Read his insighful interview below:

I would say that for sure my first step was the biggest, that being my debut as a K-pop idol in 2014. Even though my group wasn’t “successful” like, for example, BTS or Black Pink, it taught me so many things about the entertainment industry. It certainly laid down the groundwork for what I have today. From broadcasting etiquette, how to act in front of a camera, speaking Korean more fluently, and, most importantly, understanding Korean work culture.

Squid Game: The Challenge was a phenomenon in its own right, with a huge global reach. How did that experience impact you personally and professionally, and what did you take away from being part of such a large-scale production?

Well, first and foremost, it was a huge honor. I went to London to shoot the show, expecting to see a lot of Koreans, but apart from a few living in the States, I was the only one there who could represent Korea (in particular, as someone working in Entertainment). Personally, due to my experience in K-pop and understanding of broadcasting, I didn’t have a particularly hard time. I lived for crash diets and long shoot times my whole career, so it wasn’t anything new. However, professionally, it was a big opportunity. The biggest Netflix IP and I was a part of it, quite sobering to be honest. It gained me many new fans and attention as it went  #1 around the entire world. I was no longer “ex-Idol Joel” but rather “Squid Game’s Joel,” which was a fun little change of titles, I suppose...hahaha

At the core of whatever I do, I am always myself. I learned early on that the whole “make a character for different things” is a little antiquated, and it isn’t applicable in the modern entertainment world. The only obvious exceptions are when I am on stage or when I act, as the nature of the job requires me to play a “character”. However, I am 11 years in my career since my official debut, so I know how to switch one off and turn another one on rather quickly.

Believe me, my career wasn’t always butterflies and sunshine. There was a time when I could barely afford food or a place to live. But at the root of everything, I knew if I gave up, I would regret it, and that is such a powerful driving force. For me to drop doing what I love and do something I hate would be worse than whatever bad situation I was in. I know one day I will reach my goal, it’s just the universe hasn’t given me that window yet. I guess what I want to say is, believe in yourself and trust the process. If you really want it, you will achieve it.

I, of course, mentioned that I always keep myself grounded within my real personality. However, each job has different needs and requirements. For example, for acting or on stage, it’s all about your imagination. Luckily, I seem to be able to visualize a scene or music stage, so it comes rather naturally to me while I do it. I have always had a vivid imagination since I was a kid, so I guess it just translated well professionally. For acting, depending on what it is I won’t go looking at references because I feel like it will steal from the imaginative idea I have when I first read a script. For singing, I focus on what parts would be good for this movement or that movement. For everything, I try to visualize it in advance while I practice. 

For the last 6 months, I have been working on the radio, but I think I want to step away from that for a while and focus on acting and variety again. I love the radio, and it has been 10 years since I first cracked a mic, but I truly enjoy acting the most. Even with a script, it leaves a lot of my imagination on how to interpret a character, and I truly enjoy it. For variety shows, I can just be myself, so that is a lot of fun. So, I think you can look forward to me doing those two things the most in the near future. 

It makes me so happy to see representation being so much more visible these days. Particularly for me, who lives in Korea, the Hallyu (Korean Wave) is truly a force to behold. When I was a kid, no one even knew where South Korea was. Now, everyone around the world is listening to K-Pop, watching Korean dramas, and eating Korean food. There is talent everywhere, and I shudder to imagine over time how much talent has been missed out on because of “industry standards”. To be completely honest, though, I really hope we see more originality in all fields of entertainment. Maybe it’s because I am getting older, but I feel original fresh ideas are rare compared to rehashes or remakes of other things. Unique ideas are what make entertainment - 'entertainment'.

My idol group disbanded in 2016 after a few years of activities. To someone who had put his whole life into it, it was quite devastating. I got a regular job and was miserable the whole time. I was about to give up when I got contacted to be on a show and stand on stage one last time. I figured, why not get it out of my system and move on to something else? I went on the show and I got a surprisingly positive reaction. I was later contacted by Ji Seung Hyun, the director of A2Z Entertainment, and ended up signing a contract that rebooted my whole career. I am with them to this day, and to think that if I had rejected that show, my whole life would be very different right now.

I would say, don’t just take it. If you feel taken advantage of, intimidated, or you feel uncomfortable, then speak up. In particular, the K-pop industry is shiny and new on the surface, but it’s still a business at the end of the day. You can save yourself a lot of stress and headaches by making your concerns heard.

I find beauty in the most mundane of things. The right kind of light in an alleyway, a phone call with my family, or a nice dinner with a friend means a lot to me. Not only in terms of beauty, but also in terms of inspiration and a snapshot of just how great life is. It’s these things that keep me positive.

I grew up for the first 15 years in the United States. My father was in the United States Air Force so I have been to so many great places. For a creative like myself, it is basically fuel for the mind when creating ideas. As a person, I think it expands your worldview and teaches you so much. To anyone who doesn’t travel, I really suggest you try it. You will be surprised by how much you learn.

To be honest, I tend to give it my all when I actually prepare and shoot something, and then I forget about it. I try not to linger on what I have done and rather look forward to the next project. Being there, standing on set, is almost like a dream, so I take it in as long as I am there doing what I love. The challenging part is probably the preparation. As I mentioned, I try to visualize every possible outcome, shot, mistake or whatever. That is very taxing on the brain, hahaha. 

I get asked this a lot, and the answer will always remain the same. In Korea, there is a half-Korean ex-idol named Isak. She was one of, if not the first, mixed-race idol in Korea through her duo “Isak N Jiyeon” in 2002. I looked up to her and was her fan for many years. I used to send messages to her radio show when I was in high school, saying I wanted to be a singer. Years later, when I debuted, we became friends and she has served as my mentor ever since. Since I was an idol until now, she has given me advice on life as an idol, actor, and radio personality. Not just because she is half Korean like me, but I would say that my career is almost a clone of hers, so there is no other person I would rather turn to for advice.

To be honest, legacy is a huge reason I do what I do. Not to be corny, but we have a short time on Earth. In 100, 200, or 300 years, how many will remember the mark you left on the world? That idea drives me to leave a memorable mark. I hope people remember me as a part of “The Korean Wave” who helped share Korea with the rest of the world. So, in that regard, not only myself but also linking Korea to the world. 

I am an all-or-nothing kind of guy. Much like my father, I actually was aspiring to join the United States Air Force. But when destiny called, I threw everything else away and went all in on what I do now. The “other path” is a “what-if” I don’t often think about, because that’s exactly what it is, a “what-if”. I’d rather look forward than toward something that “could have been”.

Well, first of all, I would like to thank OTS Magazine for the interview. It is always nice to share my story with others. I love the United Kingdom and have been there many times for work and leisure. It is such a beautiful and historic place, I hope to visit again soon! Until that day, I hope for your support and love! See you soon!!!

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