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    Lee Joon Gi 이준기 | [Drama 2023] "Arthdal Chronicles: The Sword of Aramoon"

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    (ENG translation) StarNews’ Exclusive Interview with Lee Joon Gi, winner of the Best Artist Award and the Asia Celebrity Award in the Acting category at the 2020 Asia Artist Awards (2021/01/11)

    -

    part 1

    2020 was certainly a meaningful year for this actor, who won two awards at the 2020 Asia Artist Awards (“2020 AAA”) and made us look forward to the next step he’s going to take in 2021. That actor is none other than Lee Joon Gi.

    At the 2020 AAA held last November, Lee Joon Gi won the Best Artist Award and the Asia Celebrity Award in the acting category.

     

    He made a small-screen comeback after two years with tvN drama Flower of Evil, which aired last July, and went on to become a double award winner at the 2020 AAA, leaving us all wowed: “Of course! [**an expression used to say he lived up to his name**]”

    In Flower of Evil, Lee Joon Gi plays Do Hyun Soo who lives as Baek Hee Seong, so that’s basically two characters in one role. Lee turned in a spine-chilling performance that took viewers by surprise, and the viewers were mesmerized by it. That’s probably why Lee gave Flower of Evil a special place when asked what winning the 2020 AAA awards meant to him:

     

    “For me, ‘Flower of Evil’ was a truly meaningful project. We started filming in the spring of 2020 and continued to work until early winter, so we worked together for about a year. Winning the awards at the 2020 AAA made 2020 an even more meaningful year especially after I spent it working on ‘Flower of Evil.’ This is all because of those viewers and fans who showed love and support for ‘Flower of Evil.’ So thank you from the bottom of my heart.”

     

    This is his second time winning at the AAA following the 2017 awards. The AAAs hold a special meaning for him.

     

    "I am always grateful for the memories I have of the AAAs, not just this year but also 3 years ago (laughs). In particular, I am very well aware that I was honored with these awards because of my fans who showed me their unchanging love and support, so my heart is always full of gratitude, then as well as now. However, unlike 3 years ago, this year I could not meet my fans due to Covid-19. I sincerely hope and pray that Covid-19 ends as soon as possible so the next awards will be a festival where everyone gets to laugh and have fun together.”

     

    Following Lee Joon Gi’s wins, international fans, as well as his Korean fans, left him messages of congratulations on his SNS account. He expressed his gratitude to his fans for showing him their unwavering support and love.

     

    "I think I got these great results because of my fans who always cheer me on and send me love. This year must have been harder on them than any other year, yet they still did not forget to cheer me on and send me lots of love. So thank you from the bottom of my heart. Thanks to the support you gave me, I was able to cheer up and run this race till the very end. I hope you take good care of your health, and I am cheering you all on and wish you a year filled with happiness and joy in 2021. I will also work hard to show you a greater, better version of myself. Thank you.”

     

    Lee Joon Gi is now the double award winner at the 2020 AAA. He confided that ‘Flower of Evil’ is such a special project for him because it put him where he is right now.

     

    "To me, ‘Flower of Evil’ was a project that truly felt like a ‘gift’. It was my small-screen comeback project after two years, so I was constantly under pressure and worried so much, from the moment I chose to do this project and throughout the shoot. In fact, from the moment I received the script, the biggest thought in my head was ‘this is so difficult,’ and the project particularly made me worry a lot and wonder if I could do a good job. But now that I finished it all, looking back, I think those worries and those moments came together and brought into my life a time that feels like a gift. It was definitely the case when I was shooting, but even now, after finishing it, when I look back on that time, it is just filled with fun and happy memories.”

     

    Lee Joon Gi also confided that the cast and the production crew he worked with on Flower of Evil also congratulated him on his wins at the 2020 AAA. He added that he regarded those awards as the honors he received along with those he’d worked together on the drama.

     

    "(Following my wins at the 2020 AAA) everyone called me to offer their sincere congratulations. In the end, I think these awards are the honors I received along with all the actors and production crew who worked so hard together. So when we spoke to one another I remember saying thank you back to those I worked with.”

    -

    part 2

     

    [Exclusive] Lee Joon Gi: “I worried so much I would end up playing a parody of myself in Flower of Evil’

    StarNews’ Exclusive Interview with Lee Joon Gi, winner of the Best Artist Award and the Asia Celebrity Award in the Acting category at the 2020 Asia Artist Awards

    In ‘Flower of Evil,’ Lee Joon Gi practically plays two characters in one role, in every aspect – from facial expressions to emotions, and to action performances. His portrayal of Do Hyun Soo, wrongly accused of murder, who lives as killer Baek Hee Seong, left an indelible impression on viewers. But Lee Joon Gi himself had difficulty playing this role who has polar opposites in him.

     

    "Since Do Hyun Soo and Baek Hee Seong have completely different vibes to them, I had to think long and hard about how to play them. Plus, Do Hyun Soo is incapable of feeling emotions, so I had difficulty expressing this character on-screen. That’s why I paid particularly more attention to the reactions this character shows in his interactions with other various characters. Precisely because he is incapable of feeling, I thought every single reaction that comes from every tiny expression could be powerful and make the character more believable. So before the shoot began, I spent time with the director and the other actors exchanging ideas and tried hard not to miss any details.”

     

    In Flower of Evil, Lee Joon Gi showed a mysterious but oddly attractive side of him as well: that is, his portrayal of a ‘father,’ which drew a positive response from viewers. Lee Joon Gi shared the behind-the-scenes story about this performance.

     

    "I think the scenes I shared with my daughter Eun Ha (Jung Seo Yeon) really reflect a lot of my real-life self. In fact, on the days we had a shoot together, I remember deliberately showing up to work early to hang out with Seo Yeon so I could get closer to her. During the shoot, the director also left it all up to me when it came to the scenes of Hee Seong and Eun Ha. I guess that is probably why those scenes show more natural sides of us.”

    Lee Joon Gi also told us about what kind of ‘father’ he thinks he should be.

     

    “I dream of having a warm and happy family just like Baek Hee Seong’s, and I also want to become a good husband and good father. Working on Flower of Evil particularly made me think more about this, and the staff members I worked with saw me like this and told me, ‘I think you are going to have a really good life when married.’ I think when I become a father, I would look pretty much like what I looked like in Flower of Evil.”

     

    Lee Joon Gi also heaped praises on Moon Chae Won and Kim Ji Hun he worked with and who helped make Flower of Evil a well-made drama.

     

    “It always has been the case with every other project I worked on, but Flower of Evil particularly had a great ensemble cast. This was my second time working with Moon Chae Won, and she is the type of actor who is very detail-oriented and great at staying focused, so we helped each other a lot. I think I could make those emotions in Do Hyun Soo feel more desperate because of Cha Ji Won as performed by Chae Won. It was my first time working with Kim Ji Hun, but we have known each other for such a long time, so I was actually very excited about acting with him. The tension and impact Ji Hun delivered in Flower of Evil was so great that he left me feeling overwhelmed and thrilled. On top of that, we were very similar in our work style, so those times we spent together thinking over and discussing how to create great scenes left me such great memories."

     

    In addition to Moon Chae Won and Kim Ji Hun, Lee Joon Gi also talked about working with Seo Hyun Woo and Jang Hee Jin, which he described as “awe-inspiring and stimulating.”

     

    "It was so amazing working with Seo Hyun Woo as well. I had already been told he was a great actor, but when I actually got to act alongside him, he even surpassed my expectations. I think Seo Hyun Woo made a significant contribution to that early impactful scene where Do Hyun Soo’s true identity is revealed. I am so truly grateful to him and I want to work with him often on projects I’ll be doing in the future.

     

    It was also my second time working with Jang Hee Jin. As soon as I heard Hee Jin had been cast in the role Do Hae Soo, I thought, ‘There we go!’ I mean that’s how much I trusted and relied on her. Normally, she is a cheerful and positive person, but when the shoot begins, she instantly gets into character and shows an entirely different side of her. Working with her on Flower of Evil, I found her a great inspiration and thanks to her, we had a great chemistry.”  

     

    In Flower of Evil, Lee Joon Gi made us say, “Of course, that’s Lee Joon Gi,” leaving us in awe. In every project he was in, he gave such an impressive performance. In Flower of Evil, he wanted to show a side of him that people had not seen before.

     

    "Each time I work on a new project, I constantly think about what I should do to show people a new side of me. The thing that worried me the most while preparing for Flower of Evil was what if I ended up playing a parody of myself. But the more I read the script, the more I thought up images in my head that were completely new, unique, and different from the roles I had played before. Imagining such things was such an appealing part of the process. Then, when developing those two characters – Do Hyun Soo and Baek Hee Seong, I worked hard to set my character apart in terms of various details so that it would be a completely new character people had never seen before.”

    -

    part 3

     

    [Exclusive] Lee Joon Gi: “I’m sending you cheers and pray we get to return to normal in 2021”  

    StarNews’ Exclusive Interview with Lee Joon Gi, winner of the Best Artist Award and the Asia Celebrity Award in the Acting category at the 2020 Asia Artist Awards

    In Flower of Evil, Lee Joon Gi gave a powerful performance shifting between good and evil. For each project he is in, he creates a character that only Lee Joon Gi can do. With expectations mounting for his next project, people wonder what kind of role the actor himself wants to play.

     

    "I am still thinking hard about how to show a ‘new’ side of me in my next project. I want to show fans a melodramatic side of me that they want to see in me; I also want to go the action route all the way. Or, if I am given an opportunity then I want to come back with a historical drama after a long while. For now, I am keeping an open mind for a lot of possibilities.”

     

    Lee Joon Gi’s work has spanned various genres, from drama, film, to romance, and to thriller. But there is this one specific genre he wants to try:

     

    "I did a melodrama in Flower of Evil, but it is a ‘suspense melodrama,’ so I don’t think it had as many melodramatic scenes as I’d thought it would, which I regretted a little (laughs). So if I get an opportunity I want to try a real classic melodrama.”

    So Lee Joon Gi wants to try a real classic melodrama. Asked what he wants to show in the future, he talked about “touching hearts”:

     

    "I want to be an actor who can help people heal through my work; an actor who works consistently and diligently for a long time and can touch hearts like it’s a gift [for people]. When it comes to the character and the genre, I want people to see me taking on various kinds of challenges, instead of having a certain set of criteria. One of the things I consider most important when choosing a project is ‘human love.’ I want to comfort and touch people by giving a performance rich in emotions like that.”

     

    2020 was a year that saw him in Flower of Evil and at the 2020 AAA winning awards. It is now last year, but he described 2020 as a “year I will not forget forever.”

     

    "It was a year that was very hard but made me feel grateful and happy. I think, for many people, 2020 will be remembered as a hard year [due to Covid-19]. However, even amid a global crisis like this, I am so grateful that I met this drama ‘Flower of Evil’ and got to spend almost all of the four seasons on the set. So many things changed on set due to Covid-19, but we had good people coming together and doing their best to stay safe. Because of them, we could finish it safely without problems, for which I am grateful. I was very happy I got to comfort viewers through this drama this past year that was so hard on us, and I was also deeply touched by the viewers. 2020 was truly a year I will not forget forever.”

     

    Now 2020 is gone, and the new year has begun. Welcoming 2021, Lee Joon Gi sent a New Year’s message to the readers of StarNews:

     

    "It feels like just a short while ago that I said hello to you through Flower of Evil last year, but the new year has already begun. Because of the big love and support you sent me last year, 2020 was such an unforgettable year. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Most of us are still in difficult times due to Covid-19, but I’m sending you cheers and sincerely pray that we get to return to normal in 2021 as soon as possible. As an actor, I will also work hard to entertain and touch you with a better project and character. Please always take care of your health, and happy new year! Thank you."

     

     -End.

     

    Credit: @allaboutjoongi

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    Lee Joon Gi 이준기 | [Drama 2023] "Arthdal Chronicles: The Sword of Aramoon"

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    Lee Joon Gi’s interview with Marisol (2021/01/01)

    (source – https://marisol.hpplus.jp/article/63336/01/)

     

    Q. Can you tell us about the role you play in Flower of Evil, Baek Hee Seong?

     

    JG – I play Do Hyun Soo who lives as Baek Hee Seong. For 14 years, he has concealed his cruel past, lived under a false identity, made a family of his own to live a new life, deceived his loving wife, and pretended to love her. I was hoping that you (viewers) would also feel all kinds of emotions while watching Do Hyun Soo’s story, such as tension and thrill, throughout all the 16 episodes. That is what I focused on when I played this role.

     

    Q. Why did you choose to star in this drama?

     

    JG – It was not an easy decision to make. Because I thought I was not suited for this character, and that in depicting this character’s story – whether in real life or in terms of my acting career – I was probably too young to play such a character with so much depth. (Laughs) So I thought long and hard about it and felt under a lot of pressure. Of course, it was the director and the production team who offered me the role, but I really thought very hard about it. Many people around me tried to persuade me to take it, saying that it would be a new challenge for me and another turning point in my acting career. Moon Chae Won also suggested I do it, cheering me on. That this character, Do Hyun Soo, is the center of this drama, and it might be difficult to play; but this is a role that Lee Joon Gi could do, and it would be an opportunity for me to broaden my range as an actor. Since so many people around me said things like that to me, I thought very hard about those things, read the script over and over, and studied it for a long time. Then I thought that this is a very unique drama and it was so amazing how it had two conflicting values – thriller and romance – in it. So I thought, ‘This is a challenge and it will help me grow further.’ I think it is a challenge I took on in my career as an actor. It was a challenge rather than a choice.

     

    Q. Of the scenes and lines you performed, can you tell us about one that you find particularly memorable?

     

    JG – Each and every scene was not easy as they all lead to the story that comes later. It is very difficult to choose one particular scene. Each episode has some great scenes. All of those scenes were necessary to trace the life of Do Hyun Soo. However, if I had to choose one, it would be the scene where the emotions of Do Hyun Soo, who cannot feel anything, are released for the first time. I worried a lot about how to express that kind of emotional release, which comes from the desperation of not wanting to lose what he values most when he is forced into this extreme situation. I thought if not done properly, that scene would not be convincing. I thought, to viewers, that emotional release might seem so sudden especially after they have followed so closely the emotions and situations of Do Hyun Soo all along. It could make all the relationships [Hyun Soo has with other characters] fall to pieces, throw the drama off balance, and even cause what Do Hyun Soo has been picturing to fall apart. In that sense, the scene where Hyunsoo bursts out crying for the first time in front of Jiwon was very difficult, but I think many viewers also felt his sadness and found it heartbreaking. This is a scene where Hyunsoo lets out all the emotions he’s feeling in front of Jiwon, and it is precisely because of this scene that Jiwon once again begins to trust Do Hyun Soo, the husband she so loves. It was difficult throughout starting with the rehearsal, and we constantly made changes, but the director continued to come up with ideas and I discussed with him what I had prepared. We put a lot of thought into that scene. Thankfully, viewers also felt sad while watching it, so I find that scene memorable.

     

    Q. In the drama, you performed the duality of your character with delicacy. Do you feel that you, Lee Joon Gi, have two sides?

     

    JG – I think everyone has two sides. In this day and age, though, doesn’t everyone live a life where they hide themselves while always thinking about how they look to the world? I do think everyone lives this way, hiding themselves… Of course, I also have two sides to me. I think I am more careful and hesitant than I may look to others out there; sometimes I can be a bit calculating and living with my own thoughts. Then when I come back to ‘Lee Joon Gi’ as I originally am, I think there is quite a deep side of me. As I get older these days, I have started asking myself, “What should I do to live in balance?” Isn’t it something everyone has on their mind? I think many people put on an act to a degree, just as Hyunsoo does. When you think about it, we live in an age where we cannot live expressing all our emotions, don’t we?

     

    Q. In Japan, we have this term “イクメン” [* ikumen = a man who actively takes pleasure in childcare; source – https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20181127-ikumen-how-japans-hunky-dads-are-changing-parenting]. In the drama, there are ordinary scenes where you do housework and childcare. You performed those scenes very naturally and so perfectly. But do you enjoy housework in real life?

     

    JG – Well, I lived alone for a long time since I left home at the age of 19 (laughs). I mean, I am interested in everything [about housework] but now I live with my sibling [little sister] so she does the housework and she does it very well. I don’t really do as much housework as I used to, but in the past, I especially loved cooking and making stuff for myself. Back in the military – and I was famous for this – I remember keeping things clean. If I get to have a family of my own, I will gladly take pleasure in childcare, cooking, and cleaning.

     

    Q. It seems there are many people around the world who can’t go out as much as they want but spend more time at home due to Covid-19. Is there anything you have recently started because of the time we live in now?  

     

    JG – Before [Covid-19] I had started and practiced jiu jitsu consistently for over 2 years. However, I had to stop all that because of Covid-19. Now it’s a time when I have to be careful about everything. I used to go to the gym regularly even during filming, but this year, I had no choice but to concentrate only on filming. Because, as a leading actor, I did not want to risk causing harm to anyone. So this year, I would say I stopped [jiu jitsu] for a while, rather than losing my hobby. Instead, I have started walking. I was very worried that if I did not train my body this way, I would get [easily] tired when I do something. Before I had started jiu jitsu, I’d loved walking anyway, so I started walking again. I started walking at the Han River, following all the infection prevention guidelines and putting on a thick mask. So when I went for a walk like this for the first time in a long time, it felt refreshing. I walk the same long trail I had taken before, and it is not just for exercising, but I enjoy walking while listening to music without thinking about anything, or while thinking about various things. I think walking around like that, completely free from any thoughts at all, ultimately helps refresh myself. I think life is similar to walking, so every time I go for a walk, I feel like I get to look back on my life, and I think that’s good. In every aspect, many people, not just me, are living restricted lives these days, but I hope that we all get through this and I suggest we do it by trying simple things, one by one, just as I do – so we can stay healthy both physically and mentally.

     

    Q. What kind of genre and role do you want to try in the future?

     

    JG – So far, I have done a lot of genre (-specific) works, like action and romance. You know, most Korean dramas have romance in them, and they always have romance aspects to them, don’t they? (laughs) Many of those fans who love me often tell me they want to see me in a romance, but hey, I have not done a single project that does not have romance in it. It is just that many of my works fall under the genres of action and thriller, but I think they all have romantic aspects to them… But after finishing this drama [Flower of Evil], I did feel like I had done a romantic drama (melodrama) I had been avoiding before. I think it blends thriller and romance harmoniously, and once again made me think a lot about what love is. I have always been interested in stories about loves, and I have always thought I want to express a love between man and woman, the most basic kind of love. If I can, I want to do a project that focuses on a love between man and woman. But even now, a lot of people think of ‘Lee Joon Gi’ when it comes to action, so I still get a lot of offers in that genre [action]. To directors [specializing] in the romance genre, please keep me in mind (laughs). Or else, I want to play a role where I let go of anything that’s weighing me down… I want to do a role where I get to express myself freely. Without being tied to a specific genre. I think this drama [Flower of Evil] made me desire such things.

     

    Q. Lastly, is there any message you want to send to your Japanese fans who are about to watch Flower of Evil?

     

    JG – In Korea, the drama received so much love from many fans and viewers, and I am so grateful. From the production team to the director, the writer, all the other staff, and the actors I worked with – everyone did their best and worked so hard on this, and it turned out to be a great drama. Guys, I am so happy you guys love the passion that went into this. I hope many watch Flower of Evil. Don’t miss it! I think that Covid-19 has been very hard on the fans in Japan as well. But health always comes first! I pray that we all follow the infection prevention guidelines, stay healthy, and get to meet one another very soon. Please stay healthy, and always stay happy. Thank you very much. [In Japanese] “See you again.”

     

    Credit: @allaboutjoongi

     

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    Lee Joon Gi 이준기 | [Drama 2023] "Arthdal Chronicles: The Sword of Aramoon"

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    Happy New Year to everyone:hooray:

     

     

    EnrHhOoXEAI68YT?format=jpg&name=large

     

    (ENG) LEE JOON GI’s New Year Message to Hajunse (Korean fan club)

    “Hi, guys. This is your actor Lee Joon Gi. Dear Hajunse family, finally, 2021, the Year of the Metal Ox, has dawned. I wish you all a happy new year. 2020, a year that was filled with ups and downs, is gone. The new year has finally dawned. They say it’s the Year of the Ox (cow). You know, there is this thing that my fans and I always remind ourselves of? That I should work hard like a cow every year. [** ‘working like a cow’ is a popular Korean expression meaning working hard and diligently.**] This year is going to be a bit different from any other year. I will do my best to make it a particularly great year by working harder and more diligently like a cow. I hope in the new year you guys get to fulfill all your dreams you couldn’t in 2020. In 2021, I hope you always stay healthy and happy.

     

    What’s going to happen in 2021? I am very curious. For me, health comes first. Second, I hope this year I get to present a great project to you. Third, another goal and wish of mine for the year is to become a great actor who gets recognized by not only my fans but also by the public. And I wish you all and your families a home always filled with blessings. I pray for days filled with blessings not just for me but also you all. In the year of 2021, I hope you are always happy. Your actor Lee Joon Gi will stay by your side. Thank you, guys. I always love you. Bye. Happy New Year. Let’s love one another.”

     

    JG’s Instagram update 2021/01/01


    [trans]
    Happy new year 2021. I pray for an even healthier year for you all and that your days will only be filled with blessings in the new year. I hope in the new year we all get to jump high more energetically than we have until now. I hope that the day will come soon when we get our precious ordinary days back and get to look at one another in person, holding hands together. To my people, who always give me big love, I love you.Thank you. Happy new year  Love you all .

     

    Credit: @allaboutjoongi

     

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    Lee Joon Gi 이준기 | [Drama 2023] "Arthdal Chronicles: The Sword of Aramoon"

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    Motto Shiritai! Kankoku TV Dorama*

    Vol. 100/ Jan 2021

    * Please dont/tag/ mention the magazine in tweets. Thanks!

    * I'm also only tagging his English Name just to be safe

     

    Lee Joon Gi: A true drama star who continues to shine at the forefront (of the industry)

     

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    In the early days of the Hallyu boom, it was often the case that stars who had been famous in Korea before, were introduced to and gained popularity in Japan. However, Lee Joongi formed ties with Japan by appearing in the Japan-Korea joint film <The Hotel Venus> even when he was still unknown. Following that he had a sudden rise in fame with < The King and the Clown> and carried that momentum, joining the ranks of other Hallyu stars. Joongi, who is strong in both historical dramas and action, continued to act constantly in dramas. He has charmed many viewers with his works ranging from  <Iljimae> to Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo> and continues to draw fans in Japan. Even so, this veteran says of his new work <Flower of Evil>, "I felt that this work would be too difficult for me at this time." Here, he shares many thoughts - On this drama which he considers the turning point of his life as an actor, and as one of the stars who has been driving the popularity of Korean dramas.

     

    Thank you for gracing the cover of our commemorative 100th issue. You have been going back and forth between Korea and Japan since the start of the Hallyu wave and actively interacted with Japanese fans. Recently, Korean dramas and music have been well-loved in Japan. What do you think about that?

     

    I feel encouraged. Recently, the window for cultural exchange has closed slightly, and I think its a shame, but good projects have paved the way for this window to be opened again, so I feel very happy about that. I hope that cultural exchange between both countries would become active again. I also enjoyed watching <Crash Landing on you> which is popular in Japan. After witnessing a drama produced by a great combination of great actors and a talented production team gain popularity in Japan, I hope that <Flower of Evil> which I appear in, will be accepted by Japanese audiences without any sense of discomfort.

     

    Among your overseas activities as a hallyu star, which one was the most memorable event?

     

    Honestly, I feel a bit shy being called a Hallyu star. In my case, I only got to be called that because I had good luck and was given good chances. Among all the events that I've experienced, all are so special that it's impossible to choose one. That's because they are all precious memories of shared memories with my fans. If I really had to choose one, I remember the high-touch event at Yokohama International Ferry Terminal well. There were really a lot of fans who came, and the event started from noon all the way till night. It was my first time touching the hands of my fans for a whole day, but I had no recollection of time passing by. When it ended and I came to my senses, my hands were numb, my voice was hoarse, and I had no strength in my legs(laughs).

     

    Also, this wasn't in Japan, but the fanmeeting I had in Taiwan after <Moon Lovers> was also memorable. It just so happened that the schedule for my fanmeeting overlapped with IU's so we made a surprise appearance at each other's fanmeeting. The cheers at that time were incredible. That's why I feel sorry for the young actors these days. Due to the coronavirus, events such as fanmeetings, that used to be a given, can't be carried out.

     

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    Which are the best 3 Korean dramas that you would recommend?

     

    I like genre-specific work, so I would like to choose <Signal>,  <Secret Forest>, and a show I appear in, < Time Between Dog and Wolf>. < Time Between Dog and Wolf> is a well-known work, so for those who have not watched it, please do so. If it's a romcom, then I'd recommend <Goblin>.

     

    Image

     

    Among your works, <Two Weeks> was remade in Japan and gained popularity. What other works of yours would you like to be remade?

     

    I am happy to hear that <Two Weeks> got a favorable reception and feel grateful for that. If the work that I just mentioned < Time Between Dog and Wolf> could be remade, that would be good. Recently, because of coronavirus it may be hard to produce dramas, and I think it'd be difficult, but if this show could be remade in this age, I think it'd be even more meaningful. If it's remade and I got an offer to make a special appearance. I'll do so gladly.

     

    What are your plans from now on?

     

    In this time when many people are experiencing a tough time due to coronavirus, If I could use what little I have to give pleasure, happiness and hope, I'm willing to do whatever it takes. Especially since, I'm an actor, If I could give people enjoyment through good works, nothing could make me happier. I'll prepare myself mentally and physically so that I can move on to my next project as soon as possible.

     

    Lastly, please leave a message for your Japanese fans.

     

    To my fans, please stay healthy no matter what. I think that as long as you stay healthy, we can spend an enjoyable time together (in the future), so please take care to avoid falling ill. Even so, I hope that you won't forget to be considerate toward others. I feel like I will cry when I meet you all again. I'm looking forward to the day when we can meet. I'll also meet you again with another good project. Please look forward to it.

     

    Translation Credit: @doramaticbites (Twitter)

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    [Drama 2020] The Flower of Evil, 악의 꽃

    in k-dramas & movies

    Posted

    Moon Chae Won Vogue Korea Interview Translation

     

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    Q: Its been two months since The Flower of Evil  has ended. The writer Yoo Jung Hee has said in an interview that she hoped this drama would become "a drama where one can image the future lives of the protagonists." Have you, as an actor, ever wondered what life Cha Ji Won would have after the ending? 

     

    A: No I thought it had ended with a pretty happy ending, so I didn't wonder about it. Since she had experienced a tough married life, I hope the two would live happily ever after.

     

    Q. Cha Ji Won, the homicide detective, was a character that experienced a hurricane of emotions - to the extent where I wondered how you would be able to come home and fall asleep after having gone through series of emotions through acting.

     

    A: Since I had to drive myself to the extremes of emotions, I had to keep tormenting myself as I filmed. Every emotion began from love, so there were parts that I was good at, but there were some that were difficult.

     

    Q: While I thought the Flower of Evil was a thriller that had multiple twists that came one after another, in the end, it was a story about human's mind, and especially about love. From The Princess's Man, to The Innocent Man, and finally to The Flower of Evil, you become really special when you are acting a character who is sincere about love. It's as if you are earnest about the energy that comes out when one is in love. In your fan website, someone has defined you as "an actor who specializes in characters who actively and crazily in love" - do you agree?

     

    A: Perhaps I do have that kind of energy. I do like such energy. I do have idealized wishes about love, so whenever I meet such work, I come to desire to use such energy.

     

    Q: How have such characters expanded your world?

     

    A: As one grows older and runs into real problems, romance begins to fade away One also comes to expect less from others. It would be sad and painful if one's love for another ends up as a one-sided love. But if not, I cannot imagine what greater happiness one can have. Things like wealth, honour and health are valuable, but in the end, that feeling of love is still important to me. Of course, one could live without love, but I do hope the reality is better than the drama.

     

    Q: In what state of mind were you in when you began to film The Flower of Evil?

     

    A: I had a desire to burn off a certain of emptiness. Things had been difficult for me for a year, but if I decided to do a work that excluded emotions in such a state, I thought it would make me feel even drier and void of any moisture. I wanted to ease such emotions I was experiencing with acting, even if that meant it would be tough and difficult for me. So in that way, I held fast onto The Flower of Evil  for seven months, and some things that I had been thinking about became somewhat clearer. I have been thinking about which sides of me I want to show to people, and about when I feel happy - that is, people see certain side of me, and that makes me happy. What is that certain side?

     

    Q: What kind of evaluation or praise do you want to hear?

     

    A: "I was very glad/happy that you represented that character." "Thank you for acting that character," would be the biggest words of praises that lingers in my mind the longest. In order to hear such words, I cant be just driven to choosing a work just because I feel anxious [T/N: because she feels that she needs to work]. To be honest, for a long time, I didn't understand it when people said being an actor meant being a person who keeps waiting. We are the kind of people who want to be recognized. We keep acting because we like that recognition, yet in order to be acknowledged, we have to choose a work that we feel confident about. When you are just starting, you don't have the time or mind to think about such things, but when you've been in the industry for quite a bit, you come to harbor a desire that you can't just go into any work. Because if you do, you might not be able to work when you want to.

     

    Q: What kind of drama or film are you confident about?

     

    Those that deal with emotion are difficult and tough, but at the same time, with those, I can kind of paint a picture of how I will act in them. And while I'm not a funny kind of person, I like happy, cheerful kind of dramas and films. Since I'm also not a dynamic person, I enjoy being in dynamic works. Works like Love Forecast and Good Doctor are the ones that give me happy moments. Works that I continue to love even with time are those that give out messages. The existence of these messages are important when I'm choosing a drama/film to work with. When I'm acting a script that has a clear messages, I also come to choose a work towards representing the same message. Even with novels, I tend to re-read the ones that fascinate me with its unique charm. Drama, film, and novel - all the same - needs to have its own uniqueness.

     

    Q: From the point of a woman, Cha Ji Won of the The Flower of Evil was a charismatic woman. She jumped into any situation instead of running away from it, and saved a male character that was in a state of confusion and chaos. What kind of woman do you think is charismatic/charming?

     

    A: Every character-if she doesn't make someone else's life difficult or make unnecessary tensions - has her own charm.

     

    Q: You played a homicide detective character, after having a profiler in Criminal Minds. Is there something you learned from having played a detective?

     

    A: It is something that one needs to risk his/her life. I always watch Unanswered Questions and read a lot of interviews by detectives, and have great admiration for their work. Its an occupation that wields strong influence to the society, and one that requires sacrifice in life and day-to-day life. I personally have a respect for occupations that I would never be able to undertake, and detective is one of them.

     

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    Q: Why do you watch Unanswered Questions?

     

    A: It's not something unusual, since it's a long-running program that has high ratings. Its just something I had been watching since I was little. Having watched it for a long time, I realized what an important role it has to those who have experienced a misfortune. In fact, Unanswered Questions does sometimes contribute to catching a criminal. Getting to know the dark side of the society makes one afraid, yet one must face and acknowledge it.

     

    Q: While you didn't show any drastic action scenes as a detective, you did have many running scenes. How quickly can you run a 100m? 

     

    A: I don't remember the exact seconds. While the scenes were not as long in what was aired, I did my best when running. People around me would encourage me, saying, "You are fast! You run really well," and that really helped. And in some action scenes that I did play, I really did do my best in them, so I am very proud.

     

    Q: Are you good at using your body?

     

    A: No. That is why I'm emphasizing that I tried my best. Perhaps I also try to take it easy since I know I'm not good at it (laughs). To be honest, there is a reason why I don't remember how long it takes for me to run a 100m. When I was in school, I was once persuaded into entering a relay race, but ended up falling down when I was passing the baton to the next person.

     

    Q: Then are you better at sprint or marathon?

     

    A: Sprint.

     

    Q: Do you feel more excited when you ae talking about your drama? Or do you feel more excited when you talk about things outside of work, like a good restaurant that you've recently found?

     

    A: I do like to talk about my work, but I feel shy talking about my acting. When I first began my career as an actor, I may have elaborated a little more and romanticized some things when doing an interview. But since I can also see other things now, I am more careful about it. 

     

    Q: In your previous interview, you have said that you tend to be strict with yourself. Perhaps that is why you feel shy when you are talking about your acting?

     

    A: That is right. Since I have a uniqueness of my own, I am able to keep working as an actor. However, a uniqueness of my own, I am able to keep working as an actor. However, a uniqueness is something that one has by nature. No matter how one tries, one cannot develop a uniqueness. So with exception to such uniqueness and charm [that is innate], there are some parts that I am lacking. I know that my acting could become more diversified and I would receive recognition from people only after I add in those parts -I always feel thirsty for those. Yet, there aren't many opportunities that I can undertake to quench that thirst. I can't get into a drama/film just to practice. If you look bad in a work, people will be aware of that, and if that piles up, it becomes your image. Each actor possesses a different charm, and it's cringy to keep talking about that. I'd like to say that I've made some efforts to make improvement on some parts that could improve.

     

    Q: Luck also plays a big role for an actor.

     

    A: Of course it does. And there are definitely lucks that are created. These days, I miss the vibes of the 1990s. The trendy and young is also nice, but once the media pours out their own interpretation of it, I come to accept it without even savoring it myself. If people go to a new restaurant for more than five years, there is a reason for that. It may be that they've become tired of the food they've been eating for more than five years, there is a reason for that. It may be that they've come to develop a liking to something new. But I can't really see that well. I've been thinking about this lately, too: even if I keep trying to figure out what that[T/N: referring to "something new"] tastes like, I can't suit everyone's taste anyways. It is better to go for what I like, for it would look more odd if I went for something that people like but I myself am not interested in. Nothing really can influence me if it doesn't suit my taste.

     

    Q: You don't take on many works, but you seem to have busy days.

     

    A: There are many days when I spend all day at home but I've come to feel more bored spending my time at home. People change.

     

    Q. What is something that you try to keep every day?

     

    A: I cant sleep in. Even if I get up really late. It's not later than 9:30. I don't want to sleep until the sun is high up in the sky because then I feel like I'm falling behind. Just lying on the sofa and surfing through the internet while listening to music wakes me up.

     

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    Q: Its one of those questions that are in trend : do you like mint chocolate ice cream?

     

    A: I don't necessarily go out of my way to get it, but I like that flavor. I don't think it tastes like toothpaste.

     

    Q: How about pineapple pizza?

     

    A: I don't like it.

     

    Q: Which of the two is at fault? Pineapple? or Pizza

     

    A: The cook is to blame. Pineapple should'nt meet with flour. I've tried pineapple tart, but I could'nt taste anything other than pineapple because the taste of pineapple was too strong. The flour part itself is sweet, but adding something that's even more sweet makes the flour part tasteless. Peach tart was okay.

     

    Q: Have you taken the MBTI personality test? 

     

    A: I took it today! I got ISFJ, the "defender" type. I'm not sure if that explains my personality though.

     

    Q: When you were filming Criminal Minds you have shown a love for mysteries/thrillers. What do you think is the beauty of that genre?

     

    A: You can watch it without having to get emotionally involved in it. From the point of view of the viewers and audience, mysteries/thrillers are good-time dramas/movies.

     

    Q: I can totally imagine you lying down on a sofa in your free time and watching a bloody mystery/thriller (laughs). What is your favourite mystery/thriller?

     

    A: I really enjoyed watching Signal and Stranger (Secret Forest). There are also many good foreign dramas /films, such as those famous works that we all know, David Fincher's films and Homeland. I am a kind of person who likes to find a hobby, enjoy it and reflect on it myself, and I like hip hop. Just I seek and watch many films, I watch many performances and hip hop musician's interviews.

     

    Q: What do you like about hip hop?

     

    A: I think they [hip hop musicians] are very brave. In that they live as they wish and that they had been steadfast in their efforts even when they were not as famous.

     

    Q: You majored in western art. Do you still paint?

     

    A: I've painted maybe twice ever since I've started working as an actor. I've painted a few before I started filming The Flower of Evil  and a few couple of years ago. I was going through a difficult, painful time that I could not be break out of, and the only skill I had was painting, so I painted. That is all. Painting has been a way through which I express myself for quite a long time. I don't necessarily enjoy or feel better when painting. Painting cannot become something I do for fun.

     

    Q: You made an official instagram account yesterday, and got 14000 followers in a day. How do you feel about that? 

     

    A: I didn't even know that was a big number (laughs). I think posting maybe once a week would be good. To an extent where I don't feel embarrassed about it. 

     

    Q: You have a job that requires you to show things to the general public, yet seem to be struggling with feeling shy about it.

     

    A: Right (laughs).

     

    Q: You said you do one drama/film per year, and that this speed suits you. Have you decided on your next drama/film?

     

    A: No. However, I will do something in 2021, whatever it is. So I wish that I'd meet a story that I'd want to take part in. No matter how many plans I make on working. I don't have a choice if the work doesn't come in at the right time. So then I listen to my heart. "How much do I want to work?" "How much do I miss acting and how crazy will I be if I don't do it? "What is that feeling and how much undertaking am I willing to handle? I try to read what is in my mind.

     

    Q: When you were just starting your career as an actor, you always get a question about "What kind of actor you want to become." Have you thought about that recently?

     

    A: I have stopped thinking about that since a few years ago. Instead, I now think the path I am on is the path I should be on. It's not like I can go onto any path I wish to be on anyways, and the fact that I wasn't able to take the path I wanted to take doesn't mean that everything is over.

     

    Q: I saw a playlist you had recommended a year ago in some music website. There were many songs from the 1990s, such as "Is it still beautiful" and "Never Ending Story". Is your playlist still in the 1990s? Which song would you recommend? 

     

    A: Infrared Camera by Wonstein from Show Me the Money. I'd like to recommend a new song since only those who know songs from the 1990s will be happy to hear about old songs.

     

    END:

     

    Translation Credit: @yeonmong55 (Twitter)

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    [Drama 2020] The Flower of Evil, 악의 꽃

    in k-dramas & movies

    Posted

    Hello, long time no see. Most of you must have moved on by now. But just in case, anyone is curious about how our lead actors are doing after flower of evil. Here are their recent interviews. Below is an interview with Lee Joon Gi. The next post will be an interview with Moon Chae Won.

     

    (ENG translation) Lee Joon Gi’s Interview for Allure Korea, December 2020

     

    NIGHT IS TENDER, LEE JOON GI

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    Actor Lee Joon Gi is just never satisfied. It’s only been a month since <Flower of Evil> ended, but he is already thinking about what to do next.

     

    Allure – It’s so great to see you again.

     

    JG – How long has it been? Has it been about 3 years? When was it we went to Canada?

     

    Allure – Speaking of which, I still vividly remember this from our photoshoot in Canada. We were told it’s a dry area like a desert, but it suddenly started raining and everyone was befuddled. But you said you were fine and didn’t care; that it didn’t matter if we were shooting in the rain or if we were going to have to stay longer. As an editor, I found it very reassuring.

     

    JG – It’s not like I got caught in the rain alone. Everyone would be equally affected by the rain during the shoot. Just right at the time, though, I had this feeling that the photos would turn out great. That pictorial is one of the top 5 favorites among my fans.

     

    Allure – The 2016 pictorial was entitled ‘Welcome Spring, Wish You Great Luck,’ and your drama became a hit.

     

    JG – That’s also among the top 5 pictorials! It was right before I started filming <Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo>. I was worried because I had put on some weight, but the photos turned out so great. <Allure> never disappoints. The moment I walked into the studio today, I was already in high spirits.

     

    Allure – I can’t tell if you’re telling me the truth, but I am very grateful to hear that. (Laughs) Anyway, I’ve known you for 10 years, but you have never changed. No matter where you are, you are always passionate and kind to everyone on set, and still there’s no news of you getting married.

     

    JG – I have nothing to say to that… It’s not like I don’t want to get married. I get asked a lot about getting married, and I do think a lot about it, as well, but…

     

    Allure – When you reach a certain age, doesn’t it occur to you that it’s not just about you not wanting to get married, but also about not being able to get married?

     

    JG – Exactly. I’m beginning to think that I might not be able to get married, but I want to when I find the person I’m destined to meet. I think more and more about it now that my latest drama made me feel the warmth of a family.

     

    Allure – When I first watched <Flower of Evil> on TV, you were hanging from this apartment balcony.

     

    JG –  You thought ‘that person’s at it again,’ didn’t you? Once the shoot begins, I don’t feel like this is my own body. I shot the scene in three parts: I was actually hanging from a real apartment building; I also shot it indoors; and we shot it on an outdoor set we’d created.

     

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    Allure – From then onwards, I watched it when it actually aired. As a viewer, I thought it was a great drama. What did you think from an actor’s point of view?

     

    JG – I hadn’t done such a great drama in a while. I know that I can’t be satisfied with my work every time, but this is the project where I accomplished a certain goal of mine.

     

    Allure – Certain goal of yours? What was that?

     

    JG – Doing a project where I could stay focused until the very end of it and which kept viewers curious. My goal has always been doing a great work that both can convince viewers and is meaningful to me. It takes many different elements to coalesce well to produce this one result, so it cannot be perfect all the time. Sometimes, you get distracted and end up with a disappointing outcome, but for this drama, the director, the actors, the production staff all worked so well together so we kept going all the way like that to the very end. Because of them, I could feel more comfortable and focus solely on my own acting. When I was first offered <Flower of Evil>, I was not going to do it. Because I thought it was too difficult.

     

    Allure – What convinced you then?

     

    JG – The director is very famous for his great directing skills. I thought I was not really good enough to express the depth of my character. I didn’t have the experience of having my own family, either. The director also had some doubts about me, but after watching all my works, he said he was convinced that he could show a new version of Lee Joon Gi. He said that this drama is definitely unique and difficult, but it would be a special project where we would leave one another with something [special].

     

    Allure – And it happened exactly as he wished it would.

     

    JG – I think the director gained confidence while preparing this drama with the writer for a long time. He was sufficiently confident that he could get us to bring out different sides of one another and show viewers a drama they’d never seen before. Ultimately, he made a great drama and had faith in us. Watching him putting in so much hard work to bring everything into harmony, I realized that he wasn’t just ‘director Kim Chul Gyu’ for nothing.

     

    Allure – In fact, we’d been talking about having this interview and photoshoot since August. I heard the filming kept getting delayed, right?

     

    JG – Originally, the drama was supposed to wrap up no later than mid-August. But we had Covid-19, a rainy season, and a typhoon, so we ended up filming for 7 months until September. But I am so glad we could finish it safely despite all the difficulties.

     

    Allure – Maybe that’s why the actors had such great chemistry. You were great with Moon Chae Won, who played your wife, but your chemistry with Seo Hyun Woo, who played ‘Moojin,’ was so great, too.

     

    JG – I think Hyunwoo made a huge contribution to creating the character of Do Hyun Soo early in the drama. Of course it is important for actors to focus on their own characters, but at the end of the day, you need reactions from your co-stars that support and make your performance shine, and he did such a great job in that regard. In the beginning of the drama, I had to look like a real psychopath. Early on, Hyunwoo helped me a lot in building my character by giving me great reactions. Early in the drama, I was supposed to look expressionless and emotionless, so I was very limited in expressing my character.

     

    Allure – You always play roles who suffer physically or emotionally. Even when you play a prince. It’s not like you enjoy the suffering, do you?

     

    JG – Now, it’s like an addiction… (Laughs) They say Lee Joon Gi is the personification of blood, sweat, tears. I guess [earning] that kind of epithet… is good. I want to do things where typically others try to take it easy, when I am still brimming with passion both physically and mentally.

     

    Allure – Once again, you had so many physically demanding scenes in this drama. Are you okay using your body like that? I get lower back pain at work when I’m close to the deadline.

     

    JG – Strangely, I don’t get sick.. yet. (Laughs) The mind rules the body. You should keep reminding yourself, ‘I am like in my 20s! I can do it! I have only just started! I’m starting afresh!’

     

    Allure – You sound like my mother…

     

    JG – Haha! When I’m at work, I want to pursue fun and stay cheerful. Instead of getting overwhelmed by stress and not being able to show what I want to do and then regretting it later, I want to have fun at work while showing people all I’ve got. If I can cheer up the staff that way when they’re exhausted, then it’s a win-win for both of us. Taking care of your body is also important. I practiced jiu jitsu so hard for two years, but this year I was forced to take a break. This year I couldn’t do enough to take care of my body. But there’s nothing I can do because everyone is having a hard time.

     

    Allure – That’s why there’s this notion that you always play passionate roles and are great at giving very tense performances. But in <Flower of Evil>, you got to balance it out. Wasn’t it the kind of role that actor Lee Joon Gi needed most?

     

    JG – Everyone around me wanted me to choose that kind of role. I also thought I needed it. <Flower of Evil> put a lot of pressure on me, but I wanted to let go of some of the eagerness I had. This time, I didn’t watch any monitors [on set] at all. Instead, I focused on manifesting the character inside of me more by doing enough rehearsals on set.

     

    Allure – Rehearsals? Like in a play or musical?

     

    JG – It’s about creating many different things based on the script before the shoot began. It’s when the actors try out the things they prepared before coming to the set. Normally, we roughly work out details of how we move before the actual shoot begins. But [for this drama] we were sort of filling in the gaps through the rehearsals, like getting serious and doing things properly. Actually, that’s the right way to go.

     

    Allure – Do Hyun Soo believes he doesn’t have emotions, but he actually does. You had to highlight that subtlety. How did you approach your role?

     

    JG – I had no idea at all about when Do Hyun Soo would start feeling emotions during filming. When will these emotions unlock? I was waiting for that moment as well with each passing episode. I kept imagining the past stories this character has while waiting. If I got greedy and let in even a tiny bit of my eagerness, I could have upset the balance of my character. Also, characteristically, the drama is not filmed in chronological order, so I paid a bit more attention to staying focused on my character.

     

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    Allure – What scene did you find most thrilling?

     

    JG – In the heart of those emotions unlocking and exploding, there is Jiwon (played by Moon Chae Won). I spent a whole month thinking about it after receiving the script: Should I just cry desperately, or should I hang on to it desperately, letting it play out longer. I thought, when Hyunsoo felt this emotion he had never felt before in his life, he would cry like a newborn baby. When viewers watching the scene felt the stirring [of the emotion] and sadness along with him, so when I connected with the viewers and convinced them, it was really thrilling.

     

    Allure – Actors normally give interviews right before their project begins or right after. Which do you like better?

     

    JG –  Those are two completely different things. When I do interviews before a project begins, there’s a mix of anticipation, wanting to promote the project, and a great deal of fear. When I do interviews after the project has ended, I get to recap the things I was satisfied with because I was able to focus on myself or the things I was not satisfied with. If I fell short, then I’d start thinking about things I have to do after [the project]. I feel like emptying it all out. Or when I feel too distressed or empty, doing works like this [photoshoots] fills me up. Last night, I couldn’t sleep well either.

     

    Allure – I hear nowadays viewers watch dramas while chatting in real time, am I right? Suppose you reply to comments like ‘Lee Joon Gi always does a good job’ anonymously, what would you say?

     

    JG –  ‘Lee Joon Gi IS “뭔들” (there isn’t anything he can’t do).’ I love compliments. I love it when I receive compliments. I can’t pay attention to the talk [live chat on the Naver drama channel] while watching the drama, but I do check the talk when the broadcast starts and when it ends. When I see the talk [chat] room getting all active, then I say to myself, ‘Ah, today’s episode was great, too.’ This time I enjoyed the drama a lot as well.

     

    Allure – I guess you should work with the Flower of Evil Team again on your next project.

     

    JG – I already told them, let’s do another project. Haha.

     

    Allure – I think it made you more worried about your next project. Do you still worry that you have to show people something new?

     

    JG – I am very obsessed about it [showing people something new]. I had always done at least one project each year, but last year I took a break without doing any project. I was afraid and under a lot of pressure that I’d have to show people a new side of me. Because when I do a project where I can put my talent to good use, I might end up being a parody of myself. Now that there are a wider variety of types of consumers and platforms, some people told me that it’s important I shouldn’t take a break. Then there are also people who told me, just as you unknowingly get your clothes wet in drizzle, I should just keep working to narrow this disconnect between me and people. So I ended up spending the whole year having all kinds of thoughts. Nowadays, production periods got longer so if I don’t decide fast enough, then the project goes away. Even now, I am feeling very pressured. I am constantly reading scripts, but I haven’t made up my mind yet.

     

    Allure – Still, they say that the profession of acting is about being chosen. What kind of role are you waiting now?

     

    JG – Now that I had so much fun doing this ‘suspense melodrama,’ I want to do [more] melodramas. I want to show you myself in a more comfortable and warmer role, and also want to do a project about beautiful love before I get older. Or, I think now I want to play a really ordinary role where I get to loosen up. In the past, I wanted to surprise viewers when they watched me, even if that meant I got my bones broken and flesh torn. Now I like loosening up more and more. As I get more experience and get older, I think I’ve gotten this desire to do something more natural.

     

    Allure – We had a relaxing vibe to today’s photoshoot as well.

     

    JG – But I was like jumping around today as usual. How come they don’t let me use my body during photoshoots nowadays? They keep telling me to stay still…. (Laughs) I had so much fun doing it so freely today. I’ve been feeling empty and hollow since the drama ended. I think I’m feeling more so about this drama. I guess more so, because it was such a difficult drama.

     

    Allure –  There’s such a thing as trends in photoshoots, as well. (Laughs) You guys made this amazing drama by working hard together, but you can’t do a wrap party or go on a trip due to the current situation. Aren’t you disappointed?

     

    JG – True. All I do now is drinking alcohol alone at home... I can recharge [properly] when there’s something I can manifest, but I cannot do that now. If things were normal, I would be busy preparing for my fan meetings. Or I’d be starting on my next project right away. But this year, there is only very little I can do. That’s why each of these photoshoots is so fun.

     

    Allure – I was told last year it was the longest time you’ve been away from work, except for the military service. Looking back, what do you make of that time?

     

    JG – I think it definitely gave me something: whether it was stimulation, deeper thoughts, or expanding my inner world… I got to thinking, Wasn’t I being too scared doing my work? The more experience I get, the more scared I get. And I constantly get hesitant. But I think those things were useless. So I am not going to do that anymore. While I was on a break, I practiced jiu jitsu hard and earned a colored belt. My greatest accomplishment last year was earning that jiu jitsu belt. When my master put the belt on, saying, “Thank you so much for practicing hard without a break,” I felt even happier than when I won an award.

     

    Allure – Still, there’s a lot more about your private life you don’t let people know. You still don’t want to guest-appear on observational entertainment shows like <I Live Alone>? It could give you the opportunity to show a charming, genuine side of you, don’t you think?

     

    JG – With the camera present, I’d come across as so fake. Instead of being charming, I’d end up being unlikable. I’ve gotten a lot of offers [to appear on such variety shows], but I don’t think I can act natural. I guess when they watch observational programs, viewers think celebrities are human beings after all, but for me, I get comfort watching them, thinking, the lives my peers are living aren’t so different from mine. Like, I’m not alone in living such a non-celebrity life!”

     

    Allure – If you were to appear on <Radio Star> or <I Live Alone>, which would you choose?

     

    JG – I think I’d rather be on <Radio Star>. I love having someone ask me questions and answering them, and variety program PDs have told me that I do my best and am so sincere I don’t look like an actor. Even for <Knowing Bros>, I decided appear on it to help Jieun (IU) out, but I ended up trying so hard.

     

    Allure – This year, everyone became a homebody. A lot of people say they’re watching old dramas on Wavve or Tving. What would you recommend to people from your filmography?

     

    JG – There are a lot of works you can enjoy. There is not a thing I did halfheartedly. It’s a very old one, but I strongly recommend you to watch <Time Between Dog and Wolf>. <Moon Lovers> is great, too. <Moon Lovers> has been popular for four years now. It has a lot of international fans. It gets talked about again and again when the actors I worked with on it become successful.

     

    Allure – Come to think of it, all the princes are so brilliant in different ways, aren’t they?

     

    JG – It had [Nam] Joohyuk, Baekhyun, and [Kang] Haneul in it. Fans really want Season 2, but now, we cannot get the cast back together. (Laughs) Personally, the drama broadened my fan base as an actor. Elementary school students love it as well. There are also people who say they’re binge-watching <Moon Lovers> after finishing <Flower of Evil>. Am I bragging too much?

     

    Allure – It’s good to see an actor being proud of his own filmography.

     

    JG – I love my own works so much, and you know, there are videos of reactions to my works on YouTube. When I watch those videos while drinking alcohol in the evening, I cry along with those people in the videos. (Laughs)

     

    Allure – You watch reaction videos while drinking alone. (Laughs) Do you still dance when you drink alcohol?

     

    JG – Nowadays, I sing more than I dance. I love songs by Kim Kwang Seok. I have five wireless mics at home. Among the latest songs, I love songs by BTS, but they are so hard to sing along to. I just keep singing ‘Blood Sweat & Tears.’ Now it feels like my own song.

     

    Allure – So is Lee Joon Gi’s motto still ‘Blood, Sweat, Tears’?

     

    JG – That’s right. Of course, it means I do things fiercely, but it also means I put my heart and soul into something. It’s impossible not to have any regrets, but at least I can keep my regrets to a minimum that way.

     

    end.

     

    Source: Allure Korea

    Translation Credits: @allaboutjoongi

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    Kim Soo Hyun -> Kim Sun Ho, Lee Joon Gi: The male actors’ outstanding performances bring smile to tvN [2020 Entertainment Year in Review – Dramas]

     

    ce2ebc0444e038e1e186530aded3088ae2b8f322

     

    In 2020, what brought a smile to tvN was the outstanding performances by male actors, from Kim Soo Hyun to Park Bo Gum, Kim Sun Ho, Lee Joon Gi, and Namgoong Min.

    […]

     

    First, tvN’s Mon-Tues drama lineup included ‘The Cursed,’ ‘A Piece of Your Mind,’ ‘Mothers,’ ‘My Unfamiliar Family,’ ‘Record of Youth,’ ‘Birthcare Center,’ and ‘Awaken.’ The Wed-Thu drama lineup included ‘Money Game,’ ‘Memorist,’ ‘Oh My Baby,’ ‘Flower of Evil,’ ‘Tale of the Nine-Tailed,’ and ‘True Beauty.’ The Sat-Sun drama lineup included ‘Hi, Bye, Mama!’ ‘When My Love Blooms,’ ‘It’s Okay to Not Be Okay,’ ‘Stranger 2,’ ‘Start-Up,’ and ‘Mr. Queen.’ Then there was the Thursday drama ‘Hospital Playlist.’

     

    Of the various dramas enjoyed by small-screen viewers, the Top 10 rated dramas of the year (up until Dec. 18) are: ‘Crash Landing on You,’ (average: 21.7%, highest: 24.1%(Ep 16)), 'Hospital Playlist (average 14.1%, highest 16.3%(Ep 12)), 'Stranger 2' (average 9.4%, highest 10.1%(Ep 16), 'Mr. Queen' (average 8.8%, highest 9.9% (Ep 2)), 'Record of Youth' (average 8.7%, highest 9.9% (Ep 16)), 'It’s Okay to Not Be Okay' (average 7.3%, highest 7.6% (Ep 16)), 'The Cursed' (average 6.7%, highest 7.7% (Ep 1)), 'Hi Bye, Mama!' (average 6.5%, highest 7.6% (Ep 4)), 'Tale of the Nine-Tailed' (average 5.8%, highest 6.4% (Ep 1, Ep 16)), and 'Flower of Evil' (average 5.7%, highest 6.2% (Ep 16)).

     

    Many of these dramas generated buzz thanks to the outstanding performances by their male actors. Hyun Bin in ‘Crashing Landing on You,’ Park Bo Gum in ‘Record of Youth,’ Kim Soo Hyun in ‘It’s Okay to Not Be Okay,’ Lee Dong Wook in ‘Tale of the Nine-Tailed,’ and Lee Joon Gi in ‘Flower of Evil’ captivated viewers with their powerful performances in each episode.

     

    Kim Soo Hyun and Lee Joon Gi, in particular, showed off their acting chops they hadn’t shown in their previous works. Kim Soo Hyun’s emotional performance shifting between hot and cold and heart-fluttering romance with Seo Yea Ji brought popularity to ‘It’s Okay to Not Be Okay.’ Meanwhile, Lee Joon Gi exuded a powerful and spine-chilling charisma, and his face-off against Kim Ji Hun, who gave a diabolical performance, has generated a lot of buzz.

    [...]

     

    Credit: @allaboutjoongi

     

     

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    6d04bc66f0c97c38b03f0f24dbe5bbcf48ad13ab
     
    Lee Joon Gi was named one of the ‘2020 Icons’ by Korean culture & art magazine ‘CULTURA’ in its December 2020 issue. It has two essays on Lee Joon Gi’s acting and his character Do Hyunsoo in Flower of Evil. And here’s my English translation. 

    -

    -

    2020 ICON – Drama Category, Actor Lee Joon Gi

     

    Lee Joon Gi: Unexpected Charm, Hybrid Genre

    by Joo Chan Ok (drama writer)

    -

    It’s been said that, although <King and the Clown> drew an audience of 10 million, the number is overhyped. The reasoning behind this is that many moviegoers watched it over 10 times to just see Lee Joon Gi and, when you take out the repeat viewings, it simply does not amount to 10 million. In a similar vein, there is this kind of gossip going around: Of those ’10-million audience’ movies, some are genuinely 10-million audience movies because there is no way anyone would have watched those pieces of **** more than once; that those were truly watched by 10 million individuals. I will not say what movies ‘those’ refer to.

     

    For my part, I only watched <King and the Clown> once. Since it has been quite a long time, I do not remember with whom I went to watch it. My only recollection is that I was impressed by the unexpected baritone voice of that beautiful man Gong-gil the moment he opened his mouth.

     

    The charm of Lee Joon Gi lies in that unexpectedness.

     

    First of all, he has mysterious eyes. He has monolids, which lends his slanted eyes sharpness. Most beautiful men are just beautiful, whether when they smile or when they keep their mouths closed. But Lee Joon Gi has many different feels to him.

     

    When he smiles, he looks like an innocent pretty boy who is prettier than any woman. But when he keeps his mouth closed and becomes expressionless, he comes off as cold and heartless. That expression on his face can make him look like an assassin or even a murderer. Or should I say that he can not only be many different things but he can also swing back and forth between extremes?

     

    In <King and the Clown>, <My Girl> and the pomegranate drink commercial, Lee Joon Gi projected a feminine or androgynous image. When you search ‘Lee Joon Gi cigarette’ on YouTube, it shows videos of Lee Joon Gi smoking a cigarette where he looks incredibly sexy. They do not look like scenes from a movie or a drama, but those of his everyday life.

     

    On the other hand, in <Iljimae>, <Gunman in Joseon>, <Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo>, and <Lawless Lawyer>, he pulls off action performances in his outbursts of masculine energy. Then, finally, in <Flower of Evil>, his facial expressions blossom into a hybrid of different genres, as he switches from happy and loving husband and father to cold-hearted psychopath that sends chills down your spine.

     

    Drama <Flower of Evil> aired on tvN from July through September this year.

     

    In it, Lee Joon Gi plays a psychopath whose real name is Do Hyun Soo but who lives under the false identity of Baek Hee Seong. A psychopath!

     

    Psychopaths, or sociopaths, have become commonplace in Korean dramas. At first, they took root as serial killers in police procedurals; recently, they have evolved into ‘psychopathic protagonists.’ Among them is Cho Seung Woo, who can’t feel emotions in <Stranger>; another recent example is Joo Won in <Alice> – although, unbelievably, Joo Won’s character bursts into violent sobs when his mother dies.

     

    When those psychopaths actually commit crimes, it becomes simple for the actors. Because, then, it all comes down to how cruel they should make their characters look. Of course, ‘simple’ acting does not mean it is easy. Actors say, while it depends on the person, shooting such scenes [committing crimes] is so demanding they even suffer a mental breakdown.

     

    The protagonist of <Flower of Evil> is such a difficult psychopath for an actor to play. Lee Joon Gi [as Do Hyun Soo] practices smiling naturally while looking in the mirror and puts on the mask of a caring father and husband. At least that is what he believes himself to be – appearing caring while feigning happiness. He believes himself to be a psychopath because his father was a real psychopath.

     

    However, it does not sum up easily as: “It turns out, he is in fact a nice guy.” For a long time, Do Hyun Soo has hidden or repressed emotions and lived a life of lies, which has rendered him emotionally dead inside. That’s why he has become a ‘psychopath.’ This character has several layers of consciousness like an onion, or a pie with its layers coming off softly. In Episodes 15 and 16, in particular, he gets portrayed in even more diverse ways – by none other than actor Lee Joon Gi, through his incredibly rich performance.

     

    In Episode 15, Do Hyun Soo mistakenly believes his wife is dead because the real psychopath, played by Kim Ji Hun, says he killed Hyun Soo’s wife. From that point on, he turns into something akin to his psychopathic father. The actor ramps up the tension in his depiction of the moment when the murderer gene – which Hyun Soo has long been afraid he has in him – wakes up.

     

    When Hyun Soo is about to kill Baek Hee Seong (Kim Ji Hun), he hears his wife calling his name – the wife he thinks is dead. This is when Lee Joon Gi exhibits an emotional variation that unfolds like a panorama: In moments of disbelief and shock, he doubts if his wife is really alive, and if he is seeing his dead wife (Cha Ji Won, played by Moon Chae Won) just as he sees his dead father, and then in a moment of relief, he finally starts walking towards Cha Ji Won and cries. He cries, just like a child, completely disarmed after having turned evil. It is a tremendous feat of concentration and such a riveting performance.

     

    Episode 16 is so equally impressive it’s worth mentioning. Since we already saw an explosion of emotions in Episode 15, what follows could have been a relatively lackluster ending. Viewers have been disappointed time and again by dramas, whose tension-filled stories culminate in far-fetched endings of reconciliation, forgiveness, and life lessons of sorts.

     

    Initially, I was a bit worried when the amnesia cliché appeared [in the last episode], but I was soon to put those worries to rest. The finale has just the right amount of time [Hyun Soo needed] to restore what makes us human in him, and it is a good enough ending for us to look deep into the human condition. The script is solidly written like a piece of literature, and the actor’s performance is such a rich and delicate manifestation of that writing.

     

    Even with his memories coming back little by little, and with the people around him telling him about his relationships [to his loved ones], Do Hyun Soo still cannot trust himself. That’s because of the confusion he’s in – because, all his life, he has kept his true feelings deeply tucked away, and because he has never lived freely as himself, just the way he is. That is exactly what Lee Joon Gi has been showing. Finally, Hyun Soo accepts the fact that he was genuinely in love and happy when he was with his family. And it is the actor’s brilliant depiction of that moment when Hyun Soo starts to believe in himself that brings the drama to an end.

     

    It has been 15 years since <King and the Clown> was released.

    Maybe it is lucky for an actor to have such a career-defining character, but it can also be a trap. Yet, Lee Joon Gi seems to have already grown out of this impactful character Gong-gil, and he did it brilliantly. So now, why don’t we renew our expectations for this actor, Lee Joon Gi? What will he be look like when he gets older? How far could he possibly go?

    -

    -

    -

    Monthly Drama Review

     

    Various Faces in Drama <Emotionless>

    A Flower Named Lee Joon Gi

    by Kim Min Jung (drama critic, professor at Chung-Ang University)

    -

    In 2017, <Stranger> received considerable attention for the birth of a new type of character in prosecutor Hwang Si Mok. A protagonist who dares to be ‘emotionless’ in Korean drama, a medium characterized by human bonding and humanism! It was indeed an astonishing event that caused a seismic shift in K-drama characters. Now, four years later, what’s happening in 2020 Korea? Four dramas, which aired around the same time, tout ‘emotionless’ characters as their protagonists.

     

    This small ball of seeds that Hwang Si Mok in <Stranger> started rolling gathers more momentum through Go Moon Young, from <It’s Okay to Not Be Okay>, and finally turns into an attractive, fully-bloomed flower through Do Hyun Soo in <Flower of Evil>. Although the latest addition to this trend, Park Jin Gyeom in <Alice>, seems to have veered off course, there seems to be a consensus that 2020 has been the year of ‘emotionless’ characters. These ‘emotionless’ characters continue to broaden their spectrum as they draw viewers in with their respective idiosyncrasies and charms spanning across diverse genres, from police procedurals to romance, thriller, and science fiction.

    .

    Hwang Si Mok, from <Stranger>

     

    By now, in 2020, it’s safe to say there are about four ways to defeat evil in Korean dramas: First is the classic strategy of pitting ‘good’ against evil. Second is the dialectical strategy of turning to a character who has become an evil monster for the sake of good. Prosecutor Lee Chang Joon, who basically carried Season 1 of <Stranger>, is the quintessential example of this ‘dialectical’ character that deliberately puts himself in harm’s way by walking into the den of evil to fight government-business collusion and corruption. He’s the scapegoat of our era and the product of our collective tragic view of reality: that good alone cannot defeat evil. Now, third is the last resort you use when you really have no other choice. That is, the “fight fire with fire” strategy of using another villain that’s even more powerful than your main villain. You can find a great example in drama <Bad Guys> (2014).

     

    But it ain't over till it's over. We have another creation that’s given birth to by those creators who carefully reasoned that evil cannot possibly be defeated by humanity – hence the emergence of the ‘emotionless’ character. This is an AI-esque character created to deliver justice; a non-human human who is completely deprived of all human qualities. The first three character types exist on the boundaries between good and evil, have beating hearts, and do as their hearts tell them. On the other hand, this fourth ‘emotionless’ character cannot feel emotions and lacks empathy. Hwang Si Mok, who underwent a surgery that left him emotionless, works to serve justice by diligently performing the duties assigned to him. He represents a ‘cold’ type of justice, which he tries to deliver, not out of some sense of duty, but because it’s his job. The kind of justice he seeks exists outside of the system of dualistic good/evil thinking.

     

    Since he can’t feel emotions, he isn’t afraid of anything. For him, there is no sacred ground he can’t step on when it comes to fighting injustice. In Season 2, in 2020, his notion of ‘cold’ justice extends to the inside of the system, namely, the prosecutors and the police responsible for crime investigations. With the government and police at loggerheads over investigative authority, Hwang Si Mok aims his gun at both the police and prosecutors that both employ unlawful methods to achieve their goals. To defend the prosecutors’ power, elite prosecutor Woo Tae Ha tampers with an investigation and tries to stop Si Mok, saying because of Si Mok’s dogged pursuit of justice, prosecutor Lee Chang Joon committed suicide. Still, Si Mok won’t budge but pushes ahead with his investigations. At this point, I think we might as well call Hwang Si Mok a living AI robot.

    .

    Go Moon Young, from <It’s Okay to Not Be Okay>

    If Hwang Si Mok’s emotionless character is the sort of strong-willed ‘hero’ about to save Korean society from the evil of corruption, then Go Moon Young in <It’s Okay to Not Be Okay> is only a pitiful ‘grown child,’ who grew up in the hands of her overbearing psychopathic mother and hearing curses from her father that she would become a monster like her mother.

     

    While living in solitude as an “empty can with no emotions,” without knowing what love or friendship is, Go Moon Young meets brothers Moon Gang Tae and Moon Sang Tae, ends up living with them, and learns how to connect with other people. Living with her new family of sorts, she manages to get rid of the negative self-concept that her parents planted in her, find her own identity, and grow up to be a real grownup. In the drama, her emotionless character represents not an absence, i.e. lack of emotion, but a blank space to be filled with possibilities – in other words, she symbolizes hope and dreams as a ‘recovering human being.’

     

    Go Moon Young asks Moon Gang Tae: “What do you mean, I’m a child?” Moon Gang Tae looks right into her eyes, as if the answer is obvious, saying: “Of course you are. It’s so obvious you’re seeking people’s approval.” Moon Gang Tae, who warmly embraces Go Moon Young, isn’t just a caretaker at a psychiatric ward for nothing. Who hasn’t experienced psychological pain? Who doesn’t want to be loved? Through this sad, aching soul Go Moon Young, the ‘emotionless character’ transforms from an extraordinary hero into an ordinary face that we have, from an agent of catharsis into an ‘aching soul’ persona that leaves us with lingering feelings. Oh, we are so in need of romance.

    .

    Do Hyun Soo, from <Flower of Evil>

     

    Owing to actor Lee Joon Gi’s otherworldly performance, Do Hyun Soo in <Flower of Evil> exhibits such an amazing character growth that starts with ‘nothingness,’ as in, his lack of emotion, and expands into ‘infinity’ in which that space of ‘nothingness’ can be filled with anything precisely because it’s been empty of emotion. Those variations of the ‘emotionless character’ – from Hwang Si Mok to Go Moon Young, and to Do Hyun Soo – are all packed in this one person, Do Hyun Soo.

     

    Falsely accused and wronged, Do Hyun Soo is relentless and unstoppable in his search for the real killer with his characteristically expressionless face, as prosecutor Hwang Si Mok does. At one moment, he breaks into a journalist’s home and the next, he’s hanging precariously from an apartment balcony. He even negotiates with human traffickers and puts his own life on the line to meet this real serial killer. His recklessness in executing his plans, though, helps him successfully catch the serial killer before the police do.

     

    He also identifies his feelings and learns to love all the while chasing the real killer. What Moon Gang Tae is to Go Moon Young is exactly what his wife Cha Ji Won is to Do Hyun Soo. Seeing Ji Won embrace all of Hyun Soo’s wounds, he confides in her about his past and confesses his love in his heartwarming way: “I love you. You are an even weirder person than I am. Jiwon, you are the most inexplicable part of my life. So unreal.” Do Hyun Soo resembles Go Moon Young in that, even though he was raised by a psychopathic parent to be an emotionless person lacking empathy, he restores that ‘humanness’ in him by emotionally connecting with his lover.

     

    In <Flower of Evil>, Do Hyun Soo even goes beyond that ‘cold justice’ in Hwang Si Mok and ‘aching soul’ in Go Moon Young, and becomes the ‘lone martyr’ in this age of barbarity and inhumanity. Early in the drama, he is depicted as a cunning psychopath who exploits people’s kind nature for his own advantage. But it turns out, it is actually Hyun Soo who has been exploited. The village head spreads the malicious rumor that he is a psychopath, and steals the money Hyun Soo’s father left behind. Emotionless, Hyun Soo does not feel wronged nor does he get angry. Rather, he accepts his fate, calm and unperturbed. He takes the blame for his sister’s killing of the village head, and comforts his sister who’s trembling in fear: “It’s Okay, because I don’t know how it feels.”

     

    Hyun Soo does not become coldhearted and cruel because he is emotionless; instead, he willingly sacrifices himself. Watching him makes me reflect on myself and wonder if those emotions and empathy we have always talked about, as well as that customary expression “humane,” are probably much more based on self-centeredness and self-interest than we think. I wonder if Do Hyun Soo, who seems detached and free from all those joys, angers, sorrows, and pleasures, isn’t the ‘noble martyr’ who can sacrifice himself for others and society. A metal craft artist, Do Hyun Soo runs his workshop named “Where the Morning Star Stays.” In Greek mythology, there is an ugly god of metalworking. Everyone hates him, but he has a wife he loves. The place where his Venus, Morning Star, and loving wife stays. When Cha Ji Won takes Do Hyun Soo, who’s been hurt and persecuted because of the sins he didn’t even commit, and holds him in her warm embrace, she reminds me of the Virgin Mary holding the dead body of Christ after his crucifixion. If this isn’t your Michelangelo’s Pietà, then I don’t know what is.

     

    I wondered if Lee Joon Gi’s remarkable acting talent has been underrated all these years because of his gorgeous looks, just as Do Hyun Soo’s innocent heart has been hidden beneath his expressionless face. Every single eye expression, every hand gesture, and every breath of his are so restrained, yet contain all of life’s joys, angers, sorrows, and pleasures. As I watch this marvelous irony of life – in which ‘nothingness’ expands into ‘infinity’ – come into bloom on his little face, I realize when and how our exhausting and shabby daily life can be elevated into art. Following the finale of the drama, actor Lee Joon Gi went live on Instagram, and fans from about 30 countries joined in, hoping to cherish the deep, lingering feelings that the drama left with them. Among them was this Korean, Kim Min Jung. Oh, Lee Joon Gi.

    -

    -

    end.

     

    Credit: @allaboutjoongi

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    Your Ultimate Lee Joon Gi Movie Guide

    From critically-acclaimed ‘The King and the Clown’ to multi-awarded drama ‘Fly, Daddy, Fly,’ our favorite sageuk king has quite an impressive line-up of movies, too!

     

    Justin Alexandra Convento

    October 20, 2020, 01:41 AM

     

    In his two decades in the industry, Lee Joon Gi has gifted his fans with a massive range of titles, many of which turned out to receive both critical and commercial success. Since making his debut, this veritable action star and "King of Sageuk" has starred in a total of 18 dramas and 8 films, as well as appearing in several reality TV shows and producing an impressive number of hit albums. 

    Stills of Lee Joon Gi in 'The King and the Clown,' 'Fly, Daddy, Fly,' and 'May 18.' Background image by Alex Cochinillos.

     

    While Lee Joon Gi is widely popular for starring in some of our favorite dramas such as Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo (2016), My Girl (2005), Lawless Lawyer (2018), and, of course, Flower of Evil (2020), he wouldn't be where he is today without first landing his first leading role playing a clown in the critically acclaimed film The King and the Clown (2005).

     

    His portrayal of the effeminate clown named Gong-gil in the Joseon Dynasty led him to win Best New Actor at the 42nd Baeksang Arts Awards and the 43rd Brand Bell Awards. Numerous award-giving bodies also gave him recognition for his outstanding performance as Gong-gil. A year later, he was awarded Most Popular Actor for his role in Fly, Daddy, Fly at the 43rd Baeksang Arts Awards.

     

    0d5f8e4a-b673-4573-86e1-b05d6b8b8fba_leejoongishootlawlesslawyer.gif
    BTS of Lee Joon Gi at a shoot for drama 'Lawless Lawyer' | tvN

     

    And we admit it, we absolutely love watching Lee Joon Gi in all his dramas but we love seeing him in his classic films, as well. Below, we round up all eight movies you can watch him in—chronicling his rise to Hallyu star status and his fantastic growth as an actor and artist!

     

    And we admit it, we absolutely love watching Lee Joon Gi in all his dramas but we love seeing him in his classic films, as well. Below, we round up all eight movies you can watch him in—chronicling his rise to Hallyu star status and his fantastic growth as an actor and artist!

     

    Follow this link to see the full list and sypnosis of each movie: 

    https://metro.style/culture/film-and-tv/your-ultimate-lee-joon-gi-movie-guide/27759

     

    Have you watched all of Lee Joon Gi's films? Let us know which ones are your favorites!

     

    Lead photos from Cinema Service and CJ Entertainment. Background image by Alex Cochinillos on Pexels.

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    In Photos: The Winners (Actors) At 2020 Asia Artist Awards

          7c0f0764-f0de-4cae-8516-c37dce5444a3_127

            Photo Credit: StarNews

     
     

    Grace Libero-Cruz

    November 28, 2020, 10:57 PM

     

    The 2020 Asia Artist Awards (AAA) took place today, November 28, with a well-attended, star-studded red carpet event. Some of the biggest names in both the K-pop and K-drama scenes were present to accept their awards, including Filipinos' favorite actors like Seo Ye-ji (who was also named Metro.Style's Most Beautiful Korean Actress), Kim Soo-hyun, Lee Joon-gi, Song Ji-hyo, Lee Sung-kyung, and Kim Seon-ho.  

     

    An awards ceremony organized by South Korea-based business newspaper Money Today and its global media brands StarNews and MTN, the 2020 Asia Artist Awards has been around since 2016. It was established to recognize outstanding achievements by Asian artists in the music, television and film industries.

     

    Seo Ye Ji won two awards: Hot Issue Award (alongside her IOTNBO partner Kim Soo Hyun) and Best Artist (alongside her "Lawless Lawyer" co-star Lee Joon Gi)

     

    Source: @metro.style

     

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    So many JG updates after a one year drought. I am so happy.

    To see him in the same line as Lee Byung Hun in a Korean "culture and arts" magazine with the theme "icon" is a testament of his great acting skills. LBH might have a somewhat stained personal life but his acting skill is undisputed. There are very few Korean actors both in film and drama who are at his level. 

     

     

     

     

     

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    Lee Joon Gi winning 2 awards at 2020 AAA: “Hope flowers bloom all over the world just as ‘Flower of Evil’ did”

     

                                     0002913881_001_20201129091810063.jpg?typ

     

    Actor Lee Joon Gi was honoured with two awards at the 2020 Asia Artist Awards. By winning both the ‘Asia Celebrity Award’ and ‘Best Artist Award,’ he once again proved his status as an actor with top-notch acting skills he had shown this past summer in tvN drama ‘Flower of Evil,” as well as his popularity as a hallyu star.

     

    In Flower of Evil, Lee Joon Gi made his presence felt so strongly it was hard to believe this was his drama comeback after his two years’ hiatus. In Flower of Evil, which shocked us with log line ‘What if the husband you’ve loved for 14 years is a serial killer?’ Lee played two characters, loving husband Baek Hee Seong and cold-blooded Do Hyun Soo with a spine-chilling performance, leaving an indelible impact from the first episode onwards.

     

    As the story progressed, he delivered a heartbreaking story his character has and his heart-touching romance with wife Cha Ji Won (Moon Chae Won) with a convincing and believable performance, creating a new genre called suspense melodrama. Lee’s acting, along with his creative and delicate expressions, depicted the process whereby Do Hyun Soo, who was initially thought to be emotionless, gradually comes to recognize his feelings, and stole the hearts of fans not just in Korea but all over the world, generating considerable buzz. He not only topped popular search word rankings on international search engines but also created cultural phenomena like ‘Flower of Evil Reaction Challenge’ on YouTube.

     

    Having proven his top-notch acting skills and unrivalled popularity through Flower of Evil, Lee Joon Gi expressed his gratitude to global viewers and his fans in his acceptance speech at the 2020 AAA. First, after winning the Asia Celebrity Award, the actor said, “Covid-19 has caused so much pain for people around the world but I wonder if my drama cheered you up even just a little,” and “Thanks to your support, I could finish the drama well,” along with a warm message, “From the bottom of my heart, I thank my fans for their support from all over the world, and I hope you stay healthy until the day we meet again.”

     

    Then he ended up honoured with two awards by winning the Best Artist Award. In his heartfelt acceptance speech, Lee Joon Gi said, “We started in the spring and worked well into fall, and the staff worked so hard wearing masks throughout. I dedicate this award to them,” and “The meaning of Flower of Evil is that flowers still bloom even in places filled with evil. Even though the pandemic has caused hardship for many people around the world, flowers will still bloom soon.”

     

    With each project he worked on, Lee Joon Gi boasted a range that knows no limits, solidifying his status as one of Korea’s leading actors. He continues to attract a lot of attention both in Korea and worldwide. We can’t wait to see what kind of present he will bring us viewers next.

     

    Translation Credits: @allaboutjoongi

     

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    Lee Joon Gi honoured with two awards following his Best Artist Award win: “Flowers will bloom soon” [2020 AAA]

     

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    Actor Lee Joon Gi won the AAA Best Artist Award in the Actor category at the 2020 AAA.

    Lee Joon Gi won the AAA Best Artist Award at the 2020 Asia Artist Awards (combining music and acting categories) that aired on November 28 through MyMusicTaste.

     

    After winning the AAA Best Artist Award, Lee Joon Gi said, “It is such a great honour. I didn’t know I would end up getting the award alongside her. I’m totally a fan of Go Moon Young. I wanted to walk onto the stage with her. As for ‘Flower of Evil,’ there are so many people that helped me out and I received so much love. Without the director, the writer, the production staff, and without the ensemble of my peers, seniors, and juniors, including our great actors [Moon Chae Won, Kim Ji Hoon, Jang Hee Jin and Seo Hyun Woo], I could not have given a good performance.”

     

    He continued: “This year the staff worked hard while wearing their masks throughout because of Covid-19. I want to dedicate this honour to everyone involved. I am truly grateful to my fans for showing their support until the very end. 'Flower of Evil’ means that flowers still bloom even in a place filled with evil. Deposit the current situation we are in, flowers will still come out soon. I will stay healthy and see you again. Thank you."

     

    Translation Credits: @allaboutjoongi

     

     

     

     

     
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    Lee Joon Gi exudes unmatched aura that goes beyond just handsomeness; his beauty tears itself out of the black and white photos

     

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    Lee Joon Gi’s new pictorial has been released.

     

    The December pictorial actor Lee Joon Gi worked on with ALLURE magazine has caught people’s attention upon its release. In drama ‘Flower of Evil,’ which took the small screen by storm this past summer, Lee Joon Gi demonstrated his power as a top-notch actor by switching effortlessly between two characters that are polar opposites. In the latest pictorial, the actor turned into a ‘master of photoshoots,’ elevating the photoshoot to a piece of art.

     

    While a harmonious blend of black/white and colors captivates readers, Lee has filled all the styling concepts with his own unique colors, announcing the birth of yet another legendary pictorial in his career. In the first photo, where the actor is holding lilies while looking nonchalant, he nails the complexity of the sentiments unique to monotonous photography and his unique personal vibe. With his eyes looking lethargic, he gives us the chic vibe his black and white photos created, leaving us dazzled.

     

    In another photo where he is wearing a red suede jacket, you can feel the dangerously sexy aura that only Lee Joon Gi can pull off. With slightly wet hair and sharply-defined facial features that shine even in the darkness, he reminds us of Do Hyun Soo, who caused a stir in Flower of Evil, setting fans’ hearts aflutter.

     

    The last close-up photo leaves us at a loss for words. His sharply defined facial features tear themselves out of the black and white photo and his fierce eyes overwhelm us instantly, revealing something more than just handsomeness. Sources say that even on set, Lee Joon Gi created such a variety of different atmospheres that the staff praised he could bring out completely different personalities with his eyes and facial expressions alone.

     

    Actor Lee Joon Gi keeps us curious by showing different sides of him every time. Check out the December issue of ALLURE magazine for more photos and his interview.

     

    Source: (1)

    Translation Credits: @allaboutjoongi

     

     

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