Lee Hong-nae: "'Did you apologize?' to 'Lovely,' Parents' Reaction Changes.. Park Ji-hoon 'Cooking Soldier 2'? I'm Curious Too" [★FULL Interview]

*This content was translated by AI.

Actor Lee Hong-nae (36) redefined his life character through the "Cooking Soldier."

In the OTT tvN Monday-Tuesday drama "Becoming the Legend of the Cooking Soldier" (hereinafter "Cooking Soldier"), Lee Hong-nae delivered a passionate performance as Sergeant Yoon Dong-hyun, a cooking soldier in his final years. In particular, he drew attention by shedding the intense image of a fierce demon from his previous work "The Uncanny Counter" (2020), which made his name known to the public, and revealing a different side. He perfectly embodied a character infused with playful comedic acting, captivating viewers with an unprecedentedly approachable charm.

In particular, Lee Hong-nae drove the drama's popularity with a perfect bromance chemistry with Park Ji-hoon, who played Private First Class Kang Seong-jae, Yoon Dong-hyun's successor as the cooking soldier. By depicting a narrative of growing together as allies, he brought warm laughter and emotion.

As a result, "Cooking Soldier" concluded on the 16th of this month with a high viewership rating of 7.6%. Furthermore, it received immense love, gathering more paid subscribers than any other tvN original work released in the past three years.

In a recent interview with StarNews, Lee Hong-nae said, "Dong-hyun's ending was his discharge. He discharged after conveying his gratitude to the unit members. Even while filming, I felt a similar sensation to when one actually discharges, and even while watching the final episode, I felt that same emotion. While I'm glad to be discharged, I also felt a mix of missing them and a bittersweet feeling." He recalled "Cooking Soldier" in a unique way.

When asked about his thoughts on the intense popularity, he said, "I never expected it at all. I generally don't think much about the results when filming a work. First of all, the given filming schedule is urgent. The most important thing was to somehow draw empathy from the character Yoon Dong-hyun and persuade the viewers. I did my best during that process, and I thought the result was up to the viewers. But I am so grateful to receive such great love."

In particular, Lee Hong-nae drew attention by revealing the secret of gaining 10 kilograms for "Cooking Soldier." He recalled, "I auditioned for the role of Yoon Dong-hyun and was contacted a few days later. As soon as I heard the good news, my first action was to make a workout and meal plan. The script clearly stated that Dong-hyun is 'more interested in protein than taste and exercise than cooking,' so I went through that preparation process. Since I had lost a lot of weight due to my previous work, I worked hard to gain weight."

Lee Hong-nae said, "I think I gained about 10 kilograms around the middle of filming. Even so, I felt a bit regretful. I wanted Dong-hyun to have a grand feel. I wanted to build more muscle, but it was the best I could do within the time available."

How was the synchronization rate with the Yoon Dong-hyun character? Lee Hong-nae said, "He is very similar to me. Like Dong-hyun, I am clumsy but tend to work hard at everything. I am a bit shy around strangers, but I think I also have a cute and lovely side like Dong-hyun within me. Our tsundere personalities are also similar. I don't say things like 'You're good' in front of people, but I stay quietly by their side, and I see that aspect as very similar."

At the same time, Lee Hong-nae expressed gratitude to Director Jo Nam-hyung, who gave him the opportunity for acting transformation through "Cooking Soldier." He said, "Through 'Cooking Soldier,' I realized that the image of my previous works as an actor is rough, rebellious, and thuggish. However, since Yoon Dong-hyun has a cute and lovely charm, I was worried about whether there would be a distance. I actually asked the director about my worries. I kept worrying even while filming. I wondered if the colors I had shown before would come out again. The director helped me the most with those worries. The director showed many demonstrations on set, and what I clearly felt was that the director acts better than me. The reason I could shed the image of my previous work is largely due to the director's capability."

Continuing, Lee Hong-nae said, "I think casting me was a big challenge for the director as well. Thanks to the confidence you gave me, I think I was able to show a different side. As for how I went through the process of breaking away from the existing image, I wanted to give the credit to the director." He conveyed his sincerity.

He also expressed his grateful heart at being praised as "cute." Lee Hong-nae said, "It's embarrassing for me to mention it myself, but in fact, no one has ever told me 'cute' after watching my works. But through 'Cooking Soldier,' I received the reaction 'cute' for the first time. I heard the word 'lovely' for the first time in my life. It was the first time my parents watched my work and said 'lovely.' In the past, (for villain roles) they would always worry, asking, 'Did you apologize to your co-actor?' My parents were always worried, though not really worried. What was so amazing was that recently, the whole family, from my cousin to my aunt, gathered, and regardless of age, everyone only talked about 'Cooking Soldier.'" He smiled.

At the same time, Lee Hong-nae said, "I think it would be bad luck if I did something cute just because I was called cute. I don't think there is a need for my 'lovely' side. I heard the word 'cute' and gained confidence through 'Cooking Soldier' that 'yes, I can take on a challenge,' so I want to try something new next time." He showed the attitude of a premium scene-stealer.

Lee Hong-nae said, "In fact, if I were to compare the past times, it felt like going through a long tunnel. There was no end in sight, and the act of acting felt both anxious and difficult. I wondered how long this life would continue, but 'Cooking Soldier' showed me an anxious yet new path and a new challenge. I really felt greatly that it was a work that instilled confidence in me. On the other hand, acting has become fun these days. I filmed 'Cooking Soldier' so enjoyably that I wondered if it was okay to film it this way." He reflected.

How was the chemistry with "Ten Million Actor" Park Ji-hoon? Lee Hong-nae said, "From the moment I first read the script, the most important thing for Yoon Dong-hyun was the process of gradually opening his heart to Kang Seong-jae from their first meeting. I wanted Yoon Dong-hyun to appear as a reliable big brother figure as an ally in the process of Kang Seong-jae being reborn as the legendary cooking soldier. We had many conversations with the director about that height and depth to develop the character." He revealed.

He continued, "I really wanted to be Park Ji-hoon's ally. I approached it with the mindset that I should help Ji-hoon act well, but in the end, it was the opposite. Instead, I received a lot of help. The reason viewers think of Yoon Dong-hyun so lovingly is all thanks to Ji-hoon." He humbly gave the credit.

Lee Hong-nae said, "In fact, Yoon Dong-hyun's actions might have seemed exaggerated and the comedic parts might have seemed too much. But the reason we could be persuaded otherwise was because Kang Seong-jae was by his side. Watching it on broadcast made me think even more. If Yoon Dong-hyun was a bit over-the-top, Kang Seong-jae toned it down. Park Ji-hoon really expressed it delicately. I wondered if all the actors could be loved like this if it weren't for Park Ji-hoon. I was grateful because he allowed everyone to shine." He offered praise.

Furthermore, Lee Hong-nae said, "Ji-hoon taught me a lot while filming together. I'm not saying this humbly; it was really true. He is an actor who stands very straight, like a bamboo. He had a lot of screen time, and amidst that busy schedule, he even went through the release and promotion schedule for 'The King's Affection' in the middle of filming and managed to handle it all. I learned a lot by seeing his unwavering appearance." He praised him repeatedly.

Finally, Lee Hong-nae spoke about his thoughts on "Cooking Soldier" Season 2. He said, "Season 2 should be loved immensely. I don't know exactly how Season 2 will turn out, but as a fan of this drama, I want to watch it. In particular, I am curious about how Kang Seong-jae overcomes hardships and adversity and grows. It seems like he is still in the process of becoming a legend, so I hope to see more of that in Season 2. Also, perhaps Yoon Dong-hyun could run a restaurant outside. If any direction is proposed, I naturally want to participate with a happy heart." He said.

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*This content was translated by AI.