Seo Kang-joon reacts to viral clip of his 'Growl' rookie days

Actor Seo Kang-joon brought laughter to fans by leaving a direct comment after a clip of his fresh yet overly serious rookie days from 12 years ago resurfaced. The gap between Seo, who is currently drawing attention for his soft and delicate melodrama acting in KBS2's "A Love Other Than Yours," and his rookie self—wearing leopard print clothing while playing EXO's "Growl" on the piano—is providing a unique sense of fun for fans.

On the 16th, Wavve released a video of Seo's past broadcast footage through its official account. Accompanied by the description, "Now a guilty-sweet man in 'A Love Other Than Yours,' BUT a more serious 'Growl' master than anyone during his rookie days," the video featured a scene from MBC's "Radio Star" broadcast in 2014.

At the time, Seo stood before the camera with an image quite different from his current one. Sitting at the piano in leopard print clothing, he played EXO's hit song "Growl," and despite his somewhat clumsy piano skills, he remained immersed in the song with a serious expression throughout. His attempt to go beyond simply playing the original song by trying his own variation clearly showed the enthusiasm unique to a rookie.

What drew laughter above all else was his excessively serious attitude toward the performance. While playing the piano, Seo would stare into the camera with an intense gaze and even added the vocalization "Growl" himself during the song's iconic parts. A scene that was consumed as a unique talent of a rookie actor at the time has become an unexpected "embarrassing episode from one's past" as it was released again 12 years later.

Of course, the expression "embarrassing episode from one's past" is closer to the contrast created by the passage of time rather than a mockery of Seo. This is because the difference between the era when a rookie actor actively tried anything to show his talent and presence on variety shows, and the present where he proves his presence through the emotional lines of characters, is clearly revealed within a single video.

Seo did not avoid the joke. Instead, he appeared directly on Wavve's post and left a comment saying, "Excuse me, Mr. Wavve. Did I do something wrong?"

Rather than being embarrassed by the past footage, he embraced his own embarrassing episode as a source of laughter, further increasing the buzz surrounding the post.

Seo's reaction makes one look back at the image change that has continued from his debut to the present. After making his name known through the web drama "After School: Lucky or Not" in 2013, he expanded his footing as an actor through works such as "What Happens to My Family?", "Splendid Politics", and "Cheese in the Trap". Since then, he has expanded his acting range, moving between romance and genre pieces to become an actor who expresses the nuances of characters beyond mere star power.

In particular, the image Seo shows recently is quite distant from his rookie days. In the currently airing "A Love Other Than Yours," he plays the role of Namgung Ho, a lover in a 10-year relationship, expressing the emotions of a long-term relationship that wavers between familiarity and excitement.

KBS also introduced the work with the concept, "We, who have dated for 10 years, can we feel excitement again?", putting forward the boredom and changes in relationships that occur in long-term dating as the main emotions.

The character played by Seo in the work does not stop at being a typical "handsome boyfriend." As he has maintained a relationship with one person for a long time, he carries complex emotions: the process of love becoming a habit, the moment familiarity encroaches on excitement, and yet the inability to easily let go of the partner. A fascinating contrast is created in that the actor, who tried to show his charms as loudly as possible on variety shows during his rookie days, has now entered a stage where he conveys emotions through subtle changes in words and expressions.

The current viewership rating of the work is staying in the 2% range. According to Nielsen Korea, "A Love Other Than Yours" started with a 2.6% rating for the first episode, followed by 2.8% for the 2nd episode, 2.5% for the 3rd episode, and 2.6% for the 4th episode. Looking only at the viewership rating figures from the early part of the broadcast, the flow suggests that the buzz surrounding the work and interest in Seo personally has not yet directly translated into a rise in viewership ratings.

However, this does not mean Seo's character in the work is stagnant. In the 3rd episode, Namgung Ho proposed to Lee Mi-do with the intent of saying, "Even if the end becomes a mess, I want to go with you," and in the 4th episode, a rift in the relationship began as another person intervened between the two as they prepared for marriage.

Since the story focuses on a long-term relationship, it is highly likely that the focus will shift from the "continuation of love" to the "ways love changes."

At this juncture, the released video also serves to refresh the public's memory of Seo. For younger viewers who first encountered the current Seo, it is an unfamiliar sight, while for fans who have watched him since his debut, it acts as a "time capsule" that summons memories of that era.

The phenomenon of celebrities' past content gaining renewed attention has become more frequent in the digital platform era. As past broadcast clips are combined with current activities through SNS algorithms, videos that were once one-off variety show moments gain a new narrative years later. Especially when a star directly comments or accepts their past with humor, an "embarrassing episode from one's past" transforms from a weakness into a content asset for communicating with fans.

This is also why the video is particularly amusing for Seo. Twelve years ago, he was a rookie shouting "Growl" most seriously in front of the camera, but now he is a lead actor portraying the boredom and lingering affection of a 10-year relationship. While the changes made by time are clear, the fact that he has gained enough confidence to accept his past seriousness with laughter is also noteworthy.

Ultimately, this "embarrassing episode" is less an exposure of Seo's past and more a condensed episode of an actor's growth. Comparing the rookie actor in leopard print playing "Growl" on the piano to the current Seo makes it clear that time builds up for a star. And sometimes, the most entertaining way to prove that time is through a single scene from a past one might want to hide.