Nov 19 2009
Rain who? Byun Woo Min!
Greetings and salutations, fellow stargazers! This is May Seah, your Showbiz Sista, getting her fill of Korean flavour with leading man Byun Woo Min, who’s currently in town to promote the drama Cruel Temptations.
In it, he stars as Jung Gyo Bin, a rich playboy who knocks up Goo Eun Jae and marries her. She then suffers the treatment of evil in-laws and has to watch her best friend openly flirting with her husband. So then, Gyo Bin tries to kill her (she’s pregnant, of course), and thinks her dead, but she returns under another identity and is OUT FOR REVENGE MWAHAHA. Also starring Jang Seo Hee and Kim Seo-hyung.
In Korea, Cruel Temptation’s ratings hit 40% and even the dudes were into it. It was also a big hit in Taiwan, where it even did better than local dramas in the same time belt. Melodrama sells!
“This is my second time visiting Singapore officially,” Byun told Showbiz Sista in a suite at Swissotel The Stamford, with the help of a translator. “I’m very excited. After Cruel Temptations has been aired, I’d like to come and see the fans again.”
He also told Showbiz Sista that it was lots of fun to play the bad guy. “In Cruel Temptations, I’m a bad guy, but this bad guy has a very unique character. As research, I talked to about a hundred people who got divorces or had spousal problems.”
What does Byun think we’re going to like about Cruel Temptations? “I think there’s a lot of passion. It gained a lot of hype and curiosity. It’s easy for you to imagine what it’d be like if the things that happened in the drama happened to you. It makes you think. I’ve been dedicating myself very passionately to this drama. It’s got variety, and it’s full of human experiences and emotions.” In English, he added, “Actually Korean dramas are a little bit calm. But this drama is so fast!”
What does it take to be a leading man in a phenomenally successful Korean drama? “I’m not a great actor as yet. I am trying to be a good actor,” said Byun. “If you have been acting for five years, that’s equivalent to one year in the acting profession. I’ve been acting for twenty years, which means I am five years old as an actor! I think I need to work really hard for another ten or twenty years!”
So, who’s more handsome—him, or Rain? “Absolutely Rain!” Byun chortled in English. The other thing he said in English was, “Nice shoes!”
Sure, but in the show, he’s a big flirt. Is he good with the ladies in real life? “I think I have to be good to the ladies,” said Byun thoughtfully. “This is my personal opinion. I believe that ladies have to be always protected by men. If one party has to be hurt, it should be the man. The men always have to send the girls safely home.”
Wow! Why isn’t a chivalrous gent like 44-year-old Byun married yet? “I like to travel and study a lot. I’ve toured about 99 countries in the course of my work.” His favourite place to go is Alaska, “to watch the whales”. “I use the money I make from acting to go backpacking. I missed the chance to marry.” Yes, well, it’s not too late—here’s your chance, ladies!
Catch Cruel Temptations starting tomorrow (Thursday Nov 19), Mondays to Fridays at 7pm on MediaCorp TV Channel U. Showbiz Sista, signing out. Live long and pop corn!
One response so far
I missed the last appearance in sg!! When will you be back again?
You acted so well that I hated yet sympathize with the character in Cruel Temptation.