L’Officiel Hommes (LH): We wonder what kind of work you will shoot in the future. Do you have special genre or character in mind?
Ji Chang Wook (JCW): I didn’t determine particular genre or character I want to play. As I haven’t perform many roles, I hope to try various characters. I just want to challenge myself.
LH: Do you have any plan for this year?
JCW: Well, I don’t have any special plans for this year. I just want to keep working and be healthy and happy. Really really happy.
LH: Happy?
JCW: You know that playing a character is not an easy. I want to work happily eating delicious things.
LH: Delicious things?
JCW: Rice? Rice! I like Korean dishes. I do love eating.
LH: What is your favorite Chinese dish?
JCW: I cannot forget the Beijing-style Duck I ate in Hangzhou while shooting “Empress Ki”. I hope to eat it again.
LH: We heard that you drink sometimes. Right?
JCW: I am fond of drink.
LH: What kind of alcohol do you prefer?
JCW: Well, if you put it that way, there is nothing that comes to mind. Maybe I prefer the atmosphere of drinking parties to alcohol itself.
LH: You are handsome. We cannot leave out your look. What is your favorite part of your face?
JCW: Eyes. I have always wanted to be an actor with shining eyes since I was a kid. And I keep trying hard to be the one. Maybe that’s why I look at eyes when I see someone. I like people with beautiful and clear eyes whether they’re men or women.
LH: You have been earning frequent flyer miles as a Hallyu star. We wonder how a Hallyu star fills his day.
JCW: Actually, I haven’t earned much mileage points yet. I have been to China twice.
LH: Really? Even if you are a top Hallyu star?
JCW: Am I a Hallyu star? I don’t really think so. I don’t realize that I have become popular. I was amazed to see foreign fans when I shot in overseas countries. And that’s all. Let’s say that the works in which I appeared have been loved by countless overseas fans.
LH: You are too modest. Let us say undesirable things. Becoming a star overnight is surely an exciting thing. Of course we do not regard you as an overnight star. When someone suddenly becomes so famous, undesirable things often happen. For example, people who ignore you call you again.... We think that you have already experienced.
JCW: It’s true that many people called me all of a sudden and some people who have very little contact with me make a phone call.
LH: It will happen more frequently.
JCW: Well, I cannot help it.
LH: You have been called more your characters’ names including ‘Donghae’, ‘Warrior Baek Dong Soo,’ and ‘Seo Jung Hoo’ rather than your name. It means that you are absorbed in your roles. But, aren’t you disappointed about that?
JCW: At first, I was more confused rather than disappointed. Particularly, when I finished the drama “Smile Donghae”, everyone called me ‘Donghae’. I felt as if I disappeared and also uneasy. But it passed in the end. My life isn’t over with that work.
LH: It will happen again and again.
JCW: I think that it’s flow rather than repetition. And I have acquired the know-how. I let people call me whatever they want, and I feel comfortable.
LH: What does the drama “Healer” mean to you?
JCW: It was too cold and hard, but I had so much fun at the same time. Happy memory.
LH: Who is the healer that cures you?
JCW: People. I am hurt and cured by people.
LH: You raised countless women’s pulse rate. On the other hand, when are you attracted to someone?
JCW: I feel attracted to women who conduct professionally. I like bright and cheerful girls who look happy. Well, I am not a kind of person who falls in love at first sight. There are times when I fall in love talking to her.
LH: We heard that you love soccer. Do you prefer playing or watching? Who’s your favorite soccer player?
JCW: I do like all soccer players from lesser known players to famous players. Recently, I went to the soccer stadium to watch the farewell match of Cha Du Ri*. As others might have felt, it was really touching.
LH: We also heard that you are into a representative soccer video game, “Winning Eleven”. Are you a good player? How about women who are good at playing video games?
JCW: I have no idea about video games, but it would be good if my girlfriend is good at playing Winning Eleven. Many of my friends fought with their girlfriends because of video games. Some of them even broke up with their girlfriends. In this case, if my girlfriend is a great player of Winning Eleven, we can play it together. How great it is!
LH: We heard that you are trying to find happiness in little things. What are you trying to do so? Have you found one?
JCW: I am quite busy while shooting the drama. I am too busy to get sleep for 3-4 months to 5-6 months. But when the filming ends, I have too much free time and I just waste it. So, I came to think about how I can spend my time gladly without regrets. And I am still thinking about it. Once my old friend and manager told me that I don’t know how to rest. I am still lost and searching how to take a rest well. It isn’t as easy as anyone thinks.
*Cha Du Ri is South Korean right back, currently playing in FC Seoul. He has had lengthy career in Europe, especially Germany and Scotland. He also played for South Korea in World Cup 2002 and 2010 as well as Asian Cup. The farewell match refers to Cha Du Ri’s last international match (South Korea vs New Zealand friendly match) following his retirement announcement from South Korea team.