[Translation] Lee Dong Wook “Harbin” press interviews

On 6 January 2025, Lee Dong Wook met Korean reporters for a roundtable interview at a cafe in Samcheong-dong to discuss his role as Lee Chang Seop in the movie “Harbin”.

As described by an Ize reporter who was there, “He was a person who knew how to gently wrap the air around him with his leisurely and witty talk. Every word he said, seemingly indifferent and humorous, drew pleasant laughter from the other person. There was no sense of pretense. The answers that came out quickly at the same time as the question were honest and made my ears perk up.”

The following is his translated interview, where he talks about his role and experience in the movie, current affairs and more personal topics. These were extracted and compiled from multiple press interviews he did that day, so there will be some repetitions and overlaps in content.

Do note that he discusses many scenes from the movie. For those who have not seen the movie, I’ve hidden the bigger spoilers behind spoiler tags which you need to click to open to read.

Lee Dong Wook’s meeting with the director and how he got casted for the role:

I had the opportunity to chat and have a drink with director Woo Min Ho and Hive Media Corp CEO Kim Won Guk, who is also the producer of “Harbin”, at a private occasion. We had an enjoyable conversation that day and parted ways, and a month or two later, I received a script for the role of Lee Chang Seop.

Director Woo Min Ho had seen almost all my dramas. He saw “Tale of the Nine Tailed 1938”, in particular, he said my new look in “Strangers from Hell” left a deep impression on him. I don’t think it’s related to the role of Lee Chang Seop in “Harbin”, but I think he suggested that I could play the role of Lee Chang Seop because he saw a side of me that was different from my existing image.

Director Woo Min Ho said that he thinks I will be able to show a new side of myself that I’ve never shown before. He said that he thinks I will be able to do well and suggested that we work together. It was easy for me to decide on doing this because it was director Woo Min Ho who called me. I wanted to try acting with Hyun Bin, but also Yoo Jae Myung, Jo Woo Jin, Park Jeong Min, and Jeon Yeo Been. I thought working on a big project with great actors and staff would also help my filmography.

Thoughts when he was offered the role:

I didn’t think much about the burden of playing a character who is a freedom fighter. However, I thought about the meaning this character has in the work. Since this offer was suggested by a CEO and a director I liked, I looked into the script more carefully. The character was attractive, and I thought it was meaningful that this character was polar opposites in his methods even though he shared the same goal as Ahn Jung Geun, so I ended up choosing this work.

I always enjoy taking on challenges and playing new characters, so I didn’t feel pressured because it was a genre and character that I’ve never tried before. However, since this involves real history and it is a precious piece of history to us, I acted with the hope that the spirit of these independence activists would be well expressed.

Because he is polar opposites in his methods compared to Ahn Jung Geun, I thought it would be good to be able to show other sides of Ahn Jung Geun that hasn’t been shown in other films about him through my character. I thought it would be nice if Ahn Jung Geun can stand out more through my character. Since I am working with actors who are good at acting, I thought I should work hard with the mindset that I should not cause them any inconvenience.

How Lee Dong Wook interpreted his character Lee Chang Seop:

Actually, I didn’t prepare in detail. I think all the actors felt the same way after they read the script. Rather than preparing in detail, the first thought I had was to do what I could in the movie.  I thought of the character Lee Chang Seop as someone who doesn’t look back. He believes in the path he has decided on and goes straight ahead. I set up the character with the mindset of running like that. I hoped it would be seen as a point of opposition against Ahn Jung Geun in the movie, so I wanted Ahn Jung Geun’s anguish, worries, and human concerns to be highlighted through Lee Chang Seop.

I think the audience will probably find (Lee Chang Seop’s) refreshing words more relatable. But what’s clear is that both opinions are important. I thought that Ahn Jung Geun, who knew how to uphold the law, be compassionate, and had humane concerns, must have been a strong comrade, support, and good stimulus to Lee Chang Seop.

Personally, when I build a character, there is a feeling that they build up in detail, but I probably tend to think about one or two aspects and then act. In the case of Lee Chang Seop, it would be the aspects of him being straightforward and not looking back. In this way, the character naturally starts to get fleshed out. In certain aspects, I think my real personality also goes in. When I go to the film set, things like the atmosphere I felt on site, my chemistry with other actors, and the ensemble also guided me a little bit.

Actually at that time, there must have been more people with the same mindset as Lee Chang Seop among the independence activists, I think many of the audience members watching now would feel that way. It is reasonable to think that we must win for the sake of our country’s independence, even if it means having to resort to armed struggle. But I think it is my character that will be able to show Ahn Jung Geun’s unique way of doing things that are different from Lee Chang Seop, how he has influenced things, and how those feelings are conveyed. I hope Ahn Jung Geun can stand out in this way.

Lee Dong Wook’s thoughts about Lee Chang Seop being a fictional character whose back story was not explained in the movie, and how he came to respect the noble sacrifices of independence activists even more through this work:

I think that kind of backstory is not important. If you jump into an independence movement, you’ve already jumped in. It’s possible that his family may have been wronged, but I think the determination he had to go this far is important.

I think the character’s history or motives weren’t that important. Rather, I think the trigger that formed the basis that pushed him to even participate in an independence movement, that determination is more important. I mentioned it at the preview screening, when we thought to ourselves, “If we went back to that time, would we be able to fight for independence?”. Honestly, I don’t think we could. Isn’t it too scary? Risking your life in your early 20s to fight for the country’s independence. If I were that age, would I have thought that way? I think it’s a difficult question. Still, I think that it is because they sacrificed their lives that we are here today, and that is why we were given the opportunity to act in this movie.

In the movie, there is a scene where Lee Chang Seop tells Mori (played by Park Hoon) “Ahn Jung Geun is a noble person who cannot be compared to the likes of you.” I think the word “noble” carries a lot of meaning in it. Similarly for Yu Gwan Sun, her spirit and determination to sacrifice her life for her country at the young age of 17 or 20 was admirable. That’s why I acted with the hope that the hearts of the independence activists would be better captured in this movie. I felt a renewed sense of gratitude. I kept thinking if everything I do here, including doing interviews and earning a living, was possible to exist without their efforts.

Whether he relates more to Lee Chang Seop or Ahn Jung Geun:

Rationally, my heart leans more towards Ahn Jung Geun’s beliefs. You need to follow international law so you will have something to say later right? Of course, emotionally…(sympathise more with Lee Chang Seop) “What if we let the Japanese soldiers go but they come to kill us later?”, there was conflict with this kind of emotions. It’s not a question of who is right or wrong.

Acting as Lee Chang Seop without adlib:

Director Woo Min Ho did not give any special directions. We discussed about the details, but he didn’t specify anything out loud that “Lee Chang Seop should do this.” But he said he hoped to see the appearance of someone who is serious, bold and does not look back.

That was the image of Lee Chang Seop in contrast to Ahn Jung Geun and the overall mood of the movie was like that. In other works, I did a lot of ad-libs and discussed lines little by little to change them, but I didn’t dare to do that this time. I took it seriously so as not to trivialise the independence activists who were active in reality.

Lee Chang Seob’s external appearance in the movie:

During a scene of me and Hyun Bin, the director looked at the monitor and said, “Did you make Chang Seop’s face black? It is too black though…” I am relatively fair so I thought the makeup team must have put effort into that. It was all fine. Because I think it was natural for an independence activist to look like that at that time. We deliberately tried to give a more realistic portrayal.

In order to achieve that look at that time, I intentionally covered my body in mud in battle scenes, and I even put on a beard which I mixed in with real beard that I grew out for around a month and a half. At that time, all the male actors had long beards.

Filming “Harbin” and “Tale of the Nine Tailed 1938” at the same time:

I didn’t feel burdened by my rough face in “Harbin”. However, I was worried that the beard would seem fake. The last filming of the tvN drama “Tale of the Nine Tailed 1938” overlapped a bit with the initial filming of “Harbin”. The problem was that I had red-brown hair in “Tale of the Nine Tailed 1938”, and I had black hair in “Harbin”. So I dyed my hair three times in two weeks. I was doing fantasy in “Tale of the Nine Tailed 1938”, and then I had to do realistic acting in “Harbin” so it felt like it was too much for me. Even if it was just a week, I would be able to get out of character if I had the time. “Tale of the Nine Tailed 1938” was a sequel so I have a lot of affection for the drama. So I felt burdened because I had to wrap up “Tale of the Nine-Tailed 1938” well and continue on with the schedule for “Harbin”. But since I couldn’t grow a beard for “Tale of the Nine-Tailed 1938”, I put on a fake beard at that time, and then I filmed with my own beard later on for over a month.

But it was so fun. When I work on a project, the challenge of taking on a new character is fun and makes me happy. I’ll work hard to keep doing that.

Growth as an actor:

There are many situations that I’ve experienced on set, not just in “Harbin”. There are situations where the male and female leads have a beautiful romance, situations where I perform action, and situations that I have experienced. As I gain more experience as an actor, there is a wider scope for me to apply the data that I have experienced.

In that sense, I think I am growing more and more. In “Harbin”, I was shooting a gun initially, but after that I swing a knife in close combat. The director or martial arts director said, “Why are you good at swinging a knife?” I had been using a sword for 3 years while filming “Tale of the Nine Tailed”. Things like that seem to build up. It seems like I’m growing step by step as an actor.

Thoughts about Director Woo Min Ho:

He is detailed. It seemed like he left it up to the actor to handle, but he always pointed out and talked to me about parts that I hadn’t thought of. There were several moments when I thought, “So that could be possible too.” He seems very serious at the set, but if you get to know him more, all the things he says are funny. Actors who had previously worked with him on other projects said the director was a bit scary, but I don’t think that was the case at all. He felt like a “tsundere” to me. Basically, it’s unavoidable that his personality is impatient on set, so maybe that’s why people misunderstand.

The director spoke to me a lot in a delicate and considerate way. He wasn’t forcing his thoughts on me. It seemed like he was being considerate, thinking, “Wouldn’t this hurt the actor’s feelings?” He also positively listened to my opinion. It was comfortable working with him. There were rumours about him being a “scary director” but I thought he was a “funny director”. The director still talks to me using formal speech.

This was a funny thing that happened, the director reached out his hand while looking at the monitor and quickly said to the scriptwriter next to him “Give it to me, give it to me”, he didn’t know what to ask for, but he was asking for a mask, not the walkie-talkie. Because he wanted to quickly go to the scene to do the directing. I saw that from behind and found it so funny.

The director is usually humorous and comfortable to talk to, but I saw him getting impatient on set. When I look at it, I find the director’s actions cute and funny. But Director Woo Min Ho left a deep impression as someone who never compromises when it comes to work. He fully respects the actors’ opinions, but he clearly points out if the acting is lacking or the parts that are not right. I would try to adjust to that, or he would try according to my suggestion, and go through a process of compromise in this way. He would also explain the details well, and these helped me too.

I want to work with the director again. Not this kind of historical work or serious atmosphere, but I want to work with him in another project with a brighter atmosphere too. I’m curious how he will be like then.

The Mount Sina battle scene:

The intention (of that scene) was clear. Battles back then were not like today where you shoot missiles and fly drones; it was a battle where you had to physically collide with others. Guns couldn’t be fired repeatedly, so you have to reload again after firing one shot. In the end, there was no choice but to do hand-to-hand combat, the fierceness and unavoidable cruelty of that moment had to be shown. Because that was the reality of that time. I think the director wanted to show a little bit of how hard the independence fighters fought their battles and how much difficulty they had.

Actually, I didn’t think it was hard when I worked on it. Even when the shoot started and I performed action, it didn’t feel that difficult. I’ve done a lot of action scenes, and the action moves I did there weren’t complicated either. But there were things like rolling around in the muddy ground and the cold weather. Even so, I didn’t feel that it was difficult. Rather, the process leading up to filming was more difficult. After 3 days and 2 nights of standby, I returned to my accommodations, they cleared snow for 10 or 12 hours, and then the sun set after we filmed 1 to 2 shots. The process of continuously going back without being able to shoot was difficult.

This job has always been physically demanding. I think that’s natural. After filming, I just have a beer and say, “Today was tiring,” and that’s it. Not being able to film because it snowed so much was harder. We would wake up at 6am and be on standby until 6pm. They finished clearing the snow and told us we would be able to shoot, but when we went there, it snowed so much, we went back after filming 1 or 2 shots. The filming which was planned to take a week, ended up stretching out to nearly 20 days. The time spent waiting must’ve been not easy. It must have been really difficult for the staff too.

If everything went according to plan according to the original cycle, the shoots at the back would not really be affected. So as the delays went on, everyone felt more pressure. Not just the actors, but everyone including the staff and the production crew. I think that would have been more difficult. But anyway, thanks to heaviest snow that came in 60 years or a few decades, a magnificent scene was born. Thinking about it now, I’m so thankful for it.

Originally, we did not plan to film in the snow. At the time of filming, there was heavy snow in Gwangju for the first time in about 60 years, so it ended up as a snowy scene unintentionally. While filming, we said that this was like a gift from heaven, otherwise it would have been impossible to shoot in natural snow like that. Usually, such scenes are created using special effects, so it was a special experience to be able to film with natural snow. Thanks to that, I think the fierceness and intensity of that time is felt more vividly.

In particular, there is a scene where Ahn Jung Geun played by Hyun Bin gives operational instructions before going into battle, and there was a blizzard that went by. How was it possible that a blizzard would come at that right timing before the big battle? Things like that helped us a lot.

Will you really fight for independence?

After much discussion, the conclusion we reached was, “If it’s this kind of situation, it really won’t be easy to fight for independence.” I may be acting, but I can’t even imagine it. What kind of mindset did they have to throw themselves into this and risk their lives while in their early 20s and early 30s? I wondered what I was doing in my early 20s. We often had conversations about how difficult it was to fathom that mindset. Would I be able to step forward to participate in the independence movement? It must be so scary and frightening.

Importance of this project:

I don’t think this work is absolutely or highly important to my filmography. Even if I couldn’t get to do this project, I will still be acting as Lee Dong Wook in other projects right? I don’t want to be trapped in the logic that you have to do big productions to become a big actor. I tried to think of it as just doing work as a worker. So I didn’t have any greed or pressure for a big project.

The character Lee Chang Seop that I’m acting as is also a fictional character. Unlike the Lee Dong Wook in daily life and the Wookdong-ie in Pinggyego, there is nothing funny in “Harbin”. I think this was my attitude towards this work.

About his amount of screen time in the movie and special credit:

I thought it was a special appearance, but the amount of screen time was longer than I thought, so I was surprised. When I first saw the script, it felt like Lee Chang Seop’s screen time wouldn’t be a lot. So I thought to just work hard in doing my part, but once I started filming, I wondered “Why are there so many shoots?”. I think I filmed a lot more than what I thought. When we filmed the Mount Sina battle scene that appeared at the beginning of the movie, we stayed at Gwangju for close to 20 days. I travelled down expecting to spend about a week there, but I had to stay there much longer than expected. Thanks to that, I think I became close with the staff and actors. I was in Latvia for about two and a half weeks. Fortunately, my part was only in the beginning. (laughs)

I think it’s important how the people who are watching perceive (my role). Rather than thinking about whether I am a special appearance or the supporting actor of a supporting actor, I participated in this project and only thought about doing well for the part that was given to me. I didn’t act with the thought in mind that it was a special appearance.

I’m thankful that they added “and” in front of “and Lee Dong Wook” (in the credits) (laughs). I think it’s something that has been done since a long time ago in Hollywood by adding “AND” or “WITH”. I didn’t start on this movie thinking that this is a special appearance. This is a character appearing in “Harbin”, and I mentioned before somewhere about being “a supporting actor of a supporting actor of a supporting actor”, I thought it was meaningful to participate in this movie. I don’t want to think and nitpick about the size of the role, so I think it is up to the viewers to decide.

Working with Hyun Bin and their improvised scene:
(one of the reporters noted that Lee Dong Wook casually addresses Hyun Bin as “Binnie” in his interview)

He is an actor whom I wanted to work with once. After watching the works that actor Hyun Bin had appeared in so far, I was curious about how he would be like on set. Because the output will be seen by the entire nation. I was curious about his attitude, methods etc. on set. Maybe it was because of the role or the weight of the movie, but he was very serious and he had leadership as the title role of the movie. Even just watching from the side was reassuring. He is also a person who does not compromise easily when it comes to details or important parts.

There was a scene where both of us sat still and spoke our lines. It was a scene that filmed us saying our lines in one take. It was an improvised scene created with the director so I didn’t know how it was going to be like. We started filming it without even having time to discuss what to do in advance. When we started, I took my seat thinking “Whatever happens, will happen”. Once the camera started rolling, the exchange of looks in our eyes and our teamwork were good. It was a thrill I felt for the first time in a long time while acting. I realised things were possible somehow even without speaking, even scenes that are improvised.

I choked up (with emotions) as we acted through improvisation. Hyun Bin too. You will know if you watch the movie, Binnie didn’t say anything for a long time. I think that long period of silence probably spoke volumes. I personally like that scene a lot too.

Before filming that scene, I didn’t know that it wouldn’t involve many cuts. I think that might have been what the director and cinematographer intended. It seemed like it was a big challenge for the director to show it to the audience in one long cut, like a play. This scene where Hyun Bin and I were talking alone at the table was not in the script, but the director created it because he thought it would be nice if the two of us created a scene like this. That one scene alone seemed to do a good job at showing the prior history and friendship of Ahn Jung Geun and Lee Chang Seop, and the strong faith they had for each other, so the director liked it and was satisfied. I think that was the kind of nuanced atmosphere he wanted. That scene ended with a shot of the both of us, and the scene changed as actor Park Jeong Min entered, and the director said that this was enough to show it.

About his time in Latvia with Hyun Bin:

There was nothing to do on our day off. Downtown Latvia is also small to begin with. We woke up in the morning, worked out together, had breakfast, and we said to take a walk, so all the actors walked around together. It was our only daily routine on our days off. On our way out, we met the director who said “Oh~ Where are both of you going?~ Good, good, the two of you should walk around,” so we laughed for a long time. Jeong Min sshi enjoys walking around alone, so he had already thoroughly explored downtown Latvia. He became our guide unknowingly. There’s a church if you go here, there’s a huge market and shopping mall if you go there. We spent the whole day walking around together. (laughs)

Working with Park Jeong Min:

I’ve seen Park Jeong Min’s interview, he said such good things about me so I can’t help but say only good things about him too. He said that he “fell for me” but he doesn’t contact me often. (laughs) But Jeong Min is the kind who doesn’t contact others often to begin with.

He seemed as sharp as a knife. He puts in so much energy till I was able to receive it too. He is a really good actor. He is an actor who usually doesn’t talk much and stays quietly in front of the monitor. But seeing him transform and perform so coolly when acting, I thought he is a really great actor and very cool. There is a unique laidback quality that actor Jeong Min has. I want to learn that too.

About the rest of the cast:

It was an environment where we were stuck together from the time we opened our eyes until we fell asleep, and there was no one else but us. That kind of experience was also unique. It was a good experience and they were a good bunch of people.

In fact, Lee Chang Seop is one step away from Ahn Jung Geun’s people. So there were times when I felt lonely while acting. This loneliness was reduced a lot when I chatted and ate together with them after the cameras stopped rolling. They had gone to Mongolia for filming before I joined the cast. I joined them about 2 to 3 weeks later, but fortunately I got close to them quickly.

Actually, including Hyun Bin, I wanted to work with all the actors appearing in “Harbin”. This is my second time working with Yoo Jae Myung hyung and Jo Woo Jin hyung. I relied a lot on Jae Myung hyung in “Life”, and it was a pity I got to meet Woo Jin hyung in only one scene in “Goblin”, so I’m happy that we met again. I am personally a fan of Park Jeong Min from watching his acting. I’m happy I got to act with him. As for actress Jeon Yeo Been, while acting with her, I often thought “Wow, she’s really that tough. She’s so persistent. I should learn from her.”

There were many things to learn from all the fellow actors I worked with. In fact, I usually play the main lead, and as the main lead, I often lead the scene or the work from the front, so I didn’t have many opportunities to feel this kind of emotion. In that sense, “Harbin” was a rather new and refreshing experience for me because I got to take a step back to see the work and the scene from behind.

While acting with Hyun Bin, although Hyun Bin did not personally mention to him about the burden about playing his character, Dong Wook said there were many times that he could sense the pressure that he was facing.

Actually, while working on the project, we didn’t really talk about acting. But there are chairs for actors to sit when we do monitoring, when I see Hyun Bin sitting on the chair, I could feel it (things like pressure). Although we joked a lot among ourselves, I think most of the actors on set felt a sense of pressure while acting. In particular, even among them, I recall that Hyun Bin spent a lot of time sitting alone quietly.

Lee Dong Wook’s bond with the cast and his sadness about going back to Korea earlier:

We usually call each other “Comrade Kim” and “Comrade Lee” even when we are not filming. I guess because there were a lot of locations and we spent a long time together while filming, we were able to share our feelings quickly. The movie itself was a story about people running toward the same goal, and the actors who acted in it also had the same mindset, so we could connect with one another even more. Unintentionally, there are occasions where I end up leading the conversation in private gatherings. Maybe that’s why, when I was leaving, Jo Woo Jin hyung told me “Stay for one more week and go.” (laughs)

I was going home and leaving them behind, and I felt worried, thinking “There’s still a lot more to film and there are many difficult scenes too, how tough it must be for them.” I thought, “But I still have to go though. Those who have to go, have to go.” (reporters in the room laughed)

I filmed “Pinggyego” two days after I returned to Korea, and I spoke a lot about “Harbin” over there too. I developed affection for the project very quickly on set. At the movie press conference, it had been a long time since all of us gathered together, so it was really nice. Just looking at their faces made me feel comfortable and good. Later, I’ll be meeting them when I join the stage greetings for the first time, the thought about meeting everyone after a long time makes me feel excited.

Discussion about Lee Chang Seop’s final scene:

The scene which he found moving and also one of the best highlights of the movie:

I felt really overwhelmed by the Mongolian scene. They said that the Mongolia filming location took them 3 days and 2 nights to get there from the airport. It was such a pity that I wasn’t in it. How great would it be if we could act together in that kind of great natural landscape? I was envious too. The good thing about being an actor is that I get to go to places I wouldn’t normally go to. I think it’s a blessing to be able to go to beautiful and pretty places all over the country even if I only film in Korea. Mongolia is a place that I can’t go to unless it’s for filming, so I was envious.

“I went “Wow” even when I saw the Mongolia scene through the tiny monitor at the set. I’ve seen the movie a total of 4 times, once was in the editing room, the second time was when I went to the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), and twice in Korea. I saw it at TIFF, and it was a 3500-seater theatre that usually stages operas instead of movies. It had up to 4 floors, and I felt overwhelmed watching it on screen for the first time there. I thought it was worthwhile that everyone worked hard to shoot by going all the way to Mongolia. I saw it twice again in IMAX theatre in Korea, and it was different indeed. It doesn’t usually snow much in desert areas, but when our team went there to film, it snowed…I think the entire Mongolian mountain sequence is the highlight of the film.

About reactions to the movie during its world premiere in Toronto:

I was a bit worried because it was a story about history. But when I think about it, there are many countries that have the same pain. That’s why many people are immersed in watching it.

Thoughts about the movie’s box office success:

People may not feel comfortable coming to the theaters these days, so I’m very thankful to the viewers. Hyun Bin shall do the rest of the greetings, haha.

I hope we reach the break-even point and I hope more viewers will watch the movie. In particular, I hope that “Harbin”, which is released as we approach the 80th anniversary of national liberation, will provide many viewers with an opportunity to reflect on the meaning of the independence movement and liberation.

I always work with the goal of achieving box office success. Although it’s the same for dramas, movies are created together as a group. It’s not only important to me that the movie does well, it’s also important to the people who participated in the work with me. If the movie does well, it’s not just a good thing for me only. It also applies to the director, staff, production company and investors who participated. It needs to be successful and do well to become good nourishment. That’s something important to me.

Although not in “Harbin”, I had to take the lead in other works. I worked hard with the mindset that I had to do their share as well. But box office success isn’t something that can be achieved solely by my efforts. It doesn’t always happen the way I want it to. Fortunately, “Harbin” is doing very well so I’m relieved and happy. Hyun Bin needs to work hard.

The impact of Lee Dong Wook’s and Hyun Bin’s visuals on box office success:

There’s no effect at all. Who goes to watch “Harbin” to see our faces? I’m looking forward to the stage greeting because many fans will come. I hope Hyun Bin sshi can find strength. (laughs)

Why “Harbin” should be enjoyed at the cinema:

I said the same thing as Hyun Bin at the production press conference. I hope people experience this movie in the theatre. We’ve put a lot of effort into the visuals and sound. Of course, watching at home is also very good, but seeing it in the theatre is different. In that sense, I hope people can watch it in the theatre. I think it’s a movie worth watching with full concentration in a theater. When you watch it at home, you pause and go to the bathroom or go to drink water, but I hope you don’t watch it like that and focus completely.

Regarding audience’s reactions towards his role in “Harbin”:

I don’t personally search for a lot of reviews about the movie, but I heard from my PR team that people have said a lot of good things. Many said that I seemed to have shown a new image, and I feel very thankful and happy when they say that they couldn’t even recognise me in the movie.

I’m not the kind to search for audience’s reactions. Rather than being indifferent, I just think how is it possible for everyone to like me. It feels better not looking at it at all, and this is what I’ve thought after being in this career for over 20 years. I don’t really look at pictures too. I think I will appear according to how I look. How can 100 out of 100 like me? It’s fine if just 50 of them like me.

Thoughts about the current situation in the country (i.e martial law, impeachment of the president, and the Jeju Air plane crash) coinciding with the timing of the movie’s release:

It’s unfortunate. It also appears in the movie, but Ito Hirobumi says something like that. “This country may have had poor leadership, but its people have always overcome adversity.” Ito’s subordinate said that 300 years ago, there was a hero named Yi Sun Shin, but now there is no such hero. Nearly 500 years have passed since the Imjin War, it is regrettable that history is repeating itself even 150 years ago when Ito was there.  However, if the people have the strength and DNA to overcome it, it is a sad story, but I hope that we overcome it well and the country will return to normal.

I felt the same way as everyone. The release of a movie is something that is decided at least three or four months in advance, so it wasn’t intentional at all but it happened to coincide with the current situation in the country. Actually filming for the movie was completed two years ago. It could have been released in summer also, so it’s really strange. No one could have expected such events to happen. So I thought, “You’ll never know what will happen in life, you don’t know what’s going to happen even an inch ahead.” It’s a world where you don’t know what will happen tomorrow when you go to sleep today and wake up. You can’t tell what will happen the next day. The current situation coinciding with a movie that has this kind of message makes me think a lot.  

This year will be the 80th anniversary of national liberation. It seems like the world has changed a lot since before liberation, but it also feels like it hasn’t changed at all these days. It is meaningful to be able to meet so many audiences through “Harbin” during this 80th anniversary of liberation. I hope this can be an opportunity to once again reflect on the meaning of the independence movement and liberation. And I hope that by the 100th anniversary of liberation, our country will have become a much better place to live in.

Regarding the messages of support that he wrote on Bubble when citizens were staging protests calling for the impeachment of the president, Lee Dong Wook was asked if he felt burdened about commenting or expressing his support as a celebrity. 

Rather than feeling burdened (as a celebrity), I literally just wanted to cheer on the fans who were there at the rally. Because they had a hard time in the cold weather. I couldn’t be there beside them so I wanted to cheer them on. I think many citizens would feel the same way.

I didn’t say that to hear people say I was cool. I think anyone would have felt the same way. Regardless of whether you are a conservative or progressive, everyone wants the country they live in to be stable and successful. That’s what I think.

Is there any citizen who would wish for their country to be engulfed in chaos and live in a mess? As a citizen, I hope that the country will become stable and continue to do well in the future.

Regarding his recent donation of 50 million won to help families and relief efforts for the Jeju Air plane crash:

I intentionally donated on 4th January, the last day of the national mourning period. The meaning of mourning might fade after this period, so I thought it would be good if more people could remind once more at least, hence I donated. That was just a small token from my heart.

There are also people who donate much more often and in larger amounts than me. I feel very embarrassed because my donation was reported in the news and seems to have become a topic of conversation. I think it might be a good thing if the news of my donation could convey that feeling to others once more and lead to more donations.

I don’t donate often, but I’ve done it three or four times, and when I donate, the organisation asks if they can release a news article about it. If a famous person donates and if it is reported in the news, other people might become interested as well, so I agreed to the idea and a news article was released, but I feel embarrassed and sorry.

One thing that’s clear is that I am someone who holds a job that grows by receiving love from the public. I think I can return that love I received through this kind of opportunity.

It may sound cringey, but whenever I donate, I think I am doing it together with my fans. Regardless of the amount or frequency, when I donate, I do so with the thought that it bears the hearts of my fans and their support for me.

Promoting “Harbin” on Pinggyego since 2 years ago:

I ended up promoting it unintentionally through Pinggyego two years ago. I think CJ and the production company will like it. I had been promoting it since a very long time ago compared to (the size of) my role.

I appeared on Pinggyego when I was still filming this movie, so I talked about “Harbin” whenever I appeared on Pinggyego. I talked about it for fun initially, but it gradually became more special. Who would promote a movie two years before its release? I will ask the CEO of the production company if there is any actor who promotes as long as me and ask him to give me a gift.

About the Pinggyego Awards:

I consider Wookdong-ie on Pinggyego as a sub character of mine, not a main character. Fans have always liked Pinggyego a lot. I always hear that wherever I go. I even won the Best Picture award twice in a row on Pinggyego.

When they first said that they would hold an awards ceremony (in 2023), I said I wouldn’t go, but once I went there, I became sincere in giving and receiving awards. I wondered why did I end up wanting it this much, and I think it’s because it’s an award that is decided by viewers who personally cast their votes. The award becomes meaningful because I feel like it is a precious vote from the viewers. I felt honoured.

Senior Lee Sung Min won the rookie award this year. I think only Pinggyego is able to hold this kind of awards ceremony. I went there this time to present the Daesang, but I was also a Daesang nominee. I really attended this year’s Pinggyego awards with nothing in mind. But when I actually had to present an award as last year’s Daesang (grand prize) winner, before opening the envelope, I had a useless imagination, thinking, “What if there’s my name inside? That will be awkward?”. But as expected, senior Hwang Jung Min won the award. Rather than it being a pity, I think I should win it one more time.” (everyone laughs) Even if it’s not this year, I will attempt to win the Daesang again. I haven’t won many awards for acting, but I have my Pinggyego trophy displayed well too.

About appearing on Youtube and hosting his own talk show:

Because I like it, because I like fun things. Should I say that this is a qualification that my job requires? You will find joy and comfort from watching the things I do, because I like fun things. Appearing on YouTube to talk and hosting talk shows are pretty much the same. I’m not the type of person who finds this kind of thing difficult, so it’s not a big burden. It’s Jae Suk hyung’s fault if the view count on Pinggyego doesn’t do well. (laughs)

Initially, I went to Pinggyego because Yoo Jae Suk hyung called me. I’m not an actor who has no variety experience at all. I’ve done SBS “Strong Heart” and a talk show under my name before. I also know many senior and junior comedians around me. I like having fun even on normal days. Appearing on Pinggyego isn’t something that will drag me down to the bottom in life. But I feel a bit of burden after winning the Pinggyego Daesang. I didn’t have the confidence to be funny anymore, but as time goes by, it’s bound to be forgotten. I’ll try to be funnier this year too. (laughs)

If I were to do a talk show again, I will definitely invite Yoo Jae Suk to appear. But I will only let him answer questions. Because I’ll be the one hosting, so it will be fun to make him answer only. Among the people who appeared in “Harbin”, I want to invite director Woo Min Ho. I want to show that he’s actually a really funny person even though he is shy.

His ordinary and friendly image on Pinggyego:

That’s how I originally am. A Hallyu star and my popularity overseas depend on the results of my work. It’s not something that happens just because I want it. I think the comfortable image I have in Pinggyego is closer to my true self. I like to have fun and chat on normal days too.

Actually when I first appeared on Pinggyego, I wondered if people would like it, and I also ended up appearing on it because Jaesuk-ie hyung said he is going to do a Youtube show. Also, I came to see Jaesuk-ie hyung’s face and chat with him, and he seemed to like it a lot. I thought that maybe this is what he want from me too. It’s important to consistently show my acting as an actor, but I think it’s also good to show a fun and cheerful side of myself on variety shows.

Regarding the Pinggyego rural vacation spin-off that was mentioned during the 2nd Pinggyego Awards:

While Jaesuk-ie hyung was hosting the awards ceremony, he said “We need to go for a rural vacation with Wookdong”. I thought “Without me knowing?”, so I asked the production team and they said, “Oppa, we will go when you have time.” But I have no time. Nothing has been decided yet.

About his sweet manner of communicating with his fans through Bubble, and holding a fan meeting:

I don’t run my own social media account. It is managed by my agency, so I don’t know how to use social media well, but I was told to use a channel to communicate with fans. So I communicate with my fans in my usual way of speaking, but my regular fans don’t really know about how I’m like in my daily life, that’s why I think they find it refreshing.

The fan meeting that I had after 5 years was also fun. Because apart from fan meetings or stage greetings, there are no opportunities for actors to meet fans personally. I do this because I enjoy communicating with my fans directly.

About acting:

The more I act, the more difficult it becomes and the sense of responsibility becomes greater. Now, I live more days acting than days without acting. Then by right it should become easier to act, but I don’t know why it’s so difficult and uncomfortable every time I do it. If I have one unchanging belief, it would be “don’t make the people who are with me feel ashamed.” Acting is about constantly evolving and taking on new challenges. Naturally, the pressure will also increase. I want to leave the glory of the past behind and look at the present to move forward.

I think it’s right that I should show that I’m continuously evolving and challenge myself with new genres. The phrase I always keep in mind is “Live in the present”. The glory of the past is just a thing of the past. I will be eliminated if I don’t live in the present. I always have the mindset, “Let’s not make people who worked with me feel embarrassed when they go somewhere.”

Lee Dong Wook picks his works in his 26-year career:

My popularity grew overseas through “My Girl” and it was also my first lead role in a mini series. It is meaningful because many people loved it. “Goblin” can’t be left out too.

“Tale of the Nine Tailed” is also a work that I like. There are still fans asking for a season 3 even now. “A Shop For Killers” also received a lot of good reviews here and there at the end of last year. If you think about it this way, they all seem to be meaningful.

About whether he has seen the latest work of his friend Gong Yoo:

I still haven’t seen “Squid Game 2” yet. I’m now filming “Divorce Insurance”. I also need to promote “Harbin”. I haven’t started yet because once I start I can’t stop watching it. I don’t talk to Gong Yoo sshi about such things. We don’t talk about our works and things like that. We talk about fishing.

About love and marriage:

I think I will probably do it when the time comes. It doesn’t seem like something that can be forced to happen. The ratio of single people around me is about half-half. I’m 45 years old this year in Korean age, but my parents don’t really say anything. I’m also curious.

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.

Sources:
Sports Choson (1)(2)(3); Ilgan Sports (1)(2); Herald Pop;
Within News; Osen (1)(2)(3)(4)(5); Sports World; E Daily (1)(2)(3); Joy News (1)(2); Hankook Ilbo; Ize; iMBC; SpoTV News (1)(2)(3); Newsen; Aju News; ET News (1)(2); Xports News; Hankyung (1)(2); Sports Kyunghyang; FN News; MK; Dailian News