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Hwang In Youp reveals his secret to looking young despite being in his 30s during the interview for Family by Choice.
On the morning of November 28, an interview with Hwang In Youp was held at a café in Gangnam, Seoul for his recently-concluded K-drama Family by Choice.
Family by Choice is a story of three people who, despite being unrelated by blood, consider each other family and spend their teenage years together. They reunite after 10 years.
In the K-drama, Hwang In Youp played Kim San Ha, a model student with impeccable looks and academic excellence, but who carries emotional scars from his childhood.
Talking about the K-drama's success, he shared, "Yesterday, I watched episodes 15 and 16 together with the director and my fellow actors. I didn't expect the show to be loved this much. We had such a great time filming happily among ourselves, and it feels good to know that this was conveyed well to the viewers."
He continued, "(The actors and I) hugged each other and cried. As all the scenes flashed by like a panorama, it felt like we had filmed them a long time ago, which made me feel sad. Since two episodes were aired on Wednesdays, it felt short, so we even joked, 'How about a season 2?' It was so wonderful, sad, and bittersweet, but I was really thankful because of how much everyone loved it."
When asked, "Who cried the most?" he answered, "Me," evoking laughter.
Having appeared in various dramas wearing school uniforms like in 18 Again, The Sound of Magic, and True Beauty, Hwang In Youp once again wore a school uniform at the age of 33 in Family by Choice.
When asked if he felt awkward wearing a school uniform, he replied, "It was actually awkward at first, during 18 Again. But now, even my agency has told me that school uniforms suit me, so I'm truly grateful to still be able to wear one. It's a special experience to be able to capture that youthful, fresh, and beautiful vibe," and added, "I often say that if I ever get the opportunity to take on a role with a good message and meaning, I'm always ready to wear a school uniform again. As long as directors allow me, I'll give it my all."
When asked if he follows a specific skincare routine, he said, "No, I don't." He added, "Chae Yeon and Hyeon Seong are actually quite younger than me, so I spent a lot of time talking with them to get closer. That was a big factor. Blending in with them was essential for portraying Kim San Ha. I'm grateful to hear people say the uniform suits me, but now I'm starting to wonder if I should really start managing myself a bit."
When asked why he thinks producers keep casting him in roles that require wearing a school uniform, Hwang In Youp responded, "It would be great if I knew the answer to that as well. For me, I feel like I haven't changed much at heart. I've just grown older and experienced a bit more of life, and when I look back, I find that I've come to this age. I try to live without losing the innocence and purity of those younger days."
When told that youthful looks are often considered genetic, Hwang In Youp said, "My parents look the same as always to me, but if I had to point out one thing, it's that my mom would never let me go out without sunscreen. She'd insist I apply sunscreen before stepping outside, no matter what. It was always the kind that left a heavy white cast. This was a must, regardless of the season. Later, I came to realize the importance of sunscreen. I sometimes think, 'Is it because of that [that I look younger at this age]?' I'm not sure if that's the reason, but I guess that consistently applying sunscreen played a role."
