Ahn Hyo-seop Once Considered Quitting Acting — Then ‘Omniscient Reader’ Changed Everything

Before stepping into his first feature film, ‘Omniscient Reader’ (Omniscient Reader: The Prophecy), Ahn Hyo-seop was quietly questioning whether he should continue acting at all.

The work itself was exciting. But the industry the constant exposure, the pressure, the adjustment to life on set wasn’t easy for someone who describes himself as deeply introverted. “I even wore glasses sometimes because I wished there were a small barrier between me and the world,” he once admitted with a shy smile.

What shifted his mindset wasn’t a grand opportunity. It was a single sentence from a senior actor. “Acting is fun, right? But it’s even more fun when you’re good at it.” Han Suk-kyu That advice became a turning point.

A Character That Made His Heart Race

When Ahn first read the script for ‘Omniscient Reader’, he remembers everything about that moment the café, the sofa, even the color of the space. Unlike many of the strong, distinctive characters he had played before, Kim Dok-ja felt almost painfully ordinary.

And that was exactly why it resonated. “He didn’t need to prove anything. That made me strangely relieved,” Ahn shared. But beneath that ordinariness was emotional weight. Kim Dok-ja is constantly forced to choose survival or sacrifice, isolation or solidarity. Ahn was drawn to portraying that internal conflict.

He often says he chooses projects when his “heart reacts.” This was one of those moments.

The Challenge of Playing “Ordinary”

In a fantasy epic where a novel’s apocalyptic world suddenly becomes reality, the protagonist must anchor the audience. With a vast original universe condensed into a two-hour film, Ahn believed relatability was essential. “Defining ‘ordinary’ by appearance felt like prejudice,” he explained. “So I focused on the inner life.”

He and the director reportedly spent two months before filming discussing what “ordinary” truly means. Eventually, they reached a simple conclusion: there is no universal definition. Instead, Ahn began researching Kim Dok-ja’s life his habits, insecurities, small gestures. He avoided eye contact to express social awkwardness. He carried his backpack in front on the subway, signaling someone who doesn’t want to inconvenience others.

Learning to Believe the Fantasy

The film required heavy CGI and large-scale action battling unseen monsters and navigating imaginary systems. “At first, I had moments of doubt while acting against nothing,” Ahn admitted. “Then I realized if I don’t believe this world exists, how can the audience?”

From that point on, he committed fully. By the latter half of filming, he said the emotional burden outweighed the physical exhaustion.

The most difficult scene? A hallucination prison sequence, where the character confronts his past. “I didn’t know what expression was right. It felt impossible.” But those struggles deepened his connection to the role.

From Idol Trainee to Actor of 10 Years

Few remember that Ahn once trained for three years under JYP Entertainment, initially dreaming of becoming an “actor-idol.”

Eventually, he chose acting determined to master at least one path fully. Over the past decade, he says he has learned how to endure discomfort. “I don’t naturally enjoy being in front. Becoming an actor meant overcoming my personality first.” “It feels like I’ve been watering a seedling all this time. Through ‘Omniscient Reader,’ I gained confidence in my path. So I’ll keep growing.”

For Ahn Hyo-seop, the film wasn’t just a screen debut. It was a moment of awakening.