Jo Yeo-jung Adds Feather to Acting Cap with Psychopath Role

Since making her debut nearly 20 years ago, actressJo Yeo-junghas developed a cute, cheerful and loveable on-screen image. She added a seductive, sexy note to this range of charms with her appearance in films such as"The Concubine"and"The Servant". 

In the KBS2 drama"The Perfect Wife", which concluded its run last week,Jo Yeo-jungadded another feather to her acting cap, playing the frightening, antagonist role of a woman whose mad obsession with a man leads her down a path of violence. While outwardly appearing to be the perfect wife who maintains a meticulously perfect home, she is in fact prone to psychopathic behavior as a result of childhood abuse inflicted by her parents.

"The Perfect Wife"initially gained attention as a vehicle for starKo So-young's return to TV after 10 years. While the show's viewer ratings were disappointing,Jo Yeo-jung's turn as the obsessive woman didn't go unnoticed, garnering much praise. "It was such a great honor to act along with Ko, who was the biggest star on TV when I was growing up",Jo Yeo-jungsaid.

"To be honest, I didn't know the character would be this weird when I accepted the role", she said. "I'm actually quite laid back. I rarely get obsessed about things, I'm not the jealous type, and I don't regret much. So this role intrigued me a lot, and I was eager to take on the challenge of playing someone who is so completely different from myself".

"There weren't many examples that I could turn to as a reference, as my character was very much a social outlier. So I just reminded myself of all the bad people I've met in my life".

These days, it's not uncommon for the antagonist to grab more attention than the hero of a story. Some even say that if you want to be a star, you need to play a"Bad Guy". "It's probably because people get a vicarious thrill watching the antagonist do all the bad things that they aren't allowed to do",Jo Yeo-jungsaid.

But does playing such an intense character make it harder to choose her next project?Jo Yeo-jungsaid she doesn't worry about such things. "People around me were concerned when I once made a film that required a lot of nudity, but I wasn't bothered by it at all. As long as I remain true to my roles and commit to them with all my heart, then I think everything will be okay".