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EXCLUSIVE: Na In Woo on his Mr Queen character's heartbreaking fate & working with Shin Hye Sun, Kim Jung Hyun
Na In Woo, Mr. Queen's breakout star, spoke candidly in an EXCLUSIVE chat with Pinkvilla about his acting process, future projects and more.
Mr. Queen, starring Kim Jung Hyun and Shin Hye Sun, definitely left viewers with a pleasant hangover as the historical comedy-drama won hearts all across the globe for its quirky, twisted storytelling and impeccable performance by the ensemble. The breakout star of Mr. Queen was undoubtedly Na In Woo, who played So Yong's (Hye Sun) loyal cousin Byeong In, who never left her side no matter what the odds.
*SPOILERS ALERT* While viewers oscillated between loving and hating Byeong In, it was his heartbreaking death as a final act of sacrifice for So Yong that left us all in absolute tears. In an EXCLUSIVE video interview with Pinkvilla, we spoke to the talented In Woo about what his thoughts were on his character's remorseful fate, how it was working with seniors Hye Sun and Jung Hyun along with a special message for his and Mr. Queen's Indian fans.
Read Pinkvilla's full interview with Na In Woo below:
Firstly, congratulations on the massive success of Mr. Queen. How do you feel to be a part of a show that broke ratings records with every episode?
I felt very proud of being a part of this project, and I believe it was able to reach this successful record because people enjoyed watching it and sent us lots of love.
How overwhelmed are you by the love outpouring for Byeong In, especially when it came to his heartbreaking death scene?
Although Byeong In didn't receive much love in the story, from outside of the plot he received so much love from everyone. It feels great.
It's admirable how you were able to add so much depth to a character that fans loved and hated at different points. As an actor, do you completely immerse yourself into the character you play? What is your process like?
I mainly prioritize analysing the character's background. For instance, I would study the environment the character was raised in, how the society and the era were like back then, take those into consideration as I find reasons for "why the character had to do things a certain way" and do a breakdown of the character. The buildup of these steps let me completely immerse myself into my role. I'm concerned of the lack of this process resulting in portraying a condensed character, so I always do an in-depth analysis.
"I just can't imagine loving a woman to death. Perhaps it's because that kind of person hasn't appeared in my life yet?"
Na In Woo
Would you have liked for Byeong In and So Yong to be together or are you satisfied with how things ended for Byeong In?
Actually, I used to think either way was fine, but Byeong In's death made the viewers share the pain and empathise more with him. Although I was sad about it, I think Byeong In would be fine either way too because whether or not he is with So Yong, he still has the memories of the moments he shared with So Yong.
Do you have any similarities with your character? In real life, would you be as sacrificing as Byeong In for the one you love?
To be honest, I've never experienced the kind of love Byeong In has, but to think about it, I'd find it very challenging to sacrifice that much. I just can't imagine loving a woman to death. Perhaps it's because that kind of person hasn't appeared in my life yet? I'm not very sure, but anyways I don't think I'll be able to do it.
Given that Shin Hye Sun and Kim Jung Hyun are your seniors, what did you learn from them as an actor while working with them?
Not only were they my seniors, they were also older than me, so they were much more relaxed than me. That vibe comes off when they act too, which lets them pull off all sorts of scenes. I learned a lot from observing that. My initial thought was that I should show what I've been working on until now. It was great I could learn a different way of acting from this project, and also from Shin Hye Sun and Kim Jung Hyun.
Fans loved Mr. Queen's behind-the-scenes videos, especially the bond formed between the cast. Is there any other funny anecdote which fans may not know about?
I would say what the fans saw from the behind-the-scenes videos reflects what it's actually like on set. The atmosphere was great. An episode I have is I got stung by a bee in the middle of shooting, so I had to go see a doctor all of a sudden.
Which was your favourite scene from Mr. Queen and why?
My favourite scene is the scene where I found out something new about me as I played the role of Byeong In. It's the scene in the beginning where I get into a sword fight with Cheoljong to rescue So Yong. I really liked that I could present a never-before-seen side of me through that scene.
Were there any difficulties shooting that scene?
We shot that scene during the transition from summer to fall. It rained a lot this year during that period. I mean last year. So the shooting got delayed, rescheduled to another day, making it a little challenging to keep the consistency during the scene.
With your rising popularity thanks to shows like Mr. Queen and Mystic Pop-up Bar, what future projects can fans look forward to?
I will be participating in two new projects. I'm very excited to have a very bright role in one and a sleeker role in the other. Please look forward to them.
Mr. Queen was a trending topic in India with many fans loving the show. Is there a special message you would like to send to your Indian fans?
It's wonderful that the fans in India are sending so much love, and I'm delighted to know that our show received great love from abroad, exceeding the cultural boundaries of Korea. Thank you so much for all your support for our show.
Watch Pinkvilla's interview with Na In Woo below:
We can't wait to see what future projects Na In Woo has in store for his fans!
What did you think of Na In Woo's character arc in Mr. Queen? Were you satisfied with how things ended for Byeong In? Share your honest thoughts with Pinkvilla in the comments section below.
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