Lee Jae Wook is stepping back into period drama territory with Dear Hongrang, Netflix’s newest historical mystery romance. In a recent interview on the 19th, the actor opened up not just about the series, but also career envy, shirtless fight scenes, and his rom-com dreams.
Dear Hongrang follows the story of Hong Rang (Lee Jae Wook), the long-lost son of Joseon’s wealthiest trading house. Twelve years after mysteriously vanishing, he returns with no memory, only to be met with suspicion from his half-sister Jae Yi (Jo Bo Ah).
In the drama, Lee delivers high-impact action and even strips down for a key fight scene, something he admits didn’t come easily. “I was super embarrassed while filming it,” he said. “There’s a scene near the end where I’m shirtless and doing action—it definitely came with pressure. But I knew it gave the scene more weight, so I hoped it would come out well.”
“I wanted to transform my body to look like an assassin, so I went on a diet,” he revealed. “This guy’s been through hell, so I focused on reflecting that physically. Between managing my physique and doing all the action, I realized I’m not the most disciplined person.”
The actor didn’t hold back when asked if he ever feels envious watching other dramas. “Of course I get jealous sometimes,” he admitted with a laugh. “I usually try to watch everything, even shows I’m not in. Recently, I really enjoyed the ‘Weak Hero Class’ series. I caught myself thinking, ‘What if I had played one of those roles?’ or ‘Why doesn’t a script like that come my way?’ It pushes me to work harder and become a better version of myself.”
And despite now being in his mid-to-late twenties, Lee’s still not done with school dramas. “I’d probably have to apologize to viewers, but I’d love to do another school drama. There’s something exciting about acting in a uniform,” he said with a grin.
The conversation inevitably turned to his relationship with aespa’s Karina, which went public during Dear Hongrang‘s shoot. When asked if it impacted his focus on set, he answered carefully, “That wasn’t the reason. It’s a personal matter, so I’m mindful of what I share.”
>> Jo Bo Ah on Married Life, the ‘Knock-Off’ Delay and Her New Drama ‘Dear Hongrang’
