Choi Minsik of 'Notes from the Last Row' has revealed the behind-the-scenes story of casting Choi Hyun-wook.

On the morning of June 24, a press conference for the Netflix original series 'Notes from the Last Row' was held at Hotel Naru Seoul MGallery in Mapo-gu, Seoul. Lead actors Choi Minsik and Choi Hyun-wook, along with director Kim Gyu-tae, attended the event to share their excitement for the upcoming series.

'Notes from the Last Row' is a suspense drama that follows Heo Mun-oh (played by Choi Minsik), a failed author and Korean literature professor, who discovers the genius of Lee Kang (played by Choi Hyun-wook), a boy sitting in the very last row of his classroom, and gradually becomes obsessed with his writing.

Anticipation is sky-high for the collaboration between legendary South Korean actor Choi Minsik and rising star Choi Hyun-wook. It was revealed that Choi Minsik actually attended the audition for the character of Lee Kang. An anecdote emerged that Choi Hyun-wook was the only actor Choi Minsik invited to dinner after the auditions, earning Choi Hyun-wook the nickname 'the junior chosen by Choi Minsik.'

Explaining why he personally attended the audition for Lee Kang, Choi Minsik said, "I wanted to see him in person. I was curious about what kind of vibe this boy would have. You can't really get a feel for someone just by looking at their profile pictures or videos, so I went to the audition out of curiosity." He added, "Since I don't know many young actors these days, I wanted to see their raw, unpolished charm. I asked if I could sit in, which is how I ended up participating."

He go on to clarify the casting process, saying, "There are rumors going around that I cast Choi Hyun-wook myself, but that is absurd. The director made the decision." He explained, "The director did consult with me, asking which actor I liked. In the end, the director, the producers, and I all came to a consensus."

Recalling the dinner, Choi Minsik joked, "Everyone else had finished their auditions and left, so Hyun-wook was the only one there," and shared the amusing detail that Choi Hyun-wook's agency ended up paying for the meal. However, Choi Minsik admitted that the invitation was indeed a sign of his fondness, saying, "Choi Hyun-wook's eyes—eyes that make you wonder what he's thinking—were incredibly appealing. That's why I asked him to have dinner with me."

Choi Hyun-wook also looked back on the audition. "Actors of my generation grew up watching Choi Minsik's films; there's barely a movie of his we haven't seen," he said. "Knowing I had to act in front of a senior actor I had only ever seen on screen made me incredibly nervous. But I still did my best, just as I had prepared."

With the release of 'Notes from the Last Row' just around the corner, Choi Minsik expressed immense satisfaction with Choi Hyun-wook's performance. "Looking back now, I am extremely satisfied. I am so grateful to my junior, Choi Hyun-wook, and it makes me very proud," he said warmly.

'Notes from the Last Row' is highly anticipated for the stylish direction of Kim Gyu-tae. Fans are eager to see how Choi Minsik, Choi Hyun-wook, and director Kim Gyu-tae will bring to life the suspense between a professor trapped in feelings of inferiority and defeat, and the mysterious student who shakes up his world.

The 6-episode series 'Notes from the Last Row' will release all its episodes on Netflix this Friday, June 26, at 5 PM.

[Photo = Reporter Baek Seung-chul]

(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Sun-ae)