Actor Lee Jae-wook (27) shared his thoughts on his first fixed variety show and military service.
The Netflix series 'Tangeum', based on a novel of the same name, tells the story of Hong-rang, the son of Joseon's largest merchant group, who returns after 12 years with no memory, while his half-sister Jae-i is the only one doubting his identity, depicting the mysterious and romantic feelings that blossom between them. Directed by Kim Hong-sun, known for Netflix's 'Money Heist: Korea - Joint Economic Area', the occult drama 'The Guest', and the fresh hit 'Voice', and written by Kim Jin-ah of Apple TV+'s thriller 'Dr. Brain'.
Lee Jae-wook plays Hong-rang, who returns after 12 years, while Jo Bo-ah plays his sister Jae-i, who suspects Hong-rang is a fake. Jung Ga-ram takes on the role of the adopted son Mu-jin of the Min Merchant Group. Um Ji-won plays the head of the Min Merchant Group, Min Yeon-hee, and Park Byung-eun plays the head of the Min Merchant Group, Sim Yeol-guk.
Lee Jae-wook joined the cast of tvN's variety show 'Sister's Direct Delivery 2' as the youngest member, starting from its first broadcast on the 13th of last month, collaborating with Yeom Jung-ah, Park Jun-myeon, and Lim Ji-yeon.
When asked about his reason for taking on his first fixed variety show, he said, "The works I do are intense and fast-paced, and 'Alchemy of Souls' has fantasy elements. My mother said she had to watch it 4-5 times to understand it. I wanted to do something comfortable before going to the military. I hadn't thought about variety shows, but when the offer for 'Sister's Direct Delivery 2' came, I took on the challenge without hesitation."
He continued, "I felt some pressure being the youngest. So sometimes I tend to be a bit more exaggerated during filming. It's not that I'm forcing myself to be funny, but even when it's tough, I think to myself, 'I have to keep fighting.' There was a time during filming when I felt like I needed to get back to work quickly because my older sisters were working hard. I wanted to work that hard, and my sisters seemed to like that attitude."
He also mentioned, "I've become particularly close with Lim Ji-yeon, and I check in on her. People around me say I resemble Lim Ji-yeon more than my real sister. I think my real sister also resembles me a lot."
Currently filming the Netflix series 'Honey Job', Lee Jae-wook is preparing for his military enlistment this year.
Lee Jae-wook stated, "I hope that by trying various things now, even when I go to the military, there will be a lot for me to look back on, so I want to work hard."
He added, "I like group living and sleeping with friends. I feel the same about social life. It's an experience that all young people in our country go through, so I want to experience it too. I think I will meet various people there, and I'm looking forward to it."
He also smiled and said, "I hope to become a stronger person after my military service."
Having quickly landed leading roles after his debut, Lee Jae-wook said, "I consider myself lucky. I'm grateful just to be in leading roles and to keep filming. I graduated from the theater and film department, and there are many friends who are better than me. So I always have a grateful heart."
He continued, "In a place with many wonderful and talented people, I think about what I can do. I want to work hard in my current life. I want to do well in acting. I'm not particularly outstanding. Being tall can be an advantage, but there are many tall people, so I can't say it's a unique advantage. My mother is 172cm tall, so I'm thankful to her."
Finally, he said, "I have affection for all characters, but I can't control the success of a work. I had a lot of worries before 'Tangeum' was released. If a previous work is a bit mediocre, I feel stagnant too. There are times when I fall into a rut, but I try to overcome it. I want to commend myself for that."
[Yang So-young, Star Today Reporter]
