By Dong Sun-hwa
For Yoo Seon-ho, the role of Grand Prince Gyeseong in Korean historical fiction drama Under the Queen’s Umbrella was no walk in the park.
During the day, the fourth son of Queen Hwaryeong (Kim Hye-soo) is her best-behaved, academically accomplished son. At night, Gyeseong heads to his “haven” and secretly disguises himself as a woman to express his hidden sexual identity.
The rationale behind his double life is simple. As a prince of the conservative Joseon Kingdom (1392-1910), Gyeseong’s life could have been threatened if his sexual orientation had been revealed. His life, however, takes a drastic turn after his mother finds out.
“When I first flipped through the script of Under the Queen’s Umbrella, I didn’t quite know what to do,” Yoo said during an interview. “I had no idea how to approach my character, so I referred to a series of films, dramas and documentaries and even read some research papers to get some hints.“I actually watched the 2015 biographical romantic drama film The Danish Girl – which revolves around a sexual minority – four to five times. I also studied male and female hormones.”
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His efforts seem to have paid off. Viewers of Under the Queen’s Umbrella, now streaming on Netflix, have praised his realistic and sensitive portrayal of a challenging character.
The 16-part series – a tale of a queen who dedicates herself to her sons’ education to make one of them the next king – has had high viewership ratings. Its finale, which aired on December 4, scored a 16.9 per cent rating, according to Nielsen Korea – which monitors audience measurement, data and analytics.
“Dressing up like a woman was something unfamiliar to me in the beginning, but as time went by, I got used to it,” Yoo recalled. “I think I really looked like a woman in the end.
“[Thanks to the drama], some fans began calling me ‘princess’ and now it is my favourite nickname. I think the word itself looks pretty and sounds pretty.”
He added that he was particularly fond of the last episode, in which Gyeseong decides to leave the palace to pursue his own happiness.
“Just like many other actors, I had regrets for not having done a better job, but now I am more lighthearted,” he said. “I am thankful to people for loving our series so much.”
While the drama has ended, fans of Yoo can catch him on popular KBS travel variety show 1 Night 2 Days.
“I was anxious about appearing on my favourite TV show, but I was warmly welcomed by everyone when I went to the filming spot for the first time,” he said. “Honestly, I am not very humorous, but I can spread positive energy to people around me.
“In the future, I want to visit Dokdo and nearby [Ulleungdo] Island in the [Sea of Japan, or] East Sea with the members of 1 Night 2 Days.”
Yoo became known after being on the second season of K-pop reality show Produce 101 in 2017. Although he ultimately did not join Wanna One – the show’s final boy band that was made up of the top 11 contestants – he remained a fan favourite.
Yoo has no plans to release a new album or a single, but hopes he will get the chance to sing a song for a drama he will star in.
“One of my goals is to sing a song for my character if I get to appear as a protagonist,” he said. “I hope I can be featured in some great works in 2023, too.”
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