Behind the Role: Yoo Yeon-seok's Path to Playing Paik Sa-eon in When The Phone Rings
2 months ago | 5 Views
The series When The Phone Rings concluded in the first week of January 2025, following an emotionally charged journey across 12 episodes. The narrative featuring Chae Soo-bin as Hong Hee-joo and Yoo Yeon-seok as Paik Sa-eon has become a significant topic of discussion within the K-drama community, with fans expressing strong support for the on-screen couple. The drama garnered widespread acclaim, leading the lead actors to receive the Best Couple award at the 2024 MBC Drama Awards for their outstanding performances. In a recent interview, the series writer Kim Ji-woon shared insights into how Yeon-Seok was cast as Paik Sa-eon and offered high praise for Soo-bin's contributions.
How did Yoo Yeon-seok land Paik Sa-eon role in When The Phone Rings?
In a recent interview, Kim Ji-woon, the writer of When The Phone Rings, shared insights regarding the casting process and expressed her admiration for Yoo Yeon-seok’s emotive performance in the 2023 JTBC drama The Interest of Love. This portrayal significantly influenced her decision to cast him alongside Mun Ka Young (or Moon Ga Young) in the role of Ahn Soo Young.
She commended his dedication to embodying Han Sang Soo in the workplace romance series, stating that she “had expectations to witness Yoo Yeon-seok’s melodramatic skills once more.” His character in When The Phone Rings is one whose “melodrama intensifies as the narrative unfolds.”
Ji-woon further remarked that Yeon-seok possesses an exceptional ability to manage intensity. By maintaining flexibility in his portrayal of the determined character, Yeon-seok effectively counterbalanced his performance with gentleness when required, thus refining his mastery over intensity to an artful degree.
Kim Ji-woon praises Chae Soo-bin
The writer also showered praise on Chae Soo-bin, who played the role of Hong Hee-joo in When The Phone Rings. She said that she was impressed by the actress’ lovable and sly qualities.
“I thought that the loveliness and sadness that Chae Soo-bin possesses fit Hee-joo well,” she explained.
When The Phone Rings reception
Despite the minor criticism directed at the final episode, the series overall garnered considerable affection from its audience on social media platforms.
One viewer expressed on X, "#WhenThePhoneRings is a series that effectively conveys the importance of communication in love. Do not hesitate; learn to express your emotions, say 'I love you,' and make that call. Perhaps the person on the other end is eagerly awaiting your call."
Another commented, "In summary, When the phone rings: 85% abduction, 99.9% emotional turmoil, 5% creativity, 69% romance—highly recommended #WhenThePhoneRingsEp12."
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