On January 5, a new episode of Shin Dong Yup’s YouTube channel Jjanhanhyung was released under the title “Meeting for the First Time While Sober.” The episode featured Yoo Ji Tae, alongside fellow cast members from his upcoming TVING project.
During the conversation, Yoo Ji Tae directly responded to rumors that he abstained from sexual relationships during the filming of Oldboy. He explained that the speculation stemmed from misunderstandings about his approach to the character.
“It was a character whose growth had stopped,” Yoo Ji Tae said. “He didn’t really have a life of his own. That’s how I understood the role.”
Shin Dong Yup jokingly asked whether he had been “sneaking around instead,” but quickly followed up with praise, saying Yoo Ji Tae’s dedication clearly showed how seriously he approached the role. “That level of sincerity explains why that character turned out the way it did,” he added.
Actress Lee Min Jung brought up the iconic yoga-like pose from Oldboy, recalling how shocking it was at the time. She said she wondered if it was physically possible for a human body. “I later heard that he actually trained for it and only used wires minimally,” she shared, noting that she was attending yoga classes with Yoo Ji Tae’s wife, actress Kim Hyo Jin, at the time.
Yoo Ji Tae also revealed that he pushed his body to extremes during filming, gaining up to 105 kilograms for another role. He humorously recalled wearing a mask while heading to his studio, only to be mistaken for someone from the underworld. “Tattooed guys greeted me like, ‘Nice to meet you, boss,’ and I just said, ‘Yeah, hey,’” he laughed.
In a more serious moment, Yoo Ji Tae shared a painful childhood memory involving a medical error. He explained that he was prescribed the wrong medication for a skin condition as a child.
“The doctor made a mistake and gave me medicine that contained steroids,” he said. “I took a lot of it, and my body became abnormally large.”
He added that his weight rapidly increased to around 65 kilograms during elementary school. “If you look online, there are photos of me looking very round—that’s from that period,” he explained.
Yoo Ji Tae married actress Kim Hyo Jin in December 2011, and the couple now has two children. His candid revelations offered viewers a rare glimpse into the sacrifices, misunderstandings, and resilience behind one of Korea’s most respected actors.
Through honesty and reflection, Yoo Ji Tae once again demonstrated why his name remains synonymous with depth, discipline, and authenticity in Korean cinema.
Sources: Netizenbuzz
You must be logged in to post a comment.