"Don't Give Up, Keep Acting": Director Hong Jong-chan and Kim Mu-yeol Offer Heartfelt Support to Rising Stars of 'True Education'

The rising stars of the Netflix original series 'True Education' gathered for a special occasion, where they were moved by the heartfelt advice from director Hong Jong-chan and senior actor Kim Mu-yeol.

Global media platform BoldPage recently released a group pictorial featuring the six main cast members of 'True Education': Park Seo-yoon, Song Si-an, Ok Jin-uk, Lee Bong-jun, Lee Seung-gyu, and Jang Yo-hoon.

This pictorial holds special significance as it brought together the rookie actors who portrayed characters with distinct narratives and intense conflicts within the series. While they left a strong impression on viewers with their sharp and intense roles in the show, the actors displayed a close-knit chemistry on set, filled with playful banter, comfortable rapport, and affectionate reactions toward one another.

The atmosphere became even more emotional when director Hong Jong-chan, who helmed 'True Education,' and actor Kim Mu-yeol, who led the series as the title character 'Na Hwa-jin,' made surprise appearances.

Director Hong first cheered on his junior actors through a heartfelt video message. "I am happy that the series is doing well, but it is especially meaningful as a director that viewers have recognized your acting," he said. He continued, "You all did a great job. I know how much potential each and every one of you has, so I hope you believe in yourselves," expressing his firm trust in them.

Director Hong also promised, "Our line of work is a constant series of uncertainties. Whenever you feel anxious, tired, or exhausted, reach out to me anytime. I will watch over each and every one of you to see how far you grow."

Touched by the director's sincere words, the actors on set eventually burst into tears, responding with, "We love you," and "Thank you."

The atmosphere heated up further when Kim Mu-yeol joined via a surprise video call. Kim offered detailed encouragement by mentioning the passionate performances of his junior colleagues episode by episode. Starting with a congratulatory message to Ok Jin-uk, who played Jo In-beom in episode 2, he gave a thumbs-up to Jang Yo-hoon, who played the juvenile offender Min Ji-woong in episode 6, saying, "Your energy really came through." To Song Si-an, who played teacher Choi Ji-seon in episode 5, he offered generous praise, saying, "The vulnerability and the sense of being a newcomer to society were well-portrayed, which made the character stand out even more."

As a senior, Kim Mu-yeol left a heavy yet warm message that resonated with the actors: "Don't give up, keep acting." The actors expressed deep gratitude for the unexpected appearance and sincere encouragement from the veteran actor.

The actors also expressed deep respect for director Hong Jong-chan, who opened up infinite possibilities for them on set. One actor remarked, "The director has a comfortable, neighbor-like way of speaking. When we were rehearsing, he would tell us, 'Try everything you can,' which allowed us to work with joy and passion." Lee Seung-gyu added, "The director is genuinely curious about us as people. I was grateful that he asked many questions, such as what kind of actor I want to become."

The bonds formed within the project have continued to grow stronger even after the cameras stopped rolling. The surprise support from director Hong Jong-chan and Kim Mu-yeol went beyond simple encouragement, serving as a solid foundation for the rookie actors who are just beginning to spread their wings, proving the strong loyalty of the 'True Education' team.

(Photo courtesy of BoldPage)

Reported by Kang Sun-ae

Produced by SBS Entertainment News
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.