Subtitles by OnDemandKorea
I'm MC Yoo Hee-yeol.
I'm MC Haha.
I'm writer Jo Seung-yeon.
(Jo Seung-yeon?)
(First time seeing him)
(Raising his hand) SHINee's Key, I'm a chicken of the idols.
(If he's an idol, he's an idol. Why chicken?)
Heo Sung-tae, I'm a new actor at age 40.
Oh! Wait...
(New actor at age 40 NG)
(Nervous) I'm sorry.
(Snort Hahahahah)
(Sweating)
From the start...
The courageous ones have come out to talk.
Wednesday. On Wednesday nights...
Busking with words!
As I say!
From even before starting,
You're so nervous.
You're going to faint.
We didn't even start.
You're sweating so much.
You said '40' and 'new actor.'
But those two don't go well together.
Are you a new actor?
I think people should call you 'Teacher'...
I hear it at times.
I thought you were the director of JTBC.
(Aged looks)
He's so nervous.
You must be really nervous.
You're too nervous.
Let's hold hands together.
(Holding hands)
We need to become less tense.
(Nervousness go away)
Why is your hand so sweaty?
(Seriously)
This is As I Say's 4th meeting.
We go out to the streets to do busking with talking, right?
Every corner from Seoul to Jeju.
We find things to talk about on the streets.
I introduce to you the talker team that will be busking today.
This person really knows a lot.
I heard when he starts talking, he can't stop.
I think I know who it is.
I'm already getting tired.
He's the language culture professional
and "Total Intelli" that is proficient in a variety of fields.
It's the best seller writer Jo Seung-yeon.
What courage have you come out with today?
Wherever you leave me,
I talk.
Even if I'm sitting still.
But if I go somewhere and keep talking,
people are amused at first.
"Wow, so cool!"
"There are such stories?"
But when about 20 minutes pass,
people stop listening.
So I always have to keep looking for new people who will listen to me.
This is the perfect place.
I know!
We go out to the streets!
It's my show!
That's why I came.
(A program fit for Jo Seung-yeon)
I heard he's a genius.
I know. He speaks 7 languages.
I wandered around a lot in my twenties.
So I went from country to country.
I lived in the U.S. for about 10 years,
3~4 years in France,
and 2 months in Italy.
That's how I learned 3 languages.
And while I was studying history,
I had to read a lot of documents.
So I learned Chinese and German just so I could read.
While we're at it,
we want to learn a little too.
There's that one phrase that you can say
and the natives there think you know what you're doing.
If we mix in slang,
you seem like a native.
There's something the French use often.
There's a phrase called "Je m'en fous."
What this means...
is "I don't care!"
This phrase means "I'm not interested"
and it symbolizes the chic on your path to France.
If someone says, "Hey! We're in trouble!"
But you hold a cup of espresso,
stay like this,
and say "Je me'n fous."
(So Chic)
That's amazing.
Do you have to say it like that?
Yeah, it's important.
If the phrase is short,
you have to make your facial expression or gestures as similar to a native.
You need to roll your eyes a little.
Je m'en fous.
You seem drunk, Haha!
(Sorry, sorry)
Okay, that's French. Let's go to Italian.
With Italy...
It's Ke**...
It comes out in a lot of Italian movies.
If someone is talking a lot,
Ke***.
You know that, right?
I saw that so often!
This is to emphasize something.
In Italy, you see them saying "Senorita! Margarita!"
(Senorita is Spanish...) Senorita, Margarita.
If you translate that to Korean,
It means ****.
That's what you taught us just now?
But in Italy,
even when they hear something really good,
and when they hear something really bad, they say that
and it works.
I think I know what you're talking about.
Can you speak any foreign languages, Sung-tae?
I majored in Russian.
(Unexpected gain)
Thank you!
Wow.
Thank you.
You were just sitting there.
There was a professional at Russian!
Teach us a Russian phrase.
Ah... Yes... Uh...
(Ah... Yes... Uh... is Russian?)
If you just know, "Jebusika Grasiba"
it means, "You're very beautiful."
(What a great phrase)
Grasi~ba.
No, not Siba.
(It's just Russian, please don't misunderstand)
Idol group SHINee's vocal,
entertainment show MC, musical,
and even dramas!
He's conquered a variety of things.
The almighty key.
Key!
You're so busy these days.
You come out whenever I turn on the TV.
Drama filming is what's busiest.
Yeah, "Drinking Solo."
He's getting really big.
(Plays the rich student Ki-bum role in "Drinking Solo")
(Rises as a top idol actor with great acting)
With Key,
I ran into you a lot when you were young.
We kept meeting.
He lived in our dorm.
In the same apartment.
They lived under me.
You always carried around your bath basket.
So not sexy.
(Sexiness missing) So not sexy!
You went to saunas.
Did you not drink banana milk?
A pink towel was on top of it.
A scrub towel.
(This is not it)
That's why you're so pale.
It's not a bath basket!
I go work out every morning.
Every morning...
I need to do some weights.
Otherwise I feel tired!
That's when I always ran into him!
So I always asked him to come over and eat.
Next.
("Third Busker") From being an office worker
to a high-income
new actor.
He got slapped nonstop at the movie 'The Age of Shadows.'
The 40-year-old new actor who's been receiving much spotlight.
Heo Sung-tae.
Yeah, I watched 'The Age of Shadows.'
All I heard is that he was the one who got slapped by Song Kang-ho.
I couldn't watch the movie.
What does that mean?
By the main character Lee Jung-chool played by Song Kang-ho,
He knew the information that he shouldn't have known.
So he slaps me to change the atmosphere.
In 'The Age of Shadows.'
But I carefully suggested for that scene.
Oh, to be slapped?
Yeah. I convinced them over 3~4 days
and on the first day,
he said, "Why would I slap your face? That's immature."
Did he just imitate him?
No, no, no.
No, I just wanted to explain the situation in detail. (So fun teasing him)
Yes.
But Kang-ho asked the director for me.
When I went to film,
the director came to me
and said, "You might get slapped today."
(Sung-tae's suggestion had been accepted)
I just said, "That's okay."
- But inside, I was... - Great!
How did it feel when you got slapped?
I was really happy.
Oh really?
I'm not a pervert!
I'm Sung-tae.
(Pervert Joke)
I'm sorry. I'm sorry.
(Just my style)
I'm not a pervert. I'm Sung-tae. (A pun)
Can we ask you in detail what you did before becoming an actor?
At the electronic company, I was a marketing employee
who exported TVs to Russia.
At my second job,
that was a big company too and I did subsidiary management.
It was a huge company.
Then...
People are dying to work at places like that.
When I was about 35...
I went home after a company dinner
and I was watching TV, a little drunk...
And a number popped up and said, "We are recruiting actors."
I always wanted to act since I was young.
And that dream started coming back up when I was drunk.
So being a little drunk...
From the day I applied...
It's a company where we really work like a family.
It's a really great job. (The audition program he applied for)
I'm sad to leave it but to do what I want to do more...
Did you win the program?
Yeah, I finished as 5th place.
(Crazy)
That's not easy.
He began something new at my age.
Can we see the acting you showed on there?
It's the last scene by Choi Min-sik on "Old Boy."
The last scene? This?
That's really hard.
(A scene where Choi Min-sik finds out about Mi-do's identity and goes to Yoo Ji-tae)
(Getting into it)
I'm gonna do it.
(Changed eyes)
If you...
tell Mi-do that I'm her father...
then you...
won't be able to find your own dead body. Why?
(Chills)
Because I'm going to chew on your whole body!
- Oh, wow. - I'm scared.
I got chills.
Such an introverted guy.
I stuttered at the end.
(The best) No, still!
Your acting... Wow.
When did you realize that you have this talent in you?
It's embarrassing saying something like this in front of SHINee...
(Why?) In middle and high school...
I really loved dancing.
(Dance?!)
What is this?
Dance, all of a sudden?
You jumped topics all of a sudden!
You wanted to be an idol?
A little bit.
In middle school.
I was the top dancer at my school.
Dance king!
What kind of dance?
Seo Taiji and Boys.
Deuce.
Can we see a little bit of it?
A round of applause!
(Let's see the new actor's dancing)
Music, start!
(Seems a little hesitant)
(But gets up right away)
(My body remembers it)
(Forget the nervous Sung-tae)
(Dang it!)
(Dance king wave)
(Falling into him)
(Dizzy)
So cool!
(The last hidden card)
(Ouch)
(Emergency)
(Remembers the dance but lost flexibility)
(He gave his all)
What role did you play from Seo Taiji and Boys?
Taiji.
(Heo Sung Taiji)
(The one word that shows the Dance King's pride)
(Satisfied)
He always had the talent in him.
And a guy like that was trying to stay quiet at an office.
This is crazy.
It was so hard.
So funny. So funny.
"Taiji" was so funny.
After going around once,
I really feel like we're one team now.
We need to leave for our 4th busking now.
For our 4th talking,
we'll be going to the street on Konkuk University.
Yes. That red door back there is the word door.
(Cool) When we open the word door,
we'll be teleporting to Konkuk University right away.
(Must go through the word door!)
Do we really have to do this in 2016?
(Ah too bright!)
(Ahhhhhh!)
(Sung-tae safely goes through too)
(Ah....)
Ah, so dizzy!
(The 5 who have been sucked in)
(Will they arrive safely?)
(The word door appears)
(Crash, crackle)
(Arrives at the talking street at an unbelievable speed)
You guys are good.
(It's 'As I Say'!)
We're used to it now.
Have you been here before?
No, I live in Shindae-bang.
He gives such unexpected answers.
He's so nervous.
Since it's around a university, there are a lot of young people.
Everyone is waiting.
Shall we go?
Let's go!
There's no door this time?
- No. - Just go.
(Once is enough)
I don't think they know our--
You don't know our program, right?
We know!
Thank you.
Please tell your friends.
"As I Say." On your social media.
(Moving to the waiting area)
It's because I'm desperate.
I'm too desperate.
Then before we start, set list.
The order is really important.
We have to set an order for the busking.
Honestly, we'll confess.
We set it however we want.
He's right.
(That's how it was?) We just went with our guts.
But today, we'll make it freestyle.
- I'll do it. - Wow!
It's better to get beat first.
They say to strike the iron while it's hot.
I'll just finish it
and as the relaxed one who's already done, I want to enjoy others' busking.
If I met you outside of this,
you'd be the style that I love and follow the most.
Really?
Really.
You met a great team.
Sometimes, I just want to be still.
(The really needed friend)
- I love-- - It feels like a generator.
(My style)
What do you think, Sung-tae?
Please.
Save me.
I want to watch everyone do it--
Then should I go next?
His hands are so sweaty!
Good. Then,
We'll set the line-up as Seung-yeon, Key, and then Sung-tae.
Please prepare accordingly.
But Seung-yeon.
What's your busking strategy?
You're the first one
so it's important.
When I was studying abroad in U.S. and Europe, what I was most jealous of was
that busking happens so naturally.
I'd be walking by the river
and someone would be drinking wine.
Then he says, "Do you want a drink?"
Then I take it.
Then we start talking about the book he's reading.
Conversations happen naturally like that and 5~6 people gather
and talk all night about what life is.
So I want to try that in Korea today.
So if you look,
there's a picnic set.
Oh, that's what it is?
Yes.
It wasn't our snacks?
There's baguette here...
Wine glasses.
What are these documents?
Why do you have your family's slave ownership documents?
So my outfit too...
is the outfit of the relaxed people by the river.
I prepared a trench coat and a hat too.
I'll start with my outfit first.
I'm not worried.
I think he could enjoy it fully by himself too.
I really wanted to say this from earlier.
I think you love showing off.
I lived my life by showing off.
You admit that?
What are you doing then?
Get out.
Yes, I should.
Going out just like that?
Just like that.
(Trench coat on)
He's changing!
I'm gonna go then.
Yes, good luck!
(First busker Jo Seung-yeon sets out)
What a cool guy.
I don't know if that fits our country's culture.
(Jo Seung-yeon enters the talking street)
He's out.
(Paris style)
It looks so weird.
(So weird)
(What is that?)
(Enters the busking zone without hesitation)
The weather's great, right?
(Cold)
(Typhoon 'Chaba' enters Korea on the day of filming)
Why is such a good spot on a day like this open?
(Culture shock)
What is that?
I’m embarrassed for the first time.
I've never seen someone so shameless.
He's totally my style.
(Sets up his picnic on the street)
Fall is the season of reading, right?
He's amazing.
People are looking at him as if he's acting.
Sitting mat.
(What is this...)
(Is this imitation art...?)
We're doing a picnic together!
(Perfect set-up with sitting mats too)
He took off his coat.
(Using his coat as a sitting mat too)
They're looking as if they're watching an art show.
- They're looking because they're curious. - At least he grabbed their attention.
But no one is coming in to sit.
(Baguette and wine glasses set up) The props are coming out.
Come sit!
(Join me) Really!
Now look.
- Wow! - They're sitting!
Yes, come sit.
(Picnic gathering success right away)
Students are the fastest.
Are we getting close to the French culture?
Wow, the busking culture is settling in!
(Sat down but embarrassed)
(Amused)
(The busking culture blooming in front of Konkuk University!)
(Cozy)
(Youth is great...)
(Completely adjusted)
We've never done a busking like this.
It looks great.
I'm really curious what he's going to say.
Hello, I'm writer Jo Seung-yeon.
(Excited)
The weather is great today too
and I love reading outdoor.
I just read an amazing poem.
It's amazing.
What is this poem?
"Sky, Land."
"Present, Sulfur." It's great.
Your faces are saying, "What is he saying?"
What I want to talk about with you today is...
"I make my life's line."
How do I change the line that I could go in one ear, out the other
to be a line that changes my life?
I came out to talk about that with you.
You can sit here and enjoy the grape juice and baguette.
And I will get up and begin my busking.
(With the start of busking announced)
(People begin gathering right away)
Look at the people gathering!
(Wow)
(How cool)
So many people came.
When I was young too,
my mom told me to learn Chinese.
But I didn't. Because it's boring.
Why is it boring?
Saying it like "Sky, land, present, sulfur" is boring.
Then this line that we thought to be boring Chinese learning-
let's chew on it together.
"The colors of the sky and the earth."
The sky is black, the land is yellow.
Close your eyes.
I'm floating.
In front of my sight is a black sky where there is nothing around me.
And there's a yellow land.
There's nothing.
No tree, no grass, no sun, no moon.
How lonely is that?
In that lonely environment, what will the poet's next line be?
"The space is vast and desolate."
It's such an obvious and sentimental line
but instead of learning language like this,
we were just trying to memorize it.
That's why we forgot to engrave lines into our hearts.
Let's look at the next line. In that vast land and space,
how are we to live? It comes out next.
It says, "Sun, moon, consistent, essence."
The sun and moon rising and setting are consistent
and the stars circle around consistently.
Easily put, the space is desolate
but we can live dependent on time because time is consistent.
It's a poem that says such amazing things!
That was a poem?
And then it tells us how to live.
When cold leaves, the heat comes.
We harvest in fall and store in winter.
It tells us how the humankind that was wandering out in the vast space,
when we began
and how we came to live, creating neighborhoods, houses, and people relationships.
It's a great poem that helps us imagine that.
But when we read when we were young, we learned it like so:
"Who is the main character of this book?"
"Who is the narrator of this book?"
"Choose one from 1~4."
Through repeating that,
we lost being able to engrave writings into our hearts.
But fortunately, due to a opportunity given to me,
I regained this.
(Curious)
I grew up in a pretty wealthy family.
I'm the son of an orchard in the countryside.
Orchard family, brewery family, rice family.
Coal family. All those families were well-off.
So I grew up wealthy and went to study abroad
but IMF occurred.
So we were wealthy but our family goes bankrupt.
My dad calls.
We can't pay for your tuition this semester.
I lived in dorms so if I don't pay tuition,
I get kicked out and become homeless.
What do I do?
"I can't send you allowance either."
Oh no.
Dad, then...
I'll go back to Korea and help you.
"Ah, about plane ticket..."
"We can't buy that at the moment either."
So I became a missing child oversea.
But I had a friend named Beddie.
He's Iranian.
His uncle...
sold Iranian carpet to Americans
and he needed a part-time employee.
Oh, great!
I went to him.
He said if I work, he'll feed me and give me a place to sleep.
But the job was easier than I thought.
At the time Brooklyn only had junkyards and containers.
I kept carpets in one of those containers.
Since the carpets are really expensive,
he just told me to sleep inside the container.
I just had to do that.
His food and shelter got taken care of.
But it's a container.
It's easy but hard.
I fell from the position of a student in a New York university
to a container boy.
It was really hard.
It was so, so hard.
I thought, "Why is it so hard?"
There was no culture.
At times, Dad would gather money
and would send me $100~200 over 2 months.
And I thought about how I could use that long-term and concluded this:
His food and shelter is taken care of.
How much are movies?
About $10, right?
And how many hours do I spend with $10 at the theater?
- Two hours. - About two hours.
Why do I keep answering?
(So into it)
Generally around 2 hours.
Movies are about 1.5 hours.
But...
If I buy a book,
with $10,
I can play for 5 hours.
Another thing I thought at that time was...
if I buy a hard book,
Hard books are cheaper at used book stores.
For example, books like Da Vinci Code are fun
so a used one would be about $7.
But books like Kant's Critique of Pure Reason
are 35 cents and I get a German dictionary with that for free too.
- Because they don't sell. - The harder they are.
Yeah, they don't sell.
So tat that time,
I bought books like those
and read them in the container.
I started reading.
Because I had nothing to do.
In the midst of that,
I found an amazing poem.
It's not the Chinese character one this time.
"If the sky and sea are black as ink's black rancor,
our hearts, as you must know, are filled with light!
Heaven or Hell, who cares?
Into the Unknown's depths, to find the new!"
(Poem by Bauldelaire)
When I first read it, I was like, "What is he saying?"
But there was no TV or anything so I just kept reading that poem over and over.
And something clicked in my head.
I split life into Heaven and Hell.
I thought going to a good university and studying was heaven
and being in the container was hell.
The life of the wealthy is heaven
and those who are not are in hell.
I realized I only categorized things in life as good or bad.
But what does Baudelaire say here?
Why does it matter if it's heaven or hell?
Only if I could find new things in the unknown!
As I thought about that poem in my head,
I opened the container and went out to the Brooklyn beach.
Like a movie with Al Pacino,
there are old containers and junkyards lined up on one side.
The Brooklyn Bridge is over my head.
And across the Hudson River,
there's Wall Street's Sky Line.
The place that I almost went to and couldn't go is so close in sight.
He talks in so much detail.
I feel like I'm watching a movie.
As I was looking at that,
my life began to change.
I didn't just pass by that one line
but I engraved it onto my heart and changed my perspective.
That started to change my life.
They say we live in a flood of information.
Your coworker gives you advice, your mom gives you advice.
And when you go to PT, even your trainer gives you advice.
But since you're hearing so much advice,
you don't want to hear it.
So we developed a self-defense mechanism against that.
Do you know how we express that?
We say it's "cringing"
or that it's "cheesy."
If someone tries to touch upon your emotions,
we say, "That makes me cringe!"
"So cheesy! Why would you say that?"
What is that cringing? Your body is shaking and your skin is reacting to it.
We say it's cringing and goose bumps right now
but what did they call that before?
We called it the "Poetic shiver."
When you make those goose bumps and cringing
100% mine!
Your life changes.
From today,
when we look at cringing passages, shows, and lines,
let's change the word in our heads.
Let's not think it's cringing and cheesy
but think, "Let me throw myself into the poetic shiver."
You're living the same life
and sleeping in the same container
but that place could be the home to a bohemian poet instead of a container.
From today, let's not use words like "cringing" and "cheesy"
and let's jump into poetic shivers.
With that,
I will e-e-e-end my busking here!
Thank you!
(Even his ending is unique)
E-e-e-end!
So cool.
Q&A! I'm so curious.
What I felt from listening to you is you've tasted the wealthy life
and you also experienced the hard and unfortunate life.
Is there something you want to say to the young generation of today?
That's what's the hardest.
No matter what you say, it just becomes nagging.
That's so true.
He got it right on point!
He's really an amazing person.
Because... I wasn't born in the 21st century.
So no matter what I say,
I want to say to filter it in your own way.
This is how I lived my life.
When I'm walking and there's an obstacle,
then I think, "This must not be my road."
So I go back.
Then I try a different road.
So more than saying things like, "Challenge yourselves! Overcome!"
I want to say that when I tried various things and found what really fits me,
the road suddenly becomes easier.
If you ask scientists why they study stars,
they say it's because stars are pretty.
Star (Byul) is pretty.
(Wife, are you watching?)
So if I know what's beautiful in myself,
what's cool inside,
if I find that one thing that fits my life,
you can overcome the hardship when going down that path.
Nietzsche once said--
"He who has a 'why' to live for can bear almost any 'how.'"
I believe that 'why' comes to us as 'beauty.'"
(So good)
He did too great...
Don't worry. Everyone has their own style.
Like you said,
there was a time I accepted something people thought was cheesy as something so great.
But to other people,
it's something cheesy.
I want to share that with others.
So what should you do?
They say like attracts like.
It's a quote I love most.
Honestly, I have a unique style too.
I'm not all that ordinary.
So of course, even at school, people would say, "What's wrong with him?"
But there are about 50 students in a class, right?
From that 50,
the ones that will actually be my friend
is either 1 or 0.
I went to elementary school for 6 years
and I only keep in touch with 1 from then.
That means I got 1 person from 6 classes.
So that's how I see it.
There are 50 but not all of them have to understand me
and I will find the 1 person who will understand me.
That's what I think.
And know that you can find people on the street who really connect with you.
It was great. Thank you!
(First busking ends)
I'm so pressured now.
Do it in your own style.
Ki-bum, don't worry!
(Nervous)
('As I Say' busking donations are distributed to meaningful donations)
He's here!
(Our writer)
You're so awesome!
I didn't know you were so handsome earlier.
You're so handsome.
I want to know more.
The anxiety...
is crazy.
I was so touched.
The first one to go has it the hardest.
But the picnic thing worked a little at first.
That was so shocking to me.
How does that work?
Thankfully, the young people in front of Konkuk University
must've related a little to what I talked about.
Thankfully.
Singers perform with songs
but you performed with words.
Okay.
The sun is setting and it's slowly getting dark.
It's getting there.
Key's been on many stages but it's probably his first on a stage like this.
- Yeah. -Key.
What are you doing?
Huh?
Get out!
I'll be back.
(Second Busker Key sets out)
Let me give you a hug.
Don't worry, Ki-bum.
Fighting!
Get energy from him.
Positive energy.
(Citizens who are still on their spot) One of my worries...
is that he's SHINee's Key.
So I'm worried that they're waiting for a star.
So Key might get a little shocked at first too.
(Will the crowd give a listen to what Key has to say?)
(Awkward awkward)
(The crowd gets excited at the sight of Key)
Hello!
(As soon as he says hi...)
(The crowd runs up)
Wait, wait, I'm going to sit here.
(Automatic gathering just with a hello)
I'm going to sit right here.
Wow.
Them running up...
Wow.
It's so different from Seung-yeon's.
Wow.
He's a star.
That's the power of an idol.
(Real-time experience of an idol's power)
Yes, let me say hello again.
I'm SHINee's Key, currently on the drama 'Drinking Solo'
and back with a new SHINee album!
What I want to say before I start talking...
I'm sure some of you know my age
but I'm only 26
so I am not at all in a place...
to give you a direction in life or anything like that.
It'll be a short time but I hope you enjoy what I have to share.
Shall I start?
(Yes)
You have great reactions.
(Honey-dripping reactions)
While doing an interview,
a reporter once said this to me:
that me, and our team, is like a swan.
I asked, "What does that mean?"
and he said that we seem like birds in a beautiful pond,
swimming beautifully with inborn talents that we have.
Inborn?
I went home and thought about it.
Has anyone ever said you're naturally great at singing?
No.
Dance?
No.
Face?
Not at all!
Height?
Not that either.
Talking? No.
I still don't get how I became a celebrity.
Really.
Then, since I was compared to a swan,
what other birds are there that fit me?
While thinking that,
with no other reasons,
I don't like or dislike this bird.
I realized I'm like a chicken.
Myself.
Let me start from how I began this job.
I really wanted to do this since I was young
and I wanted to convince my parents before it was too late.
So before I turned 15,
I told my parents
and they were against it
but they eventually let me.
At the time, there were
phone auditions, letter auditions,
mail auditions...
And going in person.
Phone auditions are where you sing over the phone.
If you were good at singing, they call you to come in.
I never got a call back.
I didn't get a reply for mail auditions either.
Letter auditions too, of course.
I went to Seoul with my mom for auditions in person
but didn't get it.
And I went on the national tour audition that year
and I passed that one, at age 15.
Now that I hear about it,
it was 8,000:1.
It's still a mystery how I got it.
I never got to hear why.
No, it's because it's you.
My life was pretty smooth.
I was admitted as a trainee at age 15
and debuted when I was 18.
I achieved my dream in 3 years.
While respecting my seniors.
Even until then, I thought we were a swan.
But...
I ran into reality as soon as I debuted.
Why?
"Report card."
You ate that word, right?
It's horrifying.
At the time, there was a report card for celebrities.
What is it?
Celebrity search rank.
That was a report card for celebrities
and I was always 5th.
Always.
I'm talking from the 5 members. Not that I was rank 5.
(Always last place from SHINee members)
I felt so doubtful from that.
I was rank 2,120 or something.
I was in the 4,000s too.
You know what's funnier?
Two below me was Yoon Jong-shin.
No matter how much harder I tried, there wasn't much feedback or reactions
and the results were bad.
So I lived like a machine.
In the midst of that,
I was so jealous of other members
and I had to follow after the swans
so I copied what the swans were doing.
And as time passed by,
I found myself, a chicken,
in a beautiful pond with swans swimming around me.
I was so incompetent.
I admitted it for the first time then.
I admitted for the first time-- Wait, this is my cheat sheet.
After spending 2 years like that,
I wanted to prove my worth to many people as a chicken.
Again, some of you may know,
but I love fashion.
I was always really interested in fashion since I was little.
I started buying in a lot of clothes.
People said I was crazy but I thought that was valuable.
I bought clothes
and I styled it in really peculiar ways.
I was confident that if such a professional field approves of me
and my company hears that,
that they would believe me.
Without a doubt, they did hear about me
and I began to get individual work.
Magazine work,
fashion launching events...
So slowly I began to be recognized by the public.
And the very first homework I had to solve was:
how could I work the most like a chicken?
I told my company that I want to design stage outfits.
To design SHINee's concert outfits.
My company first said yes.
And then planned a meeting with the CEO.
What should I prepare to do it like a chicken?
I didn't want to go there as a celebrity and pretend to be all that.
So I prepared a PowerPoint.
Like this, the general purpose and concepts of my outfits...
and the identity I want us to portray.
Budget,
time,
direction, etc.
I wrote them down and reported it to the CEO.
Wow, look at him.
If he said no to even one of these,
I prepared many things to convince him somehow
but thankfully, he said OK to all of them.
Later, he liked it
and requested me two more times.
As a part.
I say it's the best case scenario for a chicken.
And another thing I want to share with you is...
is about 'Drinking Solo' that many of you watch these days.
After I was cast
and I got the script book,
I could so clearly imagine the character of Ki-bum in my head.
As soon as I read one episode.
With an accent and a straight bang cut,
a rich character who owns tons of sweats and is from the countryside.
It passed by in my head.
But the script was in Seoul accent
and that was just in my head.
When we went for a meeting,
I prepared two versions.
A Seoul version
and an accent version.
But I really wanted to act it in an accent
but sorry to the writer but I did the Seoul one really badly on purpose.
And I went crazy for the accent one, saying "I'll cut your throat!"
I changed the words on my own.
And the writer really liked it
and said it seemed like I was adding more life onto the character.
She said she'll let me do what I want to do
but that the lines will keep coming out in Seoul accent.
She said to change it myself.
So even today, I need to go home and change them.
There are no words such as "I don't like you."
So I need to go change it to "I really hate you."
That's what being a chicken means, in my opinion.
That's what's like a chicken. That's who I am.
The reason I talk about this...
to every career,
there are swans and chickens.
What I find to be the saddest thing
isn't a chicken chasing after a swan
and dying before he could become a swan.
It's that a chicken dies without being able to live like a chicken.
I think that's so sad.
Even for a day, I wanted to live and work as I am
and I thought that gave me enough competence
and that's how I'm still working a lot.
There are so many people who are much better looking than me
and so many who are taller than me.
So, so many people who are better at singing and dancing than me.
Especially the younger ones.
Anyways,
I thought me living as who I am was what gave me competence.
So I believe I created a "chicken ground."
Just because I live like this
doesn't mean I can tell you to live like this.
I just wanted to share with you my story.
In the midst of your daily life,
when you're tired,
remember that I'm always trying my best to show you great things
and know that there are celebrities who think this way.
If you could just do that, I'll be really thankful.
I'm going to continue to live as a celebrity like a chicken
and if you help me out,
I think I can do great.
Thank you.
(Key's honest story like a chicken)
(Great job)
(Awesome)
Is there anything I missed?
(Checking his cheat sheet)
Oh, I want to say this!
You see my eyebrow here, right?
I didn't do this on purpose.
It's a scar.
(A scar from childhood)
I used to fill this in before.
But no matter what I did, it didn't look like a real eyebrow.
But after I decided to live like a chicken
in the chicken ground,
I began to not fill it in.
Isn't it okay even if there's a little empty space?
(Isn't it okay even if there's a little empty space?)
Wow, that's awesome.
I think it's okay even if you don't fill everything in.
Even if you don't have everything,
I think it's okay if I just keep my place here.
This is my life's map and my life's signature.
It's easier if I think that way.
I'm done talking now
and I'll take questions from you now.
If you have a question, please raise your hand.
Hearing you talk from earlier,
it seems like you place a lot of weight onto what you find valuable.
Is there anything you do for yourself that you find to be valuable?
The reason I work a lot right now
is when I try really hard,
I'm getting a lot of work that fits who I am
and I thought I don't need sleep so I'm doing whatever comes in.
It's so fun.
And since this job is one that makes people laugh, comforts people,
and soothes people when they're sad,
if people are comforted, that comforts me.
I feel so happy when that happens.
What's best about living like a chicken
is that I'm confident even if the results aren't that great.
I was able to create what was most like me.
It might seem like I'm showing off
but I'm not showing off.
I'm just planning to keep using myself
to show good contents to all of you.
That's what's for me.
Thank you.
(Living like myself that Key found)
Great job!
He did great.
They're such hard things to say.
Key is so awesome.
I'm his fan now.
I used to be on Tae-min's side.
(Key's busking that turned Haha into a fan)
If you liked my busking,
there's a box where you can donate $1.
They will all be donated
so please donate there if you can.
Thank you!
(The shining busking over)
I think a chicken not being able to live like a chicken is so sad.
Even for a day...
(Key's hidden efforts that were thought to be just bright)
(A path just for him that he found himself)
(Are you living a life that's like you?)
(Relieved)
Sung-tae is really nervous.
He keeps watching.
I told you, it's better to get it over with.
I'm so relaxed right now.
I'm not trying to pressure you
but what's most important in a game is whether the 3rd player hits it or not.
Are you...
He's here.
(Welcome home)
You're amazing!
I'll just call you a chicken from now on.
Great job, great job.
Let me give you a hug.
(The busking that was great)
How was it?
I'm sure you never got to talk about yourself so seriously for a long time.
I feel so relieved as if I lost 10kg.
I really wanted to say this to a lot of people for so long.
It feels like you pooped well, right?
Was your dream clear since you were little? Idol, star?
Yes.
What was your dream, Haha?
To be honest...
it was just doing music.
You fulfilled it.
Now, I want to be approved by the public.
I'm not confused.
But the public is.
Are you an entertainer or a musician?
I feel really bad.
But the Jamaican public approves you.
(1st place on Jamaican music charts)
So many peculiar things happen in life.
We got amazing news in the middle of all this.
People who were moved are still making donations.
They're lined up.
They're sliding their cards.
I'm not worried for the guests today.
I'm worried about those who came out in episodes 1~3.
I keep thinking about them.
I think your genuine hearts were really delivered tonight.
The third runner is up now.
Don't be too pressured.
More than that,
it's that I have to wait until they're don
(Gonna go all night)
He wants to go out and get it over with.
I'll hold your hand.
Do you spray water on here?
It's a disease.
I'll tell you later.
His hands have been sweating so much.
Then... Sung-tae. What are you doing?
Get out!
It's a set comment.
(The last busker of the day)
(Actor Heo Sung-tae sets out)
Honestly, from all the people who've come out,
he seems to have the least speaking skills.
But delivery isn't always about being good at speaking.
So I have my expectations up.
(Enters the busking zone)
(What kind of busking will he show?)
He's outside.
(Good luck)
(Empty)
(Mm...)
(Gathers the cushions first)
A lot of people may not recognize him just yet.
If you want to sit, you can.
Do you need help?
No, you don't have to.
He's setting the cushions silently.
I'm not a staff member. I'm a presenter.
I want to talk about myself a little.
If you have time, please have a seat.
(A first-time experience)
Did you all have dinner?
If you could just listen for a bit before going to dinner, that'll be great.
They're sitting.
Thank you.
I'm so curious more than anyone else.
I'm so curious what he'll say.
I can't get a grip.
(A lot have gathered)
Thank you so much.
(Shaking)
I'm so nervous right now
so sorry but I'm going to use a stand mic.
My hands are shaking too much.
I think it's my first time standing in front of so many people.
And it's my first time talking about myself like this so...
I have a social phobia
and I'm not too talkative.
So please be patient with me.
Are there any office workers here?
Oh really? How many years has it been?
1 year?
Oh, 1 year?
(What about behind you?)
Sorry? Oh, 3 months.
6 years?
Just like you, I worked at a company
for 8 years...
and couldn't finish up to my 9th year.
The reason being...
I made a selfish decision at a crucial time
and I quit my job.
In life, we make decisions all the time.
If I should eat bean paste stew for lunch... What did you eat for lunch?
Kimbap?
Like that, we make decisions.
And when you cross-- I'm not shaking anymore.
When you cross the street and there are 7-8 seconds left,
we think, should I cross? Or, I'll just cross next time. Things like that.
We make decisions like that.
I came out to ask you...
if my decision was selfish or not.
Have you...
watched the movie 'The Age of Shadows' by any chance?
In there, have you seen the scene where
a guy gets slapped by Song Kang-ho, Lee Jung-chool?
The guy with a beard is me.
His image is so different from the movie
so they might not recognize him.
People are getting shocked.
He was so charismatic.
I didn't come out to talk about that movie.
And I'm not standing here as an actor.
I just...
I'm not going to give you some great message.
I just want to simply talk about my life.
Since I was young...
my mom graduated all of her 2 sons and 1 daughter from college and got them married.
She worked in the marketplace
and she still works.
But seeing her do that since I was young...
my heart ached a lot for her.
When I thought about how I should live,
like many of you, I wanted to get hired at a good company,
formed a family,
and make children to make her happy.
But...
working life was so hard.
I always had to walk on eggshells with higher up people...
had to keep a good image with coworkers...
work overtime...
All of you are living that way right now.
It was so hard.
One day, I looked at my desk and laptop
It was all white.
What it was...
Hee-yeol kept saying it too, while touching my hands...
I got hyperhidrosis, where my hands sweat a lot.
Hyperhidrosis.
That's how anxious I was every moment
and my life was just sleep, work, sleep work.
This may be an odd statement
but I think I always acted even while working.
Even more than now.
I had to pretend to be happy to higher up people when I was in a bad mood,
walk on eggshells,
and every moment was acting
and that's how my hands started sweating.
But even while it was so hard, I never thought that I wanted to quit.
Because...
I thought my life would end if I quit my job.
I thought I wanted to get to a certain position there.
I wanted to earn a lot of money from there,
get married, and treat my mom well.
It was my life line, so I never thought about quitting.
Anyways, while working hard like that...
After a company dinner, I came home and I was watching TV
there was an ad about acting survival program.
Since middle school,
every time I watched a movie, I always wanted to act.
It was a dream I could never even imagine of achieving,
like an unopened letter on the bottom of my desk shelf
began to seep up.
It added with my drunkenness
so I just called and the voice system said to record my voice.
I said "Yeah.. Heo... Sung-tae."
And I hung up.
When I checked my phone the day after, I really did it.
I thought I should do it and think about it after
so I went filming
and there were 5 people.
Only 3 had to say OK for me to go to the next stage.
And all 5 of them gave me a pass.
Wow...
That's a sign.
That's when I exploded.
I fell into my own delusion.
Thinking, 'I must really have talent!'
I talked about it with my wife
and I was really worried but my wife said...
"Just do it."
She said, "Do it and if it doesn't work, you can get another job."
(Tears)
His wife is great!
What if we call his wife next week?
I dated my wife for 10 years and have been married to her for 6.
To tell you when I decided to marry her...
On a weekend, we were eating pork and drinking and talking...
and I wanted to tell her about my dream at least once.
My friends...
would say, "How could you act with that face?"
They always said, "Don't be ridiculous and just drink."
But when I told my wife at the time,
it was her first time. She cried and...
stroked my cheek.
I thought, 'What is this?' and decided then.
I told her the dream that I couldn't tell anyone else for the first time
but unlike my friends,
she was the first one to approve of me.
That's so moving.
So I was determined I should marry her.
I called her the day after.
I told her I was so touched and thankful and..
she didn't remember it.
She was drunk.
She drank too much.
(Lost memories)
No.
Take that part out.
I want to stay touched.
And I thought I'll just keep it as my own touching story.
Anyways, after we got married,
I formed a family
and within 6 months,
I made that selfish decision.
Oh, and at the time, I told my mom too
and she has a specific way of talking.
Like how all parents have a lot of worries,
she always said, "Oh no, what do we do?"
She said, "Sung-tae, what do I do with you?"
She said the same thing that day while crying.
I prepared 5 little acts and showed her and said, "Mom, look.
I'm good. I'll try it just once."
I said that to her but it didn't work.
Still,
even though my mom was against it, my wife agreed
so I...
quit my job and came to Seoul by myself.
I spent 6 months not as myself.
I got 5th place on that program.
I went on a show.
I had a naive heart, thinking since I went on TV, people will contact me.
But I realized it's not something I could do just by being on one program
and I started doing extras for dramas.
To the point they told me to stop coming...
I just kept going with my portfolio.
"Hello, I'm Heo Sung-tae."
And in the other time I have left,
like many other actors,
I picked up part-time jobs.
The part-time job I quit recently after 'The Age of Shadows'
was a packaging job.
Even after 'The Age of Shadows' was released?
There are booths that advertise electronics, right?
They need people to watch over that over night.
It's an overnight job.
I've done that too.
And there are lot of Bluetooth items these days.
"Lim Chang-jung's 'A Shot of Soju'."
Then I could practice pronunciations too so I did that.
The pay is really little
but I worked hard because I thought it'd help me.
In that hardship...
I just wanted to earn money through acting.
I really just threw myself in there.
Even after 6 years passed, I still meet my coworkers from then.
When I met them, they would say,
"You're crazy."
"You left to go act..."
But I thought they were crazier.
All of you here are so amazing.
Everyone has a dream.
But because of other reasons like life or family,
you're suppressing all of that.
I think you are all more amazing than I am.
There's a word I can't easily say...
I've been thinking recently about 'miracle.'
If I find a great restaurant by coincidence,
I thought if I consider something that happens in my life
to be a miracle, then it could be a miracle.
6 years have passed and I'm beginning to see the miracles.
Is it the moment I was cast for 'The Age of Shadows'?
Of course it was something I really wanted
and my phone ring tone was the OST for 'The Good, the Bad, the Weird'
for 10 years because I respected director Kim Ji-woon so much.
And I really love Song-
No, not love. He's an actor I respect the most.
How much would I have wanted to act with them two?
But there is a moment I want to call a 'miracle' more than that.
It was the moment I was slapped by Song Kang-ho.
Why?
I'm such a simple guy.
I realized I could be doing something happy even while being slapped.
In what job could you be happy when being slapped?
That's what I thought.
After that moment...
There was another moment I consider a 'miracle' from recent.
The mom who always said, "What do I do with you?"...
watched 'The Age of Shadows'
and said, "You worked so hard for this."
The one who told me to quit it...
The moment I heard her say, "It was awesome seeing you as an actor on the screen."
And I dream of bigger miracles to come
and I'm trying my best to keep moving forward.
I think I told you my life in such a short time but
but what I want to say to you is...
You'll continue to make decisions.
There are people wanting to get hired,
and you must be preparing a lot of things.
I'm not saying you should quit your job, that's not what I'm saying at all.
I have no right to say that.
That was my personal selfish choice.
But when a time to make a decision comes,
when you have to make an important decision,
it may be a little selfish
but for yourself...
after thinking about what's logical and reasonable
and if there's something where you could really say, "I love you" to yourself,
I hope you make that selfish decision at least once.
Because...
I told Key I was really jealous of him earlier...
because I couldn't do that.
If I knew a little earlier
and I prepared earlier for a longer time...
I'm not saying I'm having the hardest time in this world.
But you might be able to...
reach your goal in a easier way than me.
Oh, gosh.
I told you all these things with that desire.
Yes.
(His genuine heart that was delivered)
So...
I.. Oh, not this moment...
That's the end of what I wanted to say to you.
Lastly...
this weak person I am...
let me just introduce myself officially as an actor.
Hello, I am...
the selfish man, new actor at age 40, Heo Sung-tae.
("Selfish Man")
Heo Sung-tae!
Wow.
Yes, Sung-tae.
You're not a pervert. You're Sung-tae.
Hi, I really related to your speech.
You introduced yourself as a selfish man.
But listening to you,
I thought you're a 'miraculous' man instead.
(Who are you?) Wow!
Who is it?
(Chills)
A magician of words!
A miraculous man!
I'm getting chills.
So I hope you think that from now on.
I think this moment is a miracle too.
I wish I said that line.
Can you cut that? I'll say it.
How much?
Hi, I've been working as a sportswear designer for 15 years.
We have so many similarities so I thought I should really talk.
I'm quitting my job next week
and I'm going on a trip.
I wanted to give myself a gift 10 years into the job
and I went to Europe for 3 months.
But my parents are always worried.
You say it's being selfish
but it's my life
so I don't think it's bad to give myself a gift at times.
This "selfish" is not a bad thing at all.
So I want to tell you...
is that it's okay to be selfish at times.
I'm being selfish right now.
And I really wanted to encourage you.
(Small words of encouragement)
Thank you.
(It's okay to be selfish at times.)
That was so moving.
Have you cried this much recently?
No.
I haven't cried recently.
I should tell him when he comes.
That he's so amazing.
Like you said earlier, when you have time,
would you be with him or with Sung-tae?
You don't have to answer.
If it's one hour, with Seung-yeon.
If I have a lot of time...
with Sung-tae.
Smart guy.
You 'miraculous' man!
(Heo Sung-tae returns)
Great work.
All of us teared up.
Everyone sit down.
Do you know how it was up here?
- What are you gonna do? - You drove us crazy.
You made a man cry so much.
Key cried so much.
He cried so much after he listened to you.
I thought I should cry with the camera closing up on me
but he cried so much.
I heard your wife's response earlier.
I'm curious of your mother-in-law's response too.
After the movie?
Or what about before?
Just kind of like letting me be.
I'm sure that wasn't the case.
I bet my right arm that that wasn't the case.
I'm sure your wife blocked it all from you.
What a great wife.
Then what about after the movie?
As she was leaving the theater,
everyone was going to the exit
and when she was walking by other people,
she kept saying, "That's my son-in-law."
I really wanted to hide.
It was to strangers.
How proud must she have been that she said, "That's my son-in-law!"
I know.
Why am I tearing up at this?
Really?
Why am I tearing at something so random?
It's because you held it in earlier.
Hee-yeol said earlier...
"The door opened because you knocked."
I think that's so true.
I won't be embarrassed and say it now.
In 2010, I was having such a hard time I thought I was going to die.
At that time I saw a quote...
"Even if there are so many doors, if it doesn't open, it's a wall."
The buskers today...
made the master key to open those doors
and since you knocked on so many doors, the door finally opened.
I'll knock on the doors that are not yet open as well.
What's wrong with you?
The total sum from "As I Say" is $116 so far.
That means we received from 116 citizens.
Yes.
The total from just today's.
Please reveal...
So nerve-wracking!
Why am I so nervous?
It was so warm.
I don't want to reveal it today.
We'll be revealing from the first busking with Jo Seung-yeon.
We can't help but reveal the first person's amount.
We reveal the first person's and then the remaining two are kept private.
What is this?
First busker.
Just take it as the price as the first player.
First busker Jo Seung-yeon's amount is...
When you make the cringing 100% mine.
Your life changes.
First busker Jo Seung-yeon's amount is...
$8!
(It is just a number!)
(Seung-yeon's busking was the best to those 8)
And after adding Key to Seung-yeon...
As a chicken chases after a swan
and dies not being able to live as a chicken
is such a sad thing.
(Curious)
$91!
(Mouth drop)
Are you sure this is right?
Let me go home.
Could this be?
Key's is higher than episodes 1 and 2 combined.
What was our total so far?
$116. Up to episode 3, it was $116.
The total after the 3rd busking!
I hope you can make a selfish decision at least once.
(Nervous)
It is--
$118!
This is crazy.
(What?)
(Is that good?)
Our total from today was more than episodes 1~3 combined.
It's crazy.
What did we do for 3 episodes?
What did we do?
There's an important announcement left.
Cushion collect rate!
This is the most important.
The cushion collect rate of Konkuk University...
100%
Citizens, come play at Konkuk University!
The donations from busking will be donated through Happy Beam.
If we appear on the streets suddenly like today,
then... Why do you never do it?
Even the staffs don't say hi!
If you see us,
Please say "Hi-yeol~"
Please.
Hi-yeol~
What are you all doing?
Get out!
Subtitles by OnDemandKorea