Why it's never too late to try something new

Perhaps the essence of life lies in refusing to settle, says actor Cha In-pyo.

He would know. The 59-year-old rose to fame on television in his 20s and 30s, made his debut as a novelist in his 40s and now, on the cusp of 60, takes on his first theater role.

“As we get older, trying something new makes us feel more anxious and self-conscious. But I’ve found that the joy you get from doing something new can be tremendous,” said Cha during a group interview with reporters in Seoul Tuesday.

Cha is currently playing John Keating in the Korean production of “Dead Poets Society,” which opened July 18. Adapted from the 1989 film of the same name, it marks his first appearance onstage since making his acting debut in 1993.

He said he had received several offers to appear in plays early in his career, but theater had never risen high enough on his list of priorities. Then, in 2009, he ventured into literature with his first novel, “Once We Look at the Same Star.” He has since written five books and, at 57, won a literary award. The experience made him realize that he did not need to settle into a single path.

“I came to think that life doesn’t have to mean settling for one thing,” Cha said. “That doesn’t mean new challenges become less frightening as you get older. If anything, they can feel more daunting and embarrassing. But I’ve realized how much joy you can gain from trying something new. Taking on theater was another step into new territory, and that gave me the courage to do it.”

Another decisive factor was the original movie, which Cha first watched at 21.

Set in 1959 at an elite American boarding school steeped in discipline and tradition, the story follows John Keating, a newly arrived English teacher who encourages students under intense academic pressure to embrace “Carpe Diem” — seize the day — and find their own voices.

Cha describes his version of Keating as an “older Keating.”

“The Keating in the movie is in his early 30s. I’ve lived another 30-plus years that he hasn’t,” he said.

“Having lived through those years, I can’t necessarily tell them to think outside the box. The box isn’t necessarily wrong. Rather, I can tell them, ‘There are other ways of thinking, too, kids. There are many other choices, other options, so I hope you’ll consider them as well.'”

Looking back, Cha said, he often made choices within established boundaries, choosing what felt safe. But his real turning points came when he stepped outside his comfort zone.

“What I remember are the moments when I did something even though it was uncomfortable — when I was an actor and then started writing novels, when I was working a regular job and auditioned to become an actor, when I suddenly decided to get married,” recalled Cha. “Those are the events that made my heart race and shaped who I am. Maybe the essence of life is trying new things instead of settling into what is familiar.”

“Dead Poets Society” runs through Sept. 13 at NOL Theater Daehangno Woori Card Hall in Seoul.