Exclusive: Choo Young-woo and Cho Yi-hyun on Head Over Heels, love for Indian fans

India Today

25-06-2025

What happens when a shaman in high school falls in love with a boy destined to die? That's the question 'Head Over Heels', the latest K-drama capturing hearts across Asia, tries to answer—with mystery, magic, and just the right amount of teenage chaos. In this part-romance, part-fantasy series, Cho Yi-hyun plays Park Seong-A, a dutiful student by day and the famed masked shaman Fairy Cheonji by night. Choo Young-woo stars opposite her as Bae Gyeon-woo, a soft-spoken transfer student with a dark fate trailing him. What follows is a story that's equal parts touching and thrilling.advertisementIn an exclusive email interview with India Today, the lead duo opened up about their characters, the idea of fate, their secret dreams, and what they'd say to their ever-growing Indian fanbase.For Cho Yi-hyun, the transformation into Seong-A wasn't instant, it was emotional. 'As I read the script, there were more and more moments when I stopped seeing Seong-A from the perspective of Cho Yi-hyun and started feeling like she was truly a part of me,' she says. 'That's when I realised we were really connecting, and I had become her completely.'
Meanwhile, Choo Young-woo found his own rhythm by learning to trust his instincts. 'With every scene, there are a lot of decisions to make about how to act or express something. I think I realised that I truly understood the character when I could make those decisions instinctively, without overthinking,' he says.ON FATE, FEAR, AND FALLING IN LOVEadvertisementIn 'Head Over Heels', Seong-A tries to stop the death she's already seen in her vision. But would the actors want the same ability? 'I believe in fate,' Yi-hyun says firmly. 'Even if I knew something bad was coming, I don't think it's something I could change, so I'd rather not know.' Young-woo agrees, 'Carrying the weight of that kind of knowledge would feel like a tremendous amount of responsibility.'It's no surprise, then, that when asked whether love is fate, choice, or magic, they both gravitate toward the mystical. 'I believe in fate. To me, everything, love included, is a part of destiny and the way the world works,' Yi-hyun answers. 'I think love is a mix of all three,' Young-woo adds, 'You need a fateful kind of coincidence, the right choices that fit you, and a bit of miraculous timing too.' So, what would they do if they had one perfect day when all bad luck turned good? For Yi-hyun, it's something simple but joyful: 'I'd like to laugh a lot.' Young-woo has a more adrenaline-fuelled idea: 'If I had a day like that, I'd love to have the courage to try skydiving or paragliding.'When your lead character moonlights as a masked shaman, it's only natural to ask, if you had a secret second job, what would it be?advertisementYi-hyun is clear, 'If I have a secret job, that would mean I have a secret—and I'm not really fond of that. I think living a normal life is the best.' But Young-woo has a more cinematic fantasy: 'Something like a secret agent from the 007 movies sounds like a fun double life.'In real life, they each have their own obsessions—Yi-hyun says she's currently 'completely immersed in work,' while Young-woo is 'really into fashion' and enjoys coffee and food dates when the weather is good.
A still from Head Over Heels.
When asked what would Seong-A and Gyeon-woo write in their diaries at the end of this whirlwind tale?'I made it through another day,' Yi-hyun says, imagining Seong-A's quiet reflection. 'I think she'd write with a calm sense of gratitude and encouragement for tomorrow.'Young-woo offers a line that feels as mysterious as the character he plays. 'Today, I met a strange girl.' He adds with a smile, 'As for the reason, you'll have to watch the show to find out,' he shares.advertisementON COMPLEX ROLES AND INDIAWhen asked to rank their most complex characters, Yi-hyun puts Head Over Heels at the top, followed by her zombie-survival hit 'All of Us Are Dead'. For Young-woo, it's a toss-up between Gyeon-woo and Lee Geum-son from 'Mercy for None' (available on Netflix).And as for their fans in India? They're grateful—and curious. 'I'd really love to meet Indian fans!' says Yi-hyun. 'I don't have any plans right now to visit or work in an Indian film, but if the opportunity comes, I'd love to do it.'Young-woo echoes the sentiment: 'To our Indian fans, thank you so much. I think you'll find the shamanism elements in this drama really interesting. I'd absolutely love to visit India someday.'Whether you believe in destiny or not, Head Over Heels is a show that pulls you in with its unique blend of folklore, fate, and first love, and its stars are just as captivating off-screen as they are on it.- EndsYou May Also Like