"The Rowoon You Knew is Gone"... Rowoon Reaches the Pinnacle in 'Turbid Waters'

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"This is the drama where 29-year-old Kim Seok-woo (Rowoon's birth name) put forth his best effort."

Actor Rowoon's primary strength was his visuals. At 190cm tall with a chiseled face, he commanded the center position even during his time with SF9. In fusion historical dramas, he shone as a charming flower boy, and in modern series, he delivered heart-fluttering romance.

However, Rowoon emphasized, "Being handsome doesn't last long." He confessed, "I didn't think visuals alone were enough of a competitive edge. The thirst to prove myself acting-wise was overwhelming."

It was during this period of intense longing that Disney+'s 'Turbid Waters' (written by Chun Sung-il, directed by Choo Chang-min) arrived. As the title suggests, the story is set in a chaotic period of the Joseon Dynasty. Rowoon took on the role of 'Jang Si-yul,' a street thug, embracing the life of the lower class. He presented a deep, raw performance marked by anguish and rage.

Dispatch recently met with Rowoon in Sogyeok-dong, Jongno-gu. Through Jang Si-yul in 'Turbid Waters,' he delivered the most intense and rugged performance of his filmography. Now, it is time to add genuine acting prowess to Rowoon's strengths.

The Rowoon You Knew is Gone

Viewers accustomed to Rowoon's typical handsome appearance might be shocked upon seeing 'Turbid Waters.' Jang Si-yul, a commoner, once dreamed of becoming a military officer but failed due to his social status. He ekes out a living as a laborer in Gyeonggang before turning into a local thug.

For the role of Jang Si-yul, Rowoon completely shed his pretty-boy image. He starved himself to look gaunt, grew and applied facial hair, and haphazardly tied up his hair. He darkened his skin with makeup and wore clothes that looked perpetually dirty, as if they had never been washed. His transformation was so complete that virtually no one could recognize him.

He smiled and said, "The makeup was truly enjoyable. I loved that my face could be used to embody this kind of character," adding, "My phone's Face ID didn't even recognize me. I thought, 'This is it!'" He genuinely loved the reaction that people didn't know it was Rowoon.

"I wanted Si-yul's appearance to resemble a stray cat. At first, I built my muscle mass up to 42% and body fat down to 7% to show the director. But he said it was 'too unrealistic a body.' So, I gained body fat back up to 11%. Wow, I thought I was going to die!"

Beyond the visuals, the character itself is his most powerful to date. Rowoon described Si-yul as "a person whose name should not be called, who has no home to return to. In other words, he lacks a sense of belonging. He was alienated from society."

"I mainly played bright, puppy-like characters before. While being a visual actor is great, I was desperate for a change. I also have loneliness that I couldn't express or talk about to others. I was thrilled to meet Si-yul at the moment I wanted to show that."
Obsessed with Jang Si-yul

Rowoon found a commonality in loneliness between himself and Si-yul. He recalled, "I felt a certain catharsis expressing loneliness through Si-yul. I felt like I was able to purge something through the character."

He empathized with Si-yul's pain and fully immersed himself. For instance, in the scene where Si-yul demands his wages at Choi Eun's (Shin Ye-eun) house, one could clearly sense how deeply Rowoon was absorbed in the character.

"I actually wanted to express it strongly, saying, 'I did the work, so give me my wages.' But I was so angry and frustrated that tears started flowing. I mean, it's unjust. He worked for three days without eating... We shot the close-up for over three hours."

Did he not feel physically exhausted? 'Turbid Waters' is a long-term historical drama, filmed for about a year, from the scorching summer to the freezing winter. Moreover, Si-yul constantly fights, rolls, bleeds, sweats, and cries, engaging in bare-handed combat and using weapons.

Rowoon chuckled, "I didn't notice the difficulty at all while filming. Looking back after it ended, I only felt, 'Ah, my body was a bit tired then.' I only have good memories. I think I was obsessed with the character to that extent."

The action sequence with Wang-hae (Kim Dong-won) in episode 9 was so desperate that Rowoon himself said he "poured everything out." He mentioned, "The director used a handheld camera for a one-take shot and gave the OK sign immediately. I was so immersed that my emotions were hard to control."

The Four Seasons of 'Turbid Waters' Gave Me Courage

Just as much as he sweated, he solidified his resolve. The year he lived as Jang Si-yul is an invaluable time for Rowoon. He stated, "I put forth the best effort a 29-year-old me could make. 'Turbid Waters' will be the work that anchors my 30s."

"I have a friend who's like family. He gives me brutally honest reviews of my work. When he saw 'Turbid Waters,' he told me, 'I watched it non-stop. You should make 'Turbid Waters' your representative work on your filmography.' I feel proud."

Director Choo Chang-min also gave Rowoon a great gift. Director Choo encouraged him, saying, "There is no such thing as perfect acting in this world. If we do another take, it's not because your acting wasn't good; think of it as just making a slight adjustment."

Thanks to this, Rowoon lost his fear of making mistakes. "The pressure of frequently doing takes disappeared. I physically realized that if I made an NG, doing another take was an actor's right," he said. "This is why this drama is special to me."

"What if there are only two OK cuts: the one I prepared and the one the director wants? In the editing room, they would have to choose only one. But if there are 10 versions, I have 10 backup plans. The director can choose from 10 different versions."

He also learned a valuable lesson from senior actor Park Ji-hwan. "Towards the end of the drama, my understanding of the character deepened, and I unknowingly let my guard down. [Park] Hyung pointed that out to me. He could have just let it slide. At that moment, I felt embarrassed but truly grateful. He is someone who woke me up," he expressed his respect.
It's Important to Be Forgotten, Too

It has been 10 years since he began acting. Where Stars Land (2018), Extraordinary You (2019), The King's Affection (2021), The Matchmakers (2023)... He continuously challenged himself across historical and modern dramas, often juggling it with his idol activities for an extended period.

"I started as a trainee when I was 18, and everything I learned back then has helped me. I am proud of the tough times I went through. Looking back at my filmography, I feel like I've lived a very hard-working life. Of course, I will continue to work hard."

He recalled a comforting remark from a fan: "It might look like you are taking one dot at a time every day, but when you look back, they will form a single line." He shared, "Regardless of success, all my works are meaningful to me. They accumulate to form the person I will be in the future."

Rowoon's next task is to 'be well-forgotten.' However, only for a year and a half. Rowoon is scheduled to enlist for his mandatory military service on the 27th. He announced, "I am fully prepared. I will go to the military to detox my mind and body, refresh myself, be well-forgotten for a while, and then I won't stop working."

Is he not worried about the military hiatus? Rowoon responded, "I think it's important to be forgotten, too. A year and a half is short. I think it's even better to be temporarily forgotten and then greet everyone with a fresh look and good projects."

"My plan after discharge? It won't be much different from now. When I think of myself, I believe I have a certain innocence, you know? I genuinely love acting. I really enjoy meeting new characters every day and constantly looking at the world with curious eyes."

"A psychologist I like once said this: Getting old is when you stop having question marks in your life. Everything becomes familiar, and you no longer feel novelty. I don't think that will ever happen to me. So, I will probably still be a little immature in the future. Haha." https://www.dispatch.co.kr/2333765