Nightline Invitation: Actor Choi Soo-jong Returns to the Stage After 9 Years

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It is a production that has been receiving rave reviews from both critics and audiences since its opening.

It is the play "Oedipus," considered the pinnacle of ancient Greek tragedy.

For today's (July 16) Nightline Invitation, we are joined by actor Choi Soo-jong, who has returned to the stage after 9 years with the play "Oedipus."

Q. You have started the play "Oedipus." How does it feel to meet the audience?

[Choi Soo-jong/Actor: I am the one who is moved, and there are many times when I get choked up. The energy and the tear-filled breaths the audience gives me with every single line actually influence me, making the stage even more moving.]

Q. This is your return to the stage after 9 years. Why did you choose this production?

[Choi Soo-jong/Actor: In fact, watching the performances of senior actors—some who have passed away, like Lee Soon-jae, Park Geun-hyung, and Shin Goo, as well as Park Jung-ja and Nam Myung-ryul who are working with me now—gave me dreams and hope. When the script for "Oedipus" came to me, I thought about it a lot. It is such a difficult piece, and I worried about how to breathe with the audience and pour everything out within 90 minutes. But I made a big decision and chose to do this play.]

Q. How was the preparation process?

[Choi Soo-jong/Actor: I thought, "I want to give up. Why did I do this? Who am I to do this?" But as I continued to practice, I gained courage. My family supported me, and I thought, "The seniors have paved this path, and I must not let it fade. I should make it shine even brighter." So I endured and worked hard on everything, and I believe this is the result.]

Q. You are playing Oedipus as a "human" rather than a "king." What did you focus on?

[Choi Soo-jong/Actor: A king or any leader cannot escape the essence of being human. Rather than saying I focused on one specific thing, I concentrated on the changes in life within the play, the conversations with the people he meets, and the way he deals with the problems of seeking the truth. We are double-cast; Yang Joon-mo and I share the role. Our actions, gazes, gestures, and movements are identical. Everything is refined, even the parts where I might want to express things differently.]

Q. You are sharing the stage with masters of the theater world. Do you feel inspired?

[Choi Soo-jong/Actor: When the curtain call ends and I turn around, the senior actors pat me on the shoulder and say, "You worked hard, you did a great job. Thank you for making the stage shine." Hearing that makes me feel choked up. I am the one who is amazed by their energy and thinks I have so much more to learn. I am truly grateful when those seniors encourage me. (Does it feel good to receive such praise even after nearly 40 years of acting?) It feels wonderful. Perhaps 10 or 20 years from now, if a junior actor praises me by saying, "I really enjoyed watching your performance and seeing your vivid acting on stage," I think I will feel the same emotion.]

Q. You pour all your energy into every performance. How do you recharge?

[Choi Soo-jong/Actor: It might sound a bit much to say this, but Ha Hee-ra helps me a lot at home. She packs me lunch boxes when meal times are awkward and prepares simple food to help me replenish my energy. She also gives me a lot of advice, discussing certain emotions or scenes, and we talk about those things together.]

Q. What is your goal as an actor?

[Choi Soo-jong/Actor: I want to be remembered by my juniors as an actor who had a positive influence until the end and remained consistent and unchanging.]

(Source: Instagram 'haheera1120')
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.