[News24 Interview] Un-stoppable rise, actor Lee Jong Suk possesses 'OOO'
Lee Jong Suk's SBS drama 'Pinocchio' ended well on 15 January with a high 13.3% viewership rating. He acted the role of Ki Ha Myung in 'Pinocchio', a reporter in his lone fight for justice. His portrayal of a real, professional reporter and love story with actress Park Shin Hye highlight his multi-faceted charms.
Through his excellent performance in School 2013, I Hear Your Voice, Doctor Stranger and Pinocchio, he achieved high viewership ratings for 4 consecutive dramas. Not only that, with the increase of actors in their 20s taking on lead roles in dramas, Jong Suk was awarded the Best Actor Award by Korean directors, and selected by Chinese showbiz media as the most anticipated Korean actor in 2015. What is the secret to his un-stoppable rise of acting skill and popularity?
On 21 Jan at a cafe in Samcheong-dong, Seoul, we found the answer in the interview with him.
--- How do you feel after Pinocchio ended?
After completing a good drama, I feel healed. I've worked with director Jo Soo-won and writer Park Hye-ryun in 'I Hear Your Voice' (IHYV) and the feeling was great, so I trust them very much. Actually, after completing 'Doctor Stranger' (DS), I had a slump, and through 'Pinocchio' I've been healed.
--- Every drama was popular. The slump doesn't seem to match with Jong Suk who's had a string of successes.
I want to do better, so I experienced a bottle-neck period. When I first started acting, I was happy. But as the lead in DS, I experienced much stress. I thought so long as I did well, there would be no problem with the whole drama, so I wanted very much to do it well. After acting DS, I felt very tired.
--- With greater desire for acting skill, the greater will be the stimulation from other actors in their 20s, right.
I watch almost all the works of actors around my age. In the process of watching, if I see something that I can't perform well and yet another actor did it well, I'll feel inferior. Everyone performs differently but all are good. I like to watch movies and dramas, and watch more of my peers' works. Dramas take into consideration the public's preferences and degree of acceptance, so I often watch popular works such as 'Man from the Stars' and 'Cantabile Tomorrow'.
--- Which actors are more outstanding?
Lee Min Ho's 'Gangnam 1970' is good, one can even feel the masculine presence from the poster. Kim Woobin also has a masculine image, and will become more handsome when he grows older. He can also match other actors well, this is also his strength.
--- This drama is different from your previous ones in that you get to act with other actors around your age.
When four of us gather, we play around and get many NGs. Especially because of Lee Yoo-bi, we laughed a lot. It's my first time working with Yoo-bi. When others are acting, she can become a distraction with her funny antics. But she acts well, and one will think why she isn't a comedian. When acting with peers, we can chat together, and have lunch together if there's time, and we can also act together. It feels good.
--- You get on well with Park Shin Hye in and out of the drama. Do you get on well with actresses?
I have good rapport with Lee Bo-young noona in IHYV and also Park Shin Hye. Their personality is straightforward, so if actresses are pretty, I say they are pretty. If ugly, I will say ugly - very direct expression. I don't care much about how others look at me. I'm more casual with Shin Hye as we're the same age. But one day when Shin Hye went to promote 'The Tailors', one reporter told her to be careful of Lee Jong Suk. My friendly expressions towards Shin Hye seem to have been exaggerated, in future I will be more careful (laughs).
--- We hear that you are very good at 'aegyo' (acting cute). Park Shin Hye is a girl, but her 'aegyo' cannot win yours?
I admit I can 'aegyo" well, especially towards director Jo Soo-won. Don't we think that serious people are cool? Director Jo's decisiveness and leadership ability are really strong, so sometimes I 'aegyo' with him and he feels shy. (laughs) In future if there's a chance to work with the Pinocchio team, I will absolutely agree.
--- You played the role of a reporter in the drama. What do you think of a reporter's life?
It's nothing different from indirectly experiencing a reporter's life, very tiring. Having strict senior-junior relationships, having to meet different types of people. If I really become a reporter, I think I'll be very stressed. Reporting is the hardest. If reporting is done in an amateur way, I think the attention will decline, so I practised very hard. Pronunciation is also very hard, the pitch needs to be increased etc. I prepared a lot from watching real reporting.
--- Pick a senior who has most influence on your acting.
When I was filming 'Doctor Stranger', senior Song Kang-ho sent me a text message "You acted very well, keep it up like this". Already a stressful work, I felt good after receiving the message, and at the same time, I had the thought that I want to do even better.
--- Now you're acknowledged as an actor. Are you satisfied?
Personally, I like the Lee Jong Suk in the drama. When I watch the monitor, I feel detached. I am capable in the drama, but in reality I feel I'm powerless. So I like to live in my works. One thing I want to improve most is my eloquence. I'll feel uneasy in crowded places. In order to promote my works, this is something I have to do. I worked hard at it with no improvement to show, it's a bit depressing.
--- Even so, you're popular as an actor. Are you happy?
In yesterday's interview, I was asked this question too. Later, I asked myself, am I really happy? But I still have doubts. Till now, I still don't have any hobbies or interests, so this year, my goal is to become happy.
--- You're at the age for love. Love is also one way to become happy.
In her award acceptance speech at the SBS Drama Awards 2014, senior Han Ye-seul's expression of love towards her boyfriend was great. Actually, whether in the drama or kissing in front of the media and then expressing everything directly, I feel it's possible. Looking at senior Han Ye-seul, I also want to do that once. Also, when filming IHYV, at Bo-young noona's wedding banquet, I saw that she and senior Ji Sung are happy. I feel like getting married.
--- Your ideal type?
Since my debut, my ideal type has been senior Lee Na-young. Her mysterious manner of speaking is charismatic. When I heard that Woobin and senior Lee Na-young were filming an advertisement, I even asked him to get her autograph for me. When I got her autograph, I understand fans' feeling. Too happy (laughs). But having said so much about senior Lee Na-young, my future girlfriend may not be happy, so in future I have to be more abstract about my ideal type (laughs).
--- When do you want to get married?
My ideal is the kind of life in the drama. I want to get married when I'm still handsome. It's only one year between IHYV and Pinocchio, but I feel my face has changed so much. Now, when I do the facial expressions that I used during IHYV filming, it doesn't feel the same as it did back then. Interesting, and strange.
--- What kind of Lee Jong Suk will we see next time?
Till now, although it's not intentional, I've been favouring dramas. Dramas have more mass appeal. I want to film movies. That kind of men's stories. Something like L.A. Noire or action genre. If there's a work I like, I'll challenge it.