Actor Ju Ji-hoon has shared the story behind choosing his next project, along with insights into his recent viral variety show appearance and the secret to his tireless acting career.
His upcoming project is Disney+’s The Remarried Empress, a drama based on a legendary romance fantasy web novel. However, he admitted that there were parts of the story he initially struggled to understand.
He revealed, “I actually turned down The Remarried Empress at first. It wasn’t about whether it was good or bad I just didn’t understand it. Before making a decision, I asked women of different age groups if they had read it, and the emotional tone they felt was something I personally didn’t relate to.”
“Then people I trust explained the work to me in great detail. That wasn’t the only reason I decided to join, but it played a big part. It’s a very challenging project to adapt something from 2D into 3D, so I’m very curious about how it will turn out.”
He was also asked about similarities between his past hit drama Princess Hours and the upcoming MBC series Perfect Crown. Ju Ji-hoon first expressed gratitude, saying, “Princess Hours has never really left the spotlight. I’m still amazed and thankful for how much love it continues to receive.”
He continued, “I’m close with the director of Perfect Crown, and I support the project. They even suggested I make a cameo appearance, and I said okay even though I knew it wouldn’t work out. I think they didn’t realize my next project was The Remarried Empress. After that, I never heard back,” he joked, drawing laughter. He added, “The universes of the two projects don’t overlap anyway. It wouldn’t benefit either production.”
Recently, Ju Ji-hoon gained massive attention after appearing on the YouTube channel DdeunDdeun’s show Pinggyego alongside actors Kim Nam-gil and Yoon Kyung-ho. The episode surpassed 11.7 million views in just three weeks.
“I didn’t expect that at all, especially since it’s a two-hour video,” he said modestly. He also reflected on his variety skills, noting, “I think I lack instinct as an entertainer. I tend to talk in a very work-focused way. Nam-gil is more like a child who just learned to speak he keeps asking, ‘What’s this? What’s that?’”
He added, “Kyung-ho is right too. I often cut him off because I can predict where the story is going, even without hearing the full context. But for viewers who don’t know the backstory, those moments are actually very entertaining. Watching people enjoy it made me realize that.”
When asked if he hopes to win Pinggyego‘s grand prize, Ju Ji-hoon responded bluntly, “I’m realistic.” He continued, “That episode’s main character is Yoon Kyung-ho. Looking at the screen time and impact, I don’t think I can aim for the top prize. It’s people like Nam-gil who would expect that,” he joked, causing laughter.
Known for his extensive filmography, Ju Ji-hoon even describes himself as a “prolific actor.” When asked about his driving force, he answered simply, “I think I’m very curious by nature.”
“Compared to other actors, I tend to get deeply involved from pre-production. From prep to the end of filming takes about 10 months, and I try to distribute the physical strain. For example, if there’s an action scene, I ask whether the ground is muddy and how many times I’ll need to roll. Not everything goes as planned, but preparing in advance helps manage the fatigue. I think dividing that ‘damage’ allows me to take on more projects.”
With only three episodes left of Climax, he was asked what he would like to say to viewers watching until the end.
“What I felt through this project was that ‘it could happen.’ I’m not saying it’s right, but I experienced a kind of catharsis and vicarious satisfaction. Thinking, ‘There really are people like that in the world,’ or ‘Situations like that do exist,’ might help viewers enjoy the story more. I personally found the script very entertaining.”
Sources: Daum