"We tried very hard not to leave IU out of our fun"
Before his free, open-to-public fan meet, The New Paper on Sunday quizzed Kang Ha Neul, who is single, about his new drama Scarlet Heart.
The role of the Eighth Prince in the original 2011 Chinese version of Scarlet Heart was played by veteran Hong Kong actor Kevin Cheng. Are you worried that audiences will inevitably compare you with him?
There was definitely pressure, but once we started filming, I put the thought of Cheng and the Chinese original out of my mind. I decided to just stay true to the emotions of my character and express them to the best that I could.
Scarlet Heart has a huge male cast. There's you, Lee Joon Gi, EXO's Baekhyun, Ji Soo and more. Was it a fun working environment? Did IU, the only female lead, feel left out?
For sure, it was very fun. It was like a boys' club. There were laughter and jokes all the time, and we liked pulling pranks on each other.
However, we tried hard not to leave IU out. We chatted with her a lot and cheered her on.
Are there any intimate scenes between your character and IU's character? Any kissing scenes?
I can't disclose much at this point, but we do have a romance storyline, so yes, there is some "skinship" (a Korean term for physical contact) between us. I can't recall any kissing scenes though. Sorry. (Laughs)
What are the personality traits you look for in your ideal girl?
I like girls who have a clear goal in life, a dream they want to pursue. I like girls who stay focused on achieving their dreams yet, at the same time, know how to strike a balance between work and play.
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