Want to Bet? You Won’t Become an Actor: Go Kyung-pyo Exposes Abusive Director

On the 21st, a video was released on BigBang member Daesung’s YouTube channel ‘Dae House’ featuring guest Go Kyung-pyo.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=//www.youtube.com/watch?v=lnQqJr3Lt2I

The production team mentioned in the video that during the behind-the-scenes footage of the drama series ‘Reply’, director Shin Won-ho had expressed a wish for the actor to lose some weight. The actor did in fact lose a significant amount of weight, showcasing their determination and desperation.

In 2015, Go Kyung-pyo portrayed the character of Sun-woo in ‘Reply 1988,’ but two years prior in 2013, he had auditioned for ‘Reply 1994’ and met director Shin Won-ho for the first time.

Looking back on that period, he admitted, “There is something I need to apologize for to director Shin Won-ho. During the casting for ‘Reply 1994,’ I was extremely conceited. I was feeling discouraged by the way things were unfolding and had the thought, ‘Even if I try out and perform, I won’t be chosen.’ I mistakenly believed that no matter what I did, they wouldn’t appreciate me.”

“He expressed to our company representative that he was concerned about my mental state and even asked if I was doing well.”

After having a realization of the harshness of reality, Go Kyung-pyo opened up about what shifted his perspective. He came to understand the immense joy that acting brought him, and how fortunate he was to have the chance to audition. This realization humbled him and fueled a strong desire to excel in his performances. As a result, he began approaching auditions with a determined and dedicated mindset.

During the auditions for ‘Reply 1988’, he reunited with director Shin Won-ho and shared, “The director noticed my transformation and asked, ‘What brought about this change?’ I responded, ‘I have a strong desire to act.’ However, the director jokingly added, ‘But what about your weight?’ which resulted in laughter between us.”

Daesung reminded Go Kyung-pyo, “Your weight hasn’t returned even though your mind has. It seems like weight was the problem.” Go Kyung-pyo shared, “I pushed myself to the limit by restricting my food intake and exercising rigorously because I was determined to be a part of that project.”

When questioned about his emotional response to auditions, Go Kyung-pyo revealed, “I have shed tears in both successful and unsuccessful situations.”

During a recent conversation, he recounted a disturbing incident, stating, “I once auditioned for a director who showed no reaction. However, as I was leaving, he suddenly stopped me and inquired if I would be willing to portray a corpse. Despite being only 20 years old, I agreed. When he asked why, I explained that I wanted to gain experience and learn on set. He responded, ‘I’m not here to provide you with experience. Leave. Do you want to bet? You’ll never become an actor.’ It seemed as though he was projecting his frustration onto me.”

During a conversation about the challenges of auditioning for various roles, he emphasized, “It’s not a matter of the director’s competence. They simply seek actors who align with their envisioned style. The competition is fierce and there are numerous applicants. My abilities are not lacking, nor am I inadequate. I urge everyone to keep persevering and practicing diligently. I have faith that everyone will have their opportunity in due time.”

Go Kyung-pyo has just wrapped up filming for the JTBC drama ‘No Secrets’ on June 6 and is currently appearing on tvN’s Sunday variety show ‘Backpacker 2’ with Baek Jong-won.