[Interview] Lim Sungjae: "'Seocho-dong's' Kindhearted Lawyer Resembles the Real Me"

Actor Lim Sungjae. Photo by Sam Company

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After recently wrapping up four projects, actor Lim Sungjae now starts his day with boxing. What began as a way to manage his diabetes has become training to endure long filming sessions and maintain his stamina. Meeting him at a cafe in Samcheong-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul on August 13, he said, "If you want to stay with a project for a long time, your body has to hold up first."

Lim Sungjae recently played the role of lawyer Ha Sanggi in the tvN weekend drama "Seocho-dong," which just concluded its run. Set in the Seocho-dong legal district, the series depicted the daily lives and growth of young lawyers, gaining word-of-mouth popularity for its nuanced portrayal of relationships and realistic performances. The show started with a 4% viewership rating and ended at 7.7%.

Ha Sanggi appears indifferent but is the first to act in crucial moments. To create a warm image, Lim gained 10kg. He chose to portray a character who suppresses rather than expresses his emotions, saying, "I was moved by Ha's desire to prevent others from experiencing the same pain he did," and added, "I found a lot of similarities between us."

He said his synchronization rate with Ha Sanggi was 90%. He continued, "We look similar, and the way we handle situations is alike. I also have a personality where I hold back and just say 'ah' instead of reacting. Sometimes I make random jokes, and I tend to approach and help people in need in a seemingly indifferent way, which matches my real personality."

The most memorable scene for him was the real estate fraud episode toward the end of the series. In that scene, he firmly tells a colleague who is blaming themselves, "Never think that way." Lim said, "It overlapped with Sanggi's childhood. I meant it as a wake-up call to a friend who was struggling, but in the end, it was also my own story."

Lim Sungjae, who left a strong impression as a menacing villain in his most recent works, laughed as he said, "It had been a while since I could act with a comfortable voice." He added, "My parents said, 'We could watch comfortably because no one died this time.' Seeing how happy they were to watch their son on TV is my driving force."

"My parents told me, 'We're sorry we couldn't help you much, so just live doing what you want.' I'm not in a position to earn a lot and be filial, but the fact that my parents know exactly what their son does for a living is happiness. I want to give them that happiness for a long time."

This project also featured his first bed scene. He said, "I had almost never exposed myself below the short sleeves before, so this was my first time." He continued, "I was curious about viewers' reactions, so I checked a few comments, and thankfully, people found it cute. Since viewers said the romance was good, I'd like to try it again if the opportunity arises," he said with a smile.

Actor Lim Sungjae. Photo by Sam Company

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Lim Sungjae described himself as "an actor who is grateful for having an ordinary appearance." He considers his ability to look different in each project a strength and aims to become an actor who can naturally portray both good and evil roles. He said, "'Seocho-dong' was a project that allowed me to play a kind character that didn't feel out of place for me. I want to become an actor who can take on villains, slice-of-life dramas, and genre works alike."

He has expanded his filmography through movies such as "Deliver Us from Evil" (2020), "The Day I Died: Unclosed Case" (2020), "Emergency Declaration" (2022), "Confidential Assignment 2: International" (2022), "Hunt" (2022), "Bogota: Land of the Last Opportunity" (2024), and "Broken" (2025), as well as dramas like "D.P. Season 2" (2023), "Moving" (2023), "The Worst of Evil" (2023), "Hellbound Season 2" (2024), "Gangnam B-Side" (2024), and "Newtopia" (2025).

He cited his role as the bearded boss in "Extraordinary Attorney Woo" as a turning point, recalling, "For the first time, people recognized me, and it gave me confidence in choosing future projects."

In his next project, "The Wonderfuls," he transforms into a lively character with superpowers. He said, "I'm grateful that I don't get a lot of criticism for my roles," but added, "I don't want to stay in this state." His goal is to broaden his range of genres and characters.

"I want to be an actor who can move between good and evil, and who can handle both slice-of-life and genre dramas. I want to grow into an actor who can show different sides of myself even within a single project. There are times when a project calls for me, and times when I have to seek out a project. Either way, I have to convince myself of my reasons. That's the only way to last long."

Lim Sungjae cited "consistency" as the most important virtue for an actor. He added, "I believe consistency is what ultimately makes an actor. I want to learn more, endure longer, and act with greater depth."

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