Yoo Yeon Seok thanks fans for global love for ‘When the Phone Rings’.

Actor Yoo Yeon Seok expressed his gratitude for the enthusiastic response from international viewers to MBC’s Friday-Saturday drama ‘When the Phone Rings’, in which he starred as Baek Sa Eon.

During an interview held on January 6th KST at the King Kong by Starship headquarters in Gangnam, Seoul, Yoo Yeon Seok shared his experience watching the finale with his co-stars. Reflecting on the much-discussed bed scene with actress Chae Soo Bin, he explained, “The couple had been emotionally distant for three years, and through the threatening phone calls, they rediscovered their feelings for each other. Their reunion symbolized what could be considered their true first night together. We wanted to capture it beautifully, as if it were a long-term couple’s first night.”

He added, “I put a lot of thought into that scene and collaborated closely with Soo Bin. On the day of filming, we discussed the tone we wanted, reviewed the storyboard, and even referenced other examples to ensure we were on the same page. Seeing posts of South American fans cheering as they watched the scene together made me think it turned out well.”

When asked how the cast reacted to watching the finale together, he humorously noted, “Their reactions were pretty similar!”

Yoo Yeon Seok earned the title of “Kiss Master” once again through this project. While blushing at the nickname, he explained, “Each kiss in the drama came from a different emotional state—there was a reunion kiss, a kiss overcoming guilt, a joyful kiss, and a kiss of overwhelming emotion after a proposal. I tried to express each one uniquely, which may have helped viewers immerse themselves more.”

On fans wishing he and Chae Soo Bin were dating in real life, he said, “It’s a compliment to our chemistry. It means people were invested in the romance and our characters’ relationship, and I’m very grateful for that.”

Particularly among international fans, comments like “Just get married!” have been flooding in. Yoo responded, “While our drama has thriller elements, it’s ultimately a love story. We hoped viewers would be drawn to Sa Eon and Hee Joo’s journey, and seeing those supportive comments makes me feel like we achieved that. But no, we’re not dating in real life!” he clarified with a laugh.