Oh Ji-ho: Taxi Show 2010

Oh Ji-ho:  Early days in Seoul

Driver:  Zio, when did you move to Seoul?

Zio:  I was born in Mokpo and lived there until I was 17.  After that, I enrolled in Anyang University, south of Seoul. 

Driver:  Do you have any special memories of your college days?

Zio:  When I first arrived in Seoul, I spoke with an accent that seemed strange to others.  On top of that, someone told me that people from Mokpo are notorious for using foul language and consume fish only.  Then there was this obnoxious chap who insulted me several times until I lost my cool and punched him one day.

Driver:  Then what happened?

Zio:  Nothing occurred at first because he just walked away.   However, soon after I sat down in class, a big belligerent-looking guy tapped on my shoulder and demanded if I had punched his friend. 

Driver:  Did he scare the daylights out of you?

Zio:  Yes, very much indeed, but I quickly put on an innocent face and appeared real puzzled.  Then I mustered all my courage and confidently declared that I did not hit anybody, so he left.  After that, I asked my classmate who the burly guy was …..I was still feeling shaky inside, I must admit.  Subsequently, it was confirmed that he was the strongest guy at college and nobody ever messed with him.  Phew!  I can still see him in my mind’s eye.  What a scary experience … hahaha!

 

Driver: Zio, when did you become interested in acting?

Zio:  Ever since high school, when I first saw Andy Lau in an action movie…..he was speeding on a motorcycle with a cigarette in his mouth….I thought that was real cool!  I started watching a lot of movies when I first arrived in Seoul.

Driver:  What about your grades?

Zio:  I was performing well at first ….within the top five in class!

Driver:  How high is your IQ?

Zio:  I have an IQ of 135!

Driver:  Everybody in your family has higher IQ than you!

Zio:  Hahaha! 

Driver:  Zio, you not only possess a high IQ, but you are also good at mental mathematics.

Zio:  Right, hahaha!

 

Driver:  What else did you do as an aspiring actor in Seoul?

Zio:  I worked part-time at a video store.

Driver:  Let’s visit your old workplace.

Zio:  Really?!

 

Oh ji-ho:  Part-time shop assistant

 

Driver:  Zio, is that the video store where you once worked?

Zio:  Yes, let’s go inside.

Driver:  There are many comic books in this store too.

Zio:  This store has a large collection of adult movies.  Customers used to ask me for advice and I would carefully select for them after inquiring about their taste and preference… hahhaha!

Driver:  Zio, I don’t have any experience in adult movies, so can you recommend one for me?

Zio:  Certainly, do you have any special theme in mind?

Driver:  No, I just want to gain some experience.

Zio (gingerly pulls out a video):  Oh, I believe this one will be most suitable for you as starters…hahaha!

Driver:  Business must be pretty good here since you’re such a handsome shop assistant!

Zio:  Yes, sales had definitely increased after I started working here!

 

Driver:  Zio, you must have watched a lot of movies while working here.

Zio (pointing at the screen):  Look, the computer records are still here …. I had watched more than 700 movies ....about two a day.

Driver:  Ah…this was the place where Zio started dreaming of becoming a successful actor someday!

Zio:  Hahaha!