[Exclusive] Meeting ‘New Tales of Gisaeng’ Male Lead, Sung Hoon, at Music & Mens Fashion Week 2012

[Exclusive] Meeting ‘New Tales of Gisaeng’ Male Lead, Sung Hoon, at Music & Mens Fashion Week 2012

May 7th, 2012 by Oh! Kpop

[Exclusive] Meeting ‘New Tales of Gisaeng’ Male Lead, Sung Hoon, at Music & Mens Fashion Week 2012

Most will agree – he’s a fresh face you cannot miss. Especially being present since the first day of the festival he was invited recently in Singapore as a model for Music & Mens Fashion Week 2012, his perfect physique of a balanced bulk and slim, tall figure and sharp face features that is distinctive – even to have a slight flair of a little Chinese to the usual Korean mold

[Exclusive] Meeting ‘New Tales of Gisaeng’ Male Lead, Sung Hoon, at Music & Mens Fashion Week 2012

Most will agree – he’s a fresh face you cannot miss. Especially being present since the first day of the festival he was invited recently in Singapore as a model for Music & Mens Fashion Week 2012, his perfect physique of a balanced bulk and slim, tall figure and sharp face features that is distinctive – even to have a slight flair of a little Chinese to the usual Korean mold.
Sung hoon, or full-name Bang Sung Hoon, has created a slow but strong stir of new followings. Properly debuted and ended his first project in the entertainment industry as an actor. New Tales of Gisaeng, ended in 52 episodes in summer 2011, this debut project immediately led him off as the main male lead, which he agreed without doubt that “I was plainly lucky that they [the PD and writer] saw potential in me to fit their character.”
His calm and collected presence disappeared once we sat down for the interview, his casual and fun side comes out naturally. Maybe, because he was born on Valentine’s Day that he has a warm and gentle heart like a lady – a romantic as well, admitting that “I had… 4 girlfriends before my debut.”

I suggest you to do a little search of him of his first interview feature with Newsen and get to know him as his amicable persona shines through the words and yet again today as I sat with him to get to know more of this upcoming actor. Without further ado, this is Sung Hoon caught in the final day of the festival!

[Exclusive] Meeting ‘New Tales of Gisaeng’ Male Lead, Sung Hoon, at Music & Mens Fashion Week 2012
You’ve told us in in another interview that this is not your first time in Singapore. You came here with your family. When was this?
I was actually here with my dad about well, 8 years ago and it was not a pleasant trip – the water and food was a problem for me… I didn’t have a lot of memories.
I remember though, about taxis back when I was here.i remembered the taxis here were all foreign brands, and where I took a Mercedes. Now, there’s a lot of variety! Not that it matters (laughs)

However, things have certainly change; Singapore has grown differently, I have also matured, and now Singapore is such a place to be in today!
Then it certainly has been a long while since that Singapore trip with your dad! Additionally with your comment that Singapore’s landscape has vastly evolve, Music & Mens Fashion Week is also a recent event that we now celebrate annually. Do share with us the difference with Seoul Fashion Week (SFW) and your experience here.

To start off, SFW are just fashion shows back to back. Whereas here at M2FW, there’s a lot of variety of entertainment to offer – not only fashion shows are presented, but there is music concerts to enjoy in between. The energy is just so alive here, and the setting is extraordinary.
Moreover, I have never exactly walk as a catwalk model; this is my first time being invited to this festival and to be a model, so again, it’s such an honour and chance for me as I’ve always wanted to try and be a model, and now walking for the closing show for MCM, it is truly a spectacular event and I’m very honored to be part of.
You chose this new part of yours, having to abandon your athletic dreams and the fact that you graduated in Physical Education as your degree and moved to the entertainment industry is not an easy task. What made you cross paths to a new direction in life?
I did sports for a long time, is true. Because of the injury I had, I had to give it up and I was thinking to myself. My second childhood dream was to be an actor and I thought, “Well, this is sort of a good chance to start.” I was then offered by my agency today if I wanted it… I took it. The transition was speedy from being a previous athlete to prepare myself to become an actor. It was also fast for myself to be an actor [by getting the lead part]. Moving onwards again for this opportunity to be in Singapore and to walk, is also a chance not all can get within a year of debut. I’m now used to it of everything moving fast. (laughs)
A good physique, a charming face, and a warm personality – do you think this is the recipe of what make you successful? Or the Korean industry itself?
At this point while the translator did her works, he broke a smile and sigh, then a shrug.
Up until today, I have really never thought of myself being a handsome man at all.
When he said this statement, Shin-woo made a ‘boo~’ and pushed him playfully.
Again, I have been very lucky from the start of my career, being approached by my company today and being the right personality for my debut drama [New Tales of Gisaeng]. In return, I would always strive to give my all.
You cannot deny your kkotminam-ness of your smooth facial features and having a great body. How do you then differentiate yourself from other actors?
There’s definitely one thing I do best compared to others – any scenes involved underwater are my vice because I can hold my breath for a long time without fail. [Which is why he aced that underwater scene kiss - Ed] In case to my physic being, I have rather long arms and broad shoulders which I think girls like this kind of element. My long arms are present so I can fully embrace her all around.

[Exclusive] Meeting ‘New Tales of Gisaeng’ Male Lead, Sung Hoon, at Music & Mens Fashion Week 2012
You talk from experience, you sound like a romantic! Then tell us how many girlfriends you have had before.
Glancing at his boss, he then answered to all his want.
I had four before… but now, he doesn’t let me have one so now, I’m available but not available at all. (laughs)
You are then a ladies’ man. So share with us what men and fashion means to you. Is it important?
It is important these days; it was merely buying clothes back in the days. Fashion now, applying it to my current situation, is a duty for me to make the clothes look good on the runway. On a personal note, it is a form of self-expression and it is not identical to another. Fashion for one person is only for that one person and none can have the same as it will continue to grow and mold into the person’s personality.
I would have to suggest men today to pay a bit more attention on this as it grows to be have more impact in the world today. It’s acceptable for men to now take more time to dress and we should care more.
Well then, you have actually accomplished everything! A gentleman in real life, was an athlete, now an actor and continuing to expand to become a model and public figure. What do you really want to be remembered as?
My priority is to become an accomplished actor, and so I would like to be, in the end, remembered as a good actor in front of the camera, and being a warm person when I’m me.
Please give a shout-out to our readers on Korea.com!
Thank you very much for the kind interview and your time! And also for all the fans here in Singapore for their kind support; I truly didn’t expect the crowd since the first day back in the airport, and throughout the festival. I will always remember them and the rest of my fans all over the world who are reading this. I would always do my best and continue to ask for your support for my future projects!
The night before, he had to pull an all-nighter for an editorial shoot for Singapore’s Designare HOMME, ending about 5AM after having breakfast with the team. Specially flown down AW12 pieces from Dior Homme, Burberry, MCM to name a few, he “had a lot of fun and new experience being a model shot literally backstage where the photo shoot location is at.”
His large eyes are quite the contrary to most Korean men, and his broad shoulders and long arms which he believes to be his plus point will continue to be his physical signature to be able to recognize Sung from far. Like his colleague and friend, Shin-woo (read his interview here), he would have been the sit-up partner as they walked down the runway, topless with MCM bags and bottoms, closing the magnificent 5-day fashion and music festival held at Marina Bay Sands.
Indeed, an experience for him and for all of us to have his presence, we believe that his down-to-earth attitude and strong determination which are transferable skills from him being trained in the athlete ring will bring him far in the Hallyu entertainment industry.

As promised, and to be seen nowhere else but here, was the two gentlemen and I going a little loco to have a crazy snapshot, which certainly closed good memories of my 5-day festival experience.

[PIC]

Special thanks to Stallion Entertainment Agency for the kind arrangement once again!