Original subtitles

Back when you first debuted

there were rumors you were rude.

Oh, there were a lot.

Like I don't change

start to finish.

I'm also famous for having a weird personality.

But I didn't see it in you.

I didn't either.

Speaking of "My Sassy Girl"

when it dropped on Netflix in 2021

Really?

it made it into the top five most-watched films.

- Really? - Yeah. You didn't know?

Why haven't they called me?

It has nothing to do with you.

You know the saying, 70% luck, 30% talent.

But the way I see it

it's 90% luck for me.

However I look at it

it's definitely not less!

It doesn't make sense otherwise.

Hello, everyone.

Welcome to "Fairy Table."

It's good to see you.

I'm excited. I am.

Doesn't my skin look glowing today?

I have free time, so I keep snacking.

Our guest for today's Fairy Table is Cha Tae Hyun.

When you think of him

he feels like someone who's always in the air around us...

That's the vibe he has from variety shows.

He connects with us through his acting, too.

Like that friendly guy next door we all know.

We're actually on a variety show together right now

and I suggested we should go for a drink.

I said, "Let's have a meal with the crew"

but he was like, "Just wait until Soo-chan finishes his CSAT!"

It's been so long since I've heard the word "CSAT" around me.

But the exams just finished

and since he hates talking about Soo-chan

we'll try to find out how that unmentionable person is doing.

And just in time we received a sponsorship.

A mini kimchi refrigerator.

Minix The Shift.

It's funny because we featured the Minix food waste disposer before

and so many of you loved it.

This is our second collaboration with them.

I was honestly thrilled to get this!

As you can see from the video

I'm genuinely so happy.

This thing is a total game-changer...

The main reason I never dared to get a kimchi fridge

was the size.

Where am I supposed to put that huge thing?

But this size is perfect. It fits right under this table.

It's so compact that

it fits perfectly in narrow gap or in a pantry.

The size is amazing

and look how clean the design is.

They really nailed the design.

It's glossy, but it's still beautiful.

But is it just good-looking?

No, when it comes to the kimchi...

I actually stored some kimchi in it recently.

Compared to just keeping it in a regular fridge

it's totally different probably because of the temperature.

It kept it incredibly crisp.

But the best part about having this is...

Usually around gimjang season

I get sent delicious homemade kimchi.

The trouble is when it gets here

there's nowhere to put it.

Since I'm out of room

putting it in the regular fridge means it goes crazy as it ripens...

People who cook know this

but the worst part is the odors mixing.

The smell seeps into the veggies and everything.

Even living alone, getting those bulk deliveries

used to be such a hassle.

But being able to move my kimchi

into the Minix The Shift makes me so happy.

I didn't know it would make me this happy.

I'm 100% satisfied.

And usually, kimchi fridges

use indirect cooling

but this uses direct cooling

which is like burying the pot in the ground.

It uses the same circulation fan found in premium models

so the temperature stability is great.

It stays super cool.

And you know what else my house is full of?

Lots of wine, right?

This wine is great for cooking.

Sauvignon Blanc.

It works as a beer fridge too.

It keeps it so cold, it's bliss.

It's incredibly cool.

Putting alcohol in the fridge takes up so much space, right?

Moving all those bulky items that hogged space

into this mini-fridge

is a massive benefit, I think.

I heard it's incredibly popular among newlyweds.

It's completely sold out.

Every time it's on air

or they run a promotion it sells out instantly.

So take my word for it.

Check the special link in our description box.

If you find a cheaper place, buy it there.

Alright, I'm going to prepare the food now.

He's here?

What is this?

I told him to dress up a bit! Hahaha.

Huh?

Tae Hyun!

Come in with a smile!

You have wings on?

I thought it was CGI.

Hahahaha.

You look so flustered, haha.

I just thought it was CGI...

You were actually wearing wings.

Come in.

Pleasure to meet you.

It's over here.

Wow.

I've seen this show before.

Really?

I didn't watch it all, though.

Why didn't you watch it all?

- This... - Why didn't you watch the whole thing?

- Huh? - Why didn't you watch it all?

Ah, it's not really worth watching the whole thing.

Hahaha.

It's more fun watching the clips.

- What have you got there? - Oh, this is...

Whoa, isn't this Murakami?

I was with my wife yesterday

on the way back from church discussing what to get you.

I was thinking "Should I get him a French wine?"

But my wife is a viewer and said you drink champagne, so we went in.

She saw that and said it's good stuff.

Murakami something-or-other...

So I thought

"Did he do a collab with Haruki?"

Hahaha.

I was wondering if they did a collab.

You don't even know who Haruki or Murakami are, right?

I just found out last night!

I think I recognize the art!

Can you grab one champagne from there?

Open that.

- Anyway, that's what happened. - The gold one.

- Is this it? - Yep.

I don't really drink though.

Why aren't you drinking? Did you always not drink?

I stopped drinking a while ago.

Quite a while?

It's been about two years.

I just lost all interest in it at one point.

So instead

I carry around non-alcoholic beer!

I have a container that fits about six cans.

I planned to bring it today, but the wife said

"That's not a place where they chug booze like that."

She said I could just accept the glass.

Right, it doesn't matter at all.

She told me not to bother bringing it.

I don't force people to drink. I'll just drink myself.

When I asked to grab a bite

you said "after Soo-chan is done..."

Oh! Right, right.

Is it okay to ask?

- The CSAT? - No? Yeah.

Actually, Soo-chan...

I can finally say his name out loud.

Now that the CSAT is over!

Really?

I found this so fascinating.

We used to call him "Water-chan."

But regardless of the test results...

Oh! Now that it's over?

Right after it ended...

Of course, I don't think he did well.

But he completely changed.

He did?

As a person! He talks a lot now.

Total transformation. Even his facial expressions.

It's actually confusing...

My two daughters were both shocked.

"Soo-chan is talking!"

"Mom!"

"Soo-chan is talking!"

We were like, "What's going on?"

- You can say his name now? - Totally!

Everyone says they change when they hit 20!

But he changed the day of the test!

That's a very good...

He was a bright kid to begin with.

I guess so. The stress just...

Don't you think your walking on eggshells made it harder?

No, it wasn't about us being careful.

You gave him too much pressure.

I saw! Soo-chan! Smile!

For the first time in six years!

What a happy day.

I saw his smile for the first time in six years.

It was truly amazing.

I saw how careful you were being.

You even went home early.

I didn't go home early because of Soo-chan

But since he was often brought up on shows.

Scared to annoy him?

Yeah, exactly.

I got used to not saying his name

and it seems people in this industry

found that really funny.

Yeah, it's hilarious.

So those who get the context

always ask me when they see me.

"How is you-know-who doing!"

I guess they really get it.

And he kept coming out of his room!

And everyone else freezes!

Huh?

My second and third kids are like...

Especially the third one is like

"Dad? Soo-chan keeps coming out."

She doesn't know what to do, haha.

It's really funny at home.

So you go home really, really early.

It feels like you're there every day.

You monitor everything.

I go home because without drinking I have nothing to do.

So that's why you're always home?

Yeah! I have nothing to do.

My day ends at 3 p.m....

I'd watch baseball at 6:30 but there's no games now.

Nothing to do...

You know, I cry a lot on "The Ballad of Us."

He texted, "Isn't that menopause?"

It's not just "The Ballad of Us."

When I monitor the shows I'm on

I watch and send feedback to the production staff or members

about how it was.

The funny thing is he watches everything.

He even monitors "The Dream Life of Mr. Kim."

"Can't hear the music, right?"

"Ah, I can hear it fine!"

He says he can't hear it whenever I praise the music.

Hey, turn up the volume!

What are you talking about?

No, I can hear it fine.

Prepared some caviar for you.

Really?

Yeah, I made it myself.

Just eat it with your hands.

Scoop it so the caviar doesn't fall off.

Jae Hyung...

Do you know my relationship with food?

I don't.

I'm a guy who has

absolutely no feeling for food.

So whatever I eat...

Ugh, so annoying.

Yes! Exactly that!

My wife is an amazing cook

but she gets no satisfaction from feeding me.

But there is this one thing.

If I say it tastes bad it's really inedible.

Ah! It tastes like caviar.

Soo-chan's mom must've suffered.

Yeah.

Is that it? That one reaction?

You do great on shows so why the weak reaction here?

Even on variety shows

I've always been bad with food.

It was a thing on "2 Days & 1 Night" too.

They deprive you of food there, right?

I didn't really care.

Whether I ate or not, whatever.

You don't find joy in food?

Yeah! I was like why fight so hard for that?

Wow, that's crazy.

And I hate spicy food.

So if a spicy penalty comes up?

Then I give it my all!

I try like crazy to avoid it.

Because I can't eat spicy stuff.

So no interest in tasty food?

Nope, not at all.

So no interest in tasty food?

my wife has always picked what she wants.

She doesn't ask what I want at restaurants.

She just orders three things she wants.

She orders what she wants to eat.

I don't care, do whatever.

- Since you eat everything! - Yeah! So...

Recently

Si-kyung was featured at B*tgodong.

You mean, Si-kyung's show featured B*tgodong.

Technically B*tgodong was on his show

but for B*tgodong

it's Si-kyung appearing there. That's our take.

Because my wife saw it

and screamed, "No!"

My wife has screamed twice.

"No!" and then...

In front of the house

There's that place...

Fr* Gimbap?

No, in front of the house...

Wait, I'll ask. It'll be quick.

Let me ask briefly.

Hello.

Honey, that place Si-kyung showed near our house...

The one you hated him showing?

Sinm* Sikdang?

Okay, bye.

Sinm* Sikdang.

My wife loves good restaurants.

So you're just filling your stomach with bread right now?

I put so much effort into these scrambled eggs.

Okay, okay. Is the recipe coming out later?

Yes.

This is seriously so delicious.

You should try making this for your wife.

I don't think I can.

What am I even saying...

Did I miss something?

Put your beer in here and drink.

No, I didn't bring it.

Why?

I heard you don't drink much here.

What are you looking for?

Is there water?

Ah, yes.

I wondered what you were digging for, haha.

- How's that going? - What?

How's life as a CEO?

Being a CEO?

- You're a CEO now. - Ah, our agency?

Not much to it.

- Is this a water cup? - Yeah.

Basically, the actors...

It's me and In-sung

plus Jin Ki-joo and Lim Ju-hwan.

Exactly four managers and four actors.

We have no plans to expand right now.

That's it. Just us doing our thing.

Just earning enough to pay the others?

Antenna started exactly like that.

In the beginning,

Just you guys?

Just us. We didn't even have an office.

That kind of vibe!

Why did you suddenly decide to do it?

It wasn't sudden. In-sung and I...

Over drinks a few years back

we said we'd be almost 50 when our contracts ended.

We don't really need a big management company.

Because we aren't singers.

Actors are kind of like that.

Once you reach that age

it's not like someone needs to go fetch work for us.

We aren't rookies so we handle a lot ourselves.

So instead of joining a new place

let's just start something if we're free.

You bring a manager, I'll bring one.

No need to commute, let's just keep it simple!

We joked about it like that, half-seriously?

"Let's do that," we said.

And this time, In-sung's contract ended.

So we just gave it a start.

But now...

It's really...

Man, this world...

I became the CEO, right?

The problem is...

I get calls from everywhere!

When I answer

more than two-thirds of them

are asking about In-sung's schedule.

His schedule, his mind, his condition.

And a friend of mine

asked to meet me, so I went

but it was for In-sung!

You could get angry.

No, I don't get angry.

I totally understand.

And I have to reject them nicely!

You know his mind well.

I go around rejecting people!

So sometimes I tell In-sung

"In-sung, I met someone today just to reject them for you."

"I'm sorry, Tae Hyun." Hahaha.

I realized it's a position where I have to do that.

Rejecting is important now.

I just meet them for no reason, haha.

They aren't thinking about me but I meet them

just to say hello.

I used to never meet people like that.

Now I just meet them, hahaha.

That's amazing.

Back when you first debuted

there were rumors you were rude.

Oh, there were a lot.

I don't change. Start to finish.

"He doesn't change."

"He was rude from the start."

I've gotten much better. I became a human being.

I was surprised.

I'm also famous for having a weird personality.

But I didn't see it in you.

I didn't either. I didn't see it in you either.

- I don't really feel that. - But

on "The Ballad of Us" I really liked that about you.

Tae Hyun throws it directly.

He throws fastballs but not in an offensive way.

So I'm comfortable with that.

But when I was young, I just said it.

I was more direct.

I didn't care what people said.

But as I get older

- I become careful! - Because they are kids.

You were careful on "The Ballad of Us" because they're kids.

But that's really good.

Feeling like

you have to protect the kids!

Here are the enoki mushrooms and the perilla leaves.

- There's a lot here. - Cut it once.

Want me to cut it?

- Let's see. - That's okay. I've got it.

Along with the mushrooms?

Right, and that leaf next to it. It's shiso.

Is this your own creation? Based on your gut?

Taste it. What do you think?

Mmm.

Hmm?

Whoa, what is this flavor?

What's this thing in the middle?

It tastes really familiar.

It's...

Shiso!

What's shiso? Is it this?

It's Japanese perilla.

That taste really kicks in.

How is it? Is it good?

Where have I had this?

What dishes use shiso?

Is it something people eat in Japan?

Huh? Is it?

It's eaten in Japan and popular here now.

The flavor is strong.

Do you like it? Or not?

It's good.

It's really good.

Wow, Soo-chan's dad.

I really need to meet his mom.

It is tasty.

Shiso!

So that's what this is.

I looked you up and saw you were in the first KBS "Super Talent" group.

That memory stuck with me.

But you ended your turn with, "Number 50. Finished!"

Hey, back in those days...

It was 1995 when the network was recruiting talent.

Right, it was an open recruitment.

If we go by class number, we were the 17th.

But it was the first live selection by KBS.

Running it like a beauty pageant.

Turning the selection into a show.

We were in a camp for 15 days taking exams daily.

Who made you join?

My brother. He called me out of the blue from the army.

Your older brother? He said...

I had just been accepted to Seoul Institute of the Arts.

He said I should just give it a shot for the experience.

Why did he say that?

I'm not sure. Maybe just to build experience.

Since I had just gotten into college.

I had actually been rejected by three drama departments.

Seoul Institute of the Arts was the fourth one I tried.

I must have practiced so much.

I could do it in my sleep.

After those months of exam prep

the audition was a piece of cake.

But right as school started in March...

I hadn't been a student for long.

And you won the Silver Award.

Yes.

About that "Number 50. Finished!" moment.

We had to do an intro at the beginning.

"Number 1, blah blah," like that.

The PD didn't want it to feel like Miss Korea.

He told us to avoid the cliché comments.

He wanted us to be unique. So everyone got something ready.

The rehearsal was full of personality. Everyone tried their best.

But once the live show started...

"Hello, I'm Number 1, blah blah."

"I will do my best. I'll give it my all."

What was that?

What is this? I was the last one Number 50, waiting.

But the people in front...

Why are they doing that?

What's going on?

They were so nervous. Live broadcasts are scary.

They all turned robotic.

I felt slightly betrayed and just went, "To hell with it."

When it was my turn.

"Number 50. Finished!" And I walked away.

I didn't mention my name.

You didn't say your name?

From that moment, the messages...

The voting rankings started climbing like crazy.

Like, "Who is that guy?" "What is he?"

The live messages flew in and pushed me up the ranks.

It was so funny.

It makes no sense thinking about it now.

He really was crazy.

That actually worked.

You wouldn't know he's crazy just by looking.

Right.

That's what I find so interesting.

You know what's even funnier?

You just can't dislike him.

He can be really brutal with his words sometimes.

- Really? - Yeah, you're too cruel.

But coming from you it doesn't make me hate you.

Because I know there's no bad intent behind it.

I know you aren't calculating when you say those things.

I think the audience knows that too.

You've built that trust over the years.

Ever since "Number 50. Finished!" you've been building that.

That's true. I wasn't being malicious.

Exactly! No malice.

Right there. And Tae Hyun's debut...

You know what his debut role was?

"Our Sunny Days of Youth."

I was the guy following Jun Do-yeon in "Our Sunny Days of Youth."

You didn't have many scenes.

It was just a cameo for a couple of episodes.

I guess I did a good job chasing her.

People seemed to enjoy it.

The leads in that show appear from their high school days.

But I looked so young chasing after her.

I was a college student then, but still.

It must have seemed new. Back then, the writer...

Back then, the scripts weren't completed in advance like now.

It was live script writing so if the reaction was good, you got more.

I was only supposed to appear once or twice.

But it kept increasing until I was in about ten scenes.

Really? It wasn't that you got cut after two or three?

I got about ten. But I couldn't go on because...

The thing about dramas like that

is character growth!

They grow up and become adults.

It covers their lives up to their 40s.

But with my baby face

I couldn't make the transition.

So I chased her locally

but never got to Seoul.

My face just didn't work for a 25-year-old.

- Because you looked too young? - Yeah.

And then the next drama

"First Love" was exactly the same.

I was in the delinquent group with Bae Yong-joon.

I fit the high school student part perfectly. But...

You couldn't grow with the show, haha.

I couldn't handle the time jump again, haha.

I managed to play up to a 20-year-old somehow.

But once again, no Seoul for me.

- You can't go any further. - I can't.

It just wasn't possible with my face.

You were such a little kid.

Since the scripts were written on the fly they could just cut you.

Exactly. But instead of being cut my part grew.

Your part grew, but physically...

Right, it didn't work. Not needed.

If the popularity dips even slightly

they kill the character immediately!

You get in a car accident or get sent abroad.

Sent to study abroad.

Dying was no big deal in those days.

So you began with minor and supporting roles.

Was that until about 1999?

What year was "Sunflower"?

I think "Sunflower" was 1998.

That was your big break?

That really blew up.

Kim Jung-eun and I were so funny together.

Just two or three scenes each time.

But the director really liked us and found us funny.

Instead of doing it all in one day he spread it out.

So we'd be the first scene daily.

He said watching us there made it fun.

He could have done it in one go.

He wanted to see us every day, so he split it.

And it really paid off.

You guys blew up as a couple.

We did commercials and everything.

You were the "it" couple.

Jung-eun was a rookie but that paved the way for her.

It helped her become a leading actress.

Didn't that happen for you too?

Absolutely. I was a lead from then on.

Once that was done...

Post-"Sunflower"?

I starred in "Into the Sunlight."

The four of us were in it. Jang Hyuk, Kim Ha-neul, Kim Hyun-joo, and me.

I think we were all rookies at the time.

I think the established actors said no.

So the director...

It was right at the end of the year.

At least that's the story I was told.

"It's the end of the year let's just go with rookies!"

Just expecting it to fail.

"Let's try an all-rookie cast!" So I heard.

The four of us were beginners.

It turned into a huge sensation.

So you hadn't really struggled up to that point?

I wouldn't call it a struggle.

I climbed up gradually.

I started as "Man 1."

Then I played a student.

Slowly I got credited.

Then in the end credits.

Then my name came first.

So I don't think I struggled.

Any emotional hardship?

Growing bit by bit was fun.

Plus, you were young.

Yeah, because I remember thinking back then...

I was 20. They debut younger now.

But 20 was considered very young back then.

I was 20.

I could fail for ten years and still be 30.

That's what I told people.

Because being an actor...

It's a lifelong career.

Going to Hollywood wasn't even a thought.

My dream was just to keep acting until I was old.

To keep working steadily.

Hollywood was nonsense.

But people keep heading to Hollywood lately.

What's going on?

Just like that...

We never dared to dream of it!

It wasn't on our radar.

Suddenly they're in Hollywood. The world's gone weird!

I thought my life would settle down now.

What on earth...

I have to keep hustling.

It's exhausting.

Didn't even see this coming.

I thought only Michael Jackson did world tours.

It's shocking. Is this normal? The funny thing is

people I worked with are going there.

I know I can't go, but...

"Should I do something? Anything?"

I'm having all these new worries.

You had built that up slowly and thinly.

And "My Sassy Girl"...

"My Sassy Girl."

It blew up on Netflix in 2021.

Netflix?

When it opened on Netflix in 2021

Really?

it made it into the top five most-watched films.

- Really? - Yeah. You didn't know?

Why haven't they called me?

It has nothing to do with you, haha.

I've never done a Netflix original. I want in.

What? Never on Netflix? Oh right, you did "Moving."

But for "My Sassy Girl" to be that popular on Netflix

I wonder how you came across it!

Well, it came to you because you had built up to it.

You know the saying, 70% luck, 30% talent.

But the way I see it

it's 90% luck for me.

However I look at it

It's definitely not less!

Think about "My Sassy Girl"...

I happened to work with Jun Ji-hyun just before...

We were in "Happy Together" as supporting cast.

But landing that project right then

was incredible luck.

The director was

already famous from years ago.

- What's his name? - Kwak Jae-yong.

The director of "Watercolor Painting in a Rainy Day."

When I saw the script for "My Sassy Girl"

it was so funny!

The source material was funny, sure.

But the script was hilarious.

I thought, "This is big. I have to meet the director."

We met.

But he wasn't what I expected.

No one looked like a director.

Just someone who looked really old...

I was so surprised.

I expected a young director.

For a movie like this, huh?

The script felt so...

It was trendy.

It was fresh.

And this older man is sitting there.

I was like, who's this guy?

They told me he's the director.

"Excuse me?"

I asked his filmography. "Watercolor Painting in a Rainy Day" was a decade ago.

It was his comeback after a decade. Wow...

I wondered, "Is this going to work?"

The script was shocking for a romance!

It was unlike any romance before it.

Can he handle this kind of sensibility?

I was direct back then so I spoke my mind.

I kept checking.

"Did you really write this yourself?"

I was like...

- "Didn't someone co-write it?" - That's amazing.

"Really? He wrote it?"

He did. "Then it's a jackpot."

Because film is a director's art.

The writer knows how to direct it best.

So I had total faith in him after that.

The shoot was a blast, too.

We saw a totally new Jun Ji-hyun.

The audience saw

a new side of her.

But we knew if she was just herself it would explode.

We knew her real character.

We knew she had that in her.

So if she just does her thing

we said it was a sure thing.

What about you as Gyun-woo?

To be honest

Gyun-woo could've been anyone.

He was

any average guy back then

could have pulled it off.

It's 90% about "Girl."

Gyun-woo just needs to support her.

I really thought that.

I just happened to suit the character.

So it was even more successful.

People were amazed by Jun Ji-hyun

but the discovery of you was huge too.

How big were you?

Back then...

You know...

Brag a little. Go on!

Stop being humble.

It's a fact, not a brag...

I have no more curiosity left.

I don't care about popularity in Korea either.

Since I experienced that

I can be less greedy now.

You chase it because you don't know.

But I've been there.

I don't know about Hollywood, though.

But "My Sassy Girl" took me all over Asia.

So I'm not that envious.

I've been there, done that.

But

it didn't last long.

For how long?

Maybe four years from 2000?

A quick burst!

Back when I did fan signings

police would show up and stuff.

I released two albums too.

Yeah, albums.

I thought everything I touched turned to gold.

I let it get to my head.

The second movie wasn't bad.

But from the third movie

I started sliding down.

Which one was third?

"Crazy First Love."

They did okay at the box office

but couldn't compare to "My Sassy Girl."

I was too cocky then.

I worked with many rookie directors.

I mostly worked with new or returning directors.

I rarely worked with big-name directors.

I just went with scripts I liked.

I used to tell the directors

"One million is guaranteed."

"With me, it's at least one million!"

I cringe so hard thinking about it.

And then by the fourth or fifth movie we flopped with less than a million.

Is it a meal?

I prepared a special menu for you.

Really? Sorry about that.

I should've brought a big eater.

We only covered up to "My Sassy Girl."

Not at all...

That's it...

There's nothing left to tell.

What is this dish called?

Hokkaido cream stew.

- Hokkaido? - Taste it. I haven't tried it yet.

Cream stew?

Mmm?

Oh? I feel so happy.

Delicious.

I keep using a spoon.

- It's good, it's good. - Good, right?

Nothing strange in here, huh?

Great!

After "Crazy First Love"

numbers started dropping.

Did you feel it?

"Crazy First Love" was fine.

Things went downhill after that.

And you said "One million guaranteed!"

Yeah, but when it flopped

"This is where I stand."

I figure out my place fast!

I realized it fast.

Even when "My Sassy Girl" succeeded

I thought, "If I ever make a movie that tops this

then I've succeeded."

I didn't have huge dreams.

I see.

You know, it was my first film and it was a huge hit.

But expecting to top that?

I knew that was impossible.

Yeah, for a first film!

I knew popularity would fade.

I didn't think it would drop so low.

I expected a decline

but it fell faster than I thought.

It stings a bit.

Marriage was the next step and my wife and I were longtime friends.

We promised each other we'd get married at 30.

But back then

about passing 30...

She had some anxiety about it.

But my career was on a decline.

And I wanted to make a comeback before getting married.

So I asked, "Can we wait just one year?"

"Can't we do it at 31 instead?"

She dumped me on the spot!

I said that and she ended it right away.

So I had to go back and beg for forgiveness.

Saying, "No, wait, I take it back!"

So regardless of my career we got married at 30 as planned.

But amazingly, after that

all my movies started doing well.

My worries were completely unfounded.

I had this idea that

If I got married, my value as an actor would drop.

And that your popularity would tank.

That you'd lose all the fans who liked you.

So I wanted one big hit before settling down.

But everything I did after getting married was a success.

So I realized I was wrong.

The moment that hit you

was after experiencing all that and getting busy.

That movie you did with Bo-young?

"Scandal Makers."

After filming "Scandal Makers" with Bo-young

I heard you visited theaters 1,000 times.

And you went around in a doctor's gown.

Bo-young told me that story.

He must have been filming "General Hospital 2" then.

So he came in doctor's gown!

- In a gown? - For the theater greetings.

He'd stop by in the gown just to greet them.

"Scandal Makers" is such a funny movie.

It was a sleeper hit no one anticipated.

I guess the casting process was rough.

With the scripts circulating at the time

guys like Ryu Seung-beom, Im Chang-jung, and I

were always on the same rotation!

The scripts?

The scripts just cycled through us.

But some roles didn't fit my age.

So I'd think, "This isn't for me."

Because the character was a grandfather.

And I was barely 32 back then.

I wondered if people would buy it.

But coincidentally I had just gotten married and had a child.

Soo-chan was one year old.

My perspective on scripts completely changed.

And after "My Sassy Girl"

I didn't even look at romantic comedies.

Because I thought nothing could top that.

I got a lot of rom-com offers

but I just couldn't take them.

And after marriage, romance stories didn't appeal to me.

I naturally felt they didn't suit me anymore.

That sounds like...

Like how when you're pregnant

you naturally get picky about food.

But I guess every actor is different.

Because some people still crave romance roles.

Everyone is different.

But for me, those scripts didn't stand out.

But then I saw "Scandal Makers."

I was reading it and paused.

Bringing one kid along is such a cliché.

It's a trope we've seen a million times.

But showing up with a second one?

That was a setup I'd never seen before.

Bringing one more...

Yeah, they doubled down!

I was like, "Wow, this is fresh."

The character is a grandpa but I looked too young again.

I wondered if it would work.

But since the public knew I had a child

I thought it might actually be convincing.

"Scandal Makers" was so entertaining.

It shows how important fitting casting is.

And Park Bo-young was in it.

And who was that kid?

Seok-hyun.

Everyone was just so cute.

The audience was just captivated.

Right.

And we had to finish shooting

in two and a half months.

I loved the script when I got it.

But I had a start date for the drama "General Hospital 2."

So I only had a two-and-a-half-month gap.

I said I could do it if we finished in that time.

Otherwise, I had to pass.

We considered "General Hospital 2" our main project.

Since it was a long-awaited season 2.

That was the sure bet and you hadn't been doing well.

So when I proposed that schedule

they said, "We can start right away. We're ready."

So that means

it must've been offered to someone else first.

So I slipped in the question.

"Who turned this down?"

Not that it mattered. So we started filming immediately.

We shot it at lightning speed.

And around the time the drama aired

the movie was released.

And it became a massive hit.

It stayed in theaters for a really long time.

It ran for nearly three months.

It was exceptional. They kept showing it.

Because people kept coming to watch it.

It was still in theaters when the drama ended.

The funny thing about you is

just when it looks like you've hit rock bottom you hit a jackpot.

Like "My Sassy Girl" and "Scandal Makers."

And after that, I think it was "Moving."

That too, but before that...

There was "Highway Star."

- And "Hello Ghost." - Right.

The twist ending.

A movie made for the last ten minutes!

Some movies are all about the ending.

I was on edge watching it in the theater.

Please don't leave.

Please just stay.

If they stay, it's a success.

It was that kind of movie. When I read the script...

The director of "Scandal Makers"

told me to take a look at the script.

So I was reading it...

And it was so boring.

It was full of clichés.

Ghosts going in and out just a one-man show.

But I still had to give him feedback.

"He's putting me on the spot..."

Gasp!

I was sobbing in my room.

I called my manager and said "I have to do this one."

That movie mattered

because a movie no one paid attention to

beat all the highly anticipated movies at the time.

That became a huge topic of conversation.

You have those moments. Things work when they shouldn't.

Then things go quiet for a while...

And suddenly something like "Along with the Gods: The Two Worlds" comes along.

Becoming a ten-million-viewer hit when no one expected it.

You say it's 90% luck but I don't believe it.

I thought about it, and people know.

All the actors who work with you

become huge stars. They all blew up.

That's all their talent!

But not everyone has that kind of power.

You act like a mirror for others.

Saying, "It's okay to be yourself."

I feel that a lot in "The Ballad of Us."

"You're fine just as you are. You're awesome."

When I watch your movies dramas, or variety shows...

There is a lot of that.

You nonchalantly say, "It's fine. Just do you."

"I'll handle the rest." It's powerfully present.

I guess there's a lot of that.

The people

that I dislike

or say are bad news

are genuinely bad people.

It's the same when I act.

Some people study the script intensely.

Their scripts are all tattered.

Mine is pristine with just my lines highlighted!

Of course, I memorize my lines.

But when I get to the set

It's important to see how the other person acts.

Even if I plan my acting perfectly

it means nothing if they do something unexpected.

Then I'd have to persuade them.

Or discuss it with them.

And I don't really like doing that.

People here think method acting is so important.

But I can't really do it.

It just doesn't work for me.

Your real self keeps coming out?

Yeah, that too.

So I don't go into the role

but I bring the role to me and make it mine.

I "Cha Tae-hyun-ize" it.

That leaves a lot of room for others to act.

They fill in those gaps.

It feels like you reflect them in that empty space.

I think I focus more on that style.

Since you leave a lot of blanks.

- It's the same in variety shows. - Right.

The timing of your variety show debut is interesting.

Variety shows, yeah.

What was your first? "2 Days & 1 Night"?

That was my first time as a regular cast member.

You see, my movies were doing well.

"Scandal Makers" was a hit.

But people didn't realize it.

The movie did so well that I shot a commercial.

The three of us with Bo-young and Seok-hyun.

- We did a H*-Mart commercial. - Right, I remember.

But people only recognized me

from the commercial.

"Since I'm not on TV

they don't know me even with a huge movie."

And I like variety shows.

I had only guested on "Infinite Challenge" "Running Man," or "Family Outing."

I didn't even watch "2 Days & 1 Night."

Because I don't care for food.

It wasn't a show I was interested in.

But then I got a call from them.

Saying they were revamping the show.

"Why do they want me?"

But then I thought about it.

Going on a show I never considered

when I don't even care about food...

And I wouldn't play games hard for food.

But what if I went there and dived in?

I was so curious how I would fit in.

So I decided to give it a shot.

And my wife also said

"Isn't it funny for you to turn down '2 Days & 1 Night'?"

She had a point.

PD Yoo Ho-jin read you perfectly.

Quick-witted, doing exactly what the crew wants.

You execute the vibe and story they need.

That's hard for non-comedians.

But you're so good at that.

You're a reliable asset. No need to hold up the cue cards.

If things get boring

if I feel like it's dragging

I just put Kim Jun-ho and Kim Jong-min together.

"How can I naturally pair them up?"

That's what I think about.

And when things aren't working

I just strip Jun-ho.

"How do I get his clothes off naturally?"

You were good at that. So it was you.

I do a lot of that stuff.

It was funny how quickly you adapted.

Going back to what we said earlier

that's what "Super Talent" was about.

They were picking actors but doing a variety show.

The judges were five variety PDs and five drama PDs.

It was obvious the variety PDs picked me.

I could see that too.

So I became an actor after that but my first drama was later.

There was a show called "Super Sunday."

In a segment like "Woman's Theater"

singers would come and act.

Like Kang Ho-dong acting.

That was popular back then.

I came out as a master to introduce it.

Appearing in the middle and end.

Beating a drum on top of a tree.

You had that flexibility from the start.

There were no boundaries for me to begin with.

My dream in high school was

first PD, second singer, third actor.

"How can I do all three?"

"If I direct a movie star in it, and sing the OST..."

"I can do it all at once!"

That was my dream, haha.

You're doing it all now.

There was a KBS drama called "Hit the Top."

I co-directed it with Ho-jin.

We had live scripts again.

Ho-jin had to go edit

leaving me alone on set!

Then I'd be there

with 60 staff members

just staring at me!

I was sweating bullets...

Did you have to shoot and air it right away?

Of course!

I'd storyboard alone. It was hard but really fun.

So you eventually achieved all three dreams.

- I did them all. - You really did.

That's right.

The funny thing is, you doing all that

felt so natural to viewers.

Isn't that a blessing?

I guess so.

It's beyond natural.

People don't even know I'm doing it!

If I get the chance I want to direct without acting.

I've always wanted to try just directing.

I've done so many dramas I think I can handle filming.

But if someone gets too deep about the script...

Ugh...

Not your style?

I'm just like...

"Can't you just stick to the script?"

I get what they mean, but...

It's all written there!

That felt like acting just now, haha.

Well, every actor is different.

They need to make it their own.

They have their own opinions and interpretations.

They might see it differently.

We talk about that a lot.

- But it's written there? - So I think

"Why interpret it that way?"

"It works if you just follow the script..."

Looking away at a 45-degree angle, haha.

"Just follow the script..."

When you first started

sets must have been intense back then.

Oh, yeah!

The funniest thing was...

I started in '95.

People smoked in dramas back then.

But I don't smoke.

Gangster characters always smoked.

I had a smoking scene and I could physically do it.

I inhaled and everything.

I didn't even cough.

But they said it looked awkward or did not work or something like that.

Maybe because they knew I didn't smoke?

I inhaled and exhaled smoke!

So why say I'm bad at it?

What more do they want?

I inhaled it and blew it out!

I didn't even cough!

Why say I'm bad at it?

But later when I became a lead

I had another smoking scene.

I told the director, "I'm bad at smoking."

"It's not good for you anyway."

"Let's cut it!"

He just cut it like that.

Wow, status changes everything!

It's your 30th year after debut. What's the plan for next year?

This year is the 30th. I met fans briefly.

I don't really make big plans anymore.

I just do whatever comes up.

It's just...

Since I run a company I should work more?

Thoughts like that.

When people ask what I want to do

I usually say

I'm just excited to see what comes in.

"What will I get next year?"

There's fun in waiting for that.

Didn't know I'd wait this long.

Luckily I did one after three years.

And I have "Moving" Season 2 next year.

"Moving" was unexpected too.

The character wasn't even in the original.

Kang Full and I go way back, you know.

He called me.

"Tae-hyun, you should be in 'Moving'."

"Really? As what?"

"You are"

"a lightning man!"

"You shoot electricity!"

"Really? Wow, cool."

Sorry, just static electricity.

But it's great to be in a hero show.

It's fun and exciting.

What's the last thing...

Last what? What is the ending bit?

Our official question! What's the last thing you asked ChatGPT?

I don't have ChatGPT...

I don't use it...

I was worried you wouldn't have it.

I don't even have Instagram!

No ChatGPT either...

Is that the final question?

Then what did you last search on Naver?

Naver? Last search?

Or asked someone!

Naver too...

My recent search is "Cha Tae-hyun."

And on YouTube, it's "Fairy Jae Hyung."

On Melon, I'm not kidding...

It's "Le Solitudinaire."

And "Gather My Tears" because of "The Ballad of Us."

"Gather My Tears."

Which part are you singing?

Come here a sec.

Oh, I have the chorus.

It starts with "My dear!"

I'm screwed.

That's the worst.

You lowered the key? Doesn't matter.

My dear, I will wait

If my tearful letter reaches the sky

The funny thing is Hyun-moo sings next!

Someday

you will return

to me

Still, feels good to get the chorus.

With all those singers there...

Maybe they did it for laughs.

We're filming you leaving.

Haha.

Bye?

I thought we were taking a photo.

- Bye bye. - Okay.

- Thanks for coming, Tae-hyun. - It was fun.

Bye.

See you at "The Ballad of Us" live show.

Okay, bye!

Are these my shoes?

These don't have an owner, right?

Those are yours.

Put them on properly.

Press it. Just press.

The right one.

Oh, this is here, haha.

Didn't know this was here, haha.

I'm going!

Bye!

Go. Thanks.