[Interview] Bae Sung-woo "Movies, Small but Hard-to-Feel Happiness"

[Lee Isul, Entertainment Reporter]

"When did I want to grab even a straw? Many times. Even now."

Actor Bae Sung-woo revealed his unique passion and philosophy toward acting. He said he always acts with a desperate heart and recently smiled saying he is happy.

In a recent interview ahead of the release of the film Beasts Clawing at Straws (director Kim Yong-hoon), Bae Sung-woo shared various stories about the work.

On that day, Bae Sung-woo recalled, "When I was doing theater, I was financially struggling, so I was always worried. There were no major incidents, but I lived day by day, barely making ends meet." He added, "I still feel like I want to grab even a straw."

Bae Sung-woo debuted in 1999 with the musical Witch Hunt, went through numerous stages, and established himself as a leading figure in Chungmuro. However, when the topic of theater came up, he continued talking with the happiest smile during the interview. He said, "I enjoyed doing theater. At that time, I was a prolific actor. I remember constantly pondering. Whether the performance that day was good or bad, I always tried to feel it anew and exchange energy. I felt alive. Every day, I went on stage with the feeling of grabbing even a straw."

When asked if he is the type to chase money, Bae Sung-woo answered, "Money is definitely necessary, but I am not greedy." He said, "I want to create and show good works that many audiences can see. I want to do works that have both fun and meaning."

"When I was young, I was deeply moved by movies and influenced by them throughout my life. That is what art is. Although artistic works are good, commercial success cannot be ignored. Our film is a commercial movie. Honestly, the more the movie is loved, the easier it is to work in the future. So I tend to choose works carefully. I think balance is important. If the artistic value drops, the opportunity to make money also decreases."

Also, Bae Sung-woo named happiness as the most important value in life. Recalling his happiest recent moment, he said, "At the recent press screening, I was really happy to see people laughing while watching the movie. I watched it with a pounding heart. It was a small but not easily felt happiness."

When asked about the intention to produce content with his younger brother Bae Sung-jae, an SBS announcer, Bae Sung-woo said, "I get a lot of proposals," but laughed, "Sung-jae tends to say, 'I don't like it.' So I feel reassured."

Finally, Bae Sung-woo conveyed the charm of Beasts Clawing at Straws and urged people to watch it. He expressed confidence, saying, "It is a unique and fresh movie," and "Since it is a film made based on a solid original work, you will enjoy the story."

Photo = Megabox Joongang Corp. Plus M

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.