Yeo Jin-goo Interview: The Word Love is Still Awkward for Me

We have a lovely three-part interview for Yeo Gin-goo (여진구) today. We have have been meaning to post this one for a long time and it is finally up. Hallelujah! We have so many posts planned, but there just aren’t enough hours in the day (you know like the after work day). There are just so many cool interviews out there, I love them all.

We got this interview request well before our giveaway so I wanted to post it before we dove head deep into all of those interviews for the next weeks or so. Check this post to see if you were a giveaway winner and be sure to check the comments to see if we are on the right track with the interviews/videos.

Yeo Jin-gu is one of those actors who you just know is going to make his mark. I remember seeing him as a child actor and he already had that presence that even grown actors would kill for. I believe presence can be learned, but to have it at such a young age is pretty impressive. Now at 20, he is navigating the world of adult acting roles, though he said he is uncomfortable with playing any romantic roles yet. He hasn’t even had a first love, so he doesn’t know how he would express those feelings. This is a wonderful interview digging into his life and career so far. Check it out if you get a chance.

FULL INTERVIEW – Part I
YEO JIN-GOO, THE WORD LOVE IS STILL AWKWARD FOR ME
Kyung Hyang Sports | May 27, 2017 | Translated By Bah+Doo
Originally written by 이다원 기자 edaone@kyunghyang.com>

[인터뷰①] 여진구 “연애 경험 無…‘사랑’이란 말 어색해요”
[interview 1] Yeo Jin-goo “No romantic relationship yet…the word ‘Love’ is still awkward for me”

기사입력2017.05.27 오후 2:51 기사원문 댓글
배우 여진구는 연기 경력 13년차지만 아직 스무 살인 청춘이다. 아역 시절부터 ‘진구 오빠’라는 별명이 따라다닐 정도로 여심을 사로잡는 마력을 지녔다. 그러나 실제론 연애 쑥맥이라며 수줍게 입을 뗐다. 
Actor Yeo Jin-go has 13 years of acting experience, but he his only 20 years old. He has charms that capture girls’ hearts, his nickname has been “Jin-gu oppa” since he was a child actor.

“첫사랑 경험 아직 없어요. 남녀공학을 다녔어야 하는데 남고를 나와서 그런가 봐요.”
“I don’t have any first love experiences. I think it is because I went to a boys school, not a mixed school.”

최근 서울 종로구 삼청동 한 카페에서 만난 여진구는 ‘연애’ 질문이 나오자 얼굴을 붉게 물들이며 웃음을 터뜨렸다. 연애나 사랑이란 단어가 낯간지럽다는 그에게서 풋풋한 느낌이 물씬했다. 멜로 도전 역시 어색할 것 같다는 그다.
During our recent interview with Yeo Jin-gu at a café in Sam-chung dong, Jong-ro gu, Seoul, he blushed and laughed when we asked him about “romantic relationships.” He was charming because even saying the words “romantic relationship” or “love” embarrassed him.

“제가 지금 멜로 영화를 찍으면 관객들이 혼란스럽지 않을까요? 전 아직 ‘사랑’이란 감정이 어색하더라고요.”
“If I take on a romantic drama now, don’t you think the audience will be confused? The feeling of ‘Love’ is still awkward for me.”

실제로 연애를 한 번도 안했다며 소개팅이라도 하고 싶다고 말했다. 
He said he has never had a romantic relationship, he wants to have a blind date.

“이성 친구들도 초등학교 때부터 오랫동안 친했던 터라 거의 남자처럼 느껴져요. 그들에게 소개팅을 부탁했는데 기회가 없더라고요. 제가 유명인이라 소개 받는 분이 부담스러울 것 같아서 그런지.”
“I regard my female friends almost like guy friends because we have known each other since we were children. I have asked them for blind dates, but I haven’t had any yet. I think they feel awkward because I am a celebrity.”

그렇다면 이상형은 어떤 사람일까.
So, what kind of woman is his ideal?

“잘 웃고 밝은 에너지를 가진 사람이 좋아요. 잘 먹고 애교도 많은 사람이었으면 좋겠어요. 제가 애교가 없고 애정 표현을 잘 못하는 편이라 그런지 애교에 약하거든요. 외모요? 그건 계속 구체화하고 있어요. 하하.”
“I like someone with a lot of laughter and bright energy. In addition, someone who eats well and has aegyo (charming, attractiveness, like when girls say Oppa~~~), because I don’t have aegyo and I don’t express my affection much, I am weak at aegyo. Appearances? I am still solidifying the image. Ha ha.” (see Aegyo battle)

반대로 예의 없는 사람은 조금 곤란하다는 그다.
On the other hand, he doesn’t like people without manners.

“배려가 없다거나 주변 사람을 함부로 대하는 사람은 별로예요. 그런 사람은 다들 싫어하지 않을까요?”
“I don’t like someone who has no consideration for others or walks all over the people around them. I think no one likes those kinds of people.”

동종업계도 괜찮냐고 물으니 한참을 뜸들였다.
He paused for a while when asked if women from the same field are fine for him.

“솔직히 깊게 생각해본 적이 없어요. 하지만 아예 싫은 건 아니에요. 여지를 남겨둬야죠. 하하.”
“Honestly, I have never thought about it too deeply. But it is not like I don’t like to date them at all. I have to leave room for it, right? Ha ha”

―인터뷰②에서 이어집니다.
— To be continued in part 2

SOURCE Kyung Hyang Sports