[Translation] Lee Dong Wook – Elle Korea January 2024 issue magazine interview
What happens when Lee Dong Wook and Kim Hye Jun meet
A battle that begins slowly and quietly. Armed with strength, an uncle and niece like no other. What happens when Lee Dong Wook and Kim Hye Jun from “A Shop For Killers” meet.
Lee Dong Wook who runs according to whatever he wants to do
Q: This is your second work that starts with “death” after “Bittersweet Life” (2008). How is it acting as a presence in someone’s memory like Jung Jin-man in “A Shop For Killers”?
From an acting standpoint, there is nothing special about it. Because it is one of the devices that makes up this piece of work. But I have to get the point of view right, so I paid more attention to the connecting flow of the story.
Q: Jin-man dies suddenly while raising his young niece alone. He leaves behind the secret of him running an unidentified shopping mall. Perhaps, he might be more lonely than Lee Yeon in “Tale of the Nine Tailed”.
That’s why when I was acting as Jin-man who lives his life as an uncle, I barely did my hair nor wore any makeup. But the image of the past that was hidden appears with a more complete face. Jin-man’s goal is simply to protect his niece, and so that she is able to live a safe life. Due to the structure of the show, it is inevitable that there will be a division between good and evil, but he is not simply a “good” person. I wanted to express the human anguish that arises from that. Because even though he couldn’t live an honourable life, the need to protect his family is like his destiny.
Q: Usually when an actor embodies a certain character such as a “killer” as “me”, what part do you understand and accept? For example, killing people in “A Shop For Killers” is completely different from what the psychopath in “Strangers from Hell” does, and the nine-tailed fox that punishes monsters in “Tale of the Nine Tailed”.
I just focus on the situation and the scene. From the start, the main premise of my acting career is that it is just a job. I am even more cautious especially when playing a character that should not exist in society. It should not be romanticised, and it should not be assimilated. Jin-man is more of a complex character than just a “killer”.
Q: Lee Dong Wook, with the face of an uncle rather than a lover or a father, is quite cool. Although you actually have a nephew in reality, how did you set the emotional warmth as an uncle?
A dad can play with you all day, but an uncle can play with you for about two hours. That’s the difference (laughs). For some reason, protecting Ji-an became Jin-man’s goal in life, and he lives with a burden in his heart. In case something wrong happens to him one day and his only remaining blood relative is left alone in this world, he takes on the attitude of trying to raise her harshly and strongly. But his heart is probably closer to that of a parent.
Q: In reality, is Lee Dong Wook more of an uncle who raises his nephew strongly? Or are you just affectionate?
Actually I don’t really care (laughs). Education and the child’s growth are the parents’ responsibility, so it is not my place to argue. I only know what my nephew is learning these days and what he likes through the family group chat. I just wish he will listen well to his own parents.
Q: You are a tsundere uncle. Your banter with Kim Hye Jun, who plays your niece Jung Ji-an in the show, was also good. Is there a good thing about her playing Jung Ji-an?
Her attitude on the set is really good. The schedule would have been tight and difficult, but she always approached it cheerfully and positively. When an idea comes to mind or something interesting happens, she constantly tries to share it, and she’s a really nice person. She also has a good sense as an actress. She has an innate sense of humor or she has good timing at saying her lines. She also put in a lot of effort.
Q: She is also similar to Jung Ji-an.
That’s right. Gentle in appearance but tough inside. She smiles well and is bright on the outside, but she has a lot inside.
Q: Both actors have often shown a variety of action scenes in genre works. I also think it is great that both of you got to meet properly in the same team.
We really had to work as a team. Actress Kim Hye Jun had a lot of action scenes especially, and she worked hard to do it even though it was tough. She went to action school, learnt Muay Thai, and even received gun training… It was really nice to see.
Q: What words were exchanged the most on set (between the both of you)?
I think I always asked her to do things. “Go to the director and tell him to stop shooting”, “Go and tell him that it’s hard” (laughs).
Q: Lee Dong Wook has also successfully taken on the challenge of action in genres such as fantasy and action. Is there any new skill that you learnt in “A Shop For Killers”?
This is my first time dealing with guns on a large scale. Gun action is also fun. But I was more sensitive. Even though we were firing blanks, the wall would explode or the glass would break, so I would check the scene more carefully and pay more attention. Because safety is always the top priority.
Q: If Lee Dong Wook were to suddenly run a shopping mall, what will you sell?
I will sell goods of “Wookdong Lee”, which is my official character and also my nickname. I want to make more varieties of Wookdong Lee. I have to send him to kindergarten and elementary school, and soon he will have to wear a school uniform too.
Q: What if there was a shopping mall for actors?
Firstly, medicine and cold weather gear to help you stay up all night are essential. There will also be things like a machine to improve concentration so that you can memorise lines at once, or professional services to help with mental recovery. This may be a fun idea, but I don’t think there will be much demand for it.
Q: In the drama, Ji-an overcomes difficulties by recalling her uncle’s words and actions in every crisis. Is there a person like Jin-man in Lee Dong Wook’s heart?
Rather than a specific existence, I just reflect on my life experiences. When I face difficulties or limitations, I will open the archive of past works or activities and think about what to do. Now, whenever something happens, I will rely on my experience. Because I’ve been doing this job for nearly 25 years after all.
Q: It’s a data warehouse of about 25 years, so there must be a lot of sources to pull out.
The CPU seems to be working less and less well…Anyway, I have no religion. I just want to believe in myself and work hard.
Q: Jin-man would have worried about whether he was a good adult to Ji-an. What is a good adult like?
Firstly, I think you need to be generous in opening your wallet, and you shouldn’t talk before you are asked (laughs). In the past, when my juniors came to me for advice about their concerns, I talked to them as if my thoughts were the right answer. At some point, I had the thought that that was arrogant. If I knew something, how well did I know it? I think it’s a good adult to keep yourself in check.
Q: Have you become bolder than before in your choice of work?
I don’t really have any thoughts. I just do it if I want to, and if it seems like it’s going to be fun. In the past, I would consider where it was being produced, what channel it would be on, and what were the other shows being aired at the same time slot, but such factors have become less important in today’s world, and you don’t necessarily succeed or fail even if you take those things into consideration.
Q: Lee Dong Wook probably often hears “I enjoyed watching (you on) YouTube” when greeted these days. Do you perhaps take pride in being funny?
I do. It’s not confidence, but well, it’s proven by the number of views right? (laughs)
Q: Just like how the view count of the “New Year is an Excuse” episode from the web variety “Pinggyego” has exceeded 10 million, and it is also ranked the 3rd most popular video on the “2023 A Year On YouTube” report. The fact that Lee Dong Wook was such a “YouTube-type person” feels both new and natural.
Still, isn’t it because I have been consistently doing variety shows since 10 years ago, and I have also worked as a talk show MC? I like fun things. I’m happy to have a lot of fun friends around me, and it’s also nice to be able to laugh and talk with them. I don’t necessarily place any special meaning in doing YouTube.
Q: Did you enjoy going back and forth between the public’s expectations and your own expectations?
It’s true that it has definitely become more comfortable than before. In the past, if I placed greater importance on satisfying the public’s expectations, then these days, it has become more important to do work that I can feel satisfied about. Rather, people like this more.
Q: The weight of the values that you consider as important has changed.
Doing work enjoyably and enjoying work are two different things, but I think enjoying work is not easy. You may do acting enjoyably in every moment, but actors are always being evaluated right? Enjoying to your heart’s content might also seem a bit irresponsible.
Q: Is the more frequent communication with fans through Bubble enjoyable?
I just did it earlier too. When I say something, all sorts of answers come flying out. It’s fun in many ways. Whether it’s Bubble, Wookdong’s pop-up store, or YouTube, I feel like the age range of fans is expanding when I communicate, which is also fun. Recently, I could feel that the number of fans who are elementary school and middle school students has increased.
Q: What kind of charm would work for them?
I think a lot of it is thanks to fantasy genre works like “Goblin” and “Tale of the Nine Tailed”. At the stage greeting for “Single In Seoul”, a mother and child came together, and thanks to the mum, they watched my drama together so the child ended up liking me. I asked the child “How did you know me?” and the eight-year-old said “I came to see Lee Yeon oppa” (laughs)… Now I should go to look for my fans first.
Excerpts from Kim Hye Jun’s interview:
Kim Hye Jun who never gets discouraged
Q: How was it acting in a proper action role? Ji-An, a university student, suddenly learns the secrets of the family business after her uncle’s death, and is caught in a fight between killers.
It was really tough. Unlike before, where I did action scenes as quickly as possible, this time I went to action school four months before filming and learned systematically. For the first time in my life, I found out about comradeship that was built through exercising and bickering with the martial arts director, and I became very close with my colleagues who learned action together with me. But Ji-an is still a newborn chick. The action scene that reveals the capabilities of other killers is much more outstanding and wonderful. I saw Dong Wook oppa’s scene on set and I was surprised by how cool it was. I think stylish music will be added here.
Q: What were you looking forward to when actor Lee Dong Wook was cast as uncle Jin-man? It is also unique that the relationship between an uncle and niece is the focus of the show.
I’ve liked him since the drama “My Girl” (2005). As soon as I saw Dong Wook oppa, I said, “I’ve enjoyed watching you since Seol Gong Chan.” (laughs). Jin-man’s appearance, manner of speech, and tone of acting that I had imagined, everything matched up well. And I really got to enjoy a lot of delicious food and good food. He always tells me to think about what I want to eat after filming. I ate incredibly well.
Q: Was there a moment where he was most dependable?
When I was learning action at the action school, everyone told me “Work hard” and “You can do more”. Dong Wook oppa was the only one who said, “No matter how hard you try, you can’t do it like a professional martial artist. All you have to do is to look like it. It’s important that you don’t get hurt.” Just then, I was physically at my limit, so those words were really comforting.
Source: Elle Korea
Translated from Korean to English by Gabby. Please credit if sharing on other platforms. Please do not duplicate my entire translation elsewhere without permission. You may translate to other languages.
