K-drama heartthrob Byeon Woo Seok hopes to revisit Boracay
Super-handsome Byeon Woo Seok was a standout alongside seasoned actors Park Bo Gum, Park So Dam (of Parasite fame) and even Park Seo Joon (a former Bench Global endorser) in last year’s hit K-Drama Record of Youth. Like his character in the series, Woo Seok (pronounced “woosuk”) played a top model and aspiring actor. His role as Won Hae Hyo, a loyal and kind-hearted friend, appealed to many viewers, including myself. This is in addition to his handsomeness (already mentioned but worth repeating), and his impressive stature.
At this early stage in his career, Woo Seok has gained quite a number of Pinoy admirers and fans. In fact, I discovered a Philippine fan club devoted to him that is quite active on social media, providing updates on the actor. He is aware of his large Pinoy following and is thankful for the support and interest in him. He wishes to meet fan expectations through more projects such as dramas and photo shoots. He was also cast recently in the remake of the Chinese film Soulmate with actresses Kim Da Mi from Itaewon Class and Jeon So Nee from the movie Bad Police.
Woo Seok has been here before. He had a memorable experience during a past trip to Boracay. I am sure there is a collective feeling of “Why didn’t I know about this guy?” or “Where was I at that time?” To calm his new fans’ FOMO (fear of missing out), there is good news — maybe even a light at the end of this pandemic tunnel: when travel is allowed, Byeon Woo Seok would like to visit Boracay again.
I delved into his background and found out that Woo Seok started as a model in 2015, which is just perfect because his height is 1.87 meters tall, or 6’1”. He then appeared in minor roles in dramas Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-joo, Moonlovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo (one of my favorites) and Search: WWW, among others. But it was in the 2019 Flower Crew: Joseon Marriage Agency that he was first truly noticed and praised by audiences. I will put it right out there and say that he was beautiful in that drama as the “pilyo” playboy/spy/member of the matchmaking agency. Then came Record of Youth.
Enter Bench. Woo Seok was recently announced as its international endorser for Bench Body and Bench Active because he embodies the active lifestyle that suits these athleisure lines. When not busy, Woo Seok works out at least five times a week. Moreover, his style simply fits with the brand. He prefers casual fashion that’s comfortable yet stylish.
Why Byeon Woo Seok? Bench founder Ben Chan explains: “I’ve always been interested in new talents so it was easy for me to decide to contact Byeon Woo Seok after watching him in Record of Youth. He was a top model in his role and for sure he will be a good model for Bench as well.”
Ben adds: “His combination of good looks and build make him a good brand ambassador for Bench Active and Bench Body. Plus meeting him finally online also revealed a humble, fun and sincere person.”
I got to have a one-on-one virtual chat, pandemic-style, with this young heartthrob and asked him a few questions.
Philippine STAR: Why do you think you are a perfect fit as the new international endorser of Bench Active and Bench Body lines?
Byeon Woo Seok: I think Bench has good sense of style and shows a trendy lifestyle. I like wearing casual style and this fits with the Bench style. I feel that their outfits are very comfortable and good to wear daily. I liked the jeans and classic T-shirts because they were very comfy and they matched my style the most.
Are you a fitness enthusiast? Can you briefly talk about your daily fitness activities and health regimen?
I get tired often these days, so I try to keep healthy by doing weights. When I have no schedule, I work out at least five times a week. My workout routine would be a cycle of chest, leg and back exercises.
Are you aware that you have a big fan base in the Philippines? You even have a fan club. How do you feel about this?
First, I want to say I am so thankful for the support of my fans. As much as they show interest in me, I will show them my good side through acting, and photo shoots like with Bench.
We’ve heard you visited Boracay before. Is there any other particular place you would want to visit here, post-COVID?
I’ve been to Boracay and my experience there was very memorable, so I want to visit there again.
You were a standout in Record of Youth. How was it acting alongside seasoned actors Pak Bo-gum, Park So-dam and Park Seo-joon?
The “seniors” I acted with made me feel relaxed and at home, so I was able to act comfortably and enjoy the shooting. When Seo-joon came to act as a cameo, it may not have been cozy surroundings for him, but he still made me feel at ease, so it was fun shooting the scenes with him.
What would you like say to your Filipino fans? What projects can they look forward to seeing you in?
Thank you so much for your interest in me. I’m going to keep working hard to show you the good sides of myself through upcoming pieces like Soulmate, so I hope you keep loving and supporting me!
