Yoo Seung Ho has spent most of his career playing characters audiences root for. That changed in a big way this year.
The 33-year-old actor wrapped up his role as the chilling psychopath artist Yoo Sung Won in SBS’s Friday-Saturday drama “Flex X Cop 2,” which aired its final episode on September 19, 2026. In a new interview with Harper’s Bazaar for their October issue, Yoo opened up about what drew him to his first villain role in 14 years, his upcoming debut film photography exhibition, and what he hopes to do next.
A Villain He Said Yes To Before Reading The Full Script
Taking on a villain was not something Yoo Seung Ho approached lightly. In the Harper’s Bazaar interview, he revealed that his decision to join “Flex X Cop 2” came early, before he had even finished reading the script.
“For this project, I built many things together with the director starting from the approach. I think there are various reasons why goodness and evil form in any character, and the last time I acted out that diversity was around the time of ‘Missing You.’ That is why I said I would do it before even finishing the script for ‘Flex X Cop 2.’”
The actor explained that the role offered him a chance to explore parts of himself he had not yet shown on screen. “I think this work will serve as an opportunity for me to challenge not only good and evil roles, but also characters with mindsets I hadn’t thought of before,” he said.
Director Kim Jae Hong previously shared at the drama’s press conference that casting Yoo was a deliberate choice. “I had previously worked with Yoo Seung Ho on ‘My Strange Hero,’ and while reading the script, I kept thinking, ‘This role would be difficult for anyone but Yoo Seung Ho.’ So I reached out to him personally,” Kim said. The director also joked that Yoo’s special appearance became far more substantial than planned. “His appearance is a ‘special appearance’ because he appears ‘especially’ a lot. We originally planned to keep him hidden and have him make his first appearance in the middle of the series, but once we started filming, we realized there was no way we could hide a face like his. So we decided not to save him and had him appear from the beginning”.
A Wealthy Artist With A Dark Side
In “Flex X Cop 2,” Yoo Sung Won is a third-generation chaebol with wealth comparable to lead character Jin Yi Soo (played by Ahn Bo Hyun). He is also a world-renowned sculptor and a mysterious figure whom detective Joo Hye Ra (played by Jung Eun Chae) has long suspected. As the season progressed, Yoo Sung Won’s true nature emerged: he was revealed to be a psychopathic serial killer.
The character brought a different kind of tension to the action-comedy series, which follows a wealthy chaebol heir who joins the police force. Yoo Seung Ho’s performance gave viewers a colder, more unpredictable side of his acting range, a sharp departure from the warmer and more sympathetic characters he has often played in the past.
Reflecting on the experience after the finale, Yoo shared a simple but sincere message. “While filming ‘Flex X Cop 2,’ I was able to try new things and gain new experiences. The entire process was filled with enjoyment, and it was also a set where I learned a lot,” he said. He also thanked everyone involved in the production and those who watched until the end.
Where To Watch “Flex X Cop 2” Around The World
“Flex X Cop 2” premiered on August 7, 2026, with new episodes released every Friday and Saturday until the finale on September 19, 2026 (Disney+ Singapore timing: 22:30 SGT). The 14-episode season is available for streaming on Disney+ in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, India, Singapore, and other supported regions worldwide. The series also aired on SBS in South Korea.
From Actor To Photographer: His First Photo Exhibition
Yoo Seung Ho is not just standing in front of the camera these days. He is also stepping behind it.
His first film photography exhibition, titled “BLUE HOUR: Between Light and Darkness, On the Radiant Imperfection,” is scheduled to run from October 3 to October 11, 2026, at Layer 7 in Yongsan-gu, Seoul. The exhibition will feature photographs Yoo personally captured in the United States and Mongolia, showcasing everyday moments and travel scenes through his own perspective.
The title “BLUE HOUR” refers to the brief window between sunset and nightfall when light and darkness coexist. Organizers said the exhibition will combine film photography with video, sound, and spatial design to create an immersive experience. Some of Yoo’s more private and natural moments, captured by photographer Kim Jung Won, will also be shown.
Ticket sales for the exhibition opened on September 8, 2026, at 7:00 PM KST through Naver Reservation. Tickets are priced at 18,000 KRW. Exclusive ticket sales for international visitors are available through Creatrip, with viewing hours from 12:00 to 20:00.
When asked about preparing for the exhibition, Yoo Seung Ho was humble. “Even if I don’t hear praise saying I took the photos really well, I don’t want to hear people say, ‘They’re so bad?’ Of course, I should rightfully accept criticism for my shortcomings, but despite that, I am doing my best so that everyone can enjoy the photography exhibition,” he said.
A portion of the exhibition proceeds will be donated to organizations that support people in need and stray cats.
What He Wants Next
Yoo Seung Ho also shared a glimpse of what drives him as an actor after nearly three decades in the entertainment industry. “I want to once again meet myself completely immersed in a certain work, acting fiercely as that character,” he said in the Harper’s Bazaar interview.
More of his pictorial and interview can be found in the October issue of Harper’s Bazaar.
Also Read: Flex X Cop 2 Ends With Record-Breaking Finale Ratings, Surpassing Season 1’s All-Time High
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