Seo Kang-joon on Ahn Eun-jin's transformation: "I thought she was elegant, but she's actually full of energy"

Actor Seo Kang-joon recalled his first impression of Ahn Eun-jin, saying, “She was a neat, elegant, and beautiful person.” However, the image he discovered after getting closer was different from his expectations. Ahn admitted to being a “person full of energy,” revealing a playful personality hidden behind her calm first impression.

The two will play a couple that has been dating for 10 years in the new KBS 2TV weekend mini-series 'A Love Other Than Yours,' which premieres on the 12th. As they reveal their memories of their actual first meeting, interest is growing in the relationship between the two actors who will portray a long-term couple in the series.

On the 8th, a video titled “Seo Kang-joon & Ahn Eun-jin, if they are a 10-year couple, do their bags look alike too?” was released on the Harper's Bazaar YouTube channel. The two spent time getting to know each other's tastes and personalities by introducing items they cherish in their respective bags.

When asked about his first impression of Ahn, Seo revealed that he initially thought, “She is such a neat, elegant, and beautiful person.” However, as time passed, he learned of her extroverted and playful nature, explaining that she is “really full of energy.”

In response, Ahn laughed and introduced one of her nicknames as 'An-heung-jin' (a play on her name and being energetic). She essentially acknowledged the gap between her elegant, calm image and her actual personality.

Ahn's first impression of Seo is also interesting. She recalled that during their first meeting, Seo arrived early and waited calmly, and even his gait was composed, leading her to think he was a “typical model student style.”

However, she said he looks different now that they have become close. Ahn pointed out a subtle difference between his upright outward image and his actual personality, noting that she discovered a “uniqueness within his righteousness.”

This conversation between the two strangely aligns with the setting of 'A Love Other Than Yours.' In the drama, Seo plays Namgoong Ho and Ahn plays Lee Mi-do, portraying lovers who have been dating for 10 years. The core emotion of the work is that familiarity does not only lead to stability in love, but can transform into boredom and estrangement at some point.

In particular, the setting of a '10-year relationship' differs from the fresh first loves commonly seen in typical romantic comedies. Since they must rediscover excitement in a relationship where they already know each other's habits and flaws, the two actors are required to deliver much more delicate emotional acting than in their rookie days.

In the released teaser, the two simultaneously show the image of a comfortable and affectionate long-term couple and scenes where they exchange cold glances. The key observation point is how the two actors will express the emotions of the work, where familiarity and boredom, affection and distance, intersect within a single relationship.

Ahn's recent physical change is also a hot topic ahead of the series release. Known to have recently lost about 10kg, she showed a significantly different atmosphere at the production presentation held on the 7th. On that day, she showcased a different styling from before, emphasizing a calm and mature image in a black long dress.

However, the point to note in this change is not just the simple weight number. As Ahn is an actress who has widely covered everything from a bright and friendly image to deep emotional acting depending on the work and character, her physical change can be seen as a process of readjusting her screen image as an actress.

Ahn has expanded her public recognition by building characters with distinct personalities in every work, including Chu Min-ha in 'Hospital Playlist' and Yu Gil-chae in 'My Dearest.' In particular, through 'My Dearest,' she expanded her spectrum as an actress by simultaneously showing a bright, life-filled character and desperate melodrama acting.

Seo's significance in this work is also special as he returns to the melodrama genre after a long hiatus. Having handled romance and emotional lines in works such as 'Cheese in the Trap,' 'Are You Human Too?,' 'The Third Charm,' and 'You Have Done Well,' interest is gathering on how he will implement the complex psychology of a man who has shared 10 years of time.

Ultimately, the competitiveness of 'A Love Other Than Yours' does not lie simply in putting two actors with good visuals in one frame. Since they must act out a relationship where it is difficult to discover new emotions because they know each other too well, the actual chemistry between Seo and Ahn is highly likely to determine the realism of the work.

The Ahn Eun-jin that Seo Kang-joon discovered was a 'neat and elegant person,' but as time passed, she proved to be someone as energetic and playful as her nickname 'An-heung-jin' suggests. The 10-year relationship in the drama begins from this very gap—the moment one discovers an unfamiliar side of a person they believed they knew perfectly.

With the premiere set for the 12th, interest is high regarding the emotional journey the two actors will create as a decade-long couple. Whether they can return their long-standing love to a state of excitement, or if they will make a new choice at the end of familiarity, remains the core highlight of the drama.