Jung Il Woo signed on for "The Night Watchman's Journal" shortly after finishing his leading role in the weekend drama "Golden Rainbow." But he does not plan on taking a break now that he has wrapped up the ghostly historical drama.
"I don't plan to take any breaks, and I can't wait to make a final decision on my next work," he told the Korea Joongang Daily. "I am grateful that I am able to act, and so ready."
He could rest on his laurels as the 24-episode drama achieved a respectable 12.5 percent in the ratings for its last episode on Oct. 21. It secured first place. And part of its success is due to his portrayal of the ghost-seeing prince, Yi Lin. He said he put his heart into creating the character.
"It helped me to grow as an actor," he said.
That's the important part to him. Not the ratings.
"As for the ratings, I usually don't care much about them," he said. "And I think not minding actually helps."
Jung Il Woo was recently chosen as the only Korean actor to attend China's 2014 Cosmo Beauty Awards. He received a prize. He said he was honored and hopes that the award will lead to more work in China.
"I have been given several offers, for commercials and other programs there," he said. "It's too early to tell at this stage, but I am reviewing the offers."
It has been eight years since he had a minor role in the thriller "The World of Silence" but his breakout role occurred when he played a rebellious teen in the daytime sitcom "Unstoppable High Kick." Three years later he played a young warrior in "The Return of Iljimae." Then he rivaled Yoon Sang Hyun for the love of Yoon Eun Hye in "My Fair Lady." He played The Scheduler, a sort of angel of death, in "49 Days" and then a spoiled rich kid in "Flower Boy Ramen Shop." He broke hearts with his portrayal of the unhappy prince in "The Moon Embracing The Sun."
In an interview with BNT News, he once said that acting was more than his vocation. Acting was his life and something he intended on doing forever.
"I think I'm naturally improving my acting skill as I get older and more experienced," he told BNT News. "I want to continue my acting career until my acting skill reaches the climax."
