'Every moment is precious': Seo In-guk learns invaluable lesson in 'Death's Game'

Time can be an elusive concept: It often seems like there is either not enough or too much. Actor Seo In-guk, however, believes he has gained some newfound wisdom about time while starring in the ongoing fantasy-drama series “Death’s Game.”

Actor Seo In-guk during a scene of the ongoing Tving drama "Death's Game" [TVIING]

Time can be an elusive concept: It often seems like there is either not enough or too much. Actor Seo In-guk, however, believes he has gained some newfound wisdom about time while starring in the ongoing fantasy-drama series “Death’s Game.”

“This show taught me that every moment is precious, even if you spend it doing absolutely nothing,” Seo told reporters Tuesday at a cafe in Jongno District, central Seoul. “Time passes, but it’s important to remember that it is packed with valuable moments along the way.”

“Death’s Game” revolves around a young and rather miserable man named Yi-jae, portrayed by Seo, who commits suicide after troubles with money and getting a job. In the afterlife, he encounters a very angry lady Death, played by Park So-dam, who says that no one can cheat death and damns him to endure 12 more deaths inside the bodies of 12 different humans who are nearing the end of their time on Earth. After dying the dozen deaths, he is to be bound for hell. The catch, however, is that he gets to live if he can avoid death during one of his 12 reincarnations.

Actor Seo In-guk stars as the protagonist in the ongoing Tving drama "Death's Game" [TVIING]

“Through his life and death, and then 12 more lives and deaths, Yi-jae comes to gain a much more profound sense of time and life, and I hope that these bits of wisdom can touch the hearts and minds of our viewers as well,” he said.

So far in the show, Seo hasn't had too much screen time despite being the protagonist. But that is okay for the actor, who says that he has deep respect and love for the original webtoon series on which the show is based: “Yi-jae Will Die Soon” (2019-20).

“I was a huge fan of 'Yi-jae Will Die Soon,' even before I knew it was going to be made into a drama,” he said, “When I heard that it was going to be made into a drama series, I wanted to be part of it, no matter which character I was.”

Poster of the onging Tving drama "Death's Game" [TVING]

Seo pointed out some similarities he has with Yi-jae, thinking back to the times before his career kicked off.

“I’d been rejected at countless auditions, and my family wasn’t well off so I was always working part-time jobs,” he said. “Growing up, I was jealous of other aspiring singers who seemed to have everything prepared to be a professional singer.”

Seo had dreamed of becoming a singer ever since he was young, and in 2009, was able to debut after nabbing the final spot in the vocal audition program “Superstar K.” He forayed to acting in 2012 through a supporting role in the KBS romance series “Love Rain,” starring actors Jang Keun-suk and Im Yoon-ah. His breakthrough role was as a lead in tvN’s coming-of-age romance drama series “Reply 1997” (2012). He has since starred as a protagonist in works such as “Shopaholic Louis” (2016) and mystery drama “Cafe Minamdang” (2022).

“I didn’t necessarily put a conscious effort into tapping into my feelings from the past, but I certainly think it showed through,” Seo said. “So, compared to the web series, my portrayal of Yi-jae was more grumpy and insecure, I think.”

Actor Seo In-guk stars as the protagonist in the ongoing Tving drama "Death's Game" [TVIING]

Four episodes have been released so far. The last four will be released on the streaming platform Tving on Jan. 5, for which viewers can expect a much more mature Yi-jae, Seo said.

“He learns to see more than his unhappiness and finally comes to understand why he’s been given this terrible punishment by Death.”

To find out more about Seo In-guk, visit Celeb Confirmed!

BY LEE JIAN [lee.jian@joongang.co.kr]