WWD: Do you like summer? Yook Sungjae: Honestly, I prefer winter. Because I'm the type who can't handle the heat very well. But it's been a little different starting this year. I'm not sure if it's because my body has changed or because I went through such a harsh winter during filming, but I still can’t seem to shake off the cold from my body. Even these days, I sleep with a microfiber blanket. (laughs)

WWD: Thanks to all that hard work, <The Haunted Palace> is receiving a lot of enthusiastic responses. Yook Sungjae: You could say it’s the power of a strong finish, right? As the story heads into the latter half, it’ll get even more intense and interesting.

WWD: As Director Yoon Sungsik mentioned, the narrative of viewing ghosts as beings to be pitied is really intriguing. Yook Sungjae: Usually, ghosts are portrayed as villains or something that needs to be exorcised, right? But <The Haunted Palace> unravels the stories behind these vengeful spirits, showing why they became that way, and it portrays the process of them being healed through positive influence and eventually ascending. This kind of unique narrative is not only an interesting element, but also one of the reasons I chose to be part of this project.

WWD: Do you believe in the theory of innate goodness? Yook Sungjae: I think everyone has both good and evil at the same time. However, if I consider the weight of one’s nature, I tend to lean more toward the theory of innate evil

WWD: You played a dual role, switching between Kang Cheol who couldn’t become a dragon. and Yoon Gap. Personally, I was impressed by how delicately you expressed the complex emotions that arise whenever you face Yeori through your subtle facial expressions. Yook Sungjae: I really enjoy using my facial expressions a lot when I act. While delivering lines well is important, I believe that playful, serious, or bright facial expressions can actually serve as tools to amplify emotions even more. Actually, in the past, I was often told "don’t use too many facial expressions", but that felt like it was blocking the rawness of my acting inside. So this time, when playing the role of 'Kang Cheol', I tried to use facial expressions and acting more actively. The acting coaches told me that if my facial expressions are too exaggerated in close-ups or bust shots, it could distract the audience, but I actually tried to turn that into a positive synergy.

WWD: Through this project, did you discover anything new about yourself? Yook Sungjae: That even when things get really tough, if I have to do it, I’ll endure it in the end. (laughs)

WWD: This was your first historical drama, right? Yook Sungjae: Honestly, I never thought about taking on a historical drama. I had a vague sense of fear, and the thought that “it probably doesn’t suit me” always followed me around. But this time, I thought, “How long can I keep making excuses that I’m not ready?” So I decided to give it a shot at least once. As expected, it was really awkward at first. the hanbok felt unfamiliar, and the way of speaking was awkward too. The hanbok felt unfamiliar, and the speech style was awkward too. So I consistently took acting lessons and even asked around myself to meet with various coaches. To be honest, I’m not really the type who enjoys learning from others. But this time, while preparing, I ended up learning a lot, and through that process, my understanding of the genre deepened as well. Because of that, I think I started to enjoy acting in historical dramas.

WWD: In June, you have a solo album and concert activities planned. How do you feel about getting back on stage after a long time? Yook Sungjae: I’m really excited and looking forward to it. When you’ve been filming a drama for over half a year, you hardly get to meet people in person. That’s why the time spent on stage meeting fans face-to-face and exchanging energy feels truly special and precious to me. That’s a big source of motivation for me. When I’m on stage, I think, “Ah, this is why I’m a singer”. When my drama airs, I realize, “This is why I act”. And when I appear on variety shows, I feel, “This is why I do entertainment”. I still enjoy all my activities to this day.

WWD: What new side of yourself did you want to show in this album? Yook Sungjae: I wanted to show a slightly clearer, more refreshing vocal tone rather than my usual mid-to-low range. From YouTube and cover videos, I’ve noticed that many people like my voice, which is close to a falsetto, especially in songs like "Bansanka" and "Forget Me Now". So only recently did I realize that this vocal range and tone is what people like about my voice, and for this album, I worked with the intention of highlighting those high tones more and capturing the voice that people want to hear.

WWD: A refreshing vibe, sounds exciting Yook Sungjae: I feel the same way. I don’t know how long I can keep up that freshness though. (laughs) Before it’s too late, this time I want to fully show off my refreshing charm.