'Soldier' Lee Jae-wook in 'Doctor Island Boy,' Will It Work? "I'll Go Visit You" Shin Ye-eun Makes Bold Declaration [Star Issue]

*This content was translated by AI.

Actor Lee Jae-wook (28) will fill his 'military gap' (군백기: military + gap period) with 'Doctor Island Boy.'

On the afternoon of the 26th, a production presentation for ENA's new Monday-Tuesday drama 'Doctor Island Boy' was held at Cube City in Sindorim, Guro-gu, Seoul. Director Lee Myung-woo and actors Shin Ye-eun, Hong Min-ki, Lee Soo-kyung, and Kim Yun-woo attended.

'Doctor Island Boy' is based on the webtoon 'Holding Strategy (Holding Through Volatility) Doctor.' It is a medical human romance following public health doctor Do Ji-ji (played by Lee Jae-wook), who is stationed on the notorious island of Pyeondongdo that everyone avoids, and nurse Yuk Ha-ri (played by Shin Ye-eun), who harbors many secrets. Director Lee Myung-woo, who has produced numerous high-quality works including SBS drama 'The Fiery Priest' (2019) and Coupang Play's 'Boyhood,' takes the helm.

Notably, 'Doctor Island Boy' is Lee Jae-wook's first new project after becoming a 'soldier,' drawing intense interest from fans. Lee Jae-wook enlisted in the active-duty army on the 18th.

In the drama, Lee Jae-wook portrays public health doctor Do Ji-ji, who has a trauma related to the sea and islands, promising a unique transformation. The unlucky 'Island Boy' Do Ji-ji, assigned to the avoided island of Pyeondongdo, meets Yuk Ha-ri there and learns to endure while discovering love. The two, who arrived on Pyeondongdo for different reasons, are expected to heal and grow by embracing their differences in a heartwarming narrative.

On the day, Lee Jae-wook delivered a surprise greeting via video. He began by saying, "I really wanted to attend the production presentation, but I'm fulfilling my military duty, so I'm greeting you through a video. Please understand."

Soon after, Lee Jae-wook left a loving message for Shin Ye-eun: "Partner Ha-ri, are you doing well? I want to tell you that I'm grateful you left me behind at the production presentation."

He also said, "I'm also grateful to Hong Min-ki, Lee Soo-kyung, and Kim Yun-woo. 'Doctor Island Boy' is a drama that unfolds on the beautiful island of Pyeondongdo and captures human stories well. Please give it your attention."

Additionally, regarding Do Ji-ji, Lee Jae-wook said, "He is a character who grows as a doctor. I really wanted to work with Director Lee Myung-woo. I enjoyed his previous works immensely and heard many positive things about him. I believe those good words circulated because fellow actors around him spoke highly of him. In reality, he is an incredibly sensitive person, and I learned a great deal from him emotionally. While working together, I relied heavily on the director, and it was a truly happy filming set."

Director Lee Myung-woo also expressed deep trust in Lee Jae-wook. Regarding Lee Jae-wook's casting, the director stated, "He has a lovely, calm, and affectionate demeanor, yet also possesses charisma. I believe he is one of the few actors among the younger generation. It's very regrettable that he couldn't join us here due to his military duty. Without a doubt, Lee Jae-wook was the perfect actor for Do Ji-ji in 'Doctor Island Boy.'"

The director continued, "Lee Jae-wook always arrived at the set first to welcome the staff. He was a mood-maker who led the filming set in a relaxed atmosphere. He played the role of a mood-maker among both staff and actors. Perhaps that's why this place feels empty without him." He highly praised Lee Jae-wook's character.

Shin Ye-eun also expressed high satisfaction with her chemistry with Lee Jae-wook. She said, "I had been thinking that I would meet Lee Jae-wook in a work someday. Since we are the same age and I have watched many of his works, I thought we would have an energy that makes things comfortable as peers. However, because we are the same age, we treated each other more carefully. If we became too close, it might hinder the work. We each performed our roles as doctor and nurse well, caring for each other within those roles. Even without explicitly saying 'I wish you did this,' Lee Jae-wook immediately understood what I wanted just by looking into my eyes. I definitely felt he is an actor with substantial skill. I felt very comfortable acting with him."

Notably, Shin Ye-eun said, "Regardless of the ratings results, we will visit Lee Jae-wook someday. We will go and get a photo to prove it." Her strong loyalty drew attention.

The first episode of 'Doctor Island Boy' will air at 10 p.m. on June 1. Lee Jae-wook is scheduled to be discharged in November 2027.

<© STARNEWS. All rights reserved. No reproduction or redistribution allowed.>

*This content was translated by AI.