If there is anything the last 15 years has taught Seo In Guk, it is that the actor, singer — and recently — director should not be afraid of taking charge about the narratives that surround his life. Speaking with Men’s Folio, Seo In Guk shares how he has moved away from seeking perfection, and that the best kinds of gestures come from none other than yourself.
Seo In Guk wears a sweater and pants from ZEGNA, and the 142 mini bag with M LOCK 4810 buckle from Montblanc on the cover.
There is a chance that anyone who is into K-dramas has some Seo In Guk-related memory. Perhaps you faintly recall knowing him as the love interest in Reply 1997 or as Prince Gwanghae in The King’s Face. Maybe his role as a timid rich heir in Shopaholic Louis stuck with you through the years. Even if you had only just been antiquated with K-dramas, it is still likely you might find him familiar as the main lead in Death’s Game, which stars Seo alongside Parasite’s Park So Dam. Maybe it was his music that you had listened to before. Those who can recall a time that predated streaming services may also collectively remember him from his win in the first season of Superstar K, a talent competition that ultimately changed his life. Even if you are not a super fan or even a fan at all, there is no escaping Seo’s presence in South Korea’s entertainment scene. But having spent the last decade and a half playing all sorts of roles, Seo is only getting started on his most pivotal one yet — as himself.
There is no shortage of vlogs on YouTube from the 37-year-old actor, singer and, recently, director. One of them, a day in his life, is as real as real gets. While others would opt only to have the cameras rolling after some form of “getting ready”, Seo starts it in bed, still undressed, bed head visible, and eyes still red from last night’s rest. At one point, he even shared statistics from his phone’s health monitoring app, which gave him a score of less than 40% on his overall well-being. Having had an illustrious career in the spotlight, you might assume that oversharing would be an artiste’s biggest concern. Short of that, though, is that this comes from someone who revealed his humble beginnings on national TV, where money was always an issue in his childhood, having won the hearts of South Koreans in Superstar K.
Cardigan, sweater, shirt, pants, all Hermès
But the vlogs that detail his life, which have been regularly posted since 2023, are part of Seo’s way of taking back control, something he lost as he reached the peak of his career. Thus, for the first time since altering his fate when he was just 22 years old, he believes he is finally ready to take charge of the narratives surrounding his life, thus eliminating the ones formed through the perspective of others. “I used to think I had to be perfect,” he shares. “Whether it be a character in a project or my vocal and musical abilities as a singer, I always had this belief that I had to be somewhat flawless in front of the camera at all times. This really troubled me, and even so, I often felt disappointed with the results.”
Perhaps 15 years of being on the scene can change your perspective. In recent years, Seo has veered his efforts towards producing his projects, including directing his short films. One of them, titled TRAP, sets itself around the premise of a troubled artist struggling to reveal his innermost imagination — one that is drawn from his very own experiences. It went on to win the Global Spotlight Award at the Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia. “I’ve realised that letting go of that pressure and simply showing my true self works best for me,” he adds. “I feel fortunate to have quickly moved away from seeking perfection for the sake of others’ opinions. This has given me the strength to present my most authentic self.” Clearly, there is so much more to his story.
Sweater, jacket, pants, all Fendi
Let’s start from the very beginning. What made you join Superstar K while in your early twenties?
I joined the competition in my twenties. I’ve dreamt of being a singer since I was young and participated in many auditions. Then, I heard about a large-scale audition happening in our country, and with my cousin’s encouragement, I decided to give it a shot. Thankfully, I ended up winning!
How did winning the competition changed your life?
My life completely changed. Before Superstar K, I was just an aspiring singer. After winning, so many people started to support and recognise me, allowing me to debut as a singer. It really feels like my life has completely transformed.
Was it hard to depart from being a singer to working as an actor?
At that time, I think I was very desperate. I had debuted as a singer, but due to various circumstances, the opportunities to perform on stage were quite limited. Then, an opportunity to act came along. Initially, the role wasn’t significant or impactful, but I thought to myself that I really wanted to do this, even if it was just a small part. Fortunately, the character was a singer, so the director decided to hold auditions specifically for candidates with a singing background. I was lucky, and thanks to the director’s support, I was able to start my acting career.
Shirt, pants, all Givenchy; Extreme 3.0 Compact envelope bag with M LOCK 4810 buckle, Montblanc
We read in previous news articles about your relatively normal upbringing. Do you think having a childhood that was indifferent to most Korean teens affected how you approached being a singer and, eventually, an actor too?
I believe that the influences on me aren’t necessarily related to my profession. Rather, it’s my life environment, how I interact with the people around me, and how much joy I can find in my work that has contributed to my growth the most. I often say that I’m fortunate to have great people in my life. I’m really grateful and feel so lucky to have met so many good people around me. Whether it’s in work or outside of work, just in my life in general, I feel thankful for these people.
Reply 1997 was when you had your breakthrough in acting. What was your reaction when the show reached critical acclaim in the local entertainment scene?
I was incredibly happy. At that time, I had just been cast as the lead in my first role as an actor. Many people around me, including myself, doubted whether I could handle a lead role. This was largely because many viewers couldn’t envision me as an actor after appearing on the audition program. Plus, my previous role had been more of a comedic character, someone playful and light-hearted. Transitioning to such a serious and significant role in the next project raised many concerns. Fortunately, the director guided me well, which contributed to the positive outcome. I felt really proud, which was also a turning point in my life.
Sweater, pants, all ZEGNA; 142 mini bag with M LOCK 4810 buckle, Montblanc
What character archetype have you not tried yet that you wish you could?
I’ve been acting for over ten years now, but I still feel that I lack experience compared to other seniors. However, I believe there are countless characters and expressions I can (still) explore. I’m quite ambitious, so even though I’ve played a villain, I don’t want to stop at just one type of villain. I want to explore different types of villains and characters who show pure love or express deep, heartbreaking love in a different way. If I had to choose a specific category, I think I haven’t yet played a character who uses superpowers. For example, my character in Doom at Your Service was somewhat of a supernatural being. While that character had abilities, I haven’t played a normal human who drives a story with superpowers or any abilities. I often find myself pondering that I’d like to try a character like that at least once.
What were some choices that changed your life?
There are definitely things that many people can relate to. So first, there was Superstar K and Reply 1997, and some other projects after that. I mean, I did choose to do them, but honestly, it wasn’t like I could predict how things would turn out. I had a lot of worries like, “What if it doesn’t work out?” Thankfully, many people have shown love for the choices I made. I wouldn’t say I’m perfectly satisfied with everything, you know? But people ended up liking my work way more than I expected. That gave me confidence in my choices in acting and music, and it’s honestly what keeps me going.
T-shirt, Dior Men; Pants, Stylist’s own
Then, what were some choices that you were glad you made?
Oh, too many. I mean, definitely Superstar K and Reply 1997. Also, before that, every project and album after Love Rain. But, as I said, not every album or project was a hit. Someone once asked me, “How does everything you do succeed?” And I just told them, “Well, there are things that didn’t work out; maybe you just didn’t hear about them!” Still, I think the reason I can keep working hard and making choices is because so many people love my work. That’s why I’m always careful with each decision. Even if the results don’t always satisfy me, whether it’s ratings, audience response, or my feelings, seeing the people who really loved the work makes me think, “Okay, I’ve made the right choice.”
What keeps you in character, especially scenes that are uncomfortable to experience?
I don’t think there’s a specific method. I keep thinking about the scene and try staying in that emotional space. If I have a scene where I need to cry a lot, I probably handle it similarly to everyone else by focusing on the emotions I need to evoke. Some actors even start preparing days ahead. I don’t go that far, but on the day of the shoot, I continuously think about the scene and work on controlling my emotions.
Shirt, polo t-shirt, jeans, boots, all Balenciaga
Do you think you’re an emotional person?
I’m both a very emotional and very rational person. I have both sides. Sometimes, I handle things really rationally, and other times, I approach them emotionally. It varies. But seeing the people around me stick by my side makes me think that maybe it’s not such a bad thing after all.
Jacket, shirt, all Balenciaga
Has any of your characters changed the way you lived? For examples, did part of them become a part of you?
Not really. Honestly, I don’t think I’ve ever really thought about that. However, I find that when I portray a character, especially during shoots that last about 6 to 9 months, I spend more time in that character than myself. Aside from sleeping, I immerse myself in their mannerisms, habits, and gestures, and those habits tend to stick with me for quite a while. But it doesn’t really influence my personality. While playing a challenging character can be difficult at times, it doesn’t change my core personality. I feel I’m still learning how to navigate social situations. Being part of a drama cast helps me develop my social skills, and I learn from different environments. I am gradually growing as Seo In Guk.
T-shirt, sweater, all Diesel
Who has given you the best advice in life?
When I heard the question, the first person that came to mind was senior Sung Dong-il. This is a story that really needs to be listened to carefully. When I worked on Reply 1997, he told me, “In Guk, make a lot of money, but do it through acting.”
At first glance, it sounds like, “Oh, I want to make a lot of money, sure.” But what he meant was that if you want to earn money as an actor or singer in this industry, there are many things you need to pay attention to. Being good at what you do doesn’t guarantee success, and simply being a nice person doesn’t mean you’ll get by. You really need to have everything in place to succeed, which means putting in a lot of effort. That conversation has stuck with me for over ten years.
Recently, I met senior Sung Dong-il again, and he asked me if I remembered that conversation. I told him I definitely do. So, I’m working even harder and trying to improve. Everyone works hard, but it’s about doing it well. I told him, “Yes, I’ll make sure to do it well.” His words carry a lot of weight for me. It’s not just a light comment about making money; it’s about how much I need to refine myself to achieve that goal.
Photography Chae Dae Han
Creative Direction & Styling Izwan Abdullah
Interview & Fashion Coordination Manfred Lu
Grooming Seung Mi Hyun
Hair Byun Ji Hyun
Set Design Jason Woo
On Set Stylists Yun Dae Hee, Lee Hye Jin
Photography Assistants Chung Se Bin, Yim Sang Min, Lee Hong Seok
Styling Assistant Kelly Hsu
Production Oh Seo Yul | SY Production
Once you are done with this story, click here to catch up with our November 2024 issue.