[Edaily Starin Gim Ga Yeong Reporter] “An administrative officer is a position where you serve in a single unit for a long period of time. So, as ‘New Recruit’ gained popularity and the season continued, I felt like I’d taken out insurance. Haha.”

Actor Oh Yong opened up about the popularity of the ENA series *New Recruit*. In a recent interview with E-Daily, Oh Yong recalled, “It’s been four or five years since I started *New Recruit*,” adding, “When I first began, I never imagined it would do this well or be loved this much.”
He continued, “While I’m happy about the popularity of ‘New Recruit,’ I also wonder how long this love will last,” and shared his honest thoughts, saying, “I think I need to start thinking about how to gracefully step down.”
“New Recruit” is a gritty, realistic drama set in a place where all kinds of people—the good, the bad, and the weird—come together, and the story unfolds when a “privileged” new recruit arrives. In this drama, Oh Yong played the role of Park Jae-soo, the platoon leader of the Myth Unit. He served as a steadfast anchor among soldiers with strong personalities, enhancing the drama’s immersive quality. It’s no easy task to set the tone and maintain balance amidst such strong-willed soldiers. This performance stemmed from Oh Yong’s deep reflection and hard work.
Oh Yong explained, “I had a platoon sergeant during my own military service; he seemed older, but in reality, he wasn’t that much older than me,” adding, “I thought about how he would live and move, and I developed the character of Park Jae-soo through that process.” He said, “He speaks bluntly and without much pretense, but he still cares about the soldiers. I acted with the idea of showing that side of him.”
What became a hot topic in *New Recruit* was the dialect of Drill Sergeant Park Jae-soo. By using a realistic Gangwon Province dialect set against the backdrop of the Shin Hwa Unit, he heightened the drama’s immersion. Viewers reacted enthusiastically, commenting, “Our drill sergeant spoke just like that when I was in the military,” and “What dialect is the drill sergeant speaking? It sounds so familiar.” Oh Yong enhanced the realism by using the actual intonation and speech patterns spoken in Gangwon Province, rather than the exaggerated Gangwon dialect he had previously portrayed in other works, such as the film *Welcome to Dongmakgol*.
He revealed, “In the original work, the character isn’t shown from the front—only from behind,” adding, “The character speaks in the Gyeongsang Province dialect, but I’m known in Daehangno as an actor who can’t speak dialects. When I was asked to take on this role, I really struggled with the decision.”
He continued, “I was wondering how to approach it, but I had performed in plays at Chaimu for 10 years, and I used the Gangwon Province dialect back then.” He explained, “The only dialect I can actually speak is the Gangwon Province dialect, so I sent the director a text saying, ‘If I act using the Gyeongsang Province dialect, it won’t sound right. Rather than delivering a nonsensical dialect performance, wouldn’t it be better to use the Gangwon Province dialect?’” “I even recorded a sample and sent it to him, and he said it didn’t sound bad, so I developed the character using the Gangwon Province dialect. The script was originally written in the Gyeongsang Province dialect, but I changed it all to the Gangwon Province dialect,” he revealed.

“Rookie,” which has been running for a whopping four seasons, is also special and dear to Oh Yong. He expressed his unique affection, saying, “While all my works are precious and important, ‘Rookie’ gives me the feeling of creating something out of nothing.” He added, “Even though there was an original work, it still feels like we’re raising it. It feels like a child born out of the love of all the staff and actors.”
He explained, “It feels like I’m constantly nurturing it and teaching it one thing at a time, so it feels just like raising a child.”
The *Rookie Soldier* series resonates with male viewers who have actually served in the military, while also gaining popularity by entertaining female viewers who have no military experience.
Oh Yong remarked, “‘Rookie Soldier’ is enjoying widespread popularity, and even I, as one of the actors, find it amazing.” He continued, “My wife also says it feels like a glimpse into a world she’s never experienced. She said it’s fun and fascinating because of that feeling. When she watches the drama, she asks me, ‘Were you like that during your military service, too?’ “I served in the 1990s, and *New Recruit* is set in the 2010s, so it’s different. I received a monthly salary of 9,000 won,” he recalled, reflecting on his actual military service.
Oh Yong is an actor who has maintained the same appearance and stayed in the same role from Season 1 through Season 4. Naturally, as the seasons progress, he must have his share of concerns.
He explained, “I don’t think I’m the one who changes; I believe that something emerges from the relationships themselves, so I don’t try to make major changes to the character of Park Jae-soo.” He added, “Since new characters are appearing, I think the dynamics between them are bound to change. I focus on how to build those relationships.”
In Season 4, in particular, the three respected figures—Training Officer Park Dae-soo, Battalion Commander Byun Hyeok-jin (played by Lee Hyun-kyun), and Company Commander Jo Baek-ho (played by Oh Dae-hwan)—won the hearts of viewers. This helped portray the military as a more trustworthy and reassuring place.
Recalling their connection, he said, “I worked with Oh Dae-hwan 13 years ago on MBC’s *Guwam Heo Jun*. We worked together as members of the same herbal medicine team,” adding, “We were very close back then, and now, 13 years later, we’re working together again on the same project.” He continued, “Dae-hwan may be big in stature, but he’s a very warm-hearted friend. It was so great to see him again after so long.”
Regarding Lee Hyun-kyun, he said, “We didn’t know each other at all, but he had this unique energy. It was really fun working with him,” he said. “It must have been awkward for him joining us as a newcomer in Season 4, but the ‘Rookie’ team always emphasizes that we shouldn’t exclude newcomers—we should welcome them warmly. Thanks to that, Lee Hyun-kyun adapted well and we became close quickly. I’m usually not very good at letting my guard down, but I did with Lee Hyun-kyun. It’s amazing,” he confided.

“Rookie” is not merely a show set in a military backdrop. By conveying in detail and realistically the thoughts that unfold and the events that occur within the military, it deepens viewers’ understanding of and trust in the military. He revealed that he was particularly moved by the storyline of Kang Chan-seok (played by Lee Jung-hyun) in Season 4, saying, “I also felt a deep sense of regret that I didn’t gain much during my own military service.” He added, “Once you’re discharged, you inevitably become a new recruit again. I hope the military can serve as a stepping stone where people can build the strength to do something once they leave,” and noted, “Chan-seok’s storyline made me think that the military shouldn’t be a place where time is wasted, but rather a springboard where you can prepare well to embrace a new beginning.”
When asked which character he’d like to play in *New Recruit*, he named Ji Jeong-min (played by Noh Seong-eun). He continued, “Ji Jeong-min is always there, playing the role of the supporting character who watches from afar,” and marveled, “Noh Seong-eun portrayed that very well. His acting is subtle yet impactful—it’s really entertaining. Noh Seong-eun brought the character to life beautifully.”
Oh Yong revealed that his real-life personality shares some similarities with Haengbogwan, saying, “I don’t like to take the spotlight; I prefer to work behind the scenes. It’s the same vibe as Haengbogwan.”
However, he is proactive when it comes to taking on challenges. He enjoys pushing his limits, whether in acting or cooking. “My daughters tell me not to experiment when I’m cooking,” he said with a laugh. “I’ve even put crab sauce in ramen, and they beg me to please stop experimenting.”
Although he enjoys taking on challenges in acting as well, ironically, the productions he’s appeared in have become “long-running” hits, and he’s even found himself playing the same character for several years. It’s not just *New Recruit*; he’s also been meeting audiences repeatedly through the play *Me and My Grandfather*.
“I think I like the productions I’m involved in. I tend to get attached to them,” he said. “As time passes, my delivery of the lines inevitably changes. Falling into a rut means staying stuck in one place, so I try my best not to stay put. I try not to think, ‘This is good enough.’”
He continued, “Today (the day of the interview), I’m scheduled to perform with Pyo Ji-hoon, and it’s always fun whenever I work with him.” He added, “Since the acting partners aren’t fixed in *Me and My Grandfather*, I never know who I’ll be paired with, but that’s part of the fun—figuring it out as I go. I’m acting while enjoying those kinds of situations that arise within the play.”
“Rookie Soldier,” which recorded the highest viewership rating of 5.2% across the entire series in Season 4, has been confirmed for production through Season 5. He said, “The soldiers are bound to change, and I feel a sense of pressure because characters like the training officer need to serve as the central anchor,” adding, “However, I believe acting is about the connections between people. Depending on how those relationships develop, I think we’ll be able to present new stories.”
Oh Yong has shown unwavering passion while pursuing the single path of acting for over 30 years. “Rather than calling it passion, I think of it as my duty,” he confessed. “It’s still fun and challenging. I ask myself every time, ‘What does it mean to act well?’”
He continued, “I have to live well—live on stage, live in front of the camera, and live it well,” adding, “I want to keep taking on new challenges.”