Edited by Seo Hayne
Translated by Kim Yoo Hyang
How important is a child actor in a story? The course of every story is determined by the constantly made choices of the character, and their childhood in the work always has an influence on their decisions as a grown adult. That is why the work of a child actor is important no matter how little their screen time may be, and that is why everyone pays attention to Yeo Jin Goo, who has experience of more than 10 years as a child actor.
Yeo Jin Goo made his debut in 2005 as Hee Chan in Sad Movie, a character who sorrowfully cries for his mother. He then acted as the younger version of Shin Ha Kyun’s ‘Killa’ in No Mercy for the Rude �and Jo In Sung’s ‘Hong Rim’ in A Frozen Flower. He particularly received a lot of attention as he led the coming-of-age of Lee Hwon as a young crown prince (played by Kim Soo Hyun) in �Moon Embracing the Sun. Even at a young age as a middle school student, he managed to make viewers’ hearts flutter with outstanding quotes such as “Did you ask me to forget? Do you want me to forget? I’m sorry. I tried to forget you, but I could not.”
As Yeo Jin Gu got his first leading role in the ninth year since his debut for �Hwayi: A Monster Boy, the actor made an achievement by demonstrating flawless performance. In the film, Hwayi is a boy with five criminals as his father and also a teenager who only just got to like someone, who also eventually becomes a monster. He was the youngest to win the Best New Actor award at the Blue Dragon Film Festival that year as he did not hesitate to exhibit the destructive image and turbulent emotions.
After successfully leading The Crowned Clown �and Hotel Del Luna, he recently acted out the voice of Jang Young Sil in Start-Up �as an AI speaker which informs of the house owner’s daily fortune within their large house. This was not revealed throughout the credits, but only became unveiled on the last episode as he conveyed the affable low-pitched voice of his. Prior to appearing as an AI’s voice, he also performed as ‘Zero Nine’ in �My Absolute Boyfriend, a robot who feels human emotions. He is the most contemporary actor of our days, as he freely plays the roles which connect technology and humans to each other.
Following a ruthless, 17-year-old child who swallowed a monster in Hwayi, Yeo Jin Goo now embodies detective Han Joo Won, a character who digs for truth in the mystery psychological drama Beyond Evil. In this work, Han Joo Won is seen to confront and cooperate with a fellow investigator, Lee Dong Sik (played by Shin Ha Kyun), and this time he has met him up as a partner instead of a child actor of the other. While some may still refer to him as a ‘former child actor,’ he is an actor with the power to make viewers concentrate on the present version of him, surpassing the recollection of past memories.
Editor Seo Hayne: I like actors as they faithfully lead through their long running-time. I also like idols who accomplish everything on stage within 3 minutes.
