Lee Min-ho: "'Assassins,' Even with Less Screen Time Than Expected, It's More Than Enough... Always Living by Letting Go" [Interview ①]

*This content was translated by AI.

In 'Assassins,' actor Lee Min-ho chose not to emphasize his own presence but instead opted to naturally blend into the era and the characters.

On the 11th, we spoke with Lee Min-ho, who stars in the film 'Assassins' (directed by Heo Jin-ho), at a café on Samcheong-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul.

'Assassins' is a story that traces the suspicions and figures surrounding the assassination of the First Lady of South Korea, which shocked the nation on August 15, 1974.

Lee Min-ho plays Young-il, a passionate rookie reporter who actively investigates the crime scene and captures it on camera.

For Lee Min-ho, the filming set of 'Assassins' left a special impression. He said, "Even with the director and senior actors present, the entire set felt like a library."

He continued, "There was almost no loud noise. After each take, everyone would gather quietly, sit in a circle, and discuss the scene together. It wasn't uncomfortable; rather, it was quite pleasant. That aspect made a deep impression on me."

Naturally blending into a character living in 1974 was also an important challenge for Lee Min-ho. Park Hae-il, who worked alongside him, once remarked about Lee, "He acted by letting go of everything."

Lee smiled and said, "I've always lived my life by letting go. I think those who haven't experienced it themselves might not be able to imagine that."

He added, "On this set, even for me, the question was whether I could truly disappear into the character of that era. Keeping that in mind, I didn't try to force anything special; instead, I aimed to simply be as I am."

He concluded, "For those who don't know me well, they might have felt that I let go even more than usual."

Originally, the character Young-il was reportedly not as prominent as it turned out. Lee also stated, "When I first read the script, it had already undergone some revisions. It's true that my screen time was less compared to roles I've played before."

However, the amount of screen time itself was not a major factor in his decision to join the project. He calmly said, "If there is a point where the character feels alive and vibrant within the story, then that is enough for me."

He also shared insights into his working relationship with director Heo Jin-ho. Lee remarked, "The director doesn't seem to talk too much. What I remember most is when he said, 'I am not perfect either, and what matters most is whether what I see and feel is real or not.'"

He further explained, "During the early stages of filming, up until the second take, the director had clear requirements. But from then on, it seemed like he left everything entirely in my hands."

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*This content was translated by AI.