WHO'S THAT OPPA?

FROM SUPPORTING ROLES IN POPULAR K-DRAMAS HOMETOWN CHA-CHA-CHA AND LOVE IN CONTRACT, SCENE-STEALING KOREAN ACTOR KANG HYUNG SUK TAKES ON HIS FIRST LEAD ROLE IN SINGAPORE'S OSCAR BID AJOOMMA.

- AZHAR RAHIM

If not for his nascent thespian career, Kang Hyung Suk would love to travel more. The South Korean actor, 30, shares that he's envious of friends who spend six months working, then take the rest of the year to explore different parts of the world.

"Sometimes, I envy the freedom that my friends have by not being tied up by something. I think it is important that you do not put your entire being just into work," he muses. "Think about what you need and do just enough."

That said, the rookie actor who made his debut in the 2019 K-drama Crash Landing On You is not complaining. Being an actor has always been his dream. He recalls attending many theatre productions with his father, who majored in theatre in university. It sparked his interest in pursuing an acting career from young. "So, now that I am doing this job, I am really very thankful. Acting is very fulfilling because I get to express myself through my craft, and share it with the audience. Plus, I get to experience many things that I might not be able to in real life."