[TF Interview] Kim Jae-cheol from 'Cheating Now' Says Even a Pathetic Cheater is Fine
Playing the role of Joo Bo-seong, who is in the middle of a divorce lawsuit due to infidelity."Playing a truly cowardly and pathetic character."Actor Kim Jae-chul met with
to conduct an interview about the Coupang Play original series 'It's Not About Affairs Now.' /Coupang Play[THE FACT | Reporter Moon Chae-young] Actor Kim Jae-chul has successfully completed his portrayal of a pathetic man. Having longed for light and comedic roles, he did not hesitate to make a fool of himself in 'It's Not About Affairs Now.' His decision to boldly reveal his unlikeable personality without restraint further enhanced the character's human charm.Kim Jae-chul recently met with at a cafe in Seongdong-gu, Seoul, to conduct an interview about the Coupang Play original series 'It's Not About Affairs Now' (written by Jung Eun-kyung, directed by Lee Chang-hee, hereinafter referred to as 'It's Not About Affairs Now'). He played the role of Joo Bo-seong, a dermatologist and the husband of Ahn Soo-jung (played by Jo Yeo-jeong), with whom he is in a divorce lawsuit, and shared various stories related to the work.'It's Not About Affairs Now,' which concluded on the 4th, is a black comedy that depicts the runaway chain collision of a popular influencer couple who sold their happy family and a neighboring doctor couple in a mudslinging divorce lawsuit, entangled in an unmanageable secret that makes even infidelity seem trivial. The series, consisting of a total of 8 episodes, maintained its position as the No. 1 most popular show on Coupang Play throughout its release period.Kim Jae-chul is currently feeling relieved by the popularity of the work. He said, "While filming, the actors discussed that it was a work with an interesting plot and that the outcome would be good, but I was worried it would just remain a wish," adding, "I'm relieved that the viewers' response has been good since the release of the work.""Every actor wants the work to do well. I'm happy that it has achieved good results as we wished. I thought viewers would definitely recognize the work. Many people haven't seen it yet, but it will be even more fun if you binge-watch it now that all episodes are released."Actor Kim Jae-chul was not afraid to make a fool of himself to reveal the human side of his character in the Coupang Play original series 'It's Not About Affairs Now.' /Coupang PlayJoo Bo-seong, played by Kim Jae-chul, is a character who is endlessly frivolous and in a divorce lawsuit with his wife due to his uncontrollable infidelity. Kim Jae-chul described Joo Bo-seong as "a character who is very cowardly and has many human aspects," adding, "He is weak compared to his affluent circumstances."This character of Joo Bo-seong brought joy to Kim Jae-chul. Joo Bo-seong is the first pathetic and unlikeable character Kim Jae-chul has ever played. Having played many serious roles, he had a longing for characters like Joo Bo-seong. He said, "It was attractive because it was different from the roles I played in previous works," and added, "I wanted to show it properly this time."Therefore, he put extra effort into playing Joo Bo-seong. Kim Jae-chul said, "The more unlikeable a character is, the more cute charm they gain when they truly make a fool of themselves, making them less unlikeable," and added, "So I tried to be as pathetic as possible, to the point where I wondered, 'Is this okay?'" He explained that if he showed even a little bit of desire to look cool, he might be perceived as even more unlikable, so he tried to make himself look even more foolish."Joo Bo-seong is 5 times more pathetic than Im Jae-hong. He becomes more active in the latter half, and I put a lot of effort into researching how to act to make him look cowardly and pathetic. The director and writer greatly supported me in these aspects. With their encouragement, I became even more pathetically foolish."Actor Kim Jae-chul expressed his gratitude and respect to Jo Yeo-jeong and Kim Hye-soo, with whom he worked on the Coupang Play original series 'It's Not About Affairs Now.' /Coupang PlayKim Jae-chul also did not forget to express his gratitude to Jo Yeo-jeong, who played his wife in the drama. Since there weren't many scenes showing a happy family due to the flow of the story, he thought it was important to get to know her first, and she was the senior who reached out to him first.Thanks to Jo Yeo-jeong's warm personality, which created a comfortable atmosphere from the moment they first met, he was able to act much more easily. Kim Jae-chul referred to Jo Yeo-jeong as "a friendly older sister, like someone who lived in the same alley when we were young."If Jo Yeo-jeong is a grateful older sister, then Kim Hye-soo is an unforgettable benefactor. Kim Jae-chul and Kim Hye-soo first worked together in the 2020 SBS drama 'Hyena,' and they have maintained contact even after the drama ended. Kim Jae-chul said, "We have a more affectionate relationship than senior and junior," and added, "I received a lot of help during 'Hyena.' Working together on 'It's Not About Affairs Now' felt like meeting my benefactor again."However, Kim Jae-chul was unable to achieve a romance with Kim Hye-soo in 'It's Not About Affairs Now,' just as he did in 'Hyena.' He expressed his hope to meet her again in their third project in a relationship where they complete their love. He even sent Kim Hye-soo a text message saying, 'In our next project, I will play a role that steals hearts.'"Senior Kim Hye-soo was my co-star in my first drama, 'Hyena.' She is my benefactor who even recommended me directly after seeing me at the audition. She has been a great help in my acting career. I am grateful to her. I was even more excited to act in this project because I could work with senior Kim Hye-soo again. I want to meet her in a relationship where we are together next time."Actor Kim Jae-chul described the Coupang Play original series 'It's Not About Affairs Now' as a work that "established a new black comedy genre in 2026." /Coupang PlayKim Jae-chul also expressed his satisfaction with Joo Bo-seong's ending. After all the events are resolved, Joo Bo-seong is in a position where he must consistently deposit a large sum of money to both families. Kim Jae-chul commented, "In the end, it seems good," adding, "It's a shame I won't have any money to waste, but it's time for him to mature. He won't be able to date anymore."He believes the core of 'It's Not About Affairs Now' is its dense portrayal of "humanity." He said, "Important events occur one after another, and the story eventually leads to ruin. Amidst this, the characters' actions and psychology are light and childish," and added, "It well captures the charm of black comedy, which humorously depicts the desperate human condition."Kim Jae-chul also pointed out an interesting aspect related to the drama's title. He said, "'It's Not About Affairs Now' is about abandoning humanity to protect something," and added, "That is a bigger problem than infidelity." In other words, he explained that the black comedy genre realistically portrays the moments when humans become weak and cowardly."I dare to say that this is a work that established a new black comedy genre in 2026. Director Lee Chang-hee has brilliantly opened the door. It's a black comedy for the sensational modern era. I personally think it's a very original work. I would have felt the same way even if I hadn't appeared in it. I hope viewers feel the same way."mcy21@tf.co.kr[Entertainment Department | ssent@tf.co.kr]
