Hong Jong-hyun Makes Stage Debut in Play 'Closer': "I Was Cast Last"

Actor Hong Jong-hyun is taking on his very first theatrical stage debut through the play "Closer".

During the press conference for the play "Closer" held at the Daehangno IEUM Center in Jongno-gu, Seoul on the 2nd, Hong Jong-hyun shared, "This is my first time challenging myself with a play since my debut." He added, "I had been thinking about wanting to try a play for quite a while, but the timing never worked out. Gratefully, things fell into place this time. I believe I was the last one to be cast among the lineup."

He continued, "I decided to take on the challenge because I wanted to work with great actors. The background of the play is not too distant from the present time. Because of that, I felt like I could take on this challenge even though it is my first play. The actors I am working with are wonderful," expressing his satisfaction.

The role of Dan, played by Hong Jong-hyun, has been cast with Hong Jong-hyun, Kang Young-seok, and Lee Do-yoon. Dan is an obituary writer who finds himself confused between Alice and Anna in the story.

Explaining Dan from his own perspective, Hong Jong-hyun described him as "someone who speaks very well, has a humorous side, and actively approaches people he finds interesting." He added, "He is a bit clumsy, but changes after meeting Alice. When he is in love, he is more sincere than anyone else, but on the other hand, that can make him seem self-centered. As the play progresses, Dan's trajectory becomes quite interesting. I think it will be fun to watch while keeping that in mind."

This production of "Closer" features actors who are challenging themselves with a play rather than films or dramas for the first time, including Hong Jong-hyun, Lee Do-yoon, Choi Kang-hee, and Lee Na-eun.

Regarding this, director Kim Ji-ho remarked, "Working on the same project with completely different people is a tremendous stroke of luck as a director. Thanks to that, the practice room never has a dull moment, and my mind never rests. We are sharing, talking, and dividing things together."

Explaining the casting background, the director stated, "The reason I cast these people is simply because I cast those who are extremely good-looking and talented. When casting male characters like Dan or Larry, I think I was looking for people who could adapt those images a bit more to the current era." The director also noted, "Anna is likewise a character who is easy to misunderstand and can sometimes be overshadowed, but Anna steps forward and shines. Each character has been prepared with their own distinct individuality. I prepared this casting to hit right on that exact mark, and I am very satisfied."

Meanwhile, "Closer" will be performed at Yes24 Stage Hall 2 in Dongsung-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul from September 15 to December 6.

(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Kyung-youn)