Zo In-sung’s tear-jerking scene on SBS TV drama “That Winter, the Wind Blows” grabbed many viewers’ hearts. The series recently wrapped up after maintaining the top spot in the Wednesday-Thursday TV drama time slot, and Zo played a big part in the runaway success.

The 32-year-old heartthrob showcased his acting skills for the drama series after a five-year hiatus from TV, mostly due to mandatory military service.

Notably, Zo pulled off onscreen chemistry with his counterpart, Song Hye-kyo, one of the best-known actresses in and outside of Korea.

“Not trying too hard was the success factor in my acting,” Zo said in an interview with The Herald Business, the sister paper of The Korea Herald. “If you are too self-conscious, that’s when everything starts to feel awkward.”

Zo also expressed gratitude toward his costar for delivering her lines so precisely so that he could get more absorbed in the scene. “If I am crying my eyes out on the screen, and the viewers cannot connect to my character, it would be very strange,” said Zo.

The actor, who once enjoyed fame as a fashion icon, could not help but worry about the close-up scenes while filming. He admitted he looked like an “ajeossi” (a middle-aged man in Korean) after serving in the military.

Zo said he did not care that much about how he would look, but that he needs a little more time to regain his past looks.

The actor has yet to decide on his next project, saying he needs “a break for the viewers to forget the previous role and start fresh with the new character.”

As for his ideal girlfriend in real life, the actor said he preferred “a determined woman who is willing to date a not-so-mature man.”

By Jin Eun-soo, Intern reporter
(janna924@heraldcorp.com)