Exclusive Interview: “A Good Day To Be A Dog” Stars Dish On Their Characters’ MBTIs, What Dog Breeds They Would Be, And More

The cast of “A Good Day to Be a Dog” has taken time for a special interview with Soompi!

Based on a webtoon, “A Good Day to Be a Dog” is a fantasy romance drama about Han Hae Na (Park Gyu Young), a woman who is cursed to transform into a dog when she kisses a man. However, the only person who can undo her curse is her colleague Jin Seo Won (ASTRO’s Cha Eun Woo), who is afraid of dogs due to a traumatic event he can no longer remember. Lee Hyun Woo stars as Lee Bo Kyum, a Korean history teacher who is colleagues with Jin Seo Won and Han Hae Na.

Prior to last week’s premiere, Soompi talked to Cha Eun Woo, Park Gyu Young, and Lee Hyun Woo to hear some insights about their drama and the actors themselves.

Check out the interview below:

What do you think is the MBTI of your “A Good Day to Be a Dog” character?

Cha Eun Woo: Seo Won seems cold on the inside, but he is actually a warmhearted and realistic figure. That’s why I think his MBTI might be INTJ.

Park Gyu Young: ENFJ. Hae Na is extroverted, and she imagines this and that by herself. She is full of emotions, and she is good at empathizing. She also tends to plan things out, so I want to say she is ENFJ.

Lee Hyun Woo: ENFJ. I think the FJ aspects are important in understanding Bo Kyum. He plans a lot, and since he has been planning very carefully for hundreds of years, I think he will be the “Judging” type. However, rather than being unyielding and cold, he is a figure who feels restlessness over certain events, I thought he would be the “Feeling” type.

What is a memorable or fun memory from filming that you can share with fans?

Cha Eun Woo: I became really close with Park Gyu Young and Lee Hyun Woo, whom I worked together with the most, so we laughed and joked around together a lot. All the moments on set were fun, but the most memorable episode was the scene where I had to get a kiss from a dog. I filmed it by putting liquid-type dog treats on my lips. I think it was the most memorable because it was my first experience doing so.

Park Gyu Young: In a scene where Cha Eun Woo was filming with a dog, he filmed with liquid-type dog treats on his lips because he had to kiss the dog. I think everyone filmed it while holding back their laughter.

Lee Hyun Woo: I believe it was edited out from the drama, but there was a scene where Bo Kyum and Seo Won eat together at a restaurant. At that time, there was a scene where the two were just playing around like children, and I remember being shy and bursting out laughing while filming, making bloopers about five to six times. I think viewers would enjoy it if they get a chance to see it at least through the behind-the-scenes footage.

Is there anything special you did to interact with the dogs starring on “A Good Day to Be a Dog”?

Park Gyu Young: Rather than trying to get close to dogs, I think everyone worked hard to create a safe and comfortable environment for the dogs to film.

Lee Hyun Woo: On days when there were dogs on set, I often went to see them. It was relaxing to play with them in between filming. There is a dog named Finna who stars as Gae Na. When I had to film scenes with Finna, I would check her condition before filming whenever possible and try to spend time with her.

If you were to become an actual teacher, what subject would you feel most confident about teaching, and what subject would you feel least confident about?

Cha Eun Woo: I liked math, so I think math would be the subject I’m most confident in. There are aspects where I have a high level of synchronization with Seo Won, so in this sense, I think language arts would be the most difficult subject for me just like it is for Seo Won.

Park Gyu Young: I think I could teach math well because it is a subject with clearly defined answers. It is also the subject that I studied hard during my school days.

Lee Hyun Woo: Ironically, both the subject I am confident in and the subject I am not confident in are mathematics. When I was a student, the subject I got the best scores in was math, and it was also the subject I was most confident in. However, if I had to teach this to someone else, I think math would be the most difficult.

How would you spend your time if you become a dog for a day?

Park Gyu Young: I would want to spend a simple yet eventful day, eating, sleeping, and going for a walk. These are very simple activities, but I believe these activities are difficult to do attentively every day. [I want] to eat very well, to walk very well, and to sleep very well.

Lee Hyun Woo: While raising a dog, I wonder from time to time: what are they thinking? Do they want to eat a treat? Are they sleeping because they’re sleepy? Or are they sleeping because they’re bored? That’s why if I get to live as a dog for one day, I want to live an average routine of a dog rather than doing anything special because I want to feel and understand what they are thinking.

If you were to become a dog, which breed do you think you would become or would you like to be?

Cha Eun Woo: I hear from people around me that I’m similar to a Siberian Husky. I think that we are similar in that we appear cold on the outside but are very playful and very affectionate on the inside.

Park Gyu Young: I want to be a Jindo dog (indigenous dog native to Jindo in South Korea) that looks good-natured and also appears to be easygoing.

Lee Hyun Woo: A Golden Retriever. I think we are similar in that we are cheerful and love people. I also like Golden Retrievers, and all the Golden Retrievers I’ve met are always nice, gentle, and cheerful. That’s why I get the thought that I want to be like that.

What does your cast usually talk about in your group chat? Which actor is the most active?

Park Gyu Young: Although there is a group chat, we only exchange simple greetings and photos. Instead, there are more things to talk about when we meet in person because we are similar in age.

Lee Hyun Woo: The most active person is Gyu Young. Gyu Young usually posts photos in the group chat and checks on us first, so we sometimes talk together through the chat.

Which actor tends to bring the most energy on set?

Cha Eun Woo: Everyone brought energy to set because the set was filled with actors who are around the same age. If I had to choose, since actors Park Gyu Young and Lee Hyun Woo were similar in age to me and we joked around a lot whenever we met, I think the three of us were the most fun on set.

Park Gyu Young: All the actors created a good atmosphere in their own ways, but I want to say that actor Yoon Hyun Soo who plays Yul brought the most energy. His existence alone is lovable and he exuded adorable energy, so I remember the set always becoming brighter [with his presence].

Lee Hyun Woo: It was different for every scene. If there was a scene that felt burdensome for one person, the others would help loosen them up, and there was synergy created by that. Furthermore, actor Yoon Hyun Soo who plays the role of Yul was indispensable and loved by all of us.

What kind of comments or reviews do you hope to hear from “A Good Day to Be a Dog” viewers?

Cha Eun Woo: I want to hear that the chemistry between the actors is good. All during filming, the atmosphere was always great, and I hope that atmosphere carries over to the drama so that the viewers are happy the entire time while watching the drama.

Park Gyu Young: I hope to hear that this is a drama that makes them feel good from just watching. All the actors and staff worked hard on filming so that the viewers could feel happy.

Lee Hyun Woo: I want to hear that they understand the character Lee Bo Kyum and that they are on Lee Bo Kyum’s side. While acting, my greatest wish was that the viewers watching the drama would acknowledge Lee Bo Kyum’s pain and relate to it. As the drama progresses, [Lee Bo Kyum] is depicted as an existence who brings despair to Jin Seo Won and Han Hae Na, but I hope viewers remember Bo Kyum as a figure who did his best.

What criteria do you take into consideration when choosing acting projects?

Cha Eun Woo: Rather than setting criteria, I think I choose [projects] with a fun script, charming character, or a new type of character that I want to take on as a challenge.

Park Gyu Young: Usually, I choose characters that can show different vibes from the character from my previous project. While acting various characters, I want to start out on a clean slate, and I think it’s one of my routines to accept a new character. It’s also a personal ambition to showcase diverse sides to viewers.

Lee Hyun Woo: First, I review [the project] while focusing on the character that I need to play, then I expand my view to the whole project. I try to choose characters that I can impress viewers further through, can do a good job portraying, and that I can develop well.

Do you have your own way of getting closer to your co-stars when beginning a new project?

Cha Eun Woo: I think that I naturally get closer to the senior and junior actors that I’m working together with by talking about the project. We spend a lot of time on set and working together, so there is an element of feeling closer before we know it. If there is something we have in common, I think we quickly get closer and can show great chemistry.

Park Gyu Young: I believe naturally is the best way. Since all actors are present in different ways on set, we are all each present in our most natural selves on set, and we gradually become closer while being slightly considerate of each other to make each other comfortable.

Lee Hyun Woo: If there is an opportunity to meet with the actors before starting filming, I put in effort to get closer to them beforehand. I think the most important aspect is our chemistry when acting, so I tend to put in effort so that my co-stars don’t feel uncomfortable around me on set.

What do you enjoy doing in your free time?

Cha Eun Woo: During my free days, I rest at home, meet up with my friends to chat, or go looking for delicious food. I also work hard to exercise and try to stay fit.

Park Gyu Young: I do the exercise that I feel like doing at the time, and then I stay at home doing nothing. Whether it is ballet, weight training, or pilates, doing the exercise that I feel like doing that day and then resting at home is the greatest hobby and routine to me.

Lee Hyun Woo: Recently, I’ve been enjoying golf when I have no filming or when I have free time. It feels like a healing activity because it’s a sport that makes you focus amidst nature.

What is something new that you want to learn one day?

Cha Eun Woo: I don’t decide in advance what I want to learn. I think I tend to want to study whatever I need for a project, whether that be cooking, sports, or instruments.

Park Gyu Young: I learned how to play the bass guitar to play a character, but after filming ended, I didn’t have the opportunity to learn. If I get the chance, I want to learn to play the bass guitar some more.

Lee Hyun Woo: I want to learn squash and scuba diving. I experienced both a little bit, and they are both so fun. I liked squash because it is active and there is a lot of movement, so it is a sport where you can sweat a lot. I tried scuba diving when I went abroad for a shoot, and the world under the sea was so beautiful. I felt that the peace you can only feel within the water really helps to organize and control your feelings.

What music do you enjoy listening to these days?

Cha Eun Woo: These days, I listen to the song “Jealousy” (by Yoo Seung Bum) a lot. I think it is a song that suits our drama “A Good Day to Be a Dog,” and I feel enjoyment when listening to it.

Park Gyu Young: I enjoy listening to music from NewJeans. I feel happy just by listening to their music, and it seems to have the charm of giving you energy. That charm is multiplied when watching their music videos.

Please share any TMI about yourself for fans!

Cha Eun Woo: I’m not sure if this is TMI, but I’m awaiting each and every day with heart-fluttering excitement to know that “A Good Day to Be a Dog” will finally be revealed. It is a project I filmed passionately and enjoyably, so please show lots of love and support.

Park Gyu Young: I ate salted butter rolls while watching “Street Woman Fighter 2.” This is truly too much information, right?

Lee Hyun Woo: I’m working hard to exercise to impress fans! (laughs)

Please share a word for international fans who are tuning in to “A Good Day to Be a Dog”!

Cha Eun Woo: As the title of our drama says (Korean title translates to “Lovable Today”), it is a lovable project. Please show lots of interest and love, and I will also work hard to show diverse and new sides of myself, so please show lots of interest. Finally, please enjoy “A Good Day to Be a Dog” from the premiere to the final episode! Thank you.

Park Gyu Young: “A Good Day to Be a Dog” is a drama filled with adorable and lovable charms that you feel from just watching. I hope that the viewers anticipate this a lot, and I hope viewers receive good energy through this drama. It is already the second half of 2023, so I hope viewers enjoyably spend the rest of 2023 with “A Good Day to Be a Dog.”

Lee Hyun Woo: This is a project that I really wanted to show viewers as soon as possible even while filming and after wrapping up everything. It’s that interesting and lovable of a drama, so I hope those charms are conveyed well to everyone. Please spend the rest of 2023 with “A Good Day to Be a Dog”! Thank you~

 

cr: Soompi