Rookie actor Lee Jong-hyun (26) has successfully completed his debut work 'Study Group'.
The TVING original 'Study Group' is based on the popular webtoon of the same name (written by Shin Hyung-wook, illustrated by Yoo Seung-yeon, produced by YLAB), and is a comedic high school action story where Yoon Ga-min (played by Hwang Min-hyun), who wants to study well but has all his talent focused on fighting, forms a 'Study Group' while diving into a bloody entrance exam at the worst school.
On the 24th, Lee Jong-hyun met with Star Today at the Maekyung Media Center in Chungmuro, Seoul, and expressed his feelings about the ending, saying, “'Study Group' is one of the webtoons I originally liked. I was happy to be part of a work I love. I feel proud that it seems to have ended with good results.”
Lee Jong-hyun played the role of Kim Se-hyun, who is the second in the entire first year at Yuseong High School and becomes the first member of the Study Group alongside Yoon Ga-min.
Lee Jong-hyun, who debuted through auditions for this work, said, “I had a non-face-to-face audition, and during the meeting, I auditioned for both the characters Kim Se-hyun and Pi Han-ul. The production team seemed to have thought a lot about it. The director thought that my eyes and image looked like they had a story and matched well with Kim Se-hyun,” adding, “In fact, it’s true that I was attracted to the character Pi Han-ul because he is such a charming character. But looking back now, I think I fit better with the character Kim Se-hyun. At that time, I had many realistic concerns about dreams and work, and that aspect matched well.”
Kim Se-hyun, who practiced for his first work 'Study Group', received both material and moral support from his senior Kim Soo-hyun, who is also in the same agency.
Lee Jong-hyun said, “All the trainee friends in the company, and those who had no immediate schedules, all studied together. During that time, Kim Soo-hyun came and gave advice,” adding, “I had a lot of pressure because my role was significant in my first work, but Kim Soo-hyun told me, ‘Don’t feel burdened and do what you want to do on set.’ That advice was very helpful.”
'Study Group' is a school-themed work featuring young actors including Hwang Min-hyun (as Yoon Ga-min), Shin Soo-hyun (as Lee Ji-woo), Yoon Sang-jung (as Choi Hee-won), and Gong Do-yu (as Lee Joon).
Lee Jong-hyun said, “There were many rookie actors besides me. In the beginning, Hwang Min-hyun took the initiative to arrange separate meals to build camaraderie. I felt that was very important. As we progressed, our relationships got much better. I realized that personal connections are important when acting with friends of a similar age, and I am very grateful to Hwang Min-hyun.”
Despite being a work filled with rookies, 'Study Group' gained a reputation for its quality and recorded high popularity, ranking first in paid subscriptions on TVING for four consecutive weeks and ending on a positive note. According to Rakuten Viki, it ranked in the TOP 2 in 74 countries, including the US, UK, Brazil, Mexico, France, and UAE, based on viewer numbers in the third week of airing, and made it to the TOP 5 in 147 countries.
Lee Jong-hyun said, “I was excited while waiting for the release, and as the release date approached, I became nervous. I was very anxious because my acting would be evaluated for the first time, but after it was released, I felt it was amazing and a bit embarrassing,” adding, “I thought it would do well, but I never imagined it would be received so well even overseas. My SNS followers increased more than twice. I received DMs saying, ‘I think I’ll become a fan because your eyes are nice,’ and it made me very happy.”
Coinciding with the release of 'Study Group', the music video for singer Song Ga-in's new song 'Asadal' also gained attention.
Lee Jong-hyun said, “I don’t know the exact background, but I heard that the company of senior Song Ga-in contacted us,” adding, “It was really amazing to meet someone so famous in another field. She definitely had good energy. She was easygoing and kept looking out for me, which was nice. I think she made it possible for me to shoot the music video without pressure.”
Naming his senior Kim Soo-hyun as a role model, Lee Jong-hyun said, “I really like him. It’s not just about acting; I really admire the way he usually presents himself. Watching him practice consistently gives me the lesson that if I ever reach his position, I should be like that.”
Through his debut work 'Study Group', Lee Jong-hyun has begun to dream anew.
Lee Jong-hyun said, “I approached this project with excitement and waited for it to come out, and I filmed it with that mindset, and after it was released, many people loved it. I developed a desire to receive consistent interest and love in my next work,” adding, “I want to be an actor who continues to work hard. It’s still very hard to exercise and practice from the morning, and I sometimes think about taking a day off. Nevertheless, I hope that I can overcome this and do well in the future. I want to be an actor who doesn’t lose my original intention and remains consistent.”
[Shin Young-eun, Star Today reporter]
