[Interview] Choi Min-sik and Choi Hyun-wook Discuss "Notes from the Last Row"

"Will viewers actually like this show?"

Advertisement

After wrapping filming for the Netflix drama "Notes from the Last Row" last summer, actor Choi Min-sik (64) found himself asking that very question.

"It wasn't the kind of series that leaves you feeling refreshed", he recalled. "Instead, it makes you feel uneasy and emotionally confined".

His concerns turned out to be unfounded. Upon release, the drama entered Netflix's Global Top 10 Non-English TV rankings in its first week. Even so, the psychological thriller, which follows one man's gradual descent into ruin, leaves viewers with lingering questions.

"Notes from the Last Row" centers on Heo Moon-oh (Choi Min-sik), a failed novelist who published only a single novel 20 years ago and now teaches Korean literature at a university. Fascinated by the extraordinary talent of his student Lee Kang (Choi Hyun-wook), Moon-oh becomes increasingly obsessed with the young writer, setting off a tense psychological battle. The pairing of veteran actor Choi Min-sik and rising star Choi Hyun-wook (24), who gained acclaim through "Weak Hero Class 1", had already generated considerable buzz before the drama's release.

Meeting the two actors at a café in Jongno, Seoul, on Wednesday, each described the other's performance as 'astonishing'.
Choi Min-sik said he decided to join the project immediately after reading the script.

"Unlike many current trends, it felt refreshingly classical", he said. "It was like staring at raw flesh stripped completely bare, a brutally honest portrayal of the uncomfortable truths of human nature".

His character, Heo Moon-oh, constantly wrestles with envy and frustration over his unrealized dream of becoming a successful author.

Choi Min-sik delivers a gripping performance as Moon-oh gradually loses his rational judgment under the spell of Lee Kang's writing. His obsessive fixation on a rival writer's private life is painfully pathetic.

"He's the kind of person you'd want to scold", Choi Min-sik admitted. "But at the same time, don't you end up feeling sorry for him? I prefer characters who evoke compassion over flawless superheroes".

Much of the drama's momentum comes from its constant twists and revelations. Driving those surprises is Choi Hyun-wook's Lee Kang, who serves as the story's narrator through his writing. Seamlessly shifting between the awkwardness of an ordinary young man and the unsettling gaze of someone hiding deeper intentions, Lee keeps not only Moon-oh but also viewers questioning where fiction ends and reality begins.

"I wanted viewers to still be wondering about Lee Kang's true intentions even after watching the series two or three times", Choi Hyun-wook said.

According to the actors, Choi Hyun-wook was cast on Choi Min-sik's recommendation. After recognizing him immediately during auditions, the veteran actor was impressed once again on set.

"There were so many moments when I found myself thinking, 'How is he looking at me like that?'" Choi Min-sik recalled. "I couldn't have been happier with the casting".

"It's an incredible honor", he said. "I truly want to learn from his energy, his rhythm, and the incredible subtlety he brings to every performance".

In truth, Choi Hyun-wook has enjoyed a remarkably steady rise since making his debut in a 2019 web drama. Performances as Ahn Soo-ho in "Weak Hero Class 1" and Sin Ah-hwi in "D.P" established him as one of Korea's most promising young actors.
Asked about his greatest strength, he answered simply: "Boldness".

"It's not that I'm naturally fearless", he explained. "I just make up my mind to be".

"Most of the characters I've played so far have been incredibly charismatic, almost like comic book heroes. That's why Lee Kang was a role I desperately wanted to pull off. Rather than standing at a distance because I was afraid, I wanted to seize the opportunity with my own hands".

Looking back, both actors agreed that taking on a drama that invites so much reflection was a rewarding experience. Beyond the psychological game between teacher and student, what message did the series ultimately leave behind?

Choi Min-sik answered without hesitation: "The destructive power of words".

"I'm currently reading "Passing Time" by novelist Kim Hoon", he said. "Following the reflections of a veteran writer leaves me with a deep sense of calm. But writing doesn't always have a positive influence. Lee Kang ultimately uses writing as a means of revenge because of the violence inflicted on him through Moon-oh's words. In an age overflowing with hatred and verbal abuse, I believe the story speaks directly to the times we're living in".