Wi Ha-joon passionately played the role of investigator Cha Woo-seok in the insurance fraud investigation team in tvN's Monday-Tuesday drama "Siren." In a recent interview with The Fact held at a café in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, Wi Ha-joon shared various stories about the work and his acting.

"Siren" is a romance thriller that begins with a man investigating insurance fraud obsessively digging into a woman suspected as a suspect. It is based on the Japanese novel "The Ice World." The drama ended on the 7th, starting with a 5.5% viewership rating (Nielsen Korea, nationwide paid households) for the first broadcast and maintaining ratings in the 4-5% range until the finale.

Wi Ha-joon portrayed Cha Woo-seok, who follows Han Seol-ah (played by Park Min-young). He said, "When I read the script, I was very curious about the backstory. I'm not the type to read thoroughly in one sitting, but I read it all at once." He also explained, "The character is similar to those I have played so far, but I thought I could show various emotions, so I chose it."

Cha Woo-seok is a character who possesses both coldness and pure love, and Wi Ha-joon said he put a lot of effort into expressing the changes and depth of emotions. He stated, "Since he is not an ordinary character, I read the script many times. I had to act by calculating at each point what emotions he feels, how his heart grows, and how his emotions change as the story progresses." He also mentioned having multiple discussions with the director about the intensity of emotions.

He also shared his thoughts on challenging the romance genre. Wi Ha-joon said, "Since Min-young noona is a master of romance, I studied a lot while acting," and noted that there is a difference in experience with romance acting compared to action or genre works. He added, "I definitely think I have enough emotions inside, but since I don't often have to express them, it was difficult to act."

Through this work, Wi Ha-joon showcased acting that navigated extreme emotions such as anger, sadness, and coldness. He said, "I received feedback that the eye expressions and atmosphere were well conveyed in the melodramatic parts," expressing his hope to show better performances in the romance genre in the future.

He also attempted physical changes to build the character. Wi Ha-joon revealed, "The character did not require drastic weight loss, but I lost about 6 to 7 kilograms and have maintained that state," and said he worked hard to show a new look, including changes in hairstyle. He also mentioned that this was the first project he took on after a break following the filming of "Squid Game 3."

Regarding action scenes, he said, "I didn't feel there were many action scenes. In fact, I wanted to do more," explaining that he focused more on emotional acting this time. He said, "Since the character was involved in an action scene from the start, I wanted to show the wounds, trauma, and great emotions the character carries."

Wi Ha-joon expressed his desire to break stereotypes about himself through this work. He said, "Now I want to show more diverse sides. I think my image is too strongly tied to specific genres," and revealed that he is working to present a softer and kinder side as well. He also said, "If I keep doing similar types of roles, it becomes limiting," and that he is trying to gain confidence for freer expression.

Finally, Wi Ha-joon said, "I have a strong desire not to be forgotten. I want to be active for a long time," adding, "I think I work harder because I want to keep showing myself." He revealed that he has grown step by step from minor and supporting roles to now, emphasizing that this work was a significant process for better acting.