"I've already been cast, and this is how I look."
The audience burst into laughter at Ahn Hyo Seop's words. This was concerning the controversy surrounding the casting for the lead role of Kim Dok Ja in the K-movie Omniscient Reader: The Prophecy. In the original web novel, Kim Dok Ja is a very ordinary and unremarkable character, but the casting of the very handsome Ahn Hyo Seop caused controversy. The backlash from fans of the original was so intense that the production company even issued an explanation, stating it was "an aspect the original author understood."
"I think you can still be ordinary even if you're handsome. It's all a matter of perspective. If you look around, there are handsome people, pretty people, people with their own individuality. There's a balance of everything. There's no one who's not ordinary, and I'm just one of them as well," said the actor.
The interview held ahead of Ahn Hyo Seop's big-screen debut, Omniscient Reader: The Prophecy, began with this comment. Local media present knew the topic of the controversy had to be addressed at least once. After the press screening, director Kim Byung Woo even shared a fun behind-the-scenes detail, saying, "Ahn Hyo Seop was so handsome that we had to tone him down for the role of an ordinary man."
Omniscient Reader: The Prophecy follows Kim Dok Ja, a man trying to save the world that has suddenly changed to match the contents of the novel he was reading. Kim Dok Ja struggles to survive in the ruined world alongside the novel's protagonist, Yoo Jung Hyuk (Lee Min Ho), and other companions.
Joining Lee Min Ho and Ahn Hyo Seop are Chae Soo Bin, Shin Seung Ho, Nana, Park Ho San, Choi Young Joon, Jung Sung Il, and Kim Jisoo.
Thanks to its well-rounded mix of box office appeal — a cast boasting established fandoms, a blockbuster-scale budget for high-octane action and fantasy elements, an adaptation of a hit webtoon — Omniscient Reader: The Prophecy, having secured pre-sales in 113 countries worldwide — including across Asia, Europe, and North America — before its domestic release, is aiming for a global box-office success.
First Big-Screen Role Since Debut
"I was completely captivated by film work, and I know I'll grow to love it even more."
Ahn Hyo Seop had dreamed of this moment since he was young. Sharing his thoughts on the release, he expressed how new and moving it felt to see his performance on the big screen. Waiting for this moment with anticipation and excitement made him feel very nervous.
"I think I should start by saying a few words to the fans of the original first. When a project is based on an existing story, there's inevitably going to be some disappointment. Everyone already has a visualized image in their mind and a picture they've drawn. I also feel that way when a work I love gets remade. I completely understand that sentiment, but I hope people can also see the significance in the fact that such a challenge is being undertaken for this kind of content in Korea."
This is your first film, isn't it? I heard you were offered the role while filming Dr. Romantic Season 3. What drew you to it?
Ahn Hyo Seop: When I got the offer, I guess you could say I was… bored. What I mean is, after doing three or four projects back-to-back without a break, I think I'd fallen into a bit of a rut. Of course, I gave my all to every project and every scene, but at the same time, there was this lingering thought: Is this the kind of acting life I wanted?
I remember reading the script in a corner on the second floor of a café, and I found myself sympathizing with Dok Ja. Usually, when I choose a project, if my heart starts racing, it's my sign that I want to do it. And this time, it was Dok Ja's ordinariness that made my heart race. Unlike the roles and characters I've played so far, what appealed to me was that he had no particular strengths or special qualities. I was drawn to the fact that he's the kind of person you could easily find on the street. It made me curious about how I could portray that kind of plainness.
If I had been offered Yoo Jung Hyuk [played by Lee Min-ho] instead, I don't think my heart would have raced as much. One of the things that I personally enjoyed about this project was that it felt like crafting a piece of art — pouring dedication into every single shot, with everyone working together with one heart. I was moved, and it made me realize just how captivating the medium of film really is.
They say you didn't look in the mirror at all during filming. Is that true?
Ahn Hyo Seop: I completely let go of any concern about how I came across and immersed myself entirely in the character of Kim Dok Ja. I entrusted everything to the makeup team. They dressed me in shabby clothes, gave me an unkempt hairstyle, and darkened my skin tone to complete the look.
Did your good looks get in the way? How did you want to portray Kim Dok Ja?
Ahn Hyo Seop: The aspect I paid the most attention to was universality. Dok Ja is seen as a very ordinary person — a guy who takes the subway to work and lives within the repetitive cycle of everyday life. So I started with the question, "What does it mean to be ordinary?" but that question itself turned out to be paradoxical. We're all ordinary people. Being tall doesn't make you less ordinary, and some people have distinct features while others don't. We had a lot of discussions about how Dok Ja has lived, what his past was like, and why he acts the way he does.
To portray Dok Ja's character and his ordinariness, what keywords did you focus on? Some people have questioned whether his background — graduating from a low-grade local college and working as a contract employee — can really be called ordinary.
Ahn Hyo Seop: Omniscient Reader is a modern fantasy where the world from a novel, only Dok Ja has read, unfolds into reality. Because of that, there's a lot of worldbuilding that needs to be explained early on. Even amid all that exposition, I tried to show Dok Ja's personality through small actions. For example, the fact that he can’t look people in the eye when speaking, or that he wears his bag on his chest to avoid inconveniencing others.
In both the novel and the film, "Kim Dok Ja=ordinary" is almost treated as a formula. So that made me think: What exactly is ordinary? What does universality mean? Starting two months before shooting, the director and I met frequently to talk about ordinariness. But because everyone has their own standard — and in a sense, everyone can be a standard — the moment you try to define it, it inevitably leans one way or another. In a world where the majority is considered right, I tried to stay faithful to the script to portray Dok Ja as an ordinary, average character.
There must have been some concerns over the lack of Dok Ja's backstory in the film.
Ahn Hyo Seop: That was one of the dismays due to the short runtime. That's why it was important to establish Dok Ja's character early on. I needed to make sure that through small actions, the audience could understand what kind of person he is. I gave hints that he's not a person of his own free will but rather a person swayed by the world. Things like hesitating while holding his office doorknob or wearing his bag in front while on the subway [convey that]. That way, the audience can question, "Could an ordinary person really go this far when facing an unrealistic world?"
How could such an ordinary Kim Dok Ja go to such lengths to save humanity?
Ahn Hyo Seop: I think it was because, for the first time in the world he faced within the novel, he wanted to take control of his life and steer it the way he desired. That conviction became more important to him than his own life. For someone who has spent his entire life being pushed around and used by others, he must have felt a desire to finally act according to his own will, and perhaps from that came a sense of liberation.
It being a fantasy film, the shoot must not have been easy.
Ahn Hyo Seop: About 90% of the filming was done in front of a blue screen. We had to act while imagining things that weren't there. No matter how well the actor performs or how flawless the CG work is, if the two don't mesh well, the result will turn out awkward. On set, we studied the composition of each scene in detail, and that made filming a bit smoother. For example, in the scene where Dok Ja falls into the belly of the sea dragon, I imagined it as a space filled with gastric acid and calculated in advance the detailed textures, like how his feet would sink straight down.
In your previous work, the action sequences drew a lot of attention. How did you prepare this time?
Ahn Hyo Seop: I didn't have any expectations regarding action. Dok Ja isn't a character who looks cool in action. In fact, I thought he shouldn't look cool. I tried to stay objective so that he wouldn't come across as heroic. Dok Ja is an ordinary person who anyone could be.
You reunited with Lee Min Ho, who used to be in the same agency (Starhaus Entertainment), for the first time in 10 years. You must have been happy to see him again.
Ahn Hyo Seop: It had been 10 years, but he approached me so warmly. I've grown up watching his work since I was a student, back in Canada, so in a way, he's kind of my celebrity. In the film, Yoo Jung Hyuk holds a similar place for Dok Ja, right? So it felt like the roles connected naturally. When I told him, he liked hearing it (laughs).
A fun question! If, like in the film, you had a lot of coins and could buy any item you wanted, what would you choose?
Ahn Hyo Seop: (Laughs) I'd spend everything on acting ability, and since I have to do overnight shoots, I'd spend the rest on stamina.
There's already talk of a sequel. What do you think? Do you expect it to happen?
Ahn Hyo Seop: In the beginning, Dok Ja is clumsy. As he invests in strength, stamina, and agility, he gradually becomes stronger, and toward the latter part, he starts to find his ground. If a sequel does happen, I hope Dok Ja can show a more defined and sharper side of himself. The first film was his period of adapting to this world, a time when even his philosophy wasn't fully formed yet. So in a sequel, wouldn't he come across as a bit cooler than in the first one? I hope so (laughs).
Basking in the glory of KPop Demon Hunters success
Ahn Hyo Seop is currently basking in the glory for his voice acting as Jin Woo, a member of the idol group Saja Boys, in the hit production KPop Demon Hunters, which has been taking the world by storm. His past experiences played a major role in allowing him to participate in this project. After immigrating to Canada around the age of seven and spending his school years there, Ahn returned to Korea with dreams of becoming a singer. He underwent idol training at JYP before transitioning into acting.
How did you end up joining the project? It's a production with so many fun elements, including the scene where the Business Proposal OST plays.
Ahn Hyo Seop: The Business Proposal OST wasn't even in the script, but when I watched it, I burst out laughing. I didn't know they would include the entire drama scene like that. I thought it was really clever. As for how I joined the project — it was because the moment I started reading the script, I found it so interesting.
Jin Woo is also a pretty solid character, and since I can speak English, I have had a desire [to act in English] since I was young. I thought it was a great opportunity and joined with a light heart.
With KPop Demon Hunters gaining such massive global popularity, it must raise your expectations for how overseas audiences will respond to Omniscient Reader: The Prophecy as well.
Ahn Hyo Seop: The message that Omniscient Reader delivers is of love for humanity that transcends borders. There's a clash between the idea that "Humans are irredeemable creatures; we must each find our own way to survive" and the idea that "Even so, we have to keep moving forward together." The conclusion is, "We must live alongside one another. Without you, we don't exist." I think that's a message people all around the world can resonate with.
It's been 10 years since you transitioned into acting. What would you like to say to yourself?
Ahn Hyo Seop: I've quietly walked my own path. There hasn't been a single time when I didn't give my all. Even when I want to take it easy, my personality just doesn't allow me to. I don't go into things thinking about the outcome, nor do I dwell on the results. Looking back on those years, I'd like to tell myself, "You've worked hard." I'm grateful that I get to do something I love, and I act [with that sense of gratitude]. I think I've been lucky, and I've held on well enough to be able to do what I want to do now.
In the story, Dok Ja doesn't like the novel's ending, where the protagonist ends up surviving alone, so he creates a new ending where everyone lives together. Out of all the choices you've made in your life, is there a moment you'd want to rewrite?
Ahn Hyo Seop: This isn't just lip service, but not a single one. I believe that who I am now was shaped entirely by every choice I've made and their outcomes. Nothing is gained without pain, so even if certain moments were painful at the time, I think every choice I made was meaningful. I don't think there's such a thing as good or bad choices — just accumulated experiences. Every experience applies to me meaningfully. The first turning point was deciding to become an actor after being a trainee. Another major one was meeting Han Seok Kyu sunbae. While filming Dr. Romantic Season 2, he told me, "Acting is fun, isn't it? But it gets even more fun when you do it well." That made me so curious about "doing it well". From then on, my passion for acting grew immensely, and the subsequent projects broadened my horizons. If I had to pick another turning point, I think it would be Omniscient Reader. It was my first experience seeing how a film comes together. I was very captivated, and it made me love it even more.
You mentioned painful moments. What time was painful?
Ahn Hyo Seop: There were many challenging and difficult times, but if I had to pick one, it would be the fact that I absolutely don't like stepping up, yet I had no choice but to. Being an actor is inseparable from being a celebrity, and overcoming [and accepting] that was painful.
No matter how much you love art and acting, if there's no one watching, it's meaningless, right? Without an audience or viewers, I have no reason to be. So in the moments when stepping forward [and being in the spotlight] was necessary, I gritted my teeth and pushed through (laughs). Honestly, I'm not even sure if I've really overcome it. Even for today's interview, it's hard for me, so you could say I wore glasses as a kind of shield.
You've now been acting for ten years. If you were to do a mid-point review?
Ahn Hyo Seop: It feels like I'm just getting started. If up until now was the time to water the foundation, but from here on, I think it’s the time to grow. Even if you want to act well, you can't if you don't know the techniques.
For example, movement line, moving within the frame — those technical aspects need to be in place for my acting to improve. Over the past ten years, I feel like my perspective has expanded to approach acting with the goal of mastering both the technical and the emotional aspects.
