What's it like to have one of the highest rated dramas in the same year that you also have one of the lowest rated dramas? That's what happened to actor Kwon Sang Woo this year.
He starred in the revenge melodrama "Queen of Ambition," which earned ratings of 26.7 percent. Now he's in "Medical Top Team" which has been in third place due to its competition with the highly anticipated teen drama "The Heirs" and the recently finished revenge melodrama "Secrets."
In "Queen of Ambition," he played Ha Ryu, a man who dreams of taking revenge on his former wife after she cheats on and leaves him. Not a nice character but it was one that won him an Outstanding Korean Actor nomination.
Now he plays the genius thoracic surgeon Park Tae Shin in "Medical Top Team." The series started out with ratings of 7.3 percent but has fallen as low as 3 percent.
"I was part of the highest rated drama and the lowest rated drama of this year," wrote Kwon Sang Woo recently on his fan page. "I'm only human so I'm pretty discouraged and it's a hard schedule but I'll keep working hard."
While the actor may be discouraged, he is going to do his best until the very end.
"I won't be afraid of the results and I won't take backward steps," he said. "I am planning to finish strong, re-sharpen my sword and show you my best efforts. Don't worry. Because you can depend on Kwon Sang Woo."
The actor who rose to fame with the success of the romantic comedy "My Tutor Friend,"and then appeared in the successful dramas "Stairway to Heaven" and "Daemul."
His career has seen some ups and downs but he keeps working on his craft.
"I can't figure out what kind of actor I am," he said in a recent interview. "I keep wondering why people like me and in what ways I am lacking. I think I should act in more good pieces."
But it can be hard to tell which dramas viewers will relate to before the ratings come in. Even the combination of popular stars, great writers and experienced directors doesn't always deliver good ratings.
In another interview, he said, "I hope I'm remembered as an actor whose work the audience looks forward to rather than an actor who acts well."
He's already proven that he can act well but he may want to develop better radar as to which dramas work best for him.
