2PM's Ok Taecyeon is about to take on a challenging new role in the upcoming weekend drama "Wonderful Days." Although he enjoys acting, he admits that his desire to do a good job occasionally makes him nervous.
"It's fun to become a character and live a life that is not my own," he said in an interview with Oricon Style magazine.
But that does not mean that it's easy. In the past, critics of his acting skills said he needed to learn to relax and express himself. The best way to learn such skills is from experience, says the singer. And despite his best intentions to acquire more experience, his busy schedule with 2PM has not left him much time for acting.
So far he has played a devoted suitor to Moon Geun Young in "Cinderella's Sister," a talented performing arts student with Suzy Bae and Kim Soo Hyun in "Dream High" and a police detective in "Who Are You?" with So E Hyun and Kim Jae Wook.
His next role is Kang Dong Hee, a bodyguard in the KBS weekend series "Wonderful Days." In this drama, his co-stars are Kim Hee Sun and Lee Seo Jin.
His character Kang Dong Hee gets kicked out of high school for fighting and winds up working at the same company as his older brother's first love. That woman, Cha hae Won, is played by Kim Hee Sun.
Kang Dong Hee's brother, Kang Dong Suk, left the family 15 years ago. When he returns family dynamics shift. The two brothers must find a way to get along and forget the past.
Kang Dong Hee is a complicated character. Despite his tough exterior, he has some tender and charming qualities, says Ok Taecyeon.
"He isn't just a guy's guy," Taecyeon said at the drama's press conference. "I think that his personality changes depending on whom he interacts with, whether it be his older brother Dong Suk, Hae Won or his mom."
Taecyeon has appeared with some well-known actresses, so he did not found it difficult to work with Kim Hee Sun, who last appeared with Lee Min Ho in "Faith: The Great Doctor" with Lee Min Ho. He does not find the 10-year age difference to be a problem.
"I am having a great time working with her," he said.
She confirmed that the relationship was an easy one and he makes a great bodyguard because he is "incredibly strong."
When performing with 2PM, Taecyeon often has to look intense, so relaxing and acting natural is as much unlearning as it is learning. He says that in real life he is not the same intense person he is on stage. In fact, he is pretty easy going.
"Wonderful Days" airs on Feb. 22nd.
