Island actor Cha Eun Woo on playing an exorcist in the fantasy drama: “I went to meet a Catholic priest; I trained in Latin and Italian”

In a roundtable interview from Seoul, Cha Eun Woo told Bollywood Hungama about what went into the prep of the role.

By Monica Yadav -

December 26, 2022 - 12:37 PM IST

Korean dramas and movies have witnessed international attention over the past few years. The actors, the stories, and the music have become a huge part of people’s lives. Romantic comedies to thrillers, feel-good stories to fantasy-themed dramas – all have garnered attention and are often talking points on the internet. Korean language dramas are limited in their episodes, usually between 16-20. While stories are the core factor to attract the audience, with the shows, some of these actors have also gained a massive fan following internationally. Amongst the several stars who have gained attention is South Korean singer-actor Cha Eun Woo. Known for his soft looks and visuals, the actor is popularly known as the singer in the K-pop group ASTRO, but is also a popular actor in the Korean industry.

Island actor Cha Eun Woo on playing an exorcist in the fantasy drama: “I went to meet a Catholic priest; I trained in Latin and Italian”

My ID Is Gangnam Beauty brought Cha, international attention and since then there’s no stopping him. Having starred in several popular dramas in the lead role, the year 2022 has seen a shift in the way he is pursuing his acting career. Moving away from the boy-next-door image, the actor starred in the gritty drama Decibel which released in theatres earlier this year. As the year comes to an end, Cha is set to star in an upcoming fantasy-themed drama Island starring alongside Kim Nam Gil, Lee Da Hee, and Sung Joon.

He plays a young priest at the Vatican in the upcoming fantasy drama. Speaking directly from Seoul during Island promotions, the actor revealed that he spoke to his cast members to understand his character from Island better. During a virtual roundtable interview, when a Bollywood Hungama journalist asked the question to Cha about the preparation that went into the role of Yohan and did he consult any priest to understand the role better, he said, “For my preparation to understand the character, I spoke to a lot of experienced actors including members of the cast. I also went to meet a Catholic priest. I trained in Latin and Italian as well.”

He was genuinely drawn to the script after reading it. “He was someone that I really wanted to portray,” he revealed. During the same roundtable, answering another question, Cha revealed he wanted to do a good job while portraying the role. “When I was shooting for the poster, I remember I really tried to focus on how I can portray the character to be most liked. I truly hope that all of the fans will enjoy our drama series Island,” he said.

At the press conference held in Seoul, director Bae Jong complimented Cha Eun Woo on his efforts to improve his Italian and Latin pronunciation saying, “He worked really hard and caught on really fast.” The casting process was relatively easy for the director. Cha Eun Woo shared that he “spoke with the director and also spoke with Kim Nam Gil,” and was persuaded and encouraged to join the team.

Cha further revealed that his co-star Kim Nam Gil, a popular actor in movies and drama, guided him through the role. At the press conference, the 25-year-old musician-actor shared, “I play the role of a priest and it’s not a very common occupation.” Since Kim played a priest before, Cha “got some advice from Kim Nam Gil” on how to “wear the priest robe in a more comfortable way.” He further revealed how “Kim Nam Gil came to me and told me to breathe. It was really simple but very impactful and encouraging.”

Island is based on an original manhwa written by Youn In Wan and illustrated by Yang Kyung Il which began in 1997. It was later serialized into a webtoon and its popularity grew even further as a result. , Island is set on an island, Jeju Island specifically. The rich history of the beautiful island is incorporated into the story of the Island, from local folklore to the stone Dol Hareubang. The upcoming series, which drops on December 30, will stream on Prime Video.

Cha Eun Woo is a singer-songwriter-actor who is a part of the Korean pop group ASTRO. He has starred in several popular dramas including Hit The Top, My ID is Gangnam Beauty, True Beauty and Rookie Historian Goo Hae Ryung. The actor returns to the romantic comedy genre next year with A Good Day To Be A Dog starring opposite Park Gyu Young.

Meanwhile, on the music front, ASTRO released their third full-length album Drive to the Starry Road earlier in May 2022 along with its lead single ‘Candy Sugar Pop’. In November 2022, the group released their Japanese single ‘Let's Say Goodbye to My Favorite Person’ with a music video featuring Cha Eun Woo and Japanese actress-model Airi Matsui.