Actor Koo Kyo-hwan is captivating viewers with layered acting and punchy, unforgettable lines.
In the buzzworthy JTBC weekend drama Everyone Is Fighting Their Own Worthlessness (hereafter 'Mojamussa'), Koo plays Hwang Dong-man, drawing powerful empathy with grounded emotions and meticulous detail. In particular, the character’s soul-baring lines go beyond simple scenes to deliver life lessons that hit viewers hard.
"Not being anxious. I just need to not be anxious, that’s all" vividly captures Dong-man’s attempt to hide his own sense of worthlessness among his more successful friends. When he bluntly asks his older brother Hwang Jin-man (played by Park Hae-joon), "What do you even want? Debut? Success? What is it?", the message reveals a desire for a steady life that doesn’t crumble over success or failure—leaving a deep impact on viewers. Koo even shared that he shed tears while reading this scene in the script.
Dong-man’s line, "From the end of my worthlessness, I’ll haul up a shining truth. Look forward to my shining story. Try and stop me—see if you can" shows him standing tall against those who’ve dismissed him. Koo’s resolute gaze and confident delivery made the moment unforgettable.
"I’m like litmus paper. If the other person is acidic, I’m acidic. If they’re alkaline, I’m alkaline" reveals his defense mechanism among colleagues. He bristles in front of people who always treat him like a problem, yet shows a pure side around Byun Eun-ah (played by Go Youn-jung), a contrast many viewers resonated with.
He also says, "If you catch a falling leaf, good luck comes your way. I’m tossing that luck to you," a line that perfectly captures Dong-man’s tender, romantic side—making even small moments glow.
His yearning for peace shines through when he explains, "My favorite word is serenity—like being tucked under a blanket in winter, peeling tangerines and reading comics—multiplied by a million," expressing an unfulfilled calm with striking clarity. The simple metaphor left a quiet ache in viewers’ hearts.
Through 'Mojamussa,' Koo Kyo-hwan delivers lingering emotion with deep feeling and razor-sharp line delivery. The drama airs every Saturday at 10:40 p.m. and Sunday at 10:30 p.m. on JTBC.