Actor Im Siwan revealed that he paid more attention to his skin and appearance than ever before while preparing for his role in the tvN drama Love in Disguise, even making frequent visits to dermatology clinics for the first time in his career.
On October 20, Im Siwan appeared alongside actress Seol In Ah on episode 160 of the YouTube variety show Salon Drip, hosted by comedian Jang Do Yeon.
During the episode, the two actors discussed their transformations for Love in Disguise, including their hairstyles, fashion choices, and efforts to match their characters' appearances.
In the drama, Im Siwan plays Yoon Yi Joon, a wealthy third-generation heir who becomes a murder suspect. Seol In Ah portrays Kang Jae Hee, a former special forces officer turned detective who disguises herself as a man while secretly investigating him as his personal secretary.
As the conversation turned to their appearances, Jang Do Yeon asked Im Siwan what he had done to make himself look especially attractive for the role.
Im Siwan admitted that his preparations involved a major change to his usual skincare habits.
"This is the first time in my life that I've gone to dermatology clinics this often," he revealed.
He explained that he normally avoids spending much time on skincare treatments because he finds it difficult to remain lying down during appointments.
"I'm actually very lazy when it comes to dermatology clinics. I'm not the type who can comfortably lie there for a long time," he said.
However, because his character needed to look polished and glamorous, the actor decided to make an extra effort.
"I just told them, 'Please make my skin glow.' I didn't know what treatments I needed, so whenever I explained what I wanted, the doctor took care of everything," he shared.
Hearing his explanation, Seol In Ah jokingly responded, "So that's why you looked so pretty!"
Her comment brought a lighthearted moment to the conversation as Im Siwan continued explaining how much work went into creating his character's appearance.
Aside from skincare, the actor revealed that he also paid special attention to his wardrobe.
"I also put a lot of effort into the clothes because I wanted to look glamorous," he said.
Seol In Ah praised his styling, saying that his outfits were among the drama's highlights.
"I think one of the attractive points of the drama is Im Siwan's fashion. He looks good in everything," she commented.
Im Siwan agreed that the production had prepared an unusually large collection of outfits for his character.
"They brought in all kinds of beautiful clothes. I think I wore more outfits in this one drama than I did in all my previous projects combined," he revealed.
Jang Do Yeon found the comparison amusing and mentioned some of his previous projects, including Misaeng, The Attorney, Strangers from Hell, and Squid Game.
Im Siwan explained that many of his earlier characters lived in difficult circumstances, which meant their wardrobes were generally simple and limited.
His latest role, however, gave him the opportunity to explore a completely different fashion style.
When Seol In Ah asked whether he felt excited seeing so many beautiful clothes prepared for filming, Im Siwan admitted that he enjoyed the experience.
"There was something really fun about getting to wear as many outfits as I wanted," he said.
Meanwhile, Seol In Ah also shared the preparations she made for her own character.
The actress revealed that she cut her hair short for the first time in her life to portray a detective who disguises herself as a man.
When Jang Do Yeon asked whether it was her first short haircut, Seol In Ah replied humorously, "It's my first time since I was born."
She explained that she had kept her hair around medium length since appearing in Business Proposal.
To prepare for her character's military background, Seol In Ah also watched the military survival variety show Iron Squad W twice.
She studied how soldiers sit, move, and behave around their superiors to make her performance more believable.
The actress also discussed the physical preparations involved in her character's disguise, including experimenting with different compression materials for the costume.
While both actors approached their roles differently, their conversation showed the effort they put into their characters' appearances.
For Im Siwan, the experience was especially memorable because it allowed him to explore a more glamorous image than his previous roles.
From his frequent dermatology appointments to his extensive wardrobe, the actor admitted that playing a wealthy heir in Love in Disguise gave him an unusual opportunity to focus on fashion and beauty.
His candid remarks on Salon Drip also offered viewers a behind-the-scenes look at how he prepared for one of his most stylish drama characters to date.
