Yoo Yeon Seok is embracing viewers’ intense investment in his on-screen romance with co-star Chae Soo Bin in the hit series When the Phone Rings.
In a wrap-up interview on January 6th, Yoo Yeon Seok discussed the MBC drama’s success, where he played Baek Sa Eon, the youngest presidential spokesperson with the looks and brains who finds himself in an arranged marriage. The thriller-romance follows his character receiving a threatening call claiming his wife Hong Hee Joo (Chae Soo Bin) has been kidnapped.
According to FUNdex, When the Phone Rings ranked second among all TV-OTT dramas in the fourth week of December 2023. The show’s leads maintained their popularity, with Yoo and Chae ranking first and fourth in cast rankings. It also proved its global appeal by reaching No. 2 on Netflix’s worldwide TV show rankings.
When asked about the show’s success, Yoo shared, “I think there are many couples and married people who lack communication. I believe they found catharsis watching our drama.” He added, “I think Baek Sa Eon’s character delivered something they wanted to hear in their own relationships—that even if my man doesn’t tell me everything and keeps secrets, he’s loved me for a long time and will continue to love me.”
Yoo expressed particular gratitude for international viewers’ passionate response, notably those who speculated about real-life romance between the lead actors. “When doing a romance project, such reactions mean the chemistry is that good. I’m grateful for their immersion,” he said. “While there was a thriller aspect, we wanted the romance to stand out more. The thriller served as a medium to connect their love story, and I’m satisfied that viewers responded as intended.”
The actor also revealed behind-the-scenes details about filming intimate scenes with Chae Soo Bin. “Soo Bin is actually very shy. It took time for us to get close,” Yoo explained. “But as time passed, I discovered she has surprisingly bright sides. She relied on me a lot and followed my lead well. I’m thankful she worked through the difficult scenes with me.”
Regarding the finale’s passionate bedroom scene, Yoo shared, “We thought this might be the real first night for a couple who lacked communication and were separated for a long time, finally confirming their feelings for each other.” He continued, “We wanted to film this long-term couple’s first night carefully. Soo Bin and I discussed it thoroughly, watched reference videos together, and I think it turned out quite beautiful.”
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