Recently, Elle Hong Kong covered an interview with Yim Siwan in their magazine. He also met with Do Do Cheng. Back in 2021, Elle Korea had done a video interview with Siwan.
Yim Siwan was in Hong Kong for the screening of his film Emergency Declaration. He was also nominated for Best Supporting Actor for the same film at the Asian Film Awards.
At the screening, Siwan had heartwarming and fun-filled interactions with his fans. He did an interview with Do Do Cheng. Here is the rough translation of the entire interview.
Here's a small clip of their interaction in English.
Do Do Cheng has pointed out the key aspect of Siwan's talent - his ability to completely transform for his roles. He ensures that each performance is done to perfection - but when you watch him in the context of his other performances - you realize his real genius.
Here is the interview that he did for Elle with some of the official pictures that were released.
Thanks to @JeaniePak for the English translation - here is the link to the post.
SHINE IN CONTRAST
- an idol excelled in acting
Undoubtedly, Korean dramas and movies have gradually become mainstream in the global market. And with the aid of online streaming platforms, more and more brilliant actors and actresses have entered the view of international audiences. Our interviewee this time – Yim Siwan is one of them. Siwan began to take part in dramas not long after he debuted as a member of the boy band, ZE:A. With his handsome features and outstanding acting skills, he gained attention in Korea very soon. Following the release of the disaster movie “Emergency Declaration” in the cinema last year and the thriller “Unlocked” on Netflix this year, Siwan’s villain roles in both movies have not only introduced him to a more international audience but also gained widespread recognition and popularity for his outstanding performances!
Q1
ELLE: Did you experience any difficulties when you transformed from an idol into an actor? You have great achievements as an actor, do you have any secrets about that?
Siwan: I began acting very soon after debuting as an idol. The two almost went in parallel. I was singing and acting at the same time. Back then, my work schedule was very tight. My workload was almost double the usual. So it was very hectic. I could only rest during the commute. It was quite tough. (Do you have any secrets to your achievements?) It seems not quite right for me to say so, and I don't dare say that I have great achievements. I can only keep telling myself to work harder and do better.
Q2
ELLE: You have gained a lot of popularity through Korean movies and drama series. How do you feel as a Korean actor?
Siwan: As a Korean actor, first of all, I would like to express my gratitude to all the senior actors and also the production crews. They have been working diligently all along. Of course, people are happy that Korean content has become very popular now and consider that we can celebrate our success. But I think it's not the time yet. Instead, we should think about what else we can do to improve our work and take them further.
Q3
ELLE: "Emergency Declaration" has caused quite a sensation internationally. It is not only tense and thrilling; its depiction of human nature and fear is also very inspiring. What do you think is the appeal of this story? Are there any memorable experience during the filming that you can share with us?
Siwan: I think the appeal of this story lies in its realism. After all, we have all traveled on plane. We can all imagine and understand the fear of our plane being hijacked or under a terrorist attack. When filming this movie, the crew designed and built a replica cabin that was identical to the real thing. It was a meticulous production. When filming the scenes of the plane swirling, the whole set rotated. Those scenes were all real, not CG effects. I think this is also a new attempt for Korean films and it gives the audience a whole new sensation. Fortunately, everyone was unharmed during filming.
Q4
ELLE: In "Emergency Declaration", your role, Ryu Jin-Seok, launched an indiscriminate attack on innocent people out of his own personal discontent. It seems to be the first time you have played such an extreme role. How did you handle it?
Siwan: I imagined the backstory of this character and try to think about what kind of person he is, what he has experienced, or what his life is like. I tried to picture him in my mind and constructed this person completely to explain why he acted this way. There was also an indiscriminate gun shooting incident in Las Vegas sometime earlier, and I also read about it and try to understand the motives and background of the suspect. Then I compared it with my role in the movie and looked at the differences.
Q5
ELLE: I've just watched your movie "Unlocked" on Netflix. You played really well! This character literally gives me goosebumps. Do you think there are people like this in the real world?
Siwan: I guess no one would be so extreme and terrible in the real world. Otherwise, it would be really very scary! I think in the real world, most people hurt each other. Although my character in "Unlocked" is rather extreme, we can't rule out the possibility that there might be this kind of person in reality. It's just a matter of degree.
Q6
ELLE: Compared with Ryu Jin-seok in "Emergency Declaration", little background or backstory of Oh Joon-yeong was given in "Unlocked". How did you create or establish this character? Was it difficult? Did you have any reference or archetype in constructing this character?
Siwan: In playing this role, I did not focus very much on portraying how he kills or other frightening scenes. Rather, I thought more about what "identity" really means to him. He feels happy by collecting the details of his victims. It is with this mentality that I brought myself into this role. The difficulty lies in conveying the emotion. Unlike my co-stars in this movie, who might have had more opportunities for communication, I had to maintain a sense of playfulness and pleasure all by myself.
Q7
ELLE: After "Unlocked" was released, it sparked widespread discussion. Everyone said they would rely less on their phones and social media. While it may just be empty talk, the movie has undoubtedly prompted a lot of reflection. Do you think this is the message intended to be conveyed or discussed by the movie?
Siwan: I don't think there is any specific message intended to be conveyed by this movie. It is not meant to be lecturing on anything either. It is just for entertainment. But it happens to remind people to be careful with their personal information and stay vigilant.
Q8
ELLE: You have played villain roles in two films in a row. How do you feel? Do you feel any pressure?
Siwan: Actually, I did not intentionally choose to play villain roles, and I do not particularly enjoy playing villains, either. If possible, I would like to play more virtuous or positive roles. However, producers have probably chosen me (to play villains) for certain qualities. So I would also like to tell producers, "Hey, I can also play good guys or positive roles!"
Here is Yim Siwan's video interview with Elle Korea from 2021 with English subtitles. This was just after he finished shooting for Tracer.
Wishing Siwan a lot more coverage in international media.