At a recent press conference Yoo Ah In spoke about how he may have disappointed fans in his last few dramas. But he is not disappointing them in "Secret Love Affair."
"I haven't had the best success with dramas lately," said the star, last seen in "Jang Ok Jung" and "Fashion King." "I received a lot of attention for my roles in KBS2TV's 'Sungkyungkwan Scandal' and the film 'Punch," but since then I haven't quite lived up to expectation."
He was not happy about the way things were going in his career. Then he read the script for "Secret Love Affair" and decided that it was the drama he wanted to do before he enlisted in the army. He said that he dark times he went through questioning his career are paying off in his performance.
"Because I had those difficult times I am who I am now and I am able to contribute to 'Secret Love Affair.' The negative comments I got are now buried in the success of the drama."
And the torment he felt about his career choices have come in handy. His character Lee Sun Jae is a tormented young man. Gifted with an unusual ability to play the piano, his life circumstances prevent him from realizing his dream.
The musical prodigy is so delighted at having his talent recognized by the arts administrator Oh Hye Won, played by Kim Hee Ae, that he falls in love with her. She's 20 years older than he is and married. His passion for music and for her upsets her well-ordered but empty life. The drama is full of highly dramatic romantic scenes, such as the two characters passionately playing piano together. So far, the characters have only exchanged a kiss and she pinched his cheek. That pinch has become a trending topic.
So far, the netizen reaction has been very positive. Fans anticipate the romantic scenes as the drama heats up and the mismatched lovers become entangled in their affair.
"Their love scenes will be as amazing as the censors let them be, which I hope is really amazing,' said one netizen.
And how are the actors enjoying their escalating onscreen chemistry? So far, Yoo Ah In describes Kim Hee Ae as professional and very cool. At the press conference, she called him "cute but manly" but also a very "competent actor."
"Secret Love Affair" also stars Shim Hye Jin, Kim Hye Eun, Park Hyuk Kwon, Kyung Soo jin, Kim Yong Gun and Kim Chang Wan.
