"Heading" interview with U-Know Yunho » Dramabeans Korean drama recaps

21 August 30, 2009

“Heading” interview with U-Know Yunho

by javabeans

Filming is progressing and the premiere date nearing for the new soccer drama Heading to the Ground [맨땅에 헤딩], which features an idol star in his acting debut, U-Know Yunho. Casting an idol is nothing new, but putting him in a lead role for his first project makes him something of a wild card. Thus curiosity is building for this drama from the PD of the much-regarded series Ruler of Your Own World, Park Sung-soo. Will the idol star’s debut role be strong enough to carry a drama? Will he pleasantly surprise, or fall short? Below is an interview with Yunho regarding his debut role.

“As I film Heading to the Ground, I feel myself maturing”

With his transformation into an actor still ahead of him, U-Know Yunho, the leader of Dong Bang Shin Ki, expressed these thoughts.

As U-Know Yunho takes his first stab at a traditional acting role in MBC’s new Wednesday-Thursday drama Heading into the Ground, he said in a recent interview, “Like the drama’s title, I feel like I’m also ‘heading into the ground.’* However, I’m usually pretty fearless. That’s why I like the title.”

*The phrase “heading into the ground” uses the soccer term of heading the ball to describe taking on an obviously impossible challenge or working hard for nothing. Like banging one’s head on the ground.

U-Know Yunho may be a big star as a lead member of Dong Bang Shin Ki, a group that has conquered Asia, but as an actor he is a rookie in his first role in Heading to the Ground. That is why from the moment he was cast, he threw himself into preparations and approached filming with more passion than anyone, explained the producers.

A Heading producer said, “When U-Know Yunho was staying in Japan for singer activities, he spoke on the phone with the writer for as much as six hours to analyze his character. On the set, he had close discussions and conversations with the PD to grasp the acting and worried extensively.”

Heading to the Ground tells a miraculous success story of a poor but passionate soccer player Cha Bong-kun (U-Know Yunho), and also paints a picture of human triumph out of a low-class life. The drama premieres next month.

Following is a series of questions and answers with U-Know Yunho and the producers.

What do you think now, after being cast and working a month into filming?

After filming late into the night and going home, I find it new and exciting, so I want to go right back to the set. These days, I’m completely absorbed into the character, and I’m living as though Cha Bong-kun is really me. When he’s shown as poor and good-for-nothing, it’s so different from my usual appearance that I shock myself. [Laughs]

Also, I really like every member of the staff, which may be why I’m enjoying being on the set so much. Heading to the Ground is a drama where everyone in the staff is a main player. I’m just the representative in front who acts.

Of everything you’ve done so far, which scene is the most memorable?

There’s a scene were I fall into the Han River at a depth of 5 meters. While I’m sitting on the land by the river, a ball comes flying at me and I head it out of instinct, and fall into the water. Not only is it deep, I was weighed down by weights, and since it was my first time in such an extreme experience, it stands out in my memory. A lot of staff members worked hard on the filming and I felt I’d accomplished something.

Have you ever experienced a “heading into the ground” before?

Of course. I’ve done it so much that I can’t remember each time. [Laughs] Isn’t the very act of me taking on an acting challenge an example of heading into the ground? To be honest, I’m pretty fearless. I don’t get very afraid. That’s why I really like the title.

Heading to the Ground gives me the feeling of maturing. Even as you grow, there are certain rites of passage you have to go through. When the drama is over, I will feel as though I’ve grown along with my character, Cha Bong-kun.

What is the response to your friends about your acting?

My friends say it’s fun, but ask if it’s okay for me to ruin my image like that. My parents told me to enjoy myself as I act. My fellow entertainers encouraged me to go for what I wanted to do and act to my heart’s content.

What would you like to tell viewers before the drama premieres?

I hope they will watch and accept my acting. And look forward to me playing this passionate Cha Bong-kun character, with an open mind… [Laughs]

Via E Daily

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1 mox2

August 30, 2009 at 1:56 PM

yay #1!
not really attracted to the story-line but will probably try it out since i'm
very very curious to see what his acting is like... ^-^
hopefully i'll be surprised, in a good way!

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2 kimchikay

August 30, 2009 at 2:12 PM

my thoughts are a lot of the viewers will be fangirls, besides that, I don't think it's going to be an exceptional drama. The story doesn't seem too appealing (to me at least) not to mention this is his first acting debut....reminds me of Se7en and his lead role in Goong S....we all know how well that went....

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3 T'Lisha

August 30, 2009 at 2:35 PM

i might watch it 'cuz i luv dbsk

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4 youraveragegirl

August 30, 2009 at 2:54 PM

what's up with the zipper on his pants?

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5 Meagan

August 30, 2009 at 3:52 PM

Hey there handsome!

It sounds a bit cheesy.
Which means I'm gonna love it.

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6 vrosemarie

August 30, 2009 at 4:20 PM

Yunho's got some pretty skinny legs!

#4 I was staring at that zipper too. It certainly draws...attention to that area... Ahem.

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7 ~~Li.

August 30, 2009 at 5:13 PM

hmm. i'm not really a fan of DBSK which means I think i'll be able to watch this without a lot of bias. xD. but i'm really curious as to how a hugely popular idol will be able to humble himself to play a character with hardships. i hope he'll succeed. =].

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8 mina

August 30, 2009 at 5:18 PM

^
actually, yunho has been through a lot of hardships like his character before debut.
good luck to him!

Here's another article:

Yunho’s Growing Pains: “‘HTTG’ The Challenge to Do The Best”, Sunday August 30, 2009 Korea

TVXQ U-Know Yunho (real name Jung Yunho) is ahead to debut as actor, called the debut work itself is likened a “growing pains’.

U-Know Yunho is challenging to be an actor in MBC new drama series “Heading The Ground” (written by Kim Sol-ji, directing by Park Sung-soo) that will reach its first broadcast on September 9th.

From the official staff, “He treats the staffs just like his own brothers and sisters, to the point that we forget that he’s actually a Korean pop stars, yet the round enthusiasts and cheers from fans all around Asia somehow realized us to the fact (that he’s indeed a hallyu star).

Yunho explained about his drama shoot experience, “I went back home after ended a very late night shooting, but magically by that time somehow I already wanted to go back to the shooting set again real soon.” he said. “Right now I’m almost certain that am already immersed in the character of Cha Bong-gun. When the character of Cha Bong-gun who is unlike my ordinary features repeatedly comes out of me, I get startled.”

“All staffs are really kind and the shooting set is good. I can’t ask for more. The staffs are really great help. I feel like just acting in front of some people that I’ve known so well.” Yunho said, revealing the modest appearance of him as a rookie.

The most memorable scene was ‘5 hours filming falling into Han river’, “I was sitting at the side of Han river, hit a ball with my head and when the ball fell into the Han river, I instinctively jumped in and as a result, fell into the water. At my first attempt, due to my body mass, I fell quite deep in the water, and it was extremely cold. But to respect the staffs who had been suffering many difficulties for the shooting, therefore I tried to execute the scene with all my best.” he recalled the experience.

“‘Heading to The Ground’ shooting for me is like a growing pains. I’m growing to like this passage I’ve been going through. When the drama ends, I feel like I have grown up together with the character Cha Bong-gun.” he said clearly.

In meantime, talking about the reactions of his fellow friends about his debut, Yunho said, “My friends haven’t yet showed their response, but they speculated the drama to be a big hit. My parents told me to enjoy this experience. While fellow artist friends wished and encouraged me to perform my best.”

At the end of the interview, Yunho said, “I just want to say that I’ve tried to make a decent appearance and acting in this drama. Please looking forward to the passionate heart guy Cha Bong-gun.”

“Heading to The Ground” starring Yunho, Ara, Lee Yoon-ji, and Sang Yoon will hit its first broadcast on September 9th.

source: Newsen
trans: sharingyoochun@wordpress

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9 more

August 30, 2009 at 5:37 PM

oh please 'wild card' they dont care if he can act they want big ratings. I can tell from the story and casting sorry guys just being honest.

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10 mina

August 30, 2009 at 5:46 PM

^
well then, we'll see...it's his 1st time and i hope he is decent...but it's not fair to judge before u actually watch it.

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11 more

August 30, 2009 at 6:21 PM

^I dont think im wrong but the preview should be enough when it out^

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12 goh

August 30, 2009 at 7:31 PM

Good to see that he's putting a tremendous amount of effort in this! I really hope he does well. I'll be cheering for you, Jung Yunho!

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13 hana

August 30, 2009 at 8:46 PM

i heard that yunho injured his leg while doing a stunt i hope that he's ok.

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14 k-lover

August 31, 2009 at 12:21 AM

Wow mina, thanks for putting up extra information about Yunho's good and hardworking attitude towards this project. That's an extra bonus for me to check it out! :)

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15 Artemis

August 31, 2009 at 4:20 AM

Here is a preview trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sCAw_eAgVVc

He looks damn cute in that first picture BTW.

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16 meirav

August 31, 2009 at 7:29 AM

i wish him good luck
i am looking forward to the drama

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17 han cougar

August 31, 2009 at 12:09 PM

waiting to watch this series. Although he is a rookie, a fair chance of acting should go to him. You will never know he turn out to be a great actor. Everyone
has to start from somewhere. Fighting, Yun ho.