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When the Phone Rings actor Yoo Yeon Seok shares his thoughts on playing the role of Baek Sa Eon, the international popularity of the K-drama, and more. During an interview held on the morning of December 6 in Gangnam, Seoul, Yoo Yeon Seok said, "While I start a project with hopes, I can never predict the outcome. I didn't expect such an enthusiastic response."
Yoo Yeon Seok expresses gratitude to fans
As of December 29, has ranked on Netflix's global Top 10 list (non-English) for six consecutive weeks. Furthermore, Nielsen Korea reported that the drama achieved its highest nationwide rating of 8.6% for its final episode, setting a new personal best.
Yoo Yeon Seok shared, "When I heard the news that the show consistently ranked high even overseas, I was quite surprised and felt grateful that people loved a project we worked so hard on." He added, "When the final episode aired, I received a lot of responses from overseas viewers, including from South America and Southeast Asia. I am very grateful."
He continued, "It seems like there are more comments from overseas fans now. In the past, when I went abroad for filming, I used to think, 'How can they possibly know me?' However, since this project was aired on a global OTT platform, I am very happy to see that my number of overseas fans has increased. I plan to express my gratitude by visiting [and meeting] them through overseas fan meetings."
Yoo Yeon Seok shares his thoughts on why When the Phone Rings gained so much popularity
When asked, according to him, why the show gained so much popularity, Yoo Yeon Seok responded, "I think [it's because] there are many married couples who [struggle with] a lack of communication [in their relationship]. I think those people might have felt a sense of relief or satisfaction while watching the drama." He added, "I believe viewers appreciated how the drama, through Baek Sa Eon, delivered the message that, 'even if my man doesn't tell me and maybe hiding it, he has loved me for a long time and will continue to love me.'"
Talking about singing the OST "Say My Name" for When the Phone Rings, he said, "In the latter part of filming, I told the director, 'If there's anything I can do, I'll do it,' and the day before the recording, I received the lyrics and the song and sang it. While thinking about something that could serve as a memory of the drama and a gift to the fans, I ended up singing the OST. For my 20th-anniversary fan meeting, I created the song 'Fallin',' so this can be seen as an extension of that."
Yoo Yeon Seok on what kind of actor he wants to be in his 40s
What kind of actor does Yoo Yeon Seok want to be in his 40s? "As I enter my 40s, I sometimes wonder how much longer I can do romance roles. On set, as I've become a senior, such things feel burdensome at times, and I also wonder if there will still be projects that seek me out. [One time,] I was feeling exhausted during filming, but senior actor Han Seok Kyu gave me some very encouraging words.
"He said, 'Your 40s are an age you need to be cautious about, but as an actor, it's also the time when you can truly blossom. Don't let anxiety take hold of you, and don't fall into temptation. Shake off your insecurities.' Those words gave me a lot of strength. He also shared that he approaches acting with the mindset of leaving behind one memorable character every ten years. For him, there was Tree With Deep Roots in his 40s and Dr. Romantic in his 50s. [Hearing this,] I thought to myself that I shouldn't be impatient [and should just focus] on acting."
Yoo Yeon Seok on When the Phone Rings airing during turbulent times
When the Phone Rings was aired when South Koreans were calling for President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment, which resulted in a one-week hiatus during the first half of its airing. During the second half's airing, the whole nation was mourning for the victims of the Jeju Air plane crash tragedy.
When asked, "Were there any regrets while working on the project?" Yoo Yeon Seok responded, "It wasn’t a situation where I could ask that people fully watch and enjoy my drama. However, I am grateful if many people found even a moment of comfort and enjoyment while watching our drama."
When asked, "How do you think it would have been if you were the presidential spokesperson in times like these?" Yoo Yeon Seok candidly admitted, "It was ironic for me as well. Many things happened while working on this drama," adding, "At some point, I couldn't even post [on social media]," evoking laughter. He continued, "I hoped people would see the drama simply as a drama [entertainment] and tried not to connect it too much with reality."
