Lee Chan-yong: "Sweating profusely while filming 'The Rat', emerged pale and shocked.. Pleased with the positive response" [Hanbok Interview ③]

*This content was translated by AI.

Actor Lee Chan-yong shared his thoughts on portraying a detective character in 'The Rat'.

Recently, Lee Chan-yong conducted a Hanbok interview at the StarNews building in Seorin-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, ahead of Chuseok.

Lee Chan-yong appeared in the Netflix drama 'The Rat', which was released last month. The work is a suspense thriller following a novelist named Moon Jae (played by Ryu Jun-yeol), whose name, face, and life were completely stolen by a mysterious figure known as 'The Rat'; a loan shark named No Ja (played by Seol Kyung-gu) trying to recover lost money; and detective Soon-yong (played by Lee Gyu-hyung) as they chase the identity of 'The Rat'. In the drama, Lee Chan-yong played Min-ho, the youngest detective in the investigation team led by Detective Soon-yong.

Lee Chan-yong revealed how he joined 'The Rat'. He said, "The director watched videos of my previous works and made me an offer. After several meetings, they told me I seemed suitable for the role of Min-ho, so we worked together." He added, "When I received that call, I was working a part-time job, and internally I thought, 'This can't be real.' I was so stunned I couldn't speak properly."

He explained that he referenced documentaries to build his detective character. Lee Chan-yong stated, "I watched them thinking about how detectives would behave, and I concluded that fearlessness is their foundation." He also said, "I originally enjoy running, and filming scenes where I dash through alleys late at night felt like I was truly being chased, which made it fun," expressing his satisfaction with playing a detective.

After 'The Rat' was released, Lee Chan-yong gained attention and praise for his unusually pale appearance among the rough-looking detectives. When asked about reactions to his look, he said, "Honestly, when I saw myself on screen, I was shocked thinking, 'Did I really appear that pale?' Although I was drenched in sweat on set, it felt good that I looked so bright, and many people around me told me the same thing, which made me very pleased."

He also mentioned his strong chemistry with senior actor Lee Gyu-hyung. He recalled, "On set, the seniors constantly called out 'Youngest, youngest!' and took great care of me." He added, "At first, I thought Senior Lee Gyu-hyung seemed reserved, but he treated me casually by asking, 'Have you tried this? Let's go eat together,' and even bought me meals. On my birthday this year, he sent a text saying, 'Happy Birthday, Min-ho,' which made me extremely grateful."

Lee Chan-yong cited the nighttime action filming scene as the most memorable moment while shooting 'The Rat'. He said, "It was a scene where it had to rain and water had to overflow. We filmed until sunrise, and I was physically exhausted." He emphasized, "But seeing the seniors standing firmly in their positions without any lapse made me think, 'Come on, Chan-yong, you really need to learn from them.' I gained energy from their example and felt a strong sense of unity."

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*This content was translated by AI.