Actor Choo Young-woo has opened up about the physical transformation he went through for his latest film, Even If This Love Disappears from the World Tonight, revealing that he lost 13 kilograms in preparation though the result wasn’t exactly what he had hoped for.
In a recent interview, Choo shared behind-the-scenes stories from filming the youth romance, which premiered on December 24, offering a candid look at the effort he put into portraying emotional vulnerability on screen.
“I Lost the Weight, But Didn’t Look Frail”
Choo explained that he intentionally reduced his weight to capture a subtle sense of fragility for his character, Jae-won.
“I did lose about 13kg by the end of filming,” he said. “But I realized something — I’m not naturally a skinny person. I have a large frame, so no matter how much weight I lose, I don’t really look fragile.”
He admitted that this was personally disappointing, especially since he had hoped to convey a more visibly delicate image. Still, he approached the topic with humor, acknowledging that not all transformations translate visually the way actors imagine.
Balancing Expectations in a Remake
Even If This Love Disappears from the World Tonight is based on the bestselling novel by Ichijo Misaki and serves as a Korean remake of the 2022 Japanese film. Choo noted that he was initially drawn to the project due to timing and his admiration for director Kim Hye-young’s previous work.
While he admitted feeling pressure due to the popularity of the original Japanese film, Choo said he was confident that the Korean version carried a distinctly different tone.
“Some people worried the casting might resemble the Japanese lead too closely,” he shared. “But after watching the final film, I felt relieved. It really has a completely different texture.”
A Subtle Approach to Illness and Emotion
Addressing viewers’ expectations about his character’s health, Choo explained that the film does not heavily rely on overt depictions of illness. Instead, the story focuses on emotional shifts and quiet moments, with only a brief scene directly addressing physical weakness.
He added with a smile that he hopes audiences will understand and accept the storytelling choice, as the film’s emotional impact lies more in its sudden turns and restrained expressions than in visible suffering.
As Choo Young-woo continues to establish himself as a rising presence in youth melodramas, his honest reflections highlight the dedication — and occasional frustration — behind building believable characters on screen.