From The Straits Times    |

Song seung heon abs main

Here’s a naughty little sneak peek of what’s to come when Obsessed opens in theatres this Thursday, wink wink. Image: MBC

Korean drama fans may be used to getting more than an eyeful of the toned abs of heart-throb Song Seung Heon in the many shirtless scenes in his dramas.

But, compared with his upcoming movie Obsessed, they ain’t seen nothing yet – the 37-year-old star of shows such as Autumn In My Heart (2000) does the full monty. Yes, he is baring it all in steamy sex scenes in the erotic movie about a torrid love affair between a married army colonel and his subordinate’s wife.

As if his fans are not excited enough about watching the movie, he says teasingly: “To be honest, when we were filming the intimate scenes, we did a lot more than what is shown in the movie. The director didn’t want the intimate scenes to overshadow the love story.”

He was speaking at a press conference here yesterday while in town to promote the movie.

The director’s hope that audiences will not dwell too much on the intimate scenes looks futile. Even Song’s mother and her friends are keen on watching it because of the sensual scenes.

The actor, who stole the hearts of female fans across Asia in the iconic melodrama Autumn In My Heart, says: “When I first told my mum this movie will be out, she was very excited and said she will be watching it with all her friends. I told her she’d probably want to watch it alone because it’s a little sensual. But she said that’s probably the reason why her friends all want to watch this together.”

In the movie set in the 1960s, he plays a Vietnam War hero who returns home to South Korea and falls in love with his subordinate’s wife. It was a hit, topping the country’s box-office chart when it opened in May.

Singing the same tune as the director, Song repeatedly emphasises during the interviews that he was drawn to his role and the heart-rending love story.

On the forbidden affair, he says: “I hope such a thing never happens to me – finding true love after getting married. It has made me a little more careful about getting married.”

This does not mean he is averse to tying the knot.

“If I meet the right girl tomorrow, I may just get married the day after,” says the bachelor, who is not known to be dating anyone.

He also met fans at a public meet-and-greet session at City Square Mall yesterday.

Obsessed, rated R21, opens in cinemas here on Thursday.

This article was first run in The Straits Times newspaper on July 26, 2014. For similar stories, go to sph.straitstimes.com/premium/singapore. You will not be able to access the Premium section of The Straits Times website unless you are already a subscriber.