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I think "You Are My Pet" is the wrong name for your movie. It would've been better as "You Are Jang Keun-suk." [laugh] Because from the dancing to singing to acting cute, it did well at utilizing the repertoire that is likely to be seen at your Asia fan meetings tours.
Jang Keun-suk: I felt that the overall setup to the movie and the character I'd play was the role that I needed to play the most right now. While the characters I'd played till now were somewhat crying out in pain and were sad, I felt like I was having fun in front of the camera for the In-ho I played in "You Are My Pet." And I read in a review that it seemed like I was saying, 'You still don't think you'd fall for me?' which is true. I shot this movie to make viewers cringe so I felt very strongly about not cowering to it. I told myself that the audience would look down on me the moment I become embarrassed by it so I decided to put be shameless and brazen.

How did you feel about the script when you first got it? There were a variety of elements to it, to the extent that typical actor would not be able to go for the movie. So how did you approach your character?
Jang: I actually had a lot of doubts regarding the script because I liked my character and the overall vibe to the movie but I personally prefer movies that are closer to reality. Having too many fantasy elements to it would lessen its believability so Kim Ha-neul, the director, and I talked a lot about how the movie could become convincing. At first the director wanted the scenes to be extremely pretty but I needed a valid reason to act like that. And we couldn't change the entire script so when on set, the director gave me time to come up with the details for the movie. She said to tell her what we want included so Kim Ha-neul and I came up with a lot of things on set. "You Are My Pet" isn't a movie that is constantly funny. It's rhythmically witty.

Well "You Are My Pet" is a movie one would enjoy if you were a woman and a fan of yours in particular but not appealing to everyone. And a solidarity for men said that it's defamation of character. What did you think of Momo as a guy?
Jang: I don't think the solidarity's argument is worth even mentioning and I personally don't think authoritative guys are attractive. Even when you're in a relationship with a guy, aren't the ones that are round, instead of just manly all the time, more attractive? Plus Momo needs to act cute to his owner to be fed sausages so of course he needs to win her favor. [laughs]

Then what sort of guy do you think of yourself as?
Jang: I recently wrote something because someone recently asked on my Twitter account, 'What sort of guy is Jang Keun-suk?' [Takes out mobile phone and searches Twitter] I wrote it recently. Ah! 'Attractive and intellectual and fatal and even loveable yet unpredictable and mysterious although honest -- a human being that can't be defined in just one word.' [laughs]

And do you think those fancy modifiers [laugh] describe who you see yourself as being or are what you want to become?
Jang: Probably more of what I want to become. I myself actually don't know what sort of person I am. You can't define one's personality as being of just one certain way, right? So I think I think of myself as being on the journey to discover the various aspects to my personality. The reason I chose to be an actor is because I'd be able to try being a variety of characters within the structure of a project. The management industry has their actors do things according to their plan these days but I think that's a bit boring. I think actors need to discover themselves first to know what they need for their acting. And that's why I really like to say hello to people that I don't know on the street and like studying the way people walk. I also like riding on the subway because even the way everyone sleeps on it is different, right? And it's fun studying that.

I think you must be the type that's difficult for an agency to manage. Because you won't go by its plans.
Jang: That's why I set up my own. [laughs]

And how do you feel now?
Jang: I'm happy and it's so comfortable. I do feel lonely sometimes and am treated like the weak one but at least I don't have to live in the way someone makes me.

There are times that you're the weak one?
Jang: Because there's always a struggle of power within the market. Because you can't disregard your relationship with big companies and big media outlets nor your relationship with the people you work with just because you don't like them. That's why it's overwhelming to provide support for more than 15 employees at times but for now, I like that I can do what I want to.

It seems that you're fully aware of what you want to do, what you need to do and what you can do. You said that you took on "You Are My Pet" as well because you felt that you needed to do a sweet project like that while you're in your twenties.
Jang: There actually aren't a lot of Korean actors under the age of 25 with ticket power. And male actors of my age get a limited number of scripts. We get projects in a limited number of genres and most of them want us to wear school uniforms. On top of that, I haven't had any movies that have done well. I've been called a blue chip but none of my dramas nor movies have been smash hits. However, I do think I'm at the stage where there are an increasing number of movies I can be in. And there are more genres and roles I can play. At 25, I don't have any intention of staking my all for "You Are My Pet" nor calling it my major work. I can goof around and act frivolous because it's now but I'm sure I'll have more opportunities once I turn 30 and become a real man.

I think you in yourself are a hit project. Actors are people who play characters so a lot of them they tend to avoid showing their true selves but you're going in the opposite direction. Aren't you worried that you may not get to play a role you want by fixing your image?
Jang: A character within a project exists solely within the project. Of course, "You Are My Pet" is a bit of an exception because there's a lot of me in it. Anyway, characters are characters and I'm myself although it does seem like I'm gaining more attention these days. Yet the reason I can't be satisfied with this situation nor say it's enough is because I've never won high recognition as an actor. Not once! My personality may have gained popularity from "The Guru Show" but I think that an actor's life is about winning recognition for his projects. That's why no matter how 'hot' I may be right now, I think of myself as a being that is in a bubble that could burst any moment from whatever accident. And I think that's why I can't do a sloppy job at whatever I do. I only got three hours of sleep today. I had two near-death experiences while coming to Seoul from Daegu. I'm spending my time well to the extent that if I asked myself, "Hey do you really have no regrets over your life?" I could answer, "I don't, you asshole!"

You receive more attention as an entertainer than actor but your filmography shows that you've constantly worked on projects of a variety of genres every year. Hence you may be talented in many ways but acting has always been at the center of your career so it seems that being an 'actor' is more important to you than we think it is.
Jang Keun-suk: There are two reasons for that with the first being that I feel a stronger catharsis from expressing a character in front of the camera than showing my actual self on it. When I sing or dance, of course I'll seem like a joke if you put me beside people who actually do those things as their job. I merely know how to sing, not fully understand their world. But when it comes to acting, I'm confident of not losing if I had to fight over a character with someone else. Because I've been acting for 20 years now. Although strictly speaking, I consider myself to have been in training for 15 of those years because people recognized me but I was confused about what I was doing. I think that I started on a new playing ground when I turned 20.

I was honestly quite surprised by you in KBS TV series "Hwang Jini" which received a lot of attention as well as in KBS' "Hong Gil-dong, the Hero" and MBC's "Beethoven Virus." You had a presence which did not get overshadowed even by actor Kim Myung-min.
Jang: But I made a fatal mistake while working on that project. I wanted to become a man too quickly. I cut my hair short, grew a beard and stiffened by body. What should I call it... that I sort of used a cheat key? I think I was thinking that I'm all grown up now that I'm 22, 23. So putting on an attitude and trying to look cool and manly so that I wouldn't seem like a kid, was the mistake I made. I should've been under the mindset that I should learn from Kim Myung-min but I just struggled not to get overshadowed and I still think it made me look pitiful.

Well people may think about their mistakes but it isn't the easiest to talk about them in such a frank way. Yet you seem okay with it?
Jang: I always practice objectifying myself. There's a Jang Keun-suk that is listening to the Jang Keun-suk that is speaking. So if I lied or exaggerated anything while talking, I'd get scolded by the Jang Keun-suk that's listening. I trained myself to do that. And for example, if the Jang Keun-suk ten years later told the Jang Keun-suk today, 'Hey, stop doing the shuffle dance, it's embarrassing,' then it would be a mistake for me to be doing the shuffle dance right now. Because I'd regret it later on. But if I'm able to communicate with the public and enjoy how they laugh and have fun while looking at me, then I think the Jang Keun-suk ten years later would say, 'It's okay because you're 25. But you need to make sure to find your place when you're 35.'

So you're saying that you nurture a character of yourself in simulation but while you might be living according to the plans you have for yourself, there are times when the public won't play along.
Jang: I think that's why the public is very amusing. They seem simple yet are also hard to please. But one thing for sure is that no matter how good a 25-year-old is at something, he's still just 25. He could be a real genius but he can't be better than an adult with more experience in life. Yet the reason I just honestly say that I want to be the prince of Asia is because I'm young so there's so much for me to do. When I say my dream is to become the prince of the world, I'm not saying I'll achieve it but that I'll show the public how I work towards it. And I may fail or have to tread on a thorny path while trying but I think I should still walk it while cutting at the thorns. I'm not embarrassed of failing or suffering setbacks. I'll just be mad at myself, not afraid of the public finding out about it. I may fall and get hurt but please root for me when I do fall! And of course, you're also allowed to just ignore me too! Because I'll definitely be back on my feet again! This is the ultra positive mindset I have.

But people are bound to shrink back when they fall. It will at least hurt if not be embarrassing. So how is it that you're not afraid of it? Have you been working on it since you were young?
Jang: It's because no matter how much pain I'm in right now, there was a time when I was in much more pain. I may not look it but I lived a hard life when I was younger. The reason I started acting when I was young was to make money and me and my parents talk about those times a lot when we drink together. I've hit pit bottom before, when I first came to Seoul, so the pain I feel when I fall over now is nothing compared to how I felt then. I've tried not to go down the wrong path because I don't want to go back to where I was. So I think having been through that time is how I came to have my positive mindset?

I think that Japanese people like that positive mind and honesty about you as well. And you're walking on a different path from other Hallyu stars in Japan in the sense that you didn't expand your career into Japan based on your popularity in Korea. So I think this in itself must be significant for you.
Jang: I think it serves as a task for me because I don't have a hit or representative project in Korea. I haven't had a drama that has passed the 30 percent mark nor a movie that has seen over two million viewers. I achieved those dreams in Japan first because "He's Beautiful" set new records. But on the other hand, this has presented me with a task. I could say that I just want to stay in Japan because I've seen success there but I'm Korean and want to be acknowledged in Korea. No amount of money can fulfill this desire of mine. That's why I could've taken a break but I've been working hard on "Love Rain" (tentative title) immediately after "You Are My Pet." I think I feel a compulsion to resolve this task.

What are your thoughts on "Love Rain"? The main characters to director Yoon Suk-ho's past works have been people who are extremely cautious at expressing their emotions.
Jang: "Love Rain" is about two forms of love. Up till the fifth episode, set in the 1970s, the show depicts on the cautious analogue-type love of our parents' generation. People sometimes confess of their love through text messages or email these days but in those days, you would have to wait in front of the girl's classroom for up to an hour to meet her. And I think that's more romantic. It's sweet and how should I put it, I think one's heart stayed aflutter for longer. Then starting from the sixth episode, the utterly digital love starts and my character becomes defiant and sometimes outspoken. Getting to show both of these in a single project is the largest challenge as well as merit the drama has for me.

I think what keeps you going is the uncontrollable amount of energy you have. But you may have that energy because you're young. And you may run out of that energy once you're old so you'll need a different sort of weapon for then.
Jang: Experience. I've been working for 20 years so I think I'll know how to get back on my feet after failing. That's why I don't want to go the 'safe way.' I want to do things that I haven't done before and take on reckless challenges that I know won't work out. And then I'm sure there'll be a project that comes to me and make me become the prince of Asia more quickly. Of course, I would then be happy to have become the prince of Asia but I'm also not interested in doing well in the obvious way. Do I always have to go straight forward? Wouldn't taking the long way around be fun as well? Whatever the road I take, I want it to be fun. It's fun surprising the public with projects like "The Case of Itaewon Homicide" which wasn't expected of me at all. And when they start getting interested in the path I'm taking and wonder about my next choice, I take on movies like "You Are My Pet" where I show them what I do best. Next year, I may be a zombie or murderer. I want to go about things excitingly than with a single image.

I wish there were actors like that in Korea as well.
Jang: Aren't there a lot?

Yoo A-in? [laugh]
Jang: Yes. Yoo A-in and Kim Soo-hyun. I laughed a lot while watching "Punch." And I've known A-in since I was in high school. We haven't kept in touch after growing up and becoming busy although we've said hello to each other at awards ceremonies. But it somehow seemed that I'd have more fun watching him from far away than close up as good friends. And what do you know, he makes it big with "Punch." If Yoo A-in has "Punch," I have "You Are My Pet." And Kim Soo-hyun, hurry and catch up! Overtake me so that it stimulates me! [laughs]

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