[Interview] An interview with the popular pair Krist & Singto, who played the leading roles in the "Thai BL masterpiece"! "A relationship that relies on one person's patience will never last"
With a string of global hits such as BL/GL dramas and horror movies, Thailand's entertainment scene is attracting attention from all over the world. Thai actors who have risen to stardom, thanks to their hit works are active across borders, holding events in countries around the world and being appointed as ambassadors for high-end brands.
The popularity of Thai entertainment in Japan is increasing year by year, and in January of this year, a large-scale concert called "GMMTV FAN FEST 2025 LIVE in JAPAN" was held, bringing together popular actors from GMMTV, a major Thai production company and entertainment agency. We were able to interview six of the actors who came to Japan, and we will be delivering the articles in three parts over three consecutive days.
The first one is the lead pair, Krist Perawat and Singto Prachaya, from "SOTUS The Series" that is widely acclaimed as the "monumental work of Thai BL ." Through this series, they became global stars and have held numerous fan meetings in Japan.
This drama, which aired in 2016, was an unprecedented hit, and its theme was the university education system, which caused a great deal of controversy in Thailand. Its popularity eventually spread overseas, and it is one of the masterpieces that made Thai BL known to the world. Krist and Singto, who played the two main characters, were actually senior and junior at the same university, and met through the education system, which was the theme of this drama.
In the interview, we asked about everything from how they met, to their memories of their school days, to social changes in Thailand. Don't miss the exclusive MEN'S NON-NO photos of the two of them dressed in matching jacket and denim styles!
"The success of Thai BL masterpiece "SOTUS" was like a miracle."
Q - You two met as senior and junior at university and first co-starred in the drama "SOTUS" which aired in 2016. This is your first appearance in MEN'S NON-NO, so please tell us again what your first impressions were when you met.
SINGTO - My first impression of Krist, who was a junior in college, was that he was active and popular. He was one of the good-looking guys and was always surrounded by a lot of people, so he really stood out. Krist was a drummer in the same club as my friend, and I had heard from my friend that he was an enthusiastic junior, and he was actively participating in on-campus activities, so I had a very good impression of him.
KRIST - At that time, Thai universities had a system called SOTUS(*), and P'Sing (as Singto was called) was its leader. He gave off a sharp and unapproachable aura, so I was too scared to talk to him. However, the following year, I was appointed as the leader of SOTUS. P’Sing was a very friendly guy when I worked up the courage to talk to him to get some advice. Contrary to his appearance, he was easy to talk to and wasn't scary at all!
(*SOTUS is an acronym for Seniority, Order, Tradition, Unity, and Spirit. Fourth-year students mainly took the leadership role, supporting new students in their school life and conducting activities to foster interaction among students.)
Q - The SOTUS system is also the subject of “SOTUS The Series”, which depicts a very strict hierarchical relationship. Does Thailand still have a similar system?
KRIST - At the end of the year I served as leader, it was abolished at universities across Thailand. As depicted in the story, the SOTUS system had both good and bad sides. Cases of seniors using their positions as leaders to harass juniors have come to light one after another, and this has started to be seen as a problem.
Q - The two of you broke out with “SOTUS” and gained worldwide recognition. Once again, please tell us your thoughts on this work.
KRIST - The response to “SOTUS” was unexpected, in a good way. As soon as it became a hit in Thailand, we were more than happy with the result. I never could have imagined that it would cross the ocean and become a work that is loved all over the world.
SINGTO - Yeah, I was really surprised.
KRIST - This gave us more opportunities to travel overseas and meet fans from different countries. I feel like I have made friends all over the world. Japanese friends, Indonesian friends, Chinese friends…The more friends I have, the more knowledge and experiences I’ve gained. With “SOTUS”, our lives changed 180 degrees.
SINGTO - Everything feels like a miracle, including the fact that I was able to appear in the drama. When I started holding fan meetings, I was able to do more things like sing and talk on stage. As a result, my life has become much richer. The encounters and experiences I gained through “SOTUS” are all irreplaceable treasures.
After working individually, the pair is back together.
“It’s so much more fun working together.”
Q - In 2021, Singto ended his contract with GMMTV and became independent, and the two decided to go their separate ways. Has your relationship changed after working individually?
SINGTO - The reason I became independent was because I wanted to try what I wanted to do. After that, I kept in touch with Krist and we met up and played games together, so I didn’t really notice any changes in the environment. The only thing that has changed is that we no longer talk about work. When we were working together, we used to talk about our work together, but now that we no longer perform together, we naturally no longer need to talk about work.
Q - In 2023, Singto resigned his contract with GMMTV and a new co-starring work "The Ex-Morning Series" was announced. Please tell us how you felt when you decided to work together again.
KRIST - I was more than happy to be able to deliver good news to my fans. Thank you for waiting for such a long time! Our fans have loved us through just one series, SOTUS, and have continued to walk with us for 10 years. I am relieved that I can finally return the favor by delivering a new piece of work.
SINGTO - I knew about the next work much earlier than Krist did. I wanted to tell him as a surprise, but before I knew it, Krist already found out. In that respect, I was a little disappointed (lol).
Q - Has filming for “The Ex-Morning” already begun? (*The interview was conducted in mid-January)
KRISTSINGTO - (In unison) Not yet!
SINGTO - It's in the process of writing the script. It will be a while, but please look forward to it.
Q - Having worked together for the first time in a while, do you feel any changes or growth in each other?
KRIST - I feel that way. Today, while filming for TV and being interviewed for magazines, I felt that we have both grown! We have both become more capable, haven't we?
SINGTO - That's right. I worked with Krist for the first time in a while and I was really impressed. It was so much more fun than when I worked alone.
"A relationship that relies on one person's patience will never last."
Q - You have been together for about 10 years since you met. What is the secret to maintaining a good relationship? Please give some advice to MEN'S NO-NO readers who are worried about their friendships, such as not being able to express their honest feelings or being too busy with work to distance themselves from their friends.
SINGTO - I think the reason we have such a good relationship, even though we have completely opposite personalities, is because we talk a lot. Through repeated communication, I gained a deep understanding of Krist, and Krist deeply understood me, and we built a relationship of trust. If you trust someone, you should be able to tell them anything without fear of being disliked.
KRIST - (Nodding) Yeah, yeah. It's simple, but if you have a common hobby, you'll have more chances to meet each other. P’Sing and I both enjoy gaming and like to spend time at home. If you have at least one thing in common, it will be easier to invite someone out on your own.
SINGTO - Also, it is important not to accumulate dissatisfaction! A relationship that is established by one party being patient will never last. Trust will deepen as you work together to find a solution.
Q - Arthit and Kongphob, who you two played in "SOTUS," also deepened their understanding of each other as they clashed many times. Did the two of you ever have trouble with hierarchical relationships while attending university?
SINGTO - I once rebelled because I didn't want to follow the orders of my seniors. This is just one example…Thai universities had uniforms, and seniors would check the appearance of their juniors and tell them to "dress properly". The person who said that was wearing his uniform carelessly and did not look convincing at all. I cannot respect people who criticise others while ignoring their own mistakes, and I didn't want to follow them.
KRIST - I think that's right.
SINGTO - That's why I decided not to ask my juniors to do anything I couldn't do myself. I wanted to become a leader that I could respect and want to follow.
KRIST - Until I became a third year student, I was also scared of my seniors and was nervous. But through the SOTUS system, I was forced to talk to my seniors, and thanks to that, I became friends with them. My seniors, who I thought were scary, cared about me, and when I was in trouble, they came to me for advice and gave me various advice.
SINGTO - Yes, there were many positive aspects.
KRIST - When I spoke to the generation after SOTUS was abolished, I heard that there are almost no opportunities for seniors and juniors to interact. I don't want to deny the idea that you don't have to talk to your seniors if you don't want to, but…I learned a lot from them, and I feel like I'm still using that knowledge today. I have a little mixed feelings.
What Krist Singto wants to change in Thai society , and what they don't want to change
Q - There was a time in Japan when the hierarchy was very strict, but as time went by, the idea that ``older people are superior'' is weakening. Is there such a trend in Thailand?
KRIST - I think Thailand has changed a lot, just like Japan.
SINGTO - Compared to the past, the feeling that "older people are superior" has faded a lot, hasn't it?
KRIST - Yeah. These days, people's personality and talent are more important than their age. I feel that there is a mood in society that says, "If you don't respect your seniors, you don't have to hold back.'' I think young people, especially from generation Z onwards, have a strong sense of this.
Q - Culture and customs, such as hierarchical relationships, sometimes change over time, but please let us know if there are any Thai cultures or customs that you don't want to change or that you would like to see change.
SINGTO - In Thailand, many people point out changes in the other person's appearance instead of greeting each other. I guess it's more accurate to say that it's a habit rather than a culture. I often hear negative words like, "Oh, have you gained weight?" No one would be happy to hear something like that. It makes me sad that we could both feel better if we spoke positive words to each other. I sincerely hope that the importance of not judging other people's appearance based on your own standards and of not saying words that may hurt others will spread, and that this will lead to changes in people's words and actions.
KRIST - I want the modern trend of people being evaluated based on their humanity and talent to spread further. A culture where people are respected based on their age, position, or status will stop people from growing. If evaluation standards change, people will try to become better people and improve their own talents. And they will be able to freely and richly communicate without being bound by constraints such as age or position. I believe that society can move forward in a better direction if people who aim high, respect and support each other.
source: men's no no magazine
