Category Archives: Magazine interviews

[Magazine] Scene Playbill October 2014 Issue – With Love As the Reason

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“I now call The Days director Jang Yoo Jung as my mother. I met her the first time when I auditioned for the movie Finding Kim Jong Wook and I failed the audition. She gave the reason ‘because you can’t be too handsome’, which was some consolation (laughs).” Although he laughed it off coolly, those days were not easy. Despite failing over and over again, he did not give in and went for the audition. Just looking at him now, it may be hard to believe, but that was the beginning of actor Ji Chang Wook. 6 years after his debut, that shy youth who busily hurried between movies, the small screen and stage has since grown into a star who can give anyone a good feeling at first glance. But there is something that has not changed. “When I see a project, I only think about whether it is interesting, whether the character is appealing, and whether I have the confidence to handle this.” And among the numerous choices that were placed in front of Ji Chang Wook, he chose to do a musical again. Being able to have a presence there alone is good enough, and he was also happy during practices. To him, the musical The Days was irresistible.

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[Magazine] Sure, August 2014 issue – Diligent actor, Ji Chang Wook

Guilty Pleasure

It has been two months since he bade farewell to Ta Hwan in “Empress Ki”. We met up with Ji Chang Wook who is enjoying a nice break.

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Ji Chang Wook is an ordinary person. Of course, we are not talking about his looks here. Even though Ta Hwan was not an easy character to empathise with, Ji Chang Wook was strong and was never once swayed because of Ta Hwan. This sense of balance is acquired through constant hard work. The Ji Chang Wook on a usual day is a diligent person. He would act diligently, while on his free days, he would go about his daily life calmly.  Thankfully, from Ji Chang Wook, we do not sense any of the pretentiousness or fussiness that celebrities think they are entitled to because of their status.

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[Magazine] The Celebrity, March 2014 Issue: One night meeting with Ji Chang Wook

 

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On a night walk with Ji Chang Wook.  Calling him out on a night that makes one all the more sensitive to the surroundings, I said I wanted to meet “Ji Chang Wook” and not the emperor “Ta Hwan”. Nevertheless, whether he was passing through the long tunnel blanketed by cold air or crossing the desolate streets, he was always unperturbed.

The night is no stranger to Ji Chang Wook.  During his rest days, he sweats it out with a game of late-night soccer with his friends, or walks around alone letting his thoughts flow. On his rest day where there is no “Empress Ki” filming, we met him not at the studio in the day, but under a bridge at the Han River at night.  On a day where the wind seems to be faster than the speed of a car, he walked in the quiet lighted underpass and along the middle of the road. Each time a question was thrown at him, he would stop and purse his lips, the cautious look of him buried in thought strangely matches with the silence of the street that day.

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[Magazine] Ceci, February 2014 Issue – Vibrant red light, Ji Chang Wook

Note: Lines in bold are questions from the interviewer. Anything in brackets with a * are additional comments from me. 

50-episode drama “Empress Ki” is approaching its halfway mark. Response has been very warm recently.

When I think back on how worried and vexed I was in the beginning, it seems like a lot of time has since passed. It’s fortunate that the audience like “Empress Ki” and I’m thankful for that. Although the weather is cold, the atmosphere at the set is very warm thanks to everyone.

Ta Hwan is a 3-dimensional character with emotional highs and lows.

Recently, there have been many nicknames such as Jealous Ta Hwan, Childish Ta Hwan and Serious Ta Hwan. The position of an emperor is such a lonely and tiring one. Because he is powerless, he lives surrounded by jealousy and evil scheming. He displays immature and foolish behaviour because he is vulnerable. He hasn’t been loved, doesn’t know how to love and has no idea what love is. Isn’t he very pitiful? Continue reading →

[Magazine] Elle, January 2014 Issue – Let’s meet Ji Chang Wook who stirs the hearts of women!

Adolescence spent in emptiness, the period of aimlessness gripped by confusion and worry, the adventurous period that turned the keys for him. Face-time with the shy 28 year-old actor Ji Chang Wook.   Continue reading →