Interview with Park Sang-Won, a TV Star

by Kim Ji-Yoon
May 5, 2000

He always gives us a smug smile through the television screen and has lived as an actor on TV and on the stage his entire life.  I interviewed Park Sang-won, the man who now makes us smile happily as he hosts The Beautiful Face of TV.

Kim: How is it going these days?

Park: I teach at the Department of Drama and Cinema at Sogyoung University.  Hosting The Beautiful Face of TV is private work.

Kim: Could you tell me your philosophy of life or something along those lines?

Park: Actually, half of my life seems to have been devoted to what I am doing now.  And the works I'm doing are things that require lots of preparation.  So I have to concentrate on the present.  In a word, my motto of life might be, "Let's live the most serious and the most diligent life we can!"

Kim: What did you do to become an actor? And what work are you up to now?

Park: As I said, it is because I chose to be an actor that I picked as my adage, "Let's live the most serious and the most diligent life!" You know I was not an out-going person. And when I was in high school I was more interested in photography than in drama. Anyway, I happened to go to Seoul Art College.  It was there that I first encountered plays. When looking back my career as an actor, somebody might say that I have been lucky.  Of course, I have been, but heaven helps those who help themselves.  My first work was Mr. Cha Bum-suk's Desert.  I took the role of an old man called Choi. Because the play was almost filled with my words, I had to spend a lot of time memorizing them, whether I was in restroom or in bus, but I believe it left a strong impression on the critics.

Kim: When you choose roles, what aspects do you see in the work?

Park: For me, what counts is not the character itself, but rather, how much time is given to me for preparation.  Let's take TV shows as an example.  These days, the plots in television shows are getting more complicated and the competition between companies is also very keen.  In this situation, to choose among television shows is more important than anything else. Here, who directs what drama and who writes scripts for it can be the most crucial problems.  Even the most attractive character could become a lifeless mediocre one in a so-so plot.  Anyway, the more time I have, the better it is for me.

Kim: Whenever I think of you, I hit upon an image, whatever it is.  Ever since you made your debut, you have maintained the image.  How do you do that?

Park: In deed, my work is acting. And, I think, actors have a different kind of stress. Most artists usually look young for their ages. I think, it is because they usually do not engage themselves in worldly things.

Kim: Who is your favorite director among those in whose works you participated?

Park: Personally I respect director Kim Jong-hak.  I worked with him in Human Fair, The Pupil of Twilight, and Sand Glass.  As I say this, somebody may think that it is because I took a title role in those works.  But I think director Kim is one of the most important figures in the cultural area.  Sometimes I feel like that he is a great conductor of a big orchestra.  In my opinion, for directors, to make a good work is important. Yet even more important thing is that they should be able to read the trend of the times in our society and make an effort to keep pace with that. The relationship between directors and actors is very complementary. They should help each other.  After all, good actors make a good work and a good director, because drama is not something that a director alone can make.

Kim: Do you get along with directors and other staff members?

Park: Actually, the harmony with the director and staff is a big deal.  But once a drama gets popular, only actors monopolize the spotlights. This popularity is not possible without staff members who work behind the curtains. That's why I try to take care of them.  I can't tell whether it is due to my own personality or not.  But anybody can do that.

Kim: I heard that you are planning to establish an Internet-TV station. Is that right?

Park: Right. I just happened to do that. And, hopefully, I will be opening the station by July 2000.  I believe that Internet-TV is one of the social trends we cannot avoid.  That's why I got to think of it.