Hwang In-yeop Discusses His Connection with Hong Seok-cheon

On March 18, a new video titled 'Top Gay Finds a Gem on the Runway: Hwang In-yeop' was released on Hong Seok-cheon's YouTube channel, 'Hong Seok-cheon's Treasure Box.' In the video, Hong Seok-cheon shared insights about Hwang In-yeop, stating, "When he was around 25 and contemplating whether to continue modeling or pursue something else, he came to me. He has the perfect face for acting, and I told him he must act. He gained confidence from that and has come this far."

Hwang In-yeop acknowledged that it was Hong Seok-cheon's encouragement that led him to start acting. Hong Seok-cheon expressed his happiness for Hwang's success, saying, "I hope you make a strong impression on the audience."

Hwang In-yeop remarked, "It's not an exaggeration to say that I started acting through Hong Seok-cheon. I will strive to be a good actor who meets the expectations placed on me." Hong Seok-cheon added, "The first person I thought of when I saw you was Lee Joon-gi. Your face reminded me of him when he debuted, and I pushed you to have confidence in yourself."

Hwang In-yeop recounted their first meeting, explaining, "When I decided to quit modeling, I had a moment to greet everyone at my last show. Hong Seok-cheon and designer Lee Sang-bong were there. He asked for my contact information, saying he wanted to introduce me to an acting teacher. I was curious and went to meet him, which led to our connection."

Despite this initial connection, Hwang In-yeop revealed that he lost contact with Hong Seok-cheon for a while. When asked if he had blocked him, Hwang clarified, "I didn’t block him; I honestly thought he wouldn’t remember me. It was such a brief encounter, and there were so many beautiful and talented people around. I assumed he wouldn’t recall me, especially after changing my number, so I hesitated to reach out." He later expressed his surprise and gratitude when he heard Hong Seok-cheon mention him on a broadcast.

In a light-hearted moment, Hong Seok-cheon stood up and gave Hwang In-yeop a back hug, saying, "How could I ever forget you?"

Hong Seok-cheon praised Hwang In-yeop's thoughtful nature, noting that he dislikes putting pressure on others and is reluctant to ask for favors. He also shared a touching story about a director from 'An Nara Su Ma Nara' who called him to say that Hwang In-yeop, who had auditioned, was doing well and enjoying acting, thanks to Hong Seok-cheon's encouragement.

Hwang In-yeop expressed his initial hesitation about appearing on 'Treasure Box,' saying, "There are so many amazing people on the show, so I didn’t think I was suitable. I was worried about whether I should reach out, but I’m glad I did." Hong Seok-cheon also mentioned how moved he was when Hwang In-yeop promised to appear on 'Knowing Bros' (아는 형님).

Hwang In-yeop began his career as a fashion model before making his acting debut in the 2018 web drama 'WHY: The Real Reason You Got Dumped.' He has since appeared in various dramas, including 'Joseon Exorcist' (조선로코 녹두전), '18 Again' (18어게인), 'True Beauty' (여신강림), 'An Nara Su Ma Nara' (안나라수마나라), 'Why Oh Soo-jae?' (왜 오수재인가), and 'Assembly Family' (조립식 가족).