Im Seul Ong Decides To Focus On Acting

Every since Im Seul Ong made his acting debut in 2010, he has balanced working in films and dramas with performances for the band 2AM.

This week the singer-actor decided to focus on his acting.

Im Seul Ong left JYP Entertainment, which has represented him since 2008, and is now signed with Sidus HQ, which represents such artists as Jang Hyuk, Kim Woo Bin and Kim So Hyun.

Another 2AM member Jung Jin Woon also left the band to focus on his acting, signing with Mystic Entertainment, which is run by singer and producer Yoon Jung Shin. Being represented by different agencies does not mean the band has officially disbanded as they may perform together in the future.

Im Seul Ong has worked consistently since his acting debut.

In a 2010 interview with tenAsia, he expressed the desire to act in noir films like "The Godfather" and since then he has shown that he can do both comedy and drama.

In his first drama, "Personal Taste," he was a comical assistant in Lee Min Ho's office. In the film "26 Years" he played a policeman who becomes an assassin. Im won a Rookie Award for that role.

In interview with the magazine Elle Girl, focusing on his "26 Years" role, he said that he did not think he would make it as an actor based on just his looks.

"Although I 'm not very good-looking, like Ryan Gosling, I want to become known as an actor with charm."

He went on to play a crown prince in the "The Fugitive of Joseon" and then a hotelier in "Hotel King." He also had a role in series "Infinite Power," which was released online.

The actor is currently winning praise for his role in "Fool's Love," also known as "Hogu's Love." He plays lawyer Byun Kang Chul, a character who begins the drama with a neatly regimented if lonely life. He mistakenly believes that Ho Gu is the love of his life, because he thinks he kissed him when they were in school together. As the drama progresses this mistaken notion helps him learn a lot about life, love and discrimination.

At the drama's press conference Im Seul Ong was asked about the difficulties of playing Byun Kang Chul and expressing his love for another male character.

 "I worried about acting out homosexual love, but I came to the conclusion that it's best not to worry about I," he said. "I've been trying my best to put myself down as I approach the character."

Despite any concerns, the 27-year-old actor has created a multidimensional character that viewers started out disliking but have come to love.