[Exclusive]Enlistment, singer retirement... Lee Jun-young reveals all [★FULL Interview]

*This content was translated by AI.

It is truly the golden age of "hexagonal actor" Lee Jun-young (29). Following his all-around success as both a singer and actor last year as a former member of the group U-KISS, he has once again raised expectations for a special year this year.

2025 was undoubtedly "Lee Jun-young's year." Starting with "Melo Movie" in February last year, he appeared in no fewer than four consecutive works, including three Netflix series—"Fooling You" (hereinafter "Fooling You"), "Weak Hero Class 2," and a special appearance in the TVING original "One Distance." He also delivered a standout performance in the KBS 2TV drama "24-Hour Health Club," achieving a triple crown at that year's "KBS Drama Awards." Furthermore, he released his solo mini-album "Last Dance" and won the "Grand Prize" through a special challenge on MBC's "What Do You Do?" (hereinafter "What Do You Do?") "80s Seoul Song Festival," demonstrating his versatility across multiple fields.

Lee Jun-young's 'all-rounder' (All-rounder) capabilities were highlighted at 'AAA 2025'. On December 6 last year, he won the Best Actor award at the '10th Anniversary Asia Artist Awards 2025' (10th Anniversary Asia Artist Awards 2025, hereinafter 'AAA 2025') held at the Kaohsiung National Stadium. Lee Jun-young not only proved his worth as an actor but also graced the stage as a solo artist and showcased his hosting skills as the MC for the 10th Anniversary AAA Festa 'ACON 2025'.

Lee Jun-young shared his heartfelt remarks in an interview held at the Seoul Gwanghwamun StarNews building to commemorate the 'AAA 2025' awards, stating, "I am deeply grateful to all our staff and production team who have tirelessly fought hard on the front lines. Thanks to them, I was able to receive an award at such a major ceremony."

Moreover, Lee Jun-young, who has attended and received awards at the 'AAA' for the fourth time since 2021, 2022, 2023, and 'AAA 2025', was filled with unique emotions as he has grown alongside the 'AAA'. He said, "The 'AAA' awards ceremony has always given me good memories, so I have been cheering for it in my own way. I wished more people would know about it, but I was surprised to see it grow to a scale many times larger than I imagined. I was incredibly grateful to be able to be at such an event."

Furthermore, as this marked the first time the "Vox Populi" team gathered together, "AAA 2025" held significant meaning for Lee Jun-young in many ways. The "AAA 2025" event saw the full participation of the "Vox Populi" team, including Lee Jun-young, IU, Park Bo-gum, Moon So-ri, Eom Ji-won, and Choi Tae-hoon. In response, Lee Jun-young recalled, "It was fun to see everyone after such a long time, and it was quite interesting to perform on stage in front of them. If I had only shown my acting performances until now, I felt it was strange to present a new side of myself. Senior Choi Tae-hoon and singer senior IU even praised my stage performance, so I was grateful."

Lee Jun-young performed a special stage by arranging "Bounce," one of the double title tracks of "Last Dance," in the "AAA 2025" version, thrilling 55,000 spectators. In the latter part of the song, he also showcased a surprise collaborative dance with Haeum, a member of the trending group KiiiKiii, delivering a fresh spectacle that could not be seen anywhere else.

Above all, Lee Jun-young could not hide his emotion at having shared a large-scale stage with the hip-hop street dance crew BankTwoBrothers. He stated, "The 'ACON 2025' stage was a tremendous challenge for both me and them. This is because these friends are not dancers who primarily perform on broadcast stages, but those who engage in street dance battles. It was surprising to see them create a 'work' on such a large stage. I feel we brought out our unique colors vividly. The process was arduous and difficult, but ultimately, what we gained was excellent. It was a stage born from Gopu serving as the total director and me offering my input to flesh it out."

He then said, "Normally, on weekends, we would greet each other at the battle arena, dance, then eat a meal and part ways—that was it. We used to practice one by one with freestyle, so this was the first time we worked on such a highly structured project. That's why I wanted to show through 'ACON 2025' that street dancers can also create choreography and handle direction. That was the goal. It felt incredibly refreshing to be able to dance in front of so many people. I looked at every corner of the audience so I wouldn't forget it. I think we exchanged feelings with the dancers, like, 'We're standing here, don't you feel it too?' The quality was great, and it was so much fun." He conveyed his heart-swelling emotions.

He truly embarked on an astonishingly bold path and surged upward, yet Lee Jun-young remained calm and composed, gathering his thoughts. He said, "Last year, I received many awards, but it wasn't entirely pleasant. It was a year in which I received so much love that I wondered if there would ever be a year in my life that could surpass it. It was truly excessive. I should have been happy, but strangely, I wasn't. I remember feeling extremely burdened and struggling. When I was wondering, 'How should I get through this?' I ultimately concluded that I needed to focus more on myself and more on my work. Only then can I stay grounded and composed. I don't mean to be overly concerned, but I believe that fundamentally, 'adhering to the basics' is the most important thing."

he humbly said.

Lee Jun-young also said, "That was the thought behind my remark at the awards ceremony, 'Let's not cause any trouble.' Since I dislike making mistakes so much, it was a self-commitment and aspiration to ensure such things do not happen again. I want to go a long and steady path. As much as you have expected and supported me, I believe we must 'never be misled,' because I feel like things are about to unravel."

Looking back at 2025, a year marked by a string of significant filmography achievements, what comes to mind? Lee Jun-young remarked, "I truly lived my hardest last year. It was a year where I poured everything into it." He added, "In reality, this was impossible. I had to split my time into tiny fragments and push myself to the limit to complete my schedule. I wondered when I would ever look this busy, but I actually lived an incredibly hectic life, which was both fun and difficult. It was a year where I released a solo album, appeared on MBC's variety show 'What Do You Do?', and took on many other challenges."

When asked about the reason for his hard work, Lee Jun-young reflected on his difficult past. "I want to work for a long time, but things keep changing all the time. I even thought, 'I should stop,' and wanted to retire early because I felt like I was just moving mechanically. I actually shared these concerns with my agency. But then I went to my favorite neighborhood pub that I really love. It's a standing-only place. While talking with the owner, he said, 'You've never seen an endless roller coaster. When you're going down, hold the safety belt tight, look around at the scenery, and enjoy it.' At that moment, I thought, 'Wow, I've been thinking about life so foolishly,' and I made up my mind. After that, I appeared in 'D.P.,' and thanks to that, many things within me were shattered," he revealed with a serious mindset.

Lee Jun-young, who overcame burnout and took on challenges regardless of whether the role was heroic or villainous, has now emerged as a top star. He said, "I am truly gratified that scripts of all kinds are coming in. When I choose a project, I don't take on anything that feels uninspired. It's not about visual style; there is a certain learning and style that becomes evident when you take on a particular work. That is why I deliberately seek out projects that offer me new challenges and areas where I have little experience. When it comes to people, I admire those who are extremely passionate about their work and have a clear plan."

Lee Jun-young's ambitious streak of prolific work will continue without fail in 2026. This year, he will appear before viewers with leading roles in two different genres: JTBC's new Saturday-Sunday drama "New Employee Kang (Chairman)" and tvN's new drama "Four Hands." Additionally, he has completed special appearances in two films released last year, "Such a Damn Love" and "Autograph" (working title), and is awaiting their release.

Lee Jun-young said, "In 'New Employee Kang (Chairman)', I swapped souls with senior actor Son Hyun-joo and took on the dual role of one person playing two characters for the first time. It was a huge challenge for me. I think it will be a work that makes people say, 'She can do this too?' Senior actors Son Hyun-joo, Jeon Hye-jin, and Jin Gu, who appeared alongside me, also praised me, saying, 'You're doing well.'"

Regarding "The Hands," he confidently stated, "It is a work that captures the bromance between two friends who truly love the piano. Having acted alongside Song Kang, it is quite different from 'New Employee Kang (Chairman).' It offers a different kind of fun."

Meanwhile, Lee Jun-young drew attention by directly stating, "I am preparing for military service this year, so I filmed some works in advance."

He was born on January 22, 1997, and is scheduled to enlist in the military this year. As he has rapidly emerged as a "top star" on the small screen, will he feel any regret that the "military gap" (군백기, combining military service and a period of absence) is now just around the corner?

Lee Jun-young immediately replied, "I'm not regretful at all. I actually feel relieved. I've been physically exhausted for a long time."

No doubt about it, Lee Jun-young has been running harder than anyone else. So much so that he once faced a dizzying moment of collapsing due to overwork. Lee Jun-young said, "When the filming schedules of the two works overlapped, the fortress I thought was solid crumbled. I had only one or two days off a month, and I would sleep for just two or three hours before filming, which led to me suddenly fainting one day. It wasn't just me; my manager and the staff members suffered greatly as well. That's why I feel even more relieved now."

As Lee Jun-young is set to enlist at the age of 30 by Korean reckoning, he has been receiving related questions for several years. However, Lee Jun-young has consistently responded to these inquiries without evasion, firmly stating his intention to enlist.

When asked by a reporter, "Didn't you get tired of being asked repeatedly about your plans to enlist?" Lee Jun-young calmly replied, "Not really. It was time for me to go, and since I didn't know when it would happen, I consider it a natural curiosity." He added, "Even I think I'm going later than expected. So my only worry is this: my knees hurt a bit, and my back hurts a bit, but will I be able to return safely and in good health? If it were a few years ago, I think I would have returned in good health and had a lot of fun, but now I can only think about how to get through this in good health. Aside from health concerns, I have no other thoughts. I just think I need to work hard and do as I'm told in the military. I don't want to attach any special meaning to it. As a late-blooming soldier, there will certainly be difficulties, but I have cleared my mind."

In addition, Lee Jun-young stated, "It is more comfortable to think that popularity does not belong to me. I just need to work with those who supported and liked me after I returned from the military. If they are not there, I will consider it then. Such things do not dictate my mood. Right now, the work in front of me is more important to me," showing a candid attitude.

However, Lee Jun-young surprised fans by declaring his "retirement" from his activities as a "solo singer." He stated, "As a singer, I actually have no plans for the future. My last album was 'Last Dance.' That is also why I named the album 'Last Dance.' I don't know what might happen later, but that is my current thought. I hope 'Last Dance' was well received."

The true "hexagonal star" is Lee Jun-young, who also possesses excellent character. When asked about the reason he considered retiring as a "solo singer," he sincerely replied, "For those who make singing their profession, perhaps I am doing this in an event-like manner. At one time, being a singer was my main job, but that main job changed, and I became an actor. Releasing albums and being active as a singer is itself a tremendous effort for them (singers). Just as I have to work while filming, isn't that their job? When I asked myself if I could do everything for them just as I do for acting, I thought I couldn't. So, I felt it would be disrespectful to them, and I thought, 'Well, you've had a lot of fun and done well so far, so let's let you go.'"

Lee Jun-young, whose roots lie in dance as a former member of U-KISS, confidently stated, "As an actor and as a dancer, I need to think carefully about how to live the rest of my life well. However, I don't think it will be much different from now. As a human being, Lee Jun-young will move according to what he likes."

Lee Jun-young said, "My journey began with dance. I want to keep dancing even when I'm in my 60s or 70s. I love it that much. At that time, I wonder what kind of movements I will prefer, and I also think about dancing without getting hurt. Even now, if a dance battle is held on the weekend, I go out and draw inspiration from it, dance, and feel healed. Whether it is dance or acting, I have a strong desire to continue for a long time. And I feel a strong sense of responsibility to not let down those who support me. So, 'let's not cause trouble' is my number one rule."

Who could be more like that celebrity's fan than those who led the way in spreading positive influence? Last year, a fan of Lee Jun-young, who requested anonymity, donated 3 million won to the International Child Rearing Organization to commemorate the release of Lee Jun-young's new album.

Lee Jun-young replied, "Although it is not an official title, I call my fans 'teacher.' They are cool, and I learn a lot from them and am able to reflect on myself. Of course, I also make donations, but I believe that helping someone without it coming from the heart is meaningless. I am very grateful. I think I should live by giving more in the future. When I heard the news about the donation, it was a time to reflect on myself once again. I want to say that they are cool and that I am grateful, and thank you for always supporting me."

Finally, Lee Jun-young said, "Even while reading the letters you wrote, I am learning a lot and gaining inspiration. I believe there are many things I am not as good as, which is why I call you 'teachers.' I know that supporting and cheering for someone you like until the end is never an easy task. That is why the fans are my 'teachers.' I hope we can meet again happily after working hard without causing any trouble. Thank you, teachers."

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*This content was translated by AI.