Actor Choi Minsik is set to undergo a new acting transformation as a professor trapped in inferiority in 'Notes from the Last Row'.

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. Actors Choi Minsik and Choi Hyun-wook, along with director Kim Kyu-tae, attended the event to share their excitement and expectations for the upcoming series.

'Notes from the Last Row' is a suspense drama that follows Heo Mun-oh (played by Choi Minsik), a failed writer 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. As Heo Mun-oh becomes increasingly obsessed with the boy's writing, a thrilling story unfolds. The series is based on the acclaimed play of the same name by world-renowned playwright Juan Mayorga.

During the press conference, Choi Minsik revealed that he was drawn to the project because of the script's literary depth. "While there are many popular and entertaining works these days, I missed projects with a literary aroma that leave room for thought," Choi said.

He highlighted the unique charm of the series, adding, "Viewers might find themselves startled, wondering, 'Is Heo Mun-oh talking about me?' and they might project themselves onto him. Although this dynamic between a teacher and a student is somewhat distant from current trends, that actually made it feel fresher. Those aspects drew me to this project."

His character, Heo Mun-oh, is a multi-dimensional figure plagued by severe complexes and feelings of inferiority. Analyzing the character in depth, Choi Minsik explained, "He is a university professor who loves literature and harbors a strong desire to leave behind his own writing as a novelist. However, due to external circumstances, he put down his pen and took up teaching instead." He continued, "He is a character with a deep sense of inferiority and defeat. It borders on self-abuse, and he constantly torments himself. Even if the trigger started externally, he internalizes it as a severe personal complex."

The turning point for Heo Mun-oh comes when he meets his student, Lee Kang. "In the midst of all this, he reaches a turning point after reading an assignment submitted by Lee Kang," Choi Minsik said, sparking curiosity about the plot. "His curiosity about the student's writing turns into an obsession, eventually dragging him into an uncontrollable quagmire."

Reflecting on how he portrayed the character's inner self, Choi Minsik shared, "I also have a pathetic side. Everyone has experienced envy, inferiority complexes they hide from others, and feelings of self-deprecation like, 'Why am I like this?'" He explained, "I read the script thoroughly, discussed the overall story with the director, and expressed those emotions naturally."

Choi Minsik also expressed his gratitude to the writer and director. Thanking the writer for the high-quality script, he said, "The script was incredibly well-written. I want to thank writer Jang Myung-woo for writing such a great piece." He also showed deep trust in director Kim Kyu-tae, saying, "Director Kim led us wonderfully with his quiet charisma. I received so much help from him. Thank you."

'Notes from the Last Row' is highly anticipated for the sensible direction of Kim Kyu-tae, who has meticulously depicted the psychology of diverse human characters in the Netflix series 'The Trunk' and dramas like 'Our Blues' and 'It's Okay, That's Love'. Audiences are eager to see how Choi Minsik, Choi Hyun-wook, and director Kim Kyu-tae will unravel the suspense between a professor trapped in inferiority and defeat and the mysterious student who shakes his world.

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

[Photo = Reporter Baek Seung-chul]

(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Sun-ae)