Yoo Yeon-seok Shares Reflections After “When The Phone Rings” Finale

Reflections on “When The Phone Rings”: Yoo Yeon-seok’s Insights After the Finale

The much-anticipated MBC drama, based on the popular webtoon “When The Phone Rings,”concluded with its final episode airing on January 4th. Following the wrap-up, actor Yoo Yeon-seok, who portrayed the protagonist Baek Sa-eon, opened up in an interview about his experiences during the production and shared intriguing behind-the-scenes moments.

Preliminary Impressions of Baek Sa-eon

When discussing his first impressions upon receiving the script, Yoo Yeon-seok noted, “It felt familiar, almost as if I had encountered a character like this before.” He was unsure about the uniqueness of Baek Sa-eon, admitting, “Initially, I thought the character wasn’t particularly special, but the reactions from the production team were quite the opposite.” As someone who typically avoids reading web novels and romance narratives, he expressed some embarrassment over Baek Sa-eon’s more sentimental lines in the script.

Discovering the Depths of Baek Sa-eon

Yoo Yeon-seok reflected on his portrayal, saying, “I have always seen myself as someone with a gentle demeanor, yet people seem drawn to my roles as more aloof characters, like Gu Dong-mae in ‘Mr Sunshine’ and Kang Dong-jo in ‘Dr. Romantic.’ Many viewers believe that Baek Sa-eon suits me well. After engaging with the writer and delving deeper into Baek Sa-eon’s character, I found myself captivated by the narrative. He’s complex, much like an onion with layers to peel back.”

Challenges and Triumphs in Filming

When addressing the memorable romantic lines that captured audience attention, Yoo Yeon-seok admitted to finding it challenging to embody Baek Sa-eon’s tone and mannerisms during the early filming stages. “At first, I wasn’t sure if we were shooting a romance or a thriller,” he noted, recognizing that a romance’s tension typically shifts dramatically once relationships deepen. He expressed confidence that viewer support for the couple would grow as Baek Sa-eon’s backstory unfolded midway through the series.

As he became more immersed in the emotions of the character, he remarked, “I found myself so absorbed in his feelings that I hardly had the chance to think about anything else. I believe that Baek Sa-eon’s endearing words were pivotal in making the couple resonate with the audience.”

Working with Unique Character Dynamics

Discussing his scenes with Chae Soo-bin’s character Hee-joo, who primarily communicates through sign language, Yoo Yeon-seok remarked, “Acting typically relies on exchanges of dialogue, but I felt like I was performing monologues during our scenes. I was concerned about potentially boring the audience.” He went on to share that for a significant finale moment in episode 10, where Baek Sa-eon holds a press conference, he drew inspiration from real-life press conferences involving families searching for missing loved ones to enhance the emotional weight of his performance.

Looking Ahead

Beyond the drama, Yoo Yeon-seok shared delightful anecdotes about his pet dog and his recent entertainment endeavors alongside Yoo Jae-suk. As for his future, he expressed a desire to travel after completing this meaningful project, saying, “I didn’t have much downtime last year, so I look forward to reconnecting with friends and planning a family trip.” Before that, fans can expect to engage with him during his upcoming fan meeting tour and musical performances.

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