Seo In Guk Faces New Challenges In "High School King"

Keeping your high school grades up is tough enough and if you play after school sports a student's schedule can get pretty crowded. But what happens if that student also has to run your father's company?

If any actor knows what it's like to play a character facing near-impossible odds, it's singer-turned-actor Seo In Guk.

In the upcoming drama "High School King," Seo plays Lee Min Suk, a naïve 18-year-old high school student and ice hockey star who must take over his older brother's job running the family IT company.

And if running a company is not tough enough for his character he also has to deal with some grown-up romance while running the company. While working there he meets Jung Soo Young, a temporary employee played by Lee Ha Na.

If Seo In Guk had to take on those kinds of challenges in real life, he could probably master them. Born into a poor family, he wanted to become a singer when he was only 10, and despite repeated rejections went on to win the Superstar K competition.

"I dreamed of being a singer since childhood," he said in an interview with Life.

In the last few years he has also made great strides in his acting career. He played the second lead in "The Master's Sun" with So Ji Sub and Gong Hyo Jin and starred in the swimming film "No Breathing" with Lee Jong Suk.

Playing the part of a gifted swimmer also took some preparation.

"It was definitely a challenge, because the character I played is very different from me and I had to work hard to get in shape for the swimming scenes," Seo told the Chosun Ilbo.

In "his upcoming drama, High School King," his character has to learn how to run a major company but to prepare for the part the actor learned how to play ice hockey. Seo took professional ice hockey lessons for two months, practicing with the Kwangwoon University hockey team and star hockey player Ahn Geun Young.

According to the drama's production staff, Seo In Guk is naturally athletic and likes sports but wearing a heavy ice hockey uniform during the extended filming was exhausting. However, the staff reported that he remained energetic throughout.

 "I want to be an actor who fulfills the role assigned to me," said Seo. "If the character requires me to put on weight and look ugly, I will do the background work in order to immerse myself in that role."

Whatever it takes, the actor says he is up to the challenge.

"High School King" also stars Lee Soo Hyuk, Lee Yeol Eum and Lee Tae Hwan. It follows "Witch's Romance" on June 16.