In the heart of Seoul’s Samcheong-dong, Ahn Hyo-seop met with press to share his thoughts on starring in the upcoming blockbuster film Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint. Known for his quiet intensity and emotional depth, Ahn spoke candidly about working with a star-studded cast—including Lee Min-ho, Chae Soo-bin, Shin Seung-ho, Nana, and Ji-soo—and how the story’s themes of survival and identity mirrored real-life connections.
🧭 A Long-Awaited Reunion with a Senior Star
Perhaps the most touching moment from the interview was Ahn’s recollection of meeting Lee Min-ho again after 10 years. “He was my senior back when I first joined the industry,” Ahn revealed. “Back then, I was just a rookie. Seeing him again on set felt surreal, almost like meeting a celebrity from my youth.”
Ahn recalled being a fan of Lee Min-ho’s works even during his time in Canada. “When he casually asked, ‘Have you eaten?’ it brought back all the memories and made things immediately comfortable again,” he said with a smile.
🎭 Acting with Reverence and Real Emotion
The film, adapted from a web novel with over 300 million views globally, follows an ordinary office worker, Kim Dok-ja (played by Ahn), who finds himself inside the very fictional world he once obsessively read about. There, he joins forces with the novel’s protagonist Yoo Jung-hyuk (Lee Min-ho) to survive a ruined world.
“Because I had always admired Lee Min-ho as a fan, playing Kim Dok-ja made more sense emotionally,” Ahn said. “When Kim meets Jung-hyuk, he sees him as the ultimate hero. That mirrored how I felt personally—so that parallel helped my acting feel more natural.”
🏔️ A Cast Like Steady Mountains
Ahn described his co-stars as “mountains”—firm, rooted, and dependable. “They’re all veterans who know when to shine and when to step back. It wasn’t about competing—it was about collaboration,” he explained. “It was comforting to work with actors who understand their roles so deeply.”
Interestingly, Ahn shared that most of the actors in the film are introverted. “We weren’t pretending to be close,” he said. “But we cheered each other on silently. Everyone knew we were in this together, and that helped me a lot.”
🎬 A World-Building Spectacle Set for July 23rd
Directed by Kim Byung-woo, known for PMC: The Bunker and The Terror Live, Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint promises to be a visually rich, emotionally resonant cinematic experience. The film hits theaters on July 23rd, 2025, and expectations are sky-high among fans of the original web novel.
Article Source: Kim Ye-rang, “’Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint’ Ahn Hyo-seop Interview,” Hankyung, July 16, 2025.
Alt Text: Ahn Hyo-seop posing during a photoshoot for Marie Claire Korea, October 2021
Caption: Ahn Hyo-seop during a Marie Claire Korea shoot in 2021, showcasing his classic charm.
Image Source: Image via Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
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