Lee Soo Hyuk Tries Romance

Model-turned actor Lee Soo Hyuk has perfected the cool but distant character. In "Shark he played a serious criminal investigator. In "Vampire Idol," he played a serious but bloodthirsty monster.

"All the characters I've acted seem similar, right," he said when asked about his previous roles at the press conference for his new drama "Valid Love."

He tried to figure out if they had something in common.

"I've acted many characters that don't seem quite human," he said.

He had a chance to warm up when playing Yoo Jin Woo in "High School King of Manners," even if it did take him almost all the drama to do so.  Playing the CEO's son, his character started out seeming hostile and then slowly admitted his vulnerability.

"I was able to show my human side through 'High School King of Manners,' and I feel honored to take on a character that is involved in a romance this time," he said.

He admits that his looks sometimes work against him when it comes to casting.

"As a model I have an edgy urban image but the director saw another side of me," he said. "His advice has been very helpful and I've been working hard.

The tvN drama stars Lee Si Young as Kim Illy, a woman who is in love with for two men at the same time. She loves her husband Jang Tae Hee, played by Uhm Tae Woong. And she still has feelings for her first love Kim Joon, played by Lee Soo Hyuk.

At the drama's press conference Lee Si Young was asked which co-star she would prefer in real life. She said he was drawn to Lee Soo Hyuk's looks, but ultimately they work against him.

"It's a tough question," she said. "He's so handsome that it's a problem. I feel more comfortable with Uhm Tae Woong."

Lee Si Young said that she felt comfortable with Uhm Tae Woong from the start and as a result the emotional scenes with him were easy to film. She admitted that she has not yet gotten close to Lee Soo Hyuk because their characters fight a lot and there was no need to get close just yet.

That might change as they film more romance scenes.

Kim So Woo, who wrote "My Lovely Sam Soon," has written the screenplay for "Valid Love." Han Ji Seung, who directed "Alone in Love" will direct the comedy.

"Valid Love" airs on Dec. 1.