[Edaily Starin Choi Hee-jae Reporter] “I felt so relieved on my way home after filming. It was a set where I realized just how much fun acting is—so much so that my heart was racing with excitement.”

Actor Choi Hyun-wook shared insights into his chemistry with Choi Min-sik and behind-the-scenes stories during an interview held on the 2nd at a café in Jongno-gu, Seoul, to celebrate the release of the Netflix series *The Boy in the Back Row*.
“The Boy in the Back Row” is a suspense series that follows Heo Moon-oh (played by Choi Min-sik), a failed writer and professor of Korean literature, as he discovers the genius of Lee Kang (played by Choi Hyun-wook), a student sitting in the very back row of his classroom, and becomes obsessed with his writing. The series is based on the Spanish play “The Boy in the Back Row” by playwright Juan Mayorga.
Choi Hyun-wook said, “I was both nervous and excited even before the series was released,” adding, “It feels refreshing and satisfying. I gave it my all while filming with my senior actors. I always work hard, but this time, I felt a different kind of relief.”
He continued, “I looked up some of the reactions, and I was deeply moved to see that so many people liked it,” adding, “I think it’s a work that viewers judge for themselves, and I noticed many viewers were approaching it from different perspectives. I remember one reaction that stood out: ‘Heo Mun-oh Pota (Pota-type, a web novel based on fan fiction) addict’—which made me laugh.”

◇“Choi Min-sik, a legendary actor… I find him truly awe-inspiring”
Through this project, Choi Hyun-wook worked alongside various veteran actors, including Choi Min-sik, Heo Jun-ho, and Jin Kyung. Choi Hyun-wook, who said he didn’t feel any pressure, remarked, “I’ve never considered myself particularly brave, but when I take on a role, I seem to immerse myself solely as the character, not as Choi Hyun-wook.”
He continued, “Since I research the character and think about how to approach it even before filming begins, I think that’s why I said I didn’t feel any pressure even when the senior actors I’ve admired since I was young were right in front of me.”
When asked about Choi Min-sik, his eyes lit up as he called him a “great actor.” He said, “Since I’ve loved movies from a very young age, I’ve watched many of his films. He has an energy and aura that you can feel even through the screen, but after actually meeting him, talking with him, and acting while making eye contact, I think I’ve come to respect him even more.”
He continued, “I was so impressed by his sense and energy that it made me want to continue acting like this for a long time. I also wondered how he was able to perform like that in that situation. Even now, whenever I see him, I can’t help but be in awe.”
Choi Hyun-wook also remarked, “I realized that a great actor is truly different—he possesses a boyish charm, sometimes comes across as mature, and at other times acts like a prankster. I was deeply moved by witnessing that.” He continued, “Whether it’s his energy, the timing of his lines, or his facial expressions—even though I study the craft of acting diligently, I realized that experience cannot be ignored.”
When asked about a memorable scene, he mentioned the final closing scene. Choi Hyun-wook said, “I could really feel how much Senior Choi had prepared for that single close-up. With a face that was different from before—a face that looked worn down and weathered by time—he completely dominated that scene.” He then added, “I thought to myself, ‘He really is a legendary actor,’” drawing laughter from the audience.
Previously, Choi Min-sik had expressed his special affection for Choi Hyun-wook on variety shows, saying, “Choi Hyun-wook’s struggles ended with *The Boy at the Very Back*.” Choi Hyun-wook expressed his gratitude, saying, “Rather than giving specific instructions on set, my senior simply told me, ‘Good job. You worked hard.’ Those few words were filled with sincerity,” adding, “I found both comfort and a sense of pride in them.”

◇“Many Concerns About Acting… The Kiss Scene with Jin-kyung? No Pressure”
“The Boy in the Back Row” is a drama filled with intricate emotional arcs and dramatic twists. When asked how he prepared for the role, Choi Hyun-wook replied, “When I first read the script, I didn’t really understand Kang-i either. I worked hard to understand him, constantly asking myself questions as I went along.” He added, “There were many moments—whether in his expressions or the tone of his lines—that left me curious. I, too, pondered what this character was truly thinking.”
The backstory behind Lee Kang’s revenge was revealed toward the end of the series, delivering a plot twist. However, some critics felt this narrative was underdeveloped. Choi Hyun-wook commented, “I think there will be viewers who feel that way. Although his backstory was brief, the way I saw it, he grew up in a household without parents and didn’t receive a proper education. He opened up to an adult—the first person he hoped would understand and acknowledge his feelings—but the response he received must have caused him deep emotional pain and trauma,” he explained.
He continued, “Normally, someone would carry that deep wound with them for the rest of their life, but I thought the character Kang was emotionally detached. Even though he pretends to empathize on the surface, I felt that ultimately, both his decision to go to college and his writing were driven by a desire for revenge against his teacher. Although his backstory was brief, I felt I could express it well on my own.”
Choi Hyun-wook shared, “The one thing I researched on my own for the character was the habit of biting his nails. I think that when you engage in unhealthy observation, habits like that can develop without you even realizing it. I figured nail-biting would be fitting for Kang.” He also joked, “My forward head posture has improved a lot. I’m trying to maintain good posture.”
He also addressed the much-discussed kissing and bed scenes with Jin Kyung. Regarding his chemistry with Jin Kyung, who is actually 30 years his senior, he explained, “It was also part of Heo Moon-oh’s imagination, and depending on how Moon-oh perceives Kang-i, wouldn’t that turn into a nightmare? I thought it was a scene where that could very well happen,” adding, “I felt the script allowed for those kissing and bed scenes.”
He continued, “I had many discussions with the director and my senior co-stars even before filming began. Although there’s an age gap, we thought about how to make the chemistry work and how to ensure viewers could empathize with the scene when they saw it as part of Moon-oh’s imagination.” He added, “I think it turned out really well, and I didn’t feel any pressure.”

◇ Mention of ‘Weak Hero’… “Park Ji-hoon and Hong Kyung—you can feel it without them saying a word”
With the release of *The Boy at the Back of the Class*, Choi Hyun-wook’s previous works have also been revisited. In particular, comparison clips with *Weak Hero*—the series that left a strong impression of Choi Hyun-wook’s presence—have gained popularity among international fans.
Choi Hyun-wook remarked, “‘Weak Hero’ is a truly remarkable show. It’s not easy for even one work to remain a topic of conversation for so long,” adding, “It was a project where all the actors filmed with passion and determination—we gave it our all.”
He also mentioned Park Ji-hoon and Hong Kyung, with whom he worked at the time, saying, “We’re all so busy that we don’t get to keep in touch often, but when we do meet and talk occasionally, I realize that ‘even though the three of us are very different in our own ways, we share a deep love for our craft and acting.’ “There’s a connection you can feel even without saying much,” he continued. “Even when we meet after a long time, I’m reminded once again of their unwavering mindset and passion. I feel incredibly fortunate just to have been part of a project like that.”
Choi Hyun-wook shared that he is currently training for his next project. Having played baseball in high school, Choi Hyun-wook will portray a baseball player in the new drama *Green Light*. He expressed his determination, saying, “It was one of the items on my bucket list. I want to do it better than anyone else, and I want to pull it off perfectly.”
What does *The Boy in the Back Row* mean to Choi Hyun-wook, who aspires to become a better actor? “It will remain a very meaningful project for me,” he said. “It was a set where I learned so much, and it will stay with me as an unforgettable memory.”