[TF Focus] Jang Se-hyeok of 'Dive Into You' Emerges as a Noteworthy Newcomer

Starring as judo gold medalist Yoon Ha-ruBody of a judo athlete, soul possessed by his twin sisterActor Jang Se-hyuk is showcasing a delicate and passionate performance through the Disney+ and Channel A weekend drama 'Dive Into You'. / Dexter Pictures, Amuse Entertainment[THE FACT|Reporter Choi Soo-bin] Actor Jang Se-hyuk is making his presence known with 'Dive Into You'. Despite it being his first leading role, he is adding vitality to the drama by stably portraying a wide range of acting, from action to comedy and romance. In particular, he is etching his name into viewers' minds by naturally unfolding the difficult concept of soul-swapping.Jang Se-hyuk is meeting viewers through the Disney+ and Channel A weekend drama 'Dive Into You' (written by Kim Bo-geum&Lee Eon, directed by So Jae-hyun), which first aired on the 26th of last month. The drama is a first-love rescue romance about twin siblings Yoon Ha-na (played by Kim Ji-yeon) and Yoon Ha-ru (played by Jang Se-hyuk) who travel back in time to save Jung Woo-jae (Seo Ham Park) by learning they can go back in time through an old camcorder. It is a 12-episode series, with 4 episodes aired so far.The drama is receiving positive reviews from viewers as the fresh synergy of young actors like Kim Ji-yeon, Seo Ham Park, and Moon Seung-yu, combined with the familiar yet exciting premise of time-slipping to save a first love, resonates with them.Among them, the actor who is drawing attention is undoubtedly Jang Se-hyuk. Cast as Yoon Ha-ru after overcoming a 120:1 competition ratio, he has been demonstrating his stable acting skills from the first episode, showcasing his presence.Yoon Ha-ru, played by Jang Se-hyuk, is the world's No. 1 judo gold medalist and Yoon Ha-na's twin brother. While he is loved by fans for his outstanding skills and appearance, he becomes a playful, ordinary brother when he is with Yoon Ha-na. Furthermore, with the added premise that their souls swap each time they travel to the past, Jang Se-hyuk has to portray not only Yoon Ha-ru but also Yoon Ha-na when she is in his body.Jang Se-hyuk, who has actual experience learning judo, even prepared a judo uniform himself for the audition. This experience serves as a strength in the drama. As Yoon Ha-ru is a world-class judo athlete in the drama, the naturalness of the match and action scenes is crucial, and Jang Se-hyuk adds credibility to the character based on his real-life experience. In the third episode, he personally performed a scene where he chased down and subdued an assailant threatening Yoon Ha-na and Jung Woo-jae using judo techniques, without a stunt double.Jang Se-hyuk is passionately portraying Yoon Ha-ru, a judo gold medalist and twin brother who travels back in time to save Jung Woo-jae (Seo Ham Park) in 'Dive Into You'. / Channel AHowever, the moment Jang Se-hyuk's acting shines even brighter in 'Dive Into You' is when Yoon Ha-na and Yoon Ha-ru's souls are swapped. The two travel to the past through an old camcorder, but they do not return to their own bodies. Yoon Ha-na enters Yoon Ha-ru's body, and Yoon Ha-ru enters Yoon Ha-na's body. Therefore, Jang Se-hyuk cannot simply portray Yoon Ha-ru, a man, acting in a feminine manner. He must give the impression that the character 'Yoon Ha-na,' created by Kim Ji-yeon, has borrowed Jang Se-hyuk's face and body.Jang Se-hyuk distinguishes the two characters by accumulating small differences. He alters his gaze, facial expressions, tone of voice, and even his body language when he is Yoon Ha-ru versus when Yoon Ha-na's soul possesses him. Even with the same face, it is easy to distinguish whose soul is currently inhabiting the body.The difference becomes even more apparent when he faces Jung Woo-jae. If Jung Woo-jae is a friend to Yoon Ha-ru, he is a first love that Yoon Ha-na has cherished for a long time. Jang Se-hyuk portrays the difference in their relationships by changing his gaze and facial expressions when looking at Jung Woo-jae after Yoon Ha-na's soul enters him.The final scene of the first episode effectively demonstrated this setup. Upon arriving in the past, Yoon Ha-na encounters a living Jung Woo-jae before she even fully grasps that she has entered her twin brother's body. Although the person on screen is clearly Yoon Ha-ru, Yoon Ha-na's emotions are fully conveyed in the moment she looks at Jung Woo-jae and sheds tears.To achieve this, Jang Se-hyuk also studied Yoon Ha-na, as created by Kim Ji-yeon. Before filming, he watched Kim Ji-yeon's previous works and consistently discussed how to portray Yoon Ha-na on set. As the two actors researched each other's characters, their performances after the soul swap, as well as their sibling chemistry as Yoon Ha-na and Yoon Ha-ru, were naturally completed.In particular, their bickering whenever they meet resembles that of actual twin siblings. They playfully tease each other but think of each other first in moments of crisis. Kim Ji-yeon and Jang Se-hyuk playfully exchange these interactions, adding delightful fun to the drama.'Dive Into You,' in which Jang Se-hyuk is passionately performing, airs every Saturday and Sunday on Disney+ and Channel A. / Channel AAs such, Jang Se-hyuk has a significant role to play in one drama. He must embody the aspect of a judo athlete who has reached the pinnacle of the sport, and he must create a realistic sibling dynamic with Kim Ji-yeon. Furthermore, when Yoon Ha-na's soul enters his body, his tone of voice, facial expressions, and emotional expressions must all change. He navigates a wide range of emotions within a single character, from action and comedy to the emotional depth of romance.Jang Se-hyuk is showcasing his strengths by stably portraying these roles, making his status as a first-time lead actor seem insignificant. After debuting in 'High School Return of a Gangster' in 2023, he has steadily gained acting experience, appearing in 'Seoul Ghost Stories,' 'High School Return of a Gangster 2,' 'For the First Time,' and 'Pro Bono.'And through 'Dive Into You,' he has shouldered the weight of a leading role for the first time. While he showed his potential in relatively short roles in previous works, he is now carrying a character for an extended period, revealing the many faces he possesses as an actor.Of course, with only 4 episodes released so far, it is too early to evaluate Jang Se-hyuk's first leading role. As the story progresses, the situations and emotions that Yoon Ha-ru will face are expected to become more complex. He faces the challenge of stably portraying not only the cheerful demeanor shown in the early stages but also the deepening emotional arc that follows.Nevertheless, his performance thus far makes one curious about Jang Se-hyuk's future. This is because one can witness the various potentials of a rookie actor within a single work, from the judo scenes incorporating his real-life experience to the natural sibling acting with Kim Ji-yeon, and the soul-swapping that requires portraying another person inhabiting his body.The number 120:1 shows the fierce starting point Jang Se-hyuk went through to become Yoon Ha-ru. What matters now is not the competition ratio. It is about stepping out of the audition room and proving through his acting why he was chosen as Yoon Ha-ru for the role. And Jang Se-hyuk has shown ample potential to do so thus far.'Dive Into You' is released every Saturday and Sunday through Disney+ and Channel A.[Entertainment Department | 【2​]] subin7134@tf.co.krssent@tf.co.kr