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[Interview] "Ruler: Master of the Mask" Yoo Seung-ho, "I look forward to my reward vacation"

Yoo Seung-ho is very upright. He turned down a special administration offer to college and he joined the military when he was 21. He's a good example for many and he's grown up well.

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Yoo Seung-ho starred in the MBC drama "Ruler: Master of the Mask" as Prince Yi Seon.

"Ruler: Master of the Mask" took 7 months to finish. It was longer than expected and Yoo Seung-ho thought he'd be happy once it was over. However, he says he misses being on site now that it's over. "I was hard but fun and I miss everyone. It's like this for every drama".

Yoo Seung-ho says he put a lot of effort in expression. He talked to his co-stars about details. He said, "When Yi Seon was a young man he was wearing a mask so he felt suffocated and guilty but when he was outside the palace he was energetic and joyful. I went back to being a little boy acting out this part. When he grew up, he hurt a lot as his mother and father passed away and the father of the woman I love lost her parents because of me. The mood of the drama went down several notches".

He claims he got a lot of help from those around him while making "Ruler: Master of the Mask". He remembers working with Huh Joon-ho the most. "I thought he'd be tougher on me. He told me if he did, my character would be more depressing. He told me to do as I wished and he would follow. I was grateful. The ending would have to be the prince sitting on the throne and Dae Mok being defeated".

Yoo Seung-ho left a strong impression with "Ruler: Master of the Mask" once again. He's not so much of 'the nation's little brother' anymore. "I am so happy people see me that way and I think it's all thanks to the way the drama flowed. I put in a lot of effort and many people around me helped to make it happen".

"I read all the comments. I look at them if the drama does well, but I don't see them if the drama isn't doing so well. I do that so that the comments don't influence me in my performance in the drama. I loved the comments that told me I 'act well'. It gave me a lot of strength. "Ruler: Master of the Mask" was a drama which allowed me to show who I really am. I couldn't help but feel anxious before that. I felt comfortable making "Ruler: Master of the Mask" and everyone who watched it also told me the same thing".

"Ruler: Master of the Mask" stayed in first place and put up a good fight for MBC. Yoo Seung-ho mentioned 'reward vacation'. "I heard "Ruler: Master of the Mask" was one of the most successful dramas in MBC recently. I thought MBC might send us on a reward vacation, but I am just happy that the drama did so well".

"Ruler: Master of the Mask" was a ray of sun for Yoo Seung-ho. "The Joseon Magician" and "Barefoot Ki-bong" failed terribly. He said he worried that "Ruler: Master of the Mask" wouldn't do so well either but it helped him quench his thirst. "I did worry about the results. If the director is the captain, I am in first class and it puts a lot of weight on my shoulders. If things didn't work out, it would have seemed like my fault.

Yoo Seung-ho has been in movies and dramas continuously and he said he won't be in medieval anymore. "The costumes and wigs are so heavy. I don't think I'll want to be in another medieval for a couple of years".

Yoo Seung-ho debuted in the year 2000 drama "Stickleback Fish" and he's on his eighteenth year. "I think it's become a daily life for me. I have never thought of acting as 'work'. When I was young I did it because my parents made me do it but it's just become daily for me. It's fun and I am comfortable with it. I strive myself to do better every day".

"I feel happy when ever single cut is put together to make a final big piece. When that big piece is successful and I get good reactions to it, I feel even better. It's very addictive; this acting job".

If Yoo Seung-ho hadn't started acting, what would he be doing? I would be at school, being very ordinary. It's not like I have a knack for sports and I'm not that smart so I wouldn't have a job too".

It became a big issue when Yoo Seung-ho gave up university. He says he doesn't regret it. He claims he doesn't like studying. "A few reasons I didn't go to college was because I didn't like studying and if I go, someone else would have to be dropped. I'd rather give the chance to someone who really wants it. However, reports didn't mention that I said I didn't like studying and made me look good. I just don't like studying. I did that while I worked in junior and high school but it was tough".

"For example, in Ilsan, there aren't many cars in Ilsan so when I am waiting for a light, I wonder if I have to wait until the 'walk' sign comes on. But then again, I worry that someone might take a picture and say, "This is who he really is". I don't know what's right or wrong. I have to be happy and I'm 25. I want to be comfortable with my life. As long as I don't break the law, I want to be able to cross the street when the light is still red".

He doesn't have any SNS. "I just can't put up a selfie and write a cheesy comment about the weather. I don't like taking pictures. I don't mind having my picture taken but I just don't. I take pictures for proof like when I'm telling my mother where I am. My friends don't take pictures to. I don't think a lot of guys take pictures".

Yoo Seung-ho says he doesn't have celebrity friends. He likes playing computer games, snooker and bowling with his friends. He has a friend who farms so he helps with that too. "I enjoy driving my friend's truck around and enjoying a quiet dinner with music. It's a great thing to be with your friends".

He says 'work' is the biggest concern on his mind right now. "I've been praised so much for "Ruler: Master of the Mask" so I'm afraid I won't be able to do better in the next drama. I worry about what I'll be doing next. I feel anxious about the next thing when I have only just finished "Ruler: Master of the Mask"".

Yoo Seung-ho says he takes many people's thoughts into consideration when he chooses a drama. He says, "No one knows what a few words on paper will turn out like on camera. It's like gambling but you have to enjoy it and do your best. I think choosing a scenario that reads well and suits me well is the most important thing".

He mentioned what he would like to do next. He would like to be bad now. "I think it's very appealing, meeting a tragic end because of my evilness. I would like to try many different roles".

"I wish people enjoy what I do and the characters I perform. I don't need to be famous, but I would like people to enjoy what I do. That's my priority, to be a good actor and having people like it regardless of popularity".

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