Joo Won is playing a gifted surgeon for the second time in "Yong Pal." Only this time his character has money issues rather than the social issues he had in "The Good Doctor." And viewers are responding positively to his role in "Yong Pal."
The SBS medical drama has earned double-digit ratings, making it the highest rated weekday series of 2015.
Here are a few things you may not know about this talented actor.
1. The fact that he is racking up the ratings with 'Yong Pal" should come as no surprise. Yes, his last drama "Tomorrow Cantabile" did not do well in the ratings, but his first three dramas were ratings winners. "Baker King Kim Tak Gu" earned 45.3 percent, "Ojakkyo Brothers hit 36.3 percent and "Bridal Mask" aka "Gaksital" reached 22.9 percent. But "Bridal Mask" was really the drama that made him a star. In that drama he played a man who was initially a supporter of the Japanese rule of Korea but who eventually becomes a freedom fighter.
2. The longer he acts, the more skills he picks up. He learned to bake while filming "Baker King Kim Tak Gu" and by his own admission eh is pretty good at it.
"Honestly, I think I am gifted in baking," he said in an interview with Ten Asia. "I had so much fun learning how to bake and I continued to do so on the set. The staff members told me that I should open my own bakery. I received rave reviews for the bread that I made for the people at my agency. I have the most confidence in baking red-bean bread and peanut topped bread."
Baking, martial arts and conducting skills are just a few of the skills he has mastered for his drama roles.
3. He loves to praise his female co-stars. He called Kim Ah Joong, his co-star in the film "Catch Me" a "phenomenal improviser." He called Kim Tae Hee a "goddess." He called Uee "bright and pretty" and said he wanted to date Choi Kang Hee. She turned him down.
4. He wants to age gracefully as an actor and cited Leonardo DiCaprio as an example when he was interviewed by InStyle magazine.
"I want to get old like actor Leonardo Di Caprio because he used to be a pretty actor in Hollywood, but now, he perfectly changed his image in accordance with his age and role."
5. He spends a lot of time alone but that's not entirely a bad thing. In an interview with Star 1, Joo Won admitted that he finds dating hard and acting is a lonely profession. When he does see his friends they go to a café and talk. Or they go bowling or do karaoke.
"When I have free time I like driving to the park and taking a nap. I like sips of coffe while staring at the sky and listening to music. Then I just call up my friends. I want to travel, but honestly I just enjoy thinking and talking more. It's a good way to relieve stress too."
