By Honorary Reporter Carlos Delfín from Mexico

Photos= Andreas Varsakopoulos

Andreas Varsakopoulos is a Greek American active in Korean entertainment, ranging from his appearances on the TV show "Abnormal Summit" and modeling to his acting debut in the Korean sitcom "Somehow Family."

He says in this interview how life in Korea has been for him, from his arrival seven years ago to making history as the first Greek actor to appear in a Korean TV show.

Tell us about yourself
My name is Andreas Jacques Varsakopoulos. I was raised in Greece until I was 15 and then moved to the U.S. for my education with my brother. After graduating from university, I went to Korea to teach English and have been here seven years. I’m 29 now, but for some reason my face looks 39. I've worked as a teacher, personal trainer, TV personality and now actor here in Korea.

What made you decide to move to Korea?
In university, I took an Asian history and culture class that initiated my interest in Asia. Before graduating, I was looking at my options for employment, and going straight into research or thesis writing seemed dull (I was a linguistics major). I wanted to travel and make a little money to travel more. I started to compare teaching English opportunities in Japan, Korea and China. I liked that Korea was the smallest country of the three, easier to get around and the nation whose history was less present in history books. So I came here.

How did you learn to speak Korean so fluently?
I couldn't afford classes or private lessons, so I decided to do self-study. I found a lot of information online, but the most helpful and life changing website was talktomeinkorean.com. It had grammar lessons that were clear and easy to follow, so every day after work, I'd spend around two hours studying at a cafe. I would usually practice little by little what I learned with the barista or other customers who would come in. There never was a eureka moment, it was just a daily thing I did, and I liked solving the puzzle that was the Korean language. I'm really bad at Korean overall, but I don't mind. As long as I can communicate with, understand and make people laugh, I'm happy.

How did you enter Korean entertainment?
"Abnormal Summit" was a popular TV show that swept the nation after my first year of living in Korea. The show had all male hosts speaking Korean. Everyone who watched it in my town would tell me to go on that show. My Korean was not that good but I tried anyway. I applied on the show's website, took videos of myself speaking Korean and sent the application materials to its SNS accounts and website. I got a call for an interview six months later that turned out to be the casting call for the show's second season. My life changed after that.

Tell us about the TV show you made your acting debut on.
It's the TV Chosun sitcom "Somehow Family." Think "Friends," "How I Met Your Mother" or "Modern Family." There isn't just one protagonist but many plots that evolve as the cast interact with each other. The interactions and their outcomes are usually ridiculous but also funny. The setting is Song Dong-il's home, which is kind of like an Airbnb since people rent rooms there. In Korea, this is common for single people who aren't good at cooking or cleaning for themselves. Usually the host provides meals and cleaning for a guest, and my character lives here.

What is your character like?
Leo is a co-pilot at a Korean airline. He closely resembles my image, meaning that when he speaks Korean, he often makes mistakes. Though he knows a lot of proverbs and expressions, when he tries to use them, he typically mispronounces something that changes the meaning into something ridiculous. My character, unfortunately, has no love interest at the moment and is primarily there as comic relief.

What does it mean for you to be the first Greek actor on a Korean TV show?
I consider it both an honor and a big responsibility. Many people support me, which gives me strength during hard times on or off the set. Such support, however, means I have another responsibility. Since my private life revolves around my public persona, I can't act as Andreas would, I have to act as how Andreas the representative from Greece, the actor and the entertainer would. I also find great purpose in my work because it helps give recognition to my country and foreign residents in Korea as a whole. I hope people can see that the roads in life are never straight and clear but twist and turn, and we never really know where we'll end up. Just try to adapt, don't let failure prevent you from succeeding and the rest will work itself out.

What other achievement are you proud of?
I got second place in a fitness competition last year. The competition was like that for bodybuilding but not focused on size but rather more on proportion and aesthetic balance.

What other professional goals do you have?
I want to write, develop and produce films. I am writing several screenplays and plan to pitch them to the people around me in this industry. I think audiences always like good stories, and even if they come from a foreigner, they can appreciate the message (if it's good). I want to pursue acting full time, but instead of just waiting for roles, I want to create roles and play them.

What message do you have for foreign talent who want to enter Korean entertainment?

Like in the entertainment world of any country, you must have something unique. Whatever your talent, you must invest a lot of time and effort making that skill as strong as possible, not to mention the added task of learning Korean. You have to constantly think about how your talent fits in the Korean context and how to present your skill and talent to arouse interest. Make sure to surround yourself with positive and ambitious people. Christian Burgos (a Mexican TV personality in Korea) is one of my closest friends in Korea and his friendship has greatly influenced me. He supports and inspires me to do great things and not just to settle for what I have. With friends like that, any goal you set is attainable, and even if you fail, you have at least succeeded in trying.

chaey0726@korea.kr

*This article is written by a Korea.net Honorary Reporter. Our group of Honorary Reporters are from all around the world, and they share with Korea.net their love and passion for all things Korean.