“Dive to You” is a work I will never forget in my life.”
That’s how actor Jang Se-hyuk described his experience starring in the recently concluded Disney+ and Channel A series, a project that marked his first leading role. Jang, who landed the part after overcoming a 120-to-1 audition competition, shared his reflections on the series finale and his burgeoning career in an interview with StarNews at their offices in Seoul’s Jongno District.
The series, which concluded on the 1st, follows the story of actress Yoon Ha-na, played by Kim Ji-yeon. Her soul is swapped with that of her twin brother, Yoon Ha-ru, played by Jang, due to an accident. She then travels back in time in a desperate attempt to prevent the death of her first love. Jang portrayed Ha-ru, a judo gold medalist with the first place in the world ranking, showcasing a wide range of emotional performances, from the desperation of a crisis to the confusion of a body-swapping situation.
Jang Se-hyuk on the Weight and Reward of a First Leading Role
On his impressions after the finale, Jang stated, “As it was my first work as the main lead, I was very tense and felt a great sense of responsibility. Because it’s a work to which I dedicated great affection, I also feel a certain sadness about its ending. Thanks to the people around me, I was able to create the character of Yoon Ha-ru. Without forgetting that dedication, I want to grow to become a better actor.”
The journey to portray Ha-ru was arduous. Jang was the final lead to be cast for “Dive to You.” He explained his approach to the demanding audition process: “I prepared for the audition thinking less about them choosing me and more about wanting to be a good actor. The opportunity to pass to the second round of an audition is not easy at all, so when I received that call, I was a little surprised, and I think I gave it my all, dándolo todo. As I had practiced judo before, I also brought my judo uniform. I can say with pride that for a month, except for the time I slept, I only dedicated myself to preparing for the audition.”
Learning from Co-Star for Chemistry
“Dive to You” is a fantasy drama centered on time travel and body swapping. Jang was asked if it was difficult to act considering both elements. He commented, “At first, of course, I was conscious of it, but as time went by, I stopped being. I worried a lot on my own and looked for previous works of the older sister (Kim) Ji-yeon to study, but that only gave me a headache. I just decided to ask her everything, so we had many conversations during script readings and we became friends through that process.”
He added, “Since the series is a fantasy romance, while I thought it might seem like bromance between the characters, I also wanted it to be seen as a romance. In the finale of episode 1, I acted with the hope that my image wouldn’t seem like Ha-ru, but Ha-na. There were people who saw it as a delicate performance, and I only feel gratitude.”
The actor also spoke about the chemistry with his co-stars, including Kim Ji-yeon, Park Seo-ham, and Moon Seung-yu. “It was very strange because I had only seen them on television,” Jang said, laughing. “They gave me a lot of help and support so I could adapt well to the set. Being so new and taking on an important role, I felt pressure and anxiety, fearing that nothing would go well. (Park) Seo-ham gave me a lot of support, and that calmed me down. I’m quite introverted, but I quickly opened my heart,” he expressed, showing his gratitude for the cast.
Director's Thanks on Schedule
Director So Jae-hyun had expressed special gratitude toward Jang, indicating that thanks to him, filming was completed on schedule. Regarding this, Jang began by saying, “On set, I felt very discouraged to the point of having to demand a lot of myself. I thought I had to convince the staff of the reasons why I was the lead.”
He added, “In the early filming sessions, there were many emotional scenes, and since it was my first time doing emotional acting, I worried if I was doing it well. But the director said, ‘Hyuk, thanks to you, we finished filming without any problems.’ At that moment, I felt a huge sense of relief. As for the action scenes, I think they shone because we actors went to action school and diligently rehearsed the choreography. It was clear that the director wanted the best for all the actors, and for that, I am very grateful.”
From Novice Lead to Aspiring Actor
Jang Se-hyuk debuted in 2023 with the series “Cheongdam International High School 1” and has since appeared in works such as “Secret Gratitude,” “Pro Bono,” “For the First Love,” “Cheongdam International High School 2,” and “Unknown Seoul.”
About his life as an actor, he declared, “I am still looking for what kind of appeal I have as an actor,” and added, “I have been through many auditions, and of course, there were also disappointments, but I consider it part of the process to become a good actor and I see it with optimism.”
He continued, “I wanted to play characters that radiated bright energy, and this time, through ‘Dive to You,’ I found a role that emits a luminous and positive energy, which makes me feel good. In reality, I am very calm and gentle, so I had to adjust my sync with the character in the series, but by immersing myself in it naturally, I think I also achieved that sync. The people around me say, ‘You can joke around too?’” he said, smiling shyly.
Jang, who decided to pursue acting on his father’s recommendation, recently said that when he looks at himself, he often thinks: “If it weren’t for acting, what else could I have done?” He commented, “I think I made a good choice in choosing this profession. In that aspect, I think my level of satisfaction with my current state has increased a lot.”
Future Goals and a Personal Wish
He then revealed his desires for the future: “I want to show them many facets in the future. I would like to continue trying both dark characters and bright characters like Yoon Ha-ru. While doing action acting during the filming of ‘Dive to You,’ I discovered that there is also a pleasure that comes from it. I have developed the desire to definitely try action in the future.”
To conclude, Jang Se-hyuk expressed what he sincerely dreams of: “As a personal wish, I think it would be good to become a good actor so that someone, upon seeing me, can have dreams. I want to be a person who has a good influence on many people.”
