Michieda, humble heartthrob, thanks Korea for success of 'Even if This Love'

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Michieda, humble heartthrob, thanks Korea for success of 'Even if This Love'

Published: 25 Jan. 2023, 15:50 Updated: 25 Jan. 2023, 18:50

Japanese actor Shunsuke Michieda, who stars in “Even If This Love Disappears from the World,” poses during a press conference held at CGV Yongsan in central Seoul on Wednesday. [YONHAP]

Shunsuke Michieda was in town to thank Korea for making “Even if This Love Disappears from the World Tonight,” in which he stars, a smash hit.

“If I was told that our film would be doing as well as it is in Korea a year ago, I would not have believed it. I am very happy and honored,” the 20-year-old Osaka native said.

“Even if This Love Disappears from the World Tonight” (2022) — a romantic fantasy drama about a promise, eventually broken, not to fall in love — follows "Love Letter" (1995) and "Ju-on: The Grudge" (2002) in the rankings of Japanese films in Korea.

Japanese actor Shunsuke Michieda speaks with a translator during a press conference held at CGV Yongsan in central Seoul on Wednesday. [YONHAP]

During a press conference on Wednesday held at CGV Yongsan in central Seoul, which was jam packed with swarms of his fans, Michieda said he wants to work with Korean actors and directors in the future and is very honored for all the support from Korean fans he has received.

“I heard that ‘Even if This Love Disappears from the World Tonight’ is the first movie in a long while that has broken box office records in Korea,” he said Michieda. “I am very grateful for all the attention and support. This was possible because of director Takahiro Miki’s artistry, my fellow cast and all the staff members who worked on the film.”

On Korean dramas and films, Michieda told the press that he doesn’t have too much time to watch a lot of films, but that he enjoys Korean dramas and that he wants to work with actor Song Kang.

Shunsuke Michieda and Riko Fukumoto in "Even if This Love Disappears from the World Tonight" [HOLY GARDEN]

“I look up to Song a lot and hope to work with him one day,” he said. “I also know that more Korean-Japanese collaborations are happening and more films from Japanese novels are being adapted by Korean directors. I read a lot of manga and don’t have much time to read novels, but I would like to play a wider scope of roles that perhaps conflict with my own image — maybe cops or office workers too.”

Regarding the massive success of “Even if This Love Disappears from the World Tonight,” which is nearing one million moviegoers in the Korean box office this week 57 days after opening, Michieda expressed his surprise and more gratitude.

“I didn’t have a chance to talk to the director or the other cast members about the success of our film over here, but I think when we come to it the atmosphere of our conversations will be lifted greatly because of the news,” Michieda said. “I am so very thankful for all the Korean fans writing reviews and comments on social media and supporting our film.”

Japanese actor Shunsuke Michieda speaks during a press conference held at CGV Yongsan in central Seoul on Wednesday. [YONHAP]

Michieda claimed that he and his character Toru have about “60 percent” similar traits and “synchronization” and that he related a lot with the role he was playing.

“Toru is someone who is very acute to other people’s emotions and wants to do things for others,” said Michieda. “I think I am also like that. I want to do so much for my fans and give back for the love and support I have received. In that way, Toru and I are very similar. But he is also someone who is very good at things like household chores and cooking, and I am regrettably not very good at those things, so I would say we are 60 percent similar.”

Michieda was surrounded by fans when arriving at Gimpo International Airport on Tuesday, and expressed his thanks for Korean and international fans during the press conference.

“It was exactly one year ago today that I was in the first table reading for the script of ‘Even if This Love Disappears from the World Tonight,’” said Michieda.

“Even if This Love Disappears from the World Tonight” is playing in theaters across Korea.

BY LIM JEONG-WON [lim.jeongwon@joongang.co.kr]