Ha Yeon-soo , a Korean actor, stars in the drama series "DREAM STAGE" (TBS, Fridays at 10 PM) starring Tomoya Nakamura . He gained popularity for his role as "Hyang-chan" in the NHK Asadora drama "The Tiger and Her Wings" which will air in the first half of 2024. In "DREAM STAGE," Yeon-soo plays Nam Ha-yoon, the president of the entertainment agency "Nam Entertainment." We asked him about his impressions of his co-stars, including Nakamura, and what he felt on set.
◇ The role of Nam Ha-yoon is "the complete opposite of my own personality"
"DREAM STAGE" is the story of Jun Azuma (played by Nakamura), a former genius music producer who was expelled from the industry for causing trouble, and seven dropout trainees from a small Korean entertainment agency who form a boy band called "NAZE" and work together to pursue their dreams.
-What were your impressions after reading the script for this film?
I thought, "Wow, they can create such an interesting story with K-POP as its theme!" It reminds me of my teenage years when I was full of energy. I feel that this is a work that can convey a lot of the energy of youth.
--How did you capture the character of Nam Ha-yoon? Please tell us what you did to prepare for the role and what you keep in mind.
The character I play, Nam, has a personality that is the complete opposite of my own. I am very anxious and introverted, and I don't like to stand out. On the other hand, Nam loves flashy clothes. He doesn't give up on fashion even when he's in debt. He's also energetic, positive, and a strong person who is determined to make NAZE a success together with Azuma.
I also think he's the most comical character in the drama. Nam has many different behavior patterns, and the most difficult thing about him is that his tone of voice and speaking style change depending on who he's talking to. I think Nam is completely different when he's talking to Azuma and when he's talking to the NAZE members. I'm also struggling with the fact that I have to slightly change my voice from my natural one to act in the role.
-As you were preparing for your role and filming, were there any requests from the producer or director?
In consultation with the director, I changed my voice to a huskier tone. I tried to use different voices for different scenes, such as when I was the president or when I was Azuma's ex-lover. Nam is the character with the most expressive emotions in the film, so I received a request to "show him in a variety of tones."
--This is your third time appearing in a Japanese drama, but was there anything about the filming method, the way filming progressed, the way you communicated that you felt was "unique to this work"? Also, please tell us if there is anything you are still not used to.
As the film contains a mixture of dialogue in both Korean and Japanese, I felt that having an interpreter present at all times while filming with the members of NAZE and Kim Jae-kyung (who plays Park Ji-soo, a music producer who leads NAZE's rival group TORINNER) was a slightly different feature from other productions I've been involved in.
In my case, I communicate directly with the director, so to be honest, I sometimes receive and interpret direction through "intuition." I still regret that I didn't speak a little more Japanese. I've also only recently learned expressions used on set, such as time going up and down, but there's still a lot I don't understand about such technical terms.
◇ Tomoya Nakamura is an "acting monster"
-What impression did you have when you acted opposite Nakamura?
To describe Nakamura in one word, he is a monster of an actor. It feels like watching the finished work on TV. I often ask him how he manages to act like that. I always have a lot of respect for him and learn a lot from him.
-What is your impression of Elaiza Ikeda, who plays Endo Suisei?
She is a very calm and warm person, and just looking at her is soothing. In between shoots, we talk about her pets, everyday life, shopping, and more. Recently, Eliza showed me photos of herself as a child and of her mother, and I was left speechless by their beauty.
--Please tell us your impressions of "NAZE" one by one.
Kaisei is so refreshingly cute, like he's jumped out of a teen manga. I always think this when I look at him, and it seems even more so because he has long hair. When he gets embarrassed, his face turns red, but I think that boyishness is what makes him so charming.
Yoongi is a mischievous boy and sleeps well. He also has great self-control. I was very surprised when he ate one piece of salted bread on set and then said, "That's dinner," and didn't eat dinner. I think I probably eat more than Yoongi (laughs).
At the reading session, Ato spoke to me first and said, "I'm a fan," and "I've seen the drama," which made me very happy. The more we talk, the more I feel he is a sincere and strong-minded person.
Tarn is always full of energy and is like a very positive friend. He is very good at both Korean and English, and his Japanese is improving rapidly, so he is like a language genius. He is always dancing on set, and in Korean, he is called a "dancing machine."
Yuya is very mature and sensitive. When filming first began, I personally felt that he was nervous. However, he never let those around him know, and he continued to face the shoot silently until the very end, which I thought was really amazing. I got the impression that his eyes were sparkling.
Kim Gun has a slim figure, but his face resembles a hamster with its cheeks stuffed with sunflower seeds. On set, he's always smiling like a cute puppy. I feel he's a boy who is well aware of his own charms. On the other hand, when he stands on stage with a blank expression, he has the air of a cool, handsome man.
Dohyuk is a shy boy. When our eyes occasionally meet during rehearsals, he seems very embarrassed, but in reality, we haven't had many conversations. He plays a character who is a little strange and knows a lot of difficult Japanese, and that suits him very well.
--Ha Ha Yeon-soo, what do you think is the most important thing when pursuing your dreams?
There are a few criteria. Is it something you want to devote your time, energy, and money to? And is the dream something that won't cause pain to yourself or those around you? However, even if it doesn't meet all of those criteria, if it's something that draws you in, you'll still dream about it. But some dreams can't come true...
To be honest, I am still in the process of searching for my dream, and sometimes I find myself turning away from reality. But ultimately, I hope to achieve something with the painting and photography I have been pursuing for so long.
--Please give a message to the viewers, including the highlights of episode 2.
The highlight of episode 2 is Mercury's outstanding performance. As a result, NAZE stands on a certain stage. I think you can enjoy the story development even in episode 2 alone. Please look forward to watching until the end! I hope you will find your favorite character in NAZE.
