[People's] '58 Years of Experience' Oh Young-soo, a World-Class Kanbu... Even Theater Shows Sold Out

Photo by Park Company

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Isul] Oh Young-soo has lived as an actor for 58 years. While his colleagues who started acting together, such as Park In-hwan, headed to broadcasting stations and gained popularity, he stayed on the stage. He never sought wealth or glory. Without envying his star colleagues, he quietly walked the path of an actor and at 78 years old, he rose to global fame as the 'Kkanbu.'

On the 10th of this month (Korean time), Oh Young-soo won the Best Supporting Actor award in the TV Drama category at the 79th Golden Globe Awards for the Netflix original series "Squid Game." "Squid Game" was also nominated for Best Drama and Best Actor (Lee Jung-jae), but the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) rated Oh Young-soo the highest.

This is a historic achievement as the first Korean to do so. Some say that this year’s Golden Globes were boycotted by the film and broadcasting industry due to allegations of racial discrimination, gender bias, and corruption, leading to the ceremony being held without invited actors or broadcasts. There are views that the HFPA, known for its pride, selected the winner with these controversies in mind. However, the unprecedented global craze for "Squid Game" makes this result foreseeable, regardless of the surrounding controversies.

Oh Young-soo played the role of Player 1, Oh Il-nam, in "Squid Game," which was released on Netflix on September 17 last year, delivering an impressive performance. The line "We are kkanbu," said to Lee Jung-jae during the marbles game scene, sparked a craze and made him popular as the 'Kkanbu Grandpa.'

[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 8th, Oh Young-soo took the stage for the first performance of the play "Last Session" (directed by Oh Kyung-taek). On Monday the 10th, a day without performances, he was rehearsing alone when he heard the Golden Globe results.

Upon hearing the news of his award, Oh Young-soo said, "For the first time in my life, I want to tell myself, 'You’re a good guy,'" and added, "Now it’s not 'us in the world,' but 'the world in us.'" He continued, "Carrying the scent of our culture and the love for family deep in my heart, I thank everyone around the world. I hope you live a beautiful life."

Oh Young-soo later declined numerous interview requests from media outlets, a decision made to prioritize his commitment to the audience.

Shin Goo, Lee Sang-yoon, and others who share the stage in "Last Session" congratulated Oh Young-soo. The production team was also very pleased, but it is said that Oh Young-soo calmly accepted the situation and continued with his schedule.

The 8 PM performance of "Last Session" on the 11th, featuring Oh Young-soo and Lee Sang-yoon, was sold out, and most of the January shows that opened for ticket sales are also sold out. Oh Young-soo will continue performing until March 6, and the February and March shows are expected to attract high interest as well.

Starting as a member of the Gwangjang Theater Company in 1963 and dedicating 58 years to acting, Oh Young-soo made his name known worldwide at 78. Recently appearing on "Hangout with Yoo," he said, "I feel a bit dazed, but I think I need to keep self-control while organizing myself." He added, "Even when going to a cafe, I have to be conscious, and I realized that becoming famous is hard."

Oh Young-soo said, "When there are flowers in the mountains, when you’re young, you pick them, but at my age, you just leave them and come back to see them again. Isn’t that what life is about?" leaving a deep impression.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Oh Young-soo, who lives in Wirye New Town, Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, visits the park every dawn to do pull-ups and take walks to build stamina. This is an old habit and routine he maintains as an actor. His consistent routine is well known to most residents.

He commutes from his home to Daehangno in Seoul, where the theater is located, by subway. Although the round trip takes over three hours, his daily life has not changed.

Honor usually brings wealth and people. As popularity rises, offers for advertisements, various broadcasts, and interviews flood in. There is also the temptation of quick money. Many actors work hard to increase their external value to 'row the boat while the tide is in.'

Oh Young-soo also receives many offers, but he looks at the situation straightforwardly and keeps his beliefs. The path of this octogenarian distinguished actor, who values protecting himself over riding the wave of popularity, is meaningful.

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