at Olive Young, managing my appearance diligently."

Furthermore, Hwang In-yeop shared, "The image I dreamed of was doing what I wanted to do, and I am receiving much more love than I imagined. I used to wonder, 'Will the day ever come when I can be a protagonist? I wish I could try it,' but that happened unexpectedly. However, I still worry about my next project. 'Will there really be another opportunity for me?' 'Can I do this well again?' I need to adapt to new environments with new directors and staff, and I must convince the public of how much I can show a new side of myself. That is why I continue to have concerns. Isn't life about not knowing what lies ahead? I think of it as something unknown and remain grateful, praying every night."

He also showed his strong inner resolve: "I debuted in my late 20s. Thanks to the experiences I've had, I don't think I get overly nervous when acting or during auditions. The fact that I didn't fear rejection was a strength that came from starting in my late 20s."

Finally, Hwang In-yeop said, "Since 'Dream for You' is my first romantic comedy debut work, it will remain in my memory longer than any other project. Perhaps when time permits, I will often gather with the 'Dream for You' team again; it has become a work like that." He added, "My next project is JTBC's 'Human X Gumiho,' where I will play a character completely different from what you've seen before. For the first time, I am taking on a villain role, so I think viewers will find it fresh. I hope you look forward to it with great expectations."

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*This content was translated by AI.