Since debuting as a member of the boy group Wanna One in 2017, Ong Seong-wu has steadily developed a career balancing both music and acting. Recently, he expanded his acting range by taking on his first antagonist role in the South Korean drama *Spooky In Love*, where he portrayed the character Kang Min-hwan alongside co-stars Park Eun-bin and Yang Se-jong.

The series, which has gained notable international attention, achieved a peak position at number three on Netflix’s global top 10 chart for non-English series. The show concluded recently, marking the end of a significant chapter for Ong as he embraced the challenges of playing a villain.

In reflecting on the experience, Ong expressed that filming the series still feels fresh, noting that the drama’s ending has not fully sunk in. He acknowledged initial concerns about audience reception toward his portrayal of a darker character but expressed gratitude for the mixed reactions that showed viewers engaged with the complexity of Min-hwan’s personality. For Ong, having his first villainous role remembered by the audience made the experience especially meaningful.

Ong highlighted filming the school flashback scenes wearing a uniform as particularly memorable. Despite feeling some initial awkwardness, he enjoyed the process and paid close attention to details such as hairstyle and costume to convincingly depict a high school student. Fans responded positively to seeing him in this role, adding to his satisfaction with the performance.

Regarding his approach to the character’s evolution, Ong explained that Min-hwan is initially portrayed as calm and emotionally restrained, rarely displaying turmoil outwardly. To depict the character’s gradual unraveling and increasing extremity, Ong focused on subtle cues such as changes in voice tone, gaze, and mannerisms. He was pleased that viewers recognized and appreciated these nuances in Min-hwan’s transformation throughout the series.

Looking ahead, Ong expressed interest in exploring a broad range of roles and genres without limiting himself to specific character types. He conveyed enthusiasm for continuing to discover new facets of his acting abilities and receiving audience feedback on his evolving performances.

Through *Spooky In Love*, Ong Seong-wu has demonstrated a willingness to challenge himself and deepen his craft, building on his dual career and signaling a commitment to diverse future projects in the entertainment industry.