Childhood Star Wants to Have Long-Term Career in Acting

Actor Yoo Seung-ho wrapped up his latest TV series with a high note a few weeks ago. Yoo, who started acting when he was seven, made a successful transformation into a grown-up role in the period drama "Ruler: Master of the Mask."

"I felt difficulty getting out of stereotyped images accumulated through work I had done during my childhood, but this time, I was able to fully immerse myself in the role I played and have great confidence in acting," Yoo said.

But he hopes to appear on light-hearted melodramas or romantic comedies for future projects, as he mostly used to work on somewhat dark and heavy ones. "I want to take on a variety of different genres and characters to keep my acting career going and further growing," he said.

Yoo once dreamed of being a professional military officer. That was one of reasons he entered the military at the age of 20 instead of going to university. "Ironically, while I was serving in the military, my longing for acting actually became greater," Yoo recalled. "Whenever I watched TV programs during my spare time, I kept thinking I should go back to where I was."

"I do not expect instant stardom. What I want is to have a long career in acting," he said. "I have to admit that it's good to enjoy popularity because a film or drama was successful, but I don't do this to earn fame."