[SBS Star News] Late Bloomer, Lee Jun-hyuk's Time Has Come

[SBS Entertainment News | Kang Sun-ae] The term "late bloomer" refers to someone who achieves success later in life, and in the entertainment industry, there are quite a few actors who fit this description. Lee Jun-hyuk is currently one of the most notable examples of this type of actor. Having debuted in 2007, he has been on the acting path for 18 years, and now in his 40s, he is finally receiving the attention he deserves in his acting career.

When you think about it, Lee Jun-hyuk has no shortcomings as an actor. With his clean-cut good looks, tall stature, and well-proportioned physique, his external charm has been praised for a long time. The scene in the 2019 drama "60 Days, Designated Survivor," where he appeared in a pristine uniform like a prince, is still referred to as "one of the best entrances" among netizens.

While having exceptional looks often leads to lower expectations for acting, Lee Jun-hyuk does not fall short in that department either. Just look at his roles as the villain Joo Sung-cheol in the movie "THE ROUNDUP : NO WAY OUT" and Seo Dong-jae in the "Stranger" series; in both works, he presents completely different personas. Lee Jun-hyuk is an actor who perfectly synchronizes with his characters in every project.

So, why has Lee Jun-hyuk not received significant attention until now, despite his outstanding looks and acting skills? In the entertainment industry, it is often joked that "luck" is necessary for success. No matter how good one's qualities are, if the stars don't align, it can be challenging. The timing of trends, public tastes, and the success or failure of projects are all factors that an individual cannot control.

Although he hasn't reached the peak of his career yet, Lee Jun-hyuk has quietly and diligently walked his path. He showcased his bold spirit as an actor by gaining 20 kg for his role in "THE ROUNDUP : NO WAY OUT" and proved how captivating a supporting role can be in "Good or Bad Dong-jae." After gradually building up his career, the moment has finally arrived for Lee Jun-hyuk to shine as an actor.

Lee Jun-hyuk recently rose to the ranks of the most popular actors in South Korea through the SBS drama "Love Scout". "Love Scout" tells the story of a headhunting company CEO, Kang Ji-yoon (played by Han Ji-min), who excels at her job, and her perfect secretary, Yoo Eun-ho (played by Lee Jun-hyuk), in a close-care romance. "Love Scout" started with a viewership rating of 5.2% and jumped to 12.0% by the final episode, maintaining the top spot in ratings for Friday-Saturday dramas throughout its run. Lead actor Lee Jun-hyuk topped the buzz rankings, receiving immense love from viewers. Having showcased various genres, Lee Jun-hyuk's first serious attempt at a romance drama, "Love Scout," was a resounding success.

"I'm grateful. I'm not sure if it's right for me to say that, since it was a team effort. I feel relieved and fortunate. It seems like the viewers resonated with the story we created, which had never existed before, and that makes me happy. This is something only humans can do," he expressed.

Yoo Eun-ho was truly the "perfect secretary." With looks that made passing women glance back, he was kind-hearted and considerate. His work skills were exceptional, and he excelled in cooking, household chores, and parenting. The all-around capable secretary who meticulously assisted CEO Kang Ji-yoon was described as a "unicorn male lead," a character that realistically could never exist in the real world. Lee Jun-hyuk mentioned that he was drawn to Yoo Eun-ho because he was uniquely different in another way.

"I have many unique characters in my filmography. I tend to like those unique and new roles. But I realized my filmography was filled with unique characters, so most things no longer felt unique. In fact, a character like Yoo Eun-ho felt unique to me. At that time, I was playing a role where I killed many people in 'THE ROUNDUP : NO WAY OUT,' so it was surprising that a romance drama came my way," he said.

Despite his lack of experience in romantic comedies, Lee Jun-hyuk analyzed that the overall flow and structure of the genre are similar to others. He made efforts to ensure that the character he portrayed, Yoo Eun-ho, did not come across as cliche. This highlighted Lee Jun-hyuk's meticulous character analysis.

"While working on 'Love Scout,' I watched many romantic comedy works and realized they are ultimately similar. There is a similar rhythm and timing. In genre films, a significant impact might involve killing someone, while in rom-coms, it involves the male and female leads kissing. What I found challenging was that after the first episode, Yoo Eun-ho became a character without a purpose. He succeeded in getting a job, and his daughter was no longer depressed. After that, Eun-ho was merely objectified. The structure was such that Eun-ho reacted to the goals of other characters. So, I thought of Eun-ho as the lead in every scene, while he was just a supporting character. I worried that if he kept saying predictable lines, he might not seem appealing, so I tried to insert comedic moments here and there to add some variation," he explained.

Lee Jun-hyuk worked hard to become the perfect Yoo Eun-ho, even taking cooking lessons. He paid special attention to managing his weight to maintain Eun-ho's slim image. Moreover, due to the lingering influence of his previous role in "Good or Bad Dong-jae," he added a unique request to "not open his eyes too wide." His detailed efforts to create Yoo Eun-ho paid off. In "Love Scout," Lee Jun-hyuk shone brighter than ever, leading to the saying, "Lee Jun-hyuk's visuals are the very definition of plausibility." A modest Lee Jun-hyuk felt awkward receiving such compliments about his looks.

"In 'THE ROUNDUP : NO WAY OUT' and 'Good or Bad Dong-jae,' I was trying to find my quirky side, but in a romance, the camera tries to capture my strengths. It tries to make me look good and the footage comes out beautifully. I'm not someone who usually goes out much, so I wonder how I will handle this. I feel like I won't be able to hold my head up. If anyone meets me outside and is disappointed because I don't look like my character in the drama, I hope they can think, 'He acted well' instead (laughs)," he said.

While he downplayed the compliments about his looks, Yoo Eun-ho is one of the characters that closely aligns with Lee Jun-hyuk's own persona. He didn't have to force himself to adopt a different tone for this role.

"I've always looked older than my age (laughs), so I often played roles that were older than me. As a result, I used to deepen my voice. I had to modify characters like Seo Dong-jae a lot. This time, I didn't have to do that. Although Eun-ho is younger than me, I felt I could just be myself. I don't have to worry about the maturity that comes with being middle-aged. Since Eun-ho is an ordinary person, I think the synchronicity is quite good. I don't usually kill people like my character in 'THE ROUNDUP : NO WAY OUT' (laughs)," he added.

The chemistry between Lee Jun-hyuk and Han Ji-min, who played the lead roles in the romantic drama "Love Scout," is also a key factor in the show's success. Lee Jun-hyuk expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to act alongside his senior, Han Ji-min, who was already a star when he attended acting school as a child, showering her with praise.

"One of the most important things I've felt on set lately is the ability to effectively resolve risks that arise while working. In that regard, Ji-min is very professional and reliable. There are various risk factors on set, and she was a wonderful colleague and senior who served as a pillar of support. She's also incredibly beautiful and a great actress. In episode 4 of 'Love Scout,' there's a scene where Ji-yoon looks at a sleeping Eun-ho and says, 'He's so handsome.' I was curious about how she would pull that off when I read the script. But she managed to do it and made it convincing. I thought, 'She really is different.' Watching that scene unfold in front of me felt like watching someone's performance in high-definition IMAX. It was impressive and I was grateful for her ability to overcome that challenge," he said.

In the drama, Yoo Eun-ho and Kang Ji-yoon eventually reveal their secret office romance to their colleagues. Lee Jun-hyuk stated that if it were up to him, he would never engage in a "public relationship." Being a shy person, he expressed, "It's hard for me to share my thoughts with the world. It feels like shouting into a megaphone," feeling burdened by the idea.

However, as a celebrity, aspects of his private life inevitably become public. When asked about this, Lee Jun-hyuk humorously replied, "I don't know because I've never lived as a star. I'll have to ask my star friends," making those around him laugh. Despite being at the peak of his career as one of the hottest male actors in South Korea, the label of "star" feels awkward for Lee Jun-hyuk.

"I don't know. Being called a star at this age feels awkward. To me, it feels the same. I just have more responsibilities and more things to resolve. I will have to be more reliable on set," he said.

As Lee Jun-hyuk mentioned, his filmography is filled with unique characters, which is why, despite having debuted 18 years ago, he has yet to add a romantic drama to his resume, something that many actors easily accomplish. This reflects his tendency to enjoy new challenges as an actor.

"I think not receiving public attention has allowed me to take on new challenges more easily (laughs). I like new things. I try to do what I admired in movies I watched or from senior actors. After seeing Christian Bale gain 20 kg, I thought, 'If I'm an actor, I should try it too.' This way, I can understand the pain he went through and feel closer to him as a fan. No matter what project I take on next, I'm not afraid to try something new. I don't think I have a fixed image as an actor, so I'm open to being varied," he said.

Lee Jun-hyuk humbly expressed that being able to freely "change roles" is a clear advantage. While being known as a "romantic lead" or "villain specialist" is good, being able to do both is even more beneficial.

"When I watch movies or dramas, I really watch everything without discrimination, even complete B-grade films. I have a certain affection for those. Since I like everything, I think I'm not afraid to try something new. Of course, I might fail, but since it has come to this, I want to keep trying different things and be a model for others, showing that there are seniors who endure even when they fail," he said.

Outside of acting, Lee Jun-hyuk revealed that he wants to "hide a bit" from the public gaze, showing his shyness. He is an "I" type personality according to the MBTI. However, he participated in various promotional programs like SBS's "Whenever Possible," YouTube's "Pinggyego," and "Salon Drip 2" to promote "Love Scout." He candidly admitted that such experiences were not easy for him.

"There is a unique language in variety shows. At first, it was very difficult. I didn't know what to do. I thought the energy of those who do variety shows was incredible. I'm someone who feels burdened when my words go out into the world. That's why I didn't even use Cyworld when I was younger. But doing variety shows was not easy. While filming 'Salon Drip 2,' I was extremely nervous and shaking, and I felt a bit unwell afterward. I could see how much I was shaking on camera. I don't want to show the public that I'm trembling. I can memorize lines and act well as Dong-jae, but the real Lee Jun-hyuk is shaking," he shared.

Over the past 18 years, Lee Jun-hyuk has taken on various characters across different genres, but he still has many acting challenges he wants to explore. His lack of experience in the romance genre made "Love Scout" a significant challenge for him. Currently, he is filming the Netflix drama "Lady Dua," where he transforms into a detective in the violent crimes unit. Fans are eagerly anticipating Lee Jun-hyuk's continued success as he embraces this new challenge and enters his long-awaited prime.

"My life has always felt like a survival game, like 'Squid Game.' I've realized that life doesn't go as planned. So, I have to do better and work harder. There are still many things I haven't done as an actor. Recently, I've wanted to explore occult genres or deep stories. I hope such opportunities come my way," he concluded.

[Photo Credit: Ace Factory, Studio S, Eo Content Group]

[SBS Entertainment News | Kang Sun-ae]

(SBS Star)