Korea JoongAng Daily - Daily News from Korea

This article is by Ko Seung-pyo and read by an artificial voice.

While Koreans turned to KakaoTalk most often to connect, they spent the most time watching videos on YouTube this year, reflecting a clear divide in how different apps are used throughout the day.

Market researcher WiseApp Retail said Tuesday that it analyzed data from a sample of Korean users of Android and iOS smartphones from January to November this year. Only apps that are available on both platforms were included in the tally.

According to the results, KakaoTalk had the highest average monthly user count, with 48.23 million people using the app. It was followed by YouTube with 46.78 million, Google with 45.1 million, Naver with 44.09 million and Google Chrome with 42.03 million.

Other apps with a significant number of users included Coupang, Naver Map, Instagram, Toss and Baedal Minjok, commonly referred to as Baemin, indicating that apps closely linked to daily life saw higher usage.

YouTube ranked first in terms of average monthly time spent on the app, with Korean users spending 114 billion minutes. This figure far exceeded that of any other app. KakaoTalk followed with 32.4 billion minutes, trailed by Instagram at 27.9 billion minutes, Naver at 19.1 billion minutes and Google Chrome at 16.6 billion minutes. Apps focused on video content, like TikTok and Netflix, also logged substantial user engagement.

In terms of the most frequently opened app, KakaoTalk came first with an average of 76.1 billion launches per month. Instagram ranked second with 15.9 billion, ahead of YouTube's 14.9 billion, Naver's 14.4 billion, Cashwalk's 8.8 billion, Google Chrome's 7.7 billion and Toss's 6.5 billion.

This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.

This article is by Kim Jun-yeon and read by an artificial voice.

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport has uncovered dozens of suspected illegal real estate transactions involving foreign buyers, including cases of unreported overseas funds and the misuse of corporate money to purchase property in Seoul.

The Land Ministry said Tuesday that it has concluded a targeted investigation into suspicious transactions involving foreigners' purchases of nonresidential properties - including officetels, or buildings that combine office and residential space - and land, uncovering 88 cases suspected of violations. The probe was conducted in September and covered 167 transactions reported from July last year through this July. The investigation follows up on a previously announced probe into suspicious housing transactions by foreigners, and also included 36 housing deals.

A foreign national purchased an apartment in Seoul for 4.9 billion won ($3.4 million), with 3.8 billion won of the amount borrowed from a company where the buyer serves as an internal director - without proper accounting. Suspecting the misuse of corporate funds, the Land Ministry referred the case to the National Tax Service.

In another case, a foreigner bought an officetel in Seoul for 395 million won, financing 365 million won of the purchase with funds remitted from overseas without filing the required declaration. The land ministry forwarded the case to the Korea Customs Service on suspicion of illegal inflow of foreign capital.

Common patterns in the suspicious transactions included bringing in more than $10,000 in overseas funds without reporting it, or suspected currency exchange violations, such as illegal inflows that bypass foreign exchange banks. In one case, a child who bought a Seoul apartment for 1.18 billion won from a foreign mother was also referred to the tax authorities after securing about 300 million won from overseas without proper reporting.

There were also cases involving foreigners engaging in rental businesses despite lacking the legal status to do so. One foreigner entered Korea on a short-term stay of fewer than 90 days, purchased an officetel in Seoul and then leased it out under a monthly rental contract with a 120-million-won deposit, earning rental income before being caught. Another foreigner who bought a detached house in Gyeonggi for 1.45 billion won financed the purchase with a mortgage loan intended for living expenses, in violation of lending regulations.

The Land Ministry said it plans to continue targeted investigations into suspicious transactions by foreigners while also conducting on-site inspections for violations of owner-occupancy requirements. More than four months have passed since key areas in the Seoul metropolitan region were designated as land transaction permit zones, prompting the ministry to check compliance.

"We will respond strongly to illegal activities that arise in the course of foreigners' real estate transactions," said Kim Gyu-cheol, director-general of housing and land at the Land Ministry.

This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.

This article is by Choi Hyun-ju, Noh Yu-rim and read by an artificial voice.

Consumers are growing increasingly baffled by how Coupang is handling the aftermath of the data leak, but one thing appears to be clear: The company has the U.S. investors' best interests at heart, not those of the users who suffered from the data breach.

Although more than 90 percent of Coupang's revenue comes from Korea, the company is listed on the New York Stock Exchange, which functionally makes it a U.S. firm.

"What Coupang fears most is its U.S. investors," said one company insider who requested anonymity. "Even after the breach, the main concern [for executives] was whether the stock price would drop. If you had to rank priorities, No. 1 is the U.S. market, and No. 2 is customer attrition."

A group of U.S. Coupang investors recently put forward a class-action suit against the e-commerce company, alleging that Coupang was aware of the data breach but failed to disclose it to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission - a possible violation of reporting regulations.

Coupang's leadership structure is another point of contention. Over half of the executive team at the U.S.-based Coupang is American. Coupang's founder and chairman, Kim Bom, is a Korean American who moved to the United States at age seven and is married to a Taiwanese American. Other key executives, including interim Korea CEO Harold Rogers, Chief Financial Officer Gaurav Anand, Chief Information Security Officer Brett Matthes and Chief Accounting Officer Jonathan Lee, are also American.

"Other than frontline teams handling sales, lobbying or media relations, most of Coupang's leadership consists of foreigners," said one company representative. "They don't understand Korean sentiment. No matter how much we explain the cause of the backlash, they respond, 'There's no legal problem, so what's the issue?'"

Coupang's crisis management has also closely followed a U.S. playbook. After the breach was discovered, the first directive from leadership was to examine how U.S.-listed companies handled similar incidents.

Some Korean executives reportedly cited SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won, who publicly apologized in April after a data breach at SK Telecom, as an example, and urged Kim to do the same.

But the American executives dismissed the idea, allegedly saying, "In the United States, company owners don't apologize for data breaches," and insisted the company should focus on conducting an internal investigation first.

Coupang has clashed with government authorities over the handling of the investigation. Even as a joint public-private task force led by Minister of Science and ICT Bae Kyung-hoon began its inquiry, Coupang launched its own investigation and unilaterally released its findings, leading to a dispute with the government over the accuracy of the facts.

"We proposed sharing interim findings with the government, but its rejected the idea," said a senior Coupang worker. "We believed it was better to reassure customers as quickly as possible by announcing that no further breaches had occurred, so we went ahead and released [our investigation's results]."

This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.

This article is by Cho Jung-woo and read by an artificial voice.

On a recent afternoon in Gangdong District in eastern Seoul, a classroom filled with older adults sat focused on their smartphones. Fingers flicked across cluttered home screens as an instructor explained how to rearrange icons and manage apps, skills that many younger users take for granted.

The lesson was held at a newly opened Seoul Inclusive Digital Plaza branch, a city-run facility designed to help older residents navigate an increasingly digital world, on Dec. 18. For participants who struggle with smartphones, streaming services or self-service kiosks, the center offers hands-on instruction and a low-pressure environment to practice.

"We run different classes every day," the plaza's manager said. "People can reserve a spot through an app or register directly at the center."

The Gangdong location is the third Seoul Inclusive Digital Plaza to open, following branches in Eunpyeong District in northern Seoul and Yeongdeungpo District in the west. The program aims to reduce digital exclusion among older adults by familiarizing them with everyday technologies, from smartphones and streaming platforms to unmanned kiosks that are becoming increasingly common in cafes, hospitals and public offices.

The Gangdong branch opened on Nov. 12, less than two months ago, but has already drawn a steady stream of visitors.

Located in the same building as a center for older adults, the plaza receives about 100 visitors a day, mostly from Gangdong and nearby districts such as Jungnang and Seongdong, according to Kim Young-goo, the head of the center.

To enter, visitors register at a machine that verifies identity through a hand vein scan, allowing the center to track attendance and time spent inside. Four staff members are typically on site, easily identifiable in orange vests, offering guidance across the center's various zones.

In one area, a woman stood in front of a kiosk ordering coffee made by a robotic arm. With help from a manager, she completed the order successfully and waited as the machine prepared her drink. Nearby, a group gathered in front of a large screen equipped with a camera, laughing as they posed for photographs. Moments later, printed photos emerged, transformed by artificial intelligence into different themes, such as black-and-white portraits or in the style of different painters, such as Pierre-Auguste Renoir or Gustav Klimt.

"I think I've mastered this," one visitor said as she showed the photos to her friends.

The 670-square-meter (7,211-square-foot) space is divided into sections designed to make digital technology feel approachable. One corner features screen-based park golf, one of the most popular attractions, while another offers interactive games that require visitors to step on pads to play games on screen and simulate walking through different environments. Elsewhere, digital sensors allow users to play sports games.

At a table in one corner, a Gangdong resident in his late 60s played Go against an artificial intelligence opponent. He said he visits the plaza almost every day and often stays for about six hours.

"I like how there is a variety of options here," he said.

One device that drew his attention was a small tabletop robot called CAMI. After a demonstration, he leaned toward it and spoke clearly.

"Hey CAMI, what's the weather like in Gangdong District today?"

As the robot replied, he continued asking questions, then turned to another visitor watching nearby. "This robot answers what I ask," he explained.

Beyond games and demonstrations, the center offers practical support. Visitors can practice using kiosk machines, take digital cognitive tests and receive one-on-one consultations tailored to their individual difficulties. A separate zone features four tablets where users can watch films and television dramas on streaming platforms.

Staff members say the benefits extend beyond entertainment. One manager recalled a recent visit ...

This article is by Woo Ji-won and read by an artificial voice.

Goodbye 2025 - and come on in, 2026.

Every year, the arrival of a new one brings a quiet excitement - the belief that we can begin again with a clean slate, as if life itself could restart. It's all about manifesting these days.

Seeking to refresh both mind and body, many Koreans have long marked the new year in familiar ways - by gathering on mountain peaks and watching the sunrise or sitting down to a bowl of tteokguk (rice cake soup), repeating the ritual much the same way year after year.

For millennials and Gen Z, however, that ritual has begun to feel a little worn - or perhaps simply too old-fashioned. Instead, many are finding more personal, creative ways to greet the new year - not necessarily to start with a clean slate, but just to begin on a happier note.

New Year saju and tarot

Turning to fortune-telling when feeling uncertain, in need of direction or simply curious about what lies ahead is quite common in Korea.

That impulse, however, tends to intensify as the new year approaches. And with the rise of online fortune-telling services, demand has grown - particularly among younger generations - transforming the practice into something more casual and playful for many.

"Toward the end of the year and the beginning of the next, inquiries increase noticeably," said a saju reader nicknamed SeungjoonSsaem. Saju is a traditional Korean form of fortune-telling based on a person's birth information.

"They [those in 20s and 30s] ask how their love life will unfold next year, and with the job market being so difficult, people in their 20s mostly ask about employment, while those in their 30s tend to ask about job changes."

Reflecting its growing popularity, many fortune-telling practitioners - such as Jeon Jin-a of Zina Tarot in South Gyeongsang - now offer dedicated "New Year" sessions that provide an overview of the coming year.

For online tarot sessions, it is the fortune teller who draws the cards on behalf of the client. "Even over the phone, we can sense the energy," Jeon said. "A person's voice, date of birth and name are enough." At Zina Tarot, clients can receive broad overall readings covering their prospects for money, health, love and work.

SeungjoonSsaem said that many millennial and Gen Z clients today already have a strong interest in fortune-telling. "They've often looked into saju here and there, so they come with some background knowledge," he said. "They are more thoughtful and cautious than people assume. They don't approach it religiously; they treat it lightly, almost like MBTI, and that's why interest keeps growing."

Depending on the number of questions or session length, prices typically range from 15,000 won ($10) to as high as 90,000 won.

All attendees receive a free New Year fortune reading and a complimentary good-luck talisman.

Greeting the year on the move

Watching the first sunrise of the year and wishing for better days ahead may be romantic - but increasingly, people are doing more than just watching. They are running toward it.

The phenomenon aligns with Korea's booming running craze, as crews multiply and marathon registration slots sell out within seconds.

On social media, posts recruit participants for "ilchul runs," or sunrise runs, on Jan. 1, 2026, across the country, from a Seoul Forest jaunt to jogs in coastal destinations.

Some posts recommend specific sunrise running routes. One runs along the coastal road in Jeongdongjin, Gangneug, famous for offering one of the earliest sunrises in Korea. Beginning at Jeongdongjin Station, the course hugs the shoreline before ending at Jeongdongjin Sunrise Park.

In Seoul, one of the most popular sunrise running spots is Mount Namsan. The five-kilometer (3-mile) route runs from the Namsan Library to the Namsan Octagonal Pavilion and up to Namsan Park, offering vantage points for the first sunrise of the year. Many runners also choose to begin the year by running along the Han R...

The author is a writer and senior fellow at the Institute for Social and Economic Research.

On Dec. 30, 2006, the day of reckoning arrived. At Camp Justice, a U.S. military base on the northern outskirts of Baghdad, Saddam Hussein stood on the gallows. Captured by U.S. special forces on Dec. 13, 2003, he had been sentenced to death by the Iraqi Special Tribunal on charges related to the massacre of civilians. Hussein had requested execution by firing squad as commander in chief of the Iraqi armed forces, but he was instead put to death by hanging.

It was a grim end for a man who had ruled Iraq for 35 years after seizing power in a 1968 coup. Saddam Hussein was a dictator. He rose to power through military intrigue and, as vice president, oversaw a period of modernization and economic development. His rule was brutal, yet some acknowledged that living standards improved during those years. The turning point came after he formally assumed the presidency in 1979.

With Iran in turmoil following the collapse of the Pahlavi monarchy and the establishment of an Islamic government, Hussein launched a surprise attack. The Iran-Iraq War dragged on for eight years, leaving hundreds of thousands dead or wounded on both sides. When the conflict ended inconclusively in 1988, Hussein turned his attention elsewhere. Two years later, he invaded neighboring Kuwait.

The United States and the international community intervened. In 1991, Operation Desert Storm was launched, and Kuwait was swiftly liberated. The overwhelming display of U.S. military power was broadcast live on CNN, signaling the arrival of a new post-Cold War international order. A decade later, after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, the United States, gripped by anger, labeled Iraq part of an "axis of evil" and went to war again, ultimately toppling Hussein from power. That war may be seen as an extension of the same trajectory.

Washington succeeded in eliminating its longstanding adversary, but the weapons of mass destruction cited as justification for the Iraq War were never found. Even after U.S. forces killed Osama bin Laden in May 2011, peace in the Middle East remained elusive. What once seemed like unchallenged American hegemony has increasingly become a subject of doubt. The execution of Saddam Hussein closed one chapter, but it did not deliver the stability many had expected.

This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.

The author is the executive editor at the JoongAng Ilbo.

Watching the Ministry of Economy and Finance brief the president recently, it was difficult to suppress a sense of unease. The government set its 2026 economic growth target at 1.8 percent and appeared notably encouraged. It even declared the coming year "the first year of a great leap forward for the Korean economy." Yet 1.8 percent is still growth in the 1 percent range. Calling that a great leap is awkward at best.

It might have been better to be candid: that growth in the 1 percent range is unavoidable next year, that the government will work harder and that the public's trust and support are needed. As the economy has grown larger and demographic shifts driven by low birthrates and rapid aging have taken hold, the high growth rates of the past are no longer realistic. Even so, growth of around 3 percent is needed to generate jobs, stabilize consumption and investment and sustain a virtuous cycle. At 1.8 percent, that threshold is simply not met.

Korea is not accustomed to prolonged low growth. Since the Park Chung Hee(1917-1979) era, growth below 1 percent has occurred only four times: in 1980, when the second oil shock and a military coup threw the country into turmoil; in 1998 during the Asian financial crisis; in 2009 following the global financial crisis; and in 2020 amid the Covid-19 pandemic. Each episode was triggered by an extraordinary shock that inflicted severe damage. Each time, the economy rebounded with remarkable resilience, springing back the following year. After the foreign exchange crisis, growth reached 11.6 percent in 1999. In 2021, the economy bounced back 4.6 percent as it absorbed the pandemic shock.

Warning signs began to emerge in 2023. There was no singular crisis, yet growth stalled at 1.6 percent. The global aftereffects of the massive pandemic stimulus were weighing on economies worldwide, and inflation surged as supply chains were disrupted by the Russia-Ukraine war. Still, conditions were not severe enough to justify growth sinking into the 1 percent range. The United States grew by 2.9 percent that year, well above Korea's pace.

There was no base effect. Growth barely reached 2 percent in 2024. It is projected to fall to 1 percent in 2025 and 1.8 percent in 2026. The Bank of Korea forecasts just 1.9 percent growth even in 2027. That would trap the economy in a five-year tunnel of 1 percent-range growth from 2023 through 2027. Some warn that a crisis may be approaching. It would not be an exaggeration to say the crisis has already begun. Like Japan's "lost decade" and later "lost 30 years," Korea appears to be booking something it has never experienced before: a lost five years.

Given the gravity of the situation, the government's response lacks urgency. Ideas are scarce. Short-term palliative measures dominate, centered on cash handouts and local vouchers. This has long been a staple of progressive administrations. National governance increasingly resembles an expanded version of municipal administration. One of the first actions taken by the Lee Jae Myung administration was a universal cash payment.

Economic research institutes estimate that the 13 trillion won in consumption coupons issued this year lifted growth by about 0.1 percentage point. The effect was real but far too small to catalyze recovery. It also burdens public finances and remains a stopgap. If the economy struggles again next year, talk of a supplementary budget will resurface. With local elections scheduled for June, the Democratic Party is unlikely to stay on the sidelines. Taxpayer money will almost certainly be spent as if it were free.

As liquidity continues to flood the market, the problem is not a shortage of money but where it goes. Regrettably, it flows not into the real economy but into stocks and real estate. The government boasts that the KOSPI is approaching 5,000, yet stock prices are not the only things rising. Housing prices are climbing, and i...

The Lee Jae Myung administration has made a surprise pick for its first minister of the Ministry of Planning and Budget, nominating former People Power Party lawmaker Lee Hye-hoon. Appointing an opposition politician and conservative economist to head a core ministry responsible for the national budget is both unconventional and controversial.

The presidential office has described the choice as one of "unity and pragmatism," but reactions across the political spectrum have sharply diverged. The ruling camp has raised concerns about Lee's past record, including her participation in rallies opposing the impeachment of former President Yoon Suk Yeol and her stance during the martial law controversy. The opposition, meanwhile, expelled Lee from the party, calling her nomination "the worst act of defection in party history." Critics note that she had served as a district party chair and was a three-term lawmaker from Seocho A in southern Seoul, a conservative stronghold. Some view the nomination as a political tactic aimed at dividing the opposition ahead of local elections.

Lee Hye-hoon must still explain her participation in anti-impeachment rallies. There is also regret that the presidential office did not appear to consult the opposition before announcing the nomination, a step that could have better reflected its stated goal of unity and cooperation. Even so, branding the move as "collaboration with the current regime" goes too far. Politics cannot function if rivals are dismissed as traitors. Reform Party leader Lee Jun-seok captured the point succinctly, saying conservatives are closing ranks while the Democratic Party is opening up, adding that it is not the time to brand Lee Hye-hoon a turncoat.

The more important question is whether Lee is capable of serving as the nation's fiscal gatekeeper. A former researcher at the Korea Development Institute, Lee has voiced reform-minded views within conservative circles, emphasizing economic democratization. At heart, however, she is a conservative economist who has consistently stressed fiscal discipline and market principles. In 2021, she criticized Lee Jae Myung, then governor of Gyeonggi Province, for advocating universal basic income, saying he lacked a basic understanding of economics.

By the end of next year, Korea's national debt is expected to reach 1.41 quadrillion won ($986 billion), with the debt-to-GDP ratio exceeding 50 percent. President Lee has nonetheless pledged to continue expansionary fiscal policy. As an economist, the nominee's principles are likely to clash with the president's approach.

At a time when concerns over rising government debt are quietly pushing up government bond yields, appointing a conservative economist as budget chief could send a positive signal to markets that fiscal discipline will be respected. If the president's pragmatism is genuine, Lee should not be reduced to a political shield for expansionary spending. She, too, must be prepared to act as an "opposition voice within the administration."

That means accelerating the introduction of a credible fiscal rule and a binding medium-term fiscal framework, both widely supported by public finance experts. If Lee lacks the resolve to speak up within government, it would be better for both herself and the country not to accept a ceremonial post. Lawmakers from both camps should set aside political calculations and rigorously assess, during confirmation hearings, whether she is truly fit to safeguard the nation's finances.

This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.

This article is by Kim Seon-mi and read by an artificial voice.

Yim Jong-yong has been nominated for another term as chairman of Woori Financial Group, marking the first time the company has reappointed a chairman since its establishment.

Woori Financial's executive candidate recommendation committee, which includes two outside members, selected Yim on Monday as the final candidate from a short list of four.

The committee cited Yim's completion of the group's full-service financial portfolio during his term as the decisive factor in his reappointment.

"He successfully expanded into the securities sector and acquired insurance firms, while improving the group's capital adequacy ratio - which had lagged behind other financial groups - thereby strengthening financial stability," said Lee Kang-haeng, head of the nomination committee.

The committee also noted that under Yim's leadership, the group more than doubled its market capitalization through shareholder return policies, describing his three-year tenure as highly effective.

"He aligns with the leadership profile outlined in our succession plan and enjoys strong trust both inside and outside the organization," said Lee.

If approved at the shareholder meeting in March, Yim's new term will run through March 2029. He will join Hana Financial Group Chairman Ham Young-joo and Shinhan Financial Group CEO Jin Ok-dong as the third of Korea's four major financial group chiefs to secure a second term.

Yim, who passed the 24th National Civil Service Exam, previously served in the Ministry of Economy and Finance and the Office for Government Policy Coordination. He served as head of NH NongHyup Financial Group from 2013 to 2015 and later as chairman of the Financial Services Commission.

During his term at Woori Financial, Yim focused on expanding nonbanking business lines to close the gap with rival holding groups. He merged Korea Post Securities with Woori Investment Bank to launch Woori Investment & Securities, and led the group's acquisition of Tong Yang Life Insurance and ABL Life as a package deal.

Yim is also credited with resolving longstanding factional divisions between executives from the former Commercial and Hanil banks.

Yim's reappointment had not been guaranteed. Early in his tenure, a scandal involving improper loans to relatives of former chairman Sohn Tae-seung emerged. Yim later became the first financial group chairman to appear before a parliamentary audit, where he pledged to relinquish certain appointment rights for subsidiary executives.

Concerns about his reappointment also arose after President Lee Jae Myung criticized the industry's reappointment practices and the Financial Supervisory Service launched an initiative to improve governance at financial groups.

"Every committee member approached the succession process with independence, transparency and fairness as guiding principles," said Lee Kang-haeng, addressing such concerns.

"I will refine the strategies and plans presented during the nomination process and work to implement them in detail," said Yim in a statement after being named the final candidate. "We will accelerate the 'Future Co-Growth Project' for productive and inclusive finance currently underway at Woori Financial."

This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.

This article is by Kim Ji-ye and read by an artificial voice.

Warning: This article may contain spoilers.

Actor Choo Young-woo, one of Korea's rising stars, admitted he was concerned that his physical appearance would hinder him from convincingly portraying an essential aspect of his character in his big screen debut "Even If This Love Disappears from the World Tonight."

In the film, Choo plays Jae-won, a high school boy with a heart condition. Despite the character's fragile health, Jae-won appears healthy due to Choo's physique, even after the actor shed 10 kilograms (22 pounds) for the role.

"I thought that [my weight loss] was successful," he said during an interview at a cafe in central Seoul on Wednesday, the film's release date.

"But when I saw myself on screen, I felt like [all of my hard work] had barely made a difference. I'm not naturally slim to begin with; I have a larger-than-average frame. And since we were filming in the middle of summer, I kept tanning, no matter how much sunscreen I put on."

In several scenes, the cameras focus closely on Jae-won's hands, highlighting his bulging veins - a visual that contrasts with the character's supposedly frail condition, which Choo acknowledged, saying, "I wasn't tensing my hands. That's just how they naturally look."

He added, "I was born that way, so there wasn't much I could do about it."

Directed by Kim Hye-young, the film follows the romance between high school students Jae-won and Seo-yoon, portrayed by Shin Si-a. Their relationship begins when Jae-won pretends to have feelings for Seo-yoon and asks her out, only to be left panicked when she - someone who is notorious for rejecting anyone who confesses to her - accepts his proposal. Jae-won, unaware that Seo-yoon suffers from a condition that prevents her from remembering the previous day, develops genuine feelings for her as they grow closer, which she had warned him not to do.

The film is an adaptation of the 2020 Japanese romance novel of the same name by author Misaki Ichijo, which was previously adapted as a Japanese movie in 2022.

Though Choo put a lot of effort into portraying Jae-won's physical weakness, he understood that he could not completely change his own physique, so he focused most on making his character appear as ordinary as possible - a choice that proved to be challenging for the actor.

"I didn't really concentrate on the fact that he was sick or in pain because that wasn't the main point of the story," he explained. "Seo-yoon and her memory loss are the focus [of the film], and what really matters is Jae-won's feelings for her."

"That made Jae-won even harder to portray," he continued. "Of all the characters I've played so far, this one has the least defining traits. There wasn't much I could build on. I remember [...] that I often felt constrained because I couldn't bring much of my own input into the performance."

To better portray a high school student, the 26-year-old actor even spoke with actual high school boys who happened to be at filming locations.

"I asked them if any of them had a girlfriend, and one did," he recalled.

"Practically speaking, hearing about his relationship wasn't too helpful," he said. "But while I talked to them, I studied their attitude and the way they speak [about romance], and that ended up helping me."

For Choo, the past year was a turning point, as he gained widespread public attention through a series of television projects, including "The Tale of Lady Ok" (2024-25) and "The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call," both of which found success domestically and overseas.

While such a rapid rise to fame can be overwhelming, Choo said the pressure only pushes him to be a better person and actor.

"I've come to enjoy the pressure," he said. "Because of that, I actually feel more energized at work these days than I used to. Even on set - whether it's cold, hot or a bit boring - I've gone from simply enduring [the experience] to trying to enjoy it as much as possible."

The...