Hwang In-youp made his acting debut in 2018 and rose to prominence through tvN’s True Beauty in 2020. He subsequently built an impressive filmography with Netflix’s The Sound of Magic (2022), SBS’s Why Her (2022), JTBC’s Family by Choice (2024) and TVING’s Dear X (2025).
This month, he took another major step forward with ENA’s Monday-Tuesday drama Dream to You, which concluded on August 18. In the series, Hwang played Woo Soo-bin, a genius film director and the male lead. Opposite him was Lee Hyeri, who portrayed struggling reporter Joo Yi-jae. The two characters shared a first-love reunion romance that stretched from their innocent high school years to a more mature relationship, captivating viewers with their chemistry.
In a recent interview with Star News, Hwang reflected on what the project meant to him. “I really wanted to do a romantic comedy. One of my personal goals was to become an actor who could take on this genre. So if you ask whether I achieved that goal, I think I did through Dream to You,” he said.
“I tried my best to portray Woo Soo-bin with everything I could show as an actor. There were certainly things I could have done better, but Hyeri and I had great chemistry and worked really well together. Romantic comedy is definitely a genre I would like to try again,” he added.
However, despite Hwang’s new challenge, Dream to You ended with relatively low ratings of 2.3%. Hwang admitted that he had hoped the numbers would be higher, but he remained positive about the experience. “I wish the ratings had been higher, but the process itself was really good. The director and cast would joke among ourselves that ratings are something we simply can’t control. I still occasionally look up dramas that ended quite a while ago. I hope Dream to You can also become the kind of drama that viewers remember and return to from time to time as the years pass,” he said calmly.
He continued, “The entire process of making Dream to You was really enjoyable. After watching the final episode, Director Yoo Sun-dong and I even exchanged messages wishing each other well. I had such a good and enjoyable time filming this drama. Hyeri and I also talked a lot and relied on each other. We often told each other, ‘I’m rooting for you.’ I’m really happy that I feel like I’ve made a good friend.”
Indeed, the chemistry between Hwang In-youp and Hyeri received considerable attention. Their connection was so convincing that some viewers even began wondering online whether the two were actually dating.
When asked about those reactions, Hwang laughed and said, “Whenever I hear things like that, I’m actually very happy.” He explained, “I think showing good chemistry is the most important thing in a romantic comedy. I feel that reactions like those can help viewers become even more immersed in the drama, so I’m grateful that people saw us that way.”
At the same time, Hwang emphasized that what made him happiest was gaining a new close friend. “For me, I’m just happy that I made a good friend,” he said, highlighting his strong friendship with Hyeri.
The pair also made headlines last month after photos and videos of them watching a baseball game together were released. Recalling the moment, Hwang explained, “Hyeri had eaten something spicy and was having a hard time with it, so I just gave her the tumbler that was next to me. I had no idea where we were being filmed or that we would be captured on camera. Later, I heard there was a video and watched it. I thought it was nice.”
“It was actually my first time going to that kind of cheering event since elementary school, so I had a lot of fun,” he continued. “Hyeri and I even talked about the video over the phone. She thought it was interesting too. Still, we were simply showing our good relationship, so I was glad that it came across naturally. There was no particular intention behind what we did.”
Despite being in his mid-30s, Hwang also convincingly played a high school student in the drama. He admitted that he initially worried about wearing a school uniform once again. “I wondered if it might be too much to put on a school uniform again, but Hyeri and I talked about how people might enjoy it if we portrayed those moments beautifully and warmly. We filmed the school-uniform scenes very early in the production, so I was actually nervous. In the end, I think that nervousness worked well for the acting,” he recalled.
Although Hwang has already completed his mandatory military service, his youthful appearance continues to prompt online curiosity about when exactly he served. When asked about it, he immediately revealed, “I’ve even finished my reserve service. I’m in my third year of civil defense now,” drawing laughter.
He also recalled that he served in the military during the period when Girl’s Day was particularly active. “I remember one of my seniors recommending ‘Expectation’ and telling me how pretty Girl’s Day was. I already liked Hyeri through Reply 1988, and I had also seen her aegyo on Real Men, so the fact that I got to act with Hyeri was a huge honor for me. I actually told her that, and she said, ‘Then treat me well,’” he recalled, giving fans another glimpse of their genuine friendship.
Hwang also explained that he has never deliberately tried to maintain his youthful image. “I’ve never specifically worked on looking younger. I think the viewers who saw me in school-uniform roles when I was a rookie simply liked that image. People naturally tend to see me as younger than my actual age,” he said.
However, he now feels it may be time to show a more mature side of himself. “At this point, I’m starting to wonder whether I should show a more masculine side. I mentioned this at the press conference for Dream to You, but I think this might be my last time wearing a school uniform. I feel like I’ve reached the stage where I want to move from being a boy to becoming a man,” Hwang said. “For Dream to You, I also worked out really hard because I wanted to show a different image. I gained weight and even used plenty of expensive face masks from Olive Young. I tried to take care of myself as much as I could,” he added candidly.
Hwang also spoke honestly about how his career has exceeded the dreams he once had. “What I dreamed of was simply being able to do the work I wanted. But I’ve received far more love than I ever imagined. I used to wonder, ‘Will the day ever come when I get to play the lead? I hope I can do it someday.’ Somehow, that dream came true unexpectedly,” he said. “Even now, though, I worry about my next project. I wonder, ‘Will there really be another opportunity for me?’ and ‘Will I be able to do this well again?’ I have to adapt to new directors, new staff and new environments. I also have to convince the audience that the new side of me they see is believable. There are always things I continue to worry about.” “Life is unpredictable, isn’t it? I think you never really know what will happen. I’m simply grateful and pray every night. Time has passed, but my feelings haven’t changed,” he added sincerely.
Hwang also believes that making his debut in his late 20s gave him an unexpected advantage. “I made my debut in my late 20s. Because of the experiences I had already accumulated in life, I don’t think I became overly nervous when acting or auditioning. I wasn’t afraid of being rejected. Starting in my late 20s actually gave me that kind of strength,” he said.
Finally, Hwang revealed that Dream to You will remain particularly meaningful because it marked his first romantic-comedy lead. “Because Dream to You is my first romantic-comedy project, I think I’ll remember it for a very long time. I feel like it became one of those projects where I’ll probably continue getting together with the team whenever we have time,” he said. As for his next project, Hwang will appear in JTBC’s Human X Gumiho, where he promises to show viewers a side of himself they have never seen before. “I’m playing a villain for the first time, so I think you’ll be able to see something fresh from me. I hope you’ll look forward to it,” he said.
Sources: Daum