"I've never made a fortune off my face"... Lee Jun-hyuk has already hit the jackpot, 'Lotto 1st Prize' [★FULL Interview]

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

Actor Lee Jun-hyuk has truly hit the "Lotto 1st Prize."

Lee recently met with audiences through the OTT TVING original and tvN Monday-Tuesday drama, "Lotto 1st Prize Goes to Work" (hereinafter referred to as "Lotto 1st Prize").

"Lotto 1st Prize" is based on the web novel of the same name by writer Seo In-ha. It is a 10-episode K-office drama about team leader Gong Eun-tae (played by Lee Jun-hyuk), who had been enduring day after day while being squeezed from above and below, but after winning the Lotto 1st Prize, goes to work with a different mindset, holding onto the 1.3 billion won prize money instead of submitting his resignation letter.

Since its first release on the 10th of last month, it has maintained the No. 1 spot in TVING weekend subscription contribution for four consecutive weeks, and also continued to hold the No. 1 position in weekly subscription contribution, demonstrating its intense popularity up to the fifth week of release. The final episode broadcast on tvN recorded an average viewership rating of 6.2% and a peak of 7.2% based on nationwide households, and an average of 6.5% and a peak of 7.7% based on metropolitan area households, setting a new record for its highest viewership. Furthermore, it ranked No. 1 in the same time slot including cable and pay-TV channels, and also maintained the No. 1 position across all channels, including terrestrial broadcasters, in the tvN target demographic of men and women aged 20 to 49, both in the metropolitan area and nationwide, bringing a successful conclusion.

In the drama, Lee delivered an outstanding performance as Gong Eun-tae, a team leader in the Sales 5 Tip team who did his best at his assigned tasks and was promoted rapidly, yet was enduring a boring daily routine. Gong Eun-tae, who had been squeezed from above and below in his position as the youngest team leader, encounters a precious opportunity to change his perspective on life thanks to the unexpected luck of winning the Lotto. Ultimately, Lee allowed viewers to see Gong Eun-tae as he is at the end of the "Lotto 1st Prize" story, regardless of whether he won the Lotto or not, depicting a more mature aspect and providing a healing drama for office workers.

In a recent interview with StarNews, Lee emphasized the unique significance of "Lotto 1st Prize," stating, "Through Eun-tae, I felt like I was taking on a lead role for the first time. Since 'Good or Bad Dong-jae' is a spin-off work, I felt that no matter what Dong-jae did, there was a framework to the Hwang Si-mok character. Also, previously I had played many roles as killers or characters who didn't seem human, so I thought Eun-tae was the first character close to me."

Lee then expressed deep empathy, saying, "The office life that Eun-tae leads felt almost no different from my life in the entertainment industry. The entertainment industry also has hierarchical relationships, and I felt it was similar to the situations inside and outside the drama. Haven't I been working for 20 years, even longer than Eun-tae? The hardships that people who have worked in one field for a long time can share are not so different; acting seems to be exactly the same. I think life is similar. Although our realities differ, the conversations with the team members in the drama are all similar in the big picture. Our work also involves finding a good team and working in harmony, so I felt it was exactly like our job."

However, unlike his realistic empathy-driven acting that stands out for its details, Lee has drawn viewers' criticism (?) of "breaking immersion" with his unrealistic "handsomeness." Moreover, Lee, with his dashing suit fit visuals, has even added an unexpected fantasy element to "Lotto 1st Prize."

When mentioned about these reactions, Lee said, "Since I have been working for a long time, I think people might be saying things like 'this actor is doing well without dying' or something along those lines. In any case, I feel grateful for such compliments," offering a shy smile.

He continued, "Appearance is a trend that cycles with the times, so I don't think there is a fixed standard of beauty. I believe people might say my appearance is not good once the trend passes. But since you are looking at me favorably now, I tried to use that point to stimulate the fantasy of Eun-tae approaching as a clean character. So I suggested removing the scene where Eun-tae smokes, and I tried to wear suits in a style that looks young for people in their 20s."

In particular, Lee emphasized, "The public will know it too. That I haven't made a fortune off my face. Now I am getting attention for my appearance, but at the beginning of my debut, I never received such interest. I have never had a huge success like hitting the Lotto with my looks."

He also revealed hidden efforts made for "Lotto 1st Prize." He said, "I paid attention to weight management for the suit fit. Since I was born as a 'good child' [meaning genetically prone to gaining weight], I tend to gain weight even if I eat a little. So I eat one meal a day, consisting of protein powder and a slice of bread. Then life becomes generally depressing. It all feels useless, and I think it's good on days when I can enjoy a delicious hamburger," sharing this with laughter.

For Lee, the great luck similar to "Lotto 1st Prize" is none other than his profession as an actor, revealing his unquenchable passion for acting. Lee confessed, "Our job seems to rely heavily on chance. Of course, although I have been working for over 20 years, such big chances don't come easily. I think 'why am I doing this?' and keep getting angry at why I go this far, but seeing people who already have everything immerse themselves in their work influences me. I think there is something that makes us continue. I don't know if it's purely happy and fun. But many successful people live immersed in their work like that, right? I feel the same way. This job seems to give a sense of satisfaction like hitting the Lotto. Even now, I keep worrying about 'will I be able to do my next job,' but I always feel that I am 'hitting the Lotto' a little bit. Being given the next work feels like 'I hit the Lotto' to me."

Having finished "Lotto 1st Prize" amidst warm acclaim, Lee continues his busy schedule without rest. In particular, he has confirmed his appearance in the new film "Vampire," which is drawing attention as actor Yoo Ah-in's comeback work, attracting eyes. In this work, Lee plays a heretic who yearns for eternal life, attempting a radical acting transformation. He completed a mysterious character with a sharp aura, foreshadowing a powerful screen comeback.

When asked about the reason for his appearance in "Vampire," Lee began by saying, "It was a challenging work for me. In fact, I have always heard 'why are you doing that' every time I choose a work."

He continued, "Dong-jae from 'Secret Forest,' which is evaluated as a career-defining character, was the same. There were many scripts where I could appear dashing, but by choosing roles that were not like that among them, I heard such comments. But because I have made different choices, I believe I have been able to continue this work until now. 'Vampire' also had points that were a little different and worth challenging, so I chose it. It feels lucky and surprising that I consistently receive such scenarios," conveying a sincere answer.

Lee is also preparing for the broadcast of SBS's new occult drama "Awakening" in early next year. He said, "I boldly entered the occult genre, but I realized it was no ordinary task. I started with the judgment that it is not easy for SBS to schedule such a strong occult drama, and prepared with the resolve that there have been few such works for several years. So I worked hard to make it well. Priest robes are a bit hotter than suits. I approached it diligently with a devoted heart," raising expectations.

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original