Lee Min Ho opened up about the difficult experience that changed his outlook on life and explained why he tries to stay positive even in challenging moments.
An interview with Lee Min Ho for the upcoming film The Assassin(s) was held on the afternoon of September 11 at a cafe in Seoul.
The Assassin(s) follows the suspicions and hidden story surrounding the assassination attempt on South Korea’s First Lady on August 15th, 1974.
In the film, Lee Min Ho plays Young Il, a passionate rookie reporter who travels to Japan while investigating the case.
Lee Min Ho previously received praise from director Huh Jin Ho for his “boyish charm.” When asked about the comment, the actor said, “I like the magic of turning tragedy into comedy in an instant.”
“I believe there’s a power to turn even the most miserable moments into something positive,” he continued. “I think that’s what he meant by boyish charm.”
Young Il receives help from Kang Ja (Shim Eun Kyung) while investigating the case in Japan. When Kang Ja gets into danger, Young Il tries to save her by reaching his hand into a closing van door.
Despite being injured, Young Il remains calm and jokes, “I can get married even without fingers.”
Lee Min Ho said he could relate to the character’s attitude, recalling his own experience after a serious traffic accident in 2006. “There’s a part of me that resonates with Young Il, especially the line, ‘I can get married even without fingers,’” he said.
Lee Min Ho was involved in a traffic accident in 2006 after appearing in the EBS drama Secret Campus (literal title). He was in the car with fellow actor Jung Il Woo at the time. Lee Min Ho was hospitalized for about a year, while Jung Il Woo spent four months in the hospital.
Looking back on the experience, Lee Min Ho recalled that doctors had warned him about the possibility of losing his ability to walk.
“The doctor told me I might not be able to walk before the surgery,” he said. “Doctors always talk about the worst-case scenario, don’t they?”
Even so, he tried to keep his spirits up. “I remember going into the operating room cheerfully and telling my mom, ‘I’m not going to the army,’” he recalled.
However, Lee Min Ho admitted that his cheerful attitude was partly an act. “I pretended to be brave, but as soon as the operating room door closed, I cried my eyes out,” he said.
The experience ultimately changed the way he viewed life. “From then on, my perspective on life changed,” he explained. “My basic principle has been to use positive energy to think about and prepare for the future, especially in situations that others might find difficult or challenging.”
Meanwhile, The Assassin(s), starring Lee Min Ho, is set to be released on September 23rd.
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