Lee Jin Wook has opened up about working alongside Jung Chae Yeon in JTBC’s recently wrapped weekend drama Beyond the Bar. The actor revealed that while there were romantic beats scripted were changed due to the pair’s age difference.
Lee played partner attorney Yoon Seok Hoon opposite Jung’s rookie lawyer Kang Hyo Min. Their characters influenced each other’s growth, creating subtle moments of warmth that some viewers interpreted as budding romance.
But, Lee explained, “It’s a sad reality, but there’s a noticeable age gap between us. While that might not matter for people actually in a relationship, I felt that given our cultural context, viewers could feel some resistance if it played out on screen,” adding, “So we adjusted direction together. This drama wasn’t meant to be a love story. There are other kinds of love other than love between men and women—like between colleagues.”
The actor added that the show deliberately chose to “stay one step behind the audience,” holding back any overt romance until viewers might naturally expect it. “If people are saying, ‘Hold hands now,’ that’s when you can make the move without creating resistance,” he explained.
Reflecting on his working relationship with Jung, Lee praised her as hardworking and easy to collaborate with, noting her lighthearted gestures on set like sharing candy with staff. He admitted he’s even adopted a more talkative, playful presence on set compared to his quieter early years for his co-stars, joking some now call him “auntie.”
As for roles that might require larger age-gap romances, Lee said he would approach them head-on if the project felt right: “You see cases like this quite often, and overseas, it’s often not a big deal. I wouldn’t hesitate. If I’m cast, I’ll find a way to make it work.”
Looking ahead, Lee showed confidence in his new film Seven O′Clock Breakfast Club for the Brokenhearted, co-starring Suzy, Yoo Ji Tae, and Keum Sae Rok, which has been invited to the competition section at the Busan International Film Festival.
>> Lee Jin Wook Hints at Blossoming Romance With Jung Chae Yeon Should ‘Beyond the Bar’ Get Season 2
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