Spoiler alert: Ahn Hyo Seop’s happiness has something to do with you
“The most [that] you can feel happiness is right here and right now.” This is how Ahn Hyo Seop explains the experience of his first fan meeting with BENCH. Just like his fellow Korean actor Kim Seon-Ho, Ahn Hyo Seop admires the versatility of the leading clothing and lifestyle brand from the Philippines.
Throughout the exclusive media conference held last October 7 at the Grand Hyatt in Taguig, we learned so much about him—one being his deep levels of empathy. The first indication was when he expressed that he enjoys wearing pieces from BENCH because the clothes are comfortable, to the point where the people who look at him can feel the comfort, too!
Ahn Hyo Seop let us in on an open secret—he’s a green flag. He gives great importance to understanding a person’s past because this explains why they act the way they do in the present. At least, that’s what he does for the fictional characters he’s played. Though he’s faced numerous challenges, like A Time Called You giving him a headache and Business Proposal’s Kang Tae-moo being too arrogant, he is triumphant thanks to his admirable work ethic.
We must say that he is so much more than a talented guy with a pretty face. When asked questions, he doesn’t provide answers right away. Instead, you first get silence, showing that he devotes time and energy to forming a sincere and substantial response, rather than giving a halfhearted one. As the conference's host Sam Oh notes, “Kahit dead air, okay lang (Even if there’s dead air, it’s okay)!” No word that comes out of his mouth is a waste. One thing is for sure: Ahn Hyo Seop's priority is to make his presence worthwhile.
He is well aware that he is still lacking in some aspects—according to him, not us!—and he is quite the perfectionist. “Whatever I do, even though I try my best…I can never be satisfied with [the outcome]. But one thing I can promise as an actor is that I would acknowledge [these shortcomings] of mine and also use these as motivation to not stay contented, but to try my best always.” The actor adds that what truly keeps him grounded is looking at himself and seeing an incomplete and imperfect person.
It’s no surprise that he feels most similar to his character in Dr. Romantic 2, Seo Woo Jin, who “was very negative, pessimistic.” He adds, “[He didn’t] have high hopes about the world.” Seo Woo Jin had a positive character development thanks to the people he met throughout his journey. Similarly, Hyo Seop shares that meeting the staff behind the K-drama helped him grow; he holds the project close to his heart because it made him a more optimistic person off-screen and allowed him to see the world from a delightful perspective.
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What adds more beauty to his world is seeing his fans, endearingly called “Pauljjak.” (“Paul” is his English name, while -jjak is derived from the Korean word “jjakkung,” which means “mate.”) “Maybe I’m doing something good, right?” This thought enters his mind whenever he hears from them. For him, having a harmonious two-way connection is what he appreciates about his supporters. In fact, that’s enough for him to say that “love makes me happy.”
Ahn Hyo Seop is a simple man, really. He was asked to reveal what the most rewarding thing is about being an actor. One would guess that it’s the feeling of receiving recognition or finishing a project. Well, he continues to exceed expectations and proves the intentions behind his craft. “Sometimes, I receive messages from fans saying that through me, the love [or] the ability [to] love sparked again inside them. The truth that I’m able to influence even just one person is something that I’m really grateful [for],” he conveys. Being a purveyor of love and being a source of happiness to people all over the globe “also allows me to find myself through them.”
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For Ahn Hyo Seop, art is a platform for self-expression. We’ve seen that in the way he brings life to his characters and gathers lessons from them. Indeed, there are no bounds to expressing oneself artistically. So if you’re wondering what’s something new that he wants to try, he expresses with a smile, “Ever since I was young, I really loved music. I also have the heart to [consider expressing] my positive thoughts, my positive energy, to other people [musically].”
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Through a simple press conference, he was able to go beyond our expectations. This only tells us that Ahn Hyo Seop always has something up his sleeve. Whatever it is, whether it be a new acting project or a full-on music career, we’ll be supporting him all the way.
Photos BENCH
Words Kyla Villena
Art Macky Arquilla
