"I felt that if I didn't play Lee Bang-won now, I might never get the chance. Many actors go their whole lives without playing a king, so in that sense, it was an opportunity, wasn't it?"
Actor Lee Hyun-wook (39) portrayed King Taejong Lee Bang-won, the 3rd king of Joseon, in a new light that had not been depicted in previous media.
The tvN and Tving original drama 'Wongyeong' (written by Lee Young-mi, directed by Kim Sang-ho) centers around Queen Wongyeong (played by Cha Joo-young), who seized power alongside her husband, King Taejong Lee Bang-won (played by Lee Hyun-wook), depicting the intense stories hidden between the king and queen, husband and wife. The show concluded on the 11th, recording an average nationwide viewership rating of 6.6% (according to Nielsen Korea) and high buzz.
In an interview held at a cafe in Gangnam, Seoul, on the 19th, Lee Hyun-wook stated, "The most important aspect I focused on was being cautious when dealing with historical figures. Since we are using the names of real people, I wanted to be more careful and accurate. Since the work is expressed from Queen Wongyeong's perspective, the dominant question was how to portray the gaps that are not recorded in history."
Regarding his first historical drama challenge of playing the real historical figure Lee Bang-won, he explained, "I believed that since Lee Bang-won is one of the most famous kings in our country, people would know his achievements and image, and I wanted to show his other side from the beginning. I didn't expect the preconceived notions to be so strong. Charisma, masculinity, 'Killing Bang-won.' But was this person really a cold-blooded killer? I tried to fill in the gaps."
He added, "I didn't want to tarnish his name. In a way, while there is a foundation of love, I also thought there would be human conflicts and struggles. It’s regrettable and sorry that those aspects were, for example, belittled. I felt a sense of guilt that I might have instilled that image."
Many actors, including Yoo Dong-geun, Kim Young-chul, Baek Yoon-sik, Yoo Ah-in, Jang Hyuk, and Joo Sang-wook, have played the role of Lee Bang-won. Despite the pressure, what made him take on the role?
Lee Hyun-wook said, "I think it’s my personality. I never thought about surpassing my seniors' performances or standing shoulder to shoulder with them. When I said I wasn't burdened at first, it wasn't overconfidence; I wanted to show something different from the excellent performances my seniors had shown. If I had intended to replicate what my seniors did, I probably wouldn't have chosen this project."
Regarding his chemistry with Cha Joo-young, who played Queen Wongyeong, he said, "Since there are no records, I think Cha Joo-young felt more anxious and pressured than I did. We studied a lot together and communicated a lot. When we got to the set, the script was often changed, and we had to constantly fill in the gaps. We had many discussions, and since we had a lot of scenes together, we relied on each other a lot."
'Wongyeong' is a historical drama based on facts, so it was not free from issues of historical distortion. The 'Wongyeong' team explained through the logline, "We have newly created and interpreted the narrative of this couple, known as political partners, from Wongyeong's perspective," but ultimately faced criticism for historical distortion.
In response, Lee Hyun-wook shared, "We did our research, but I felt that it would be hard to satisfy all viewers, and when I spoke with historians, I realized that even historical records can be seen differently depending on the perspective, so I worried that there would definitely be uncomfortable viewers."
'Wongyeong' also faced controversy over its 19+ direction and allegations of forced nudity. Regarding the level of nudity, the actor's agency reportedly requested careful editing of the scenes before airing, but it was claimed that it was not accepted because they were deemed necessary. It was also reported that scenes filmed by a fully nude body double were re-edited with CGI, leading to criticism that it reduced the female body to mere spectacle.
Regarding the bed scene, Lee Hyun-wook said, "Personally, I was surprised. I am someone who avoids nudity. Since it involves a real person, there are parts that could be seen as disrespectful to the deceased, so there isn't much I can say. I saw Cha Joo-young's interview, and it was similar. It’s regrettable that there wasn't enough communication between the actors and the production team. It’s true that I was shocked when I watched the broadcast. I cried a lot. It was painful. There were times I doubted my acting. Inside, I was dancing the 'Killing Bang-won' sword dance. It felt like I wouldn't be able to recover. I’m glad I can wrap up 'Wongyeong' through this interview; otherwise, I think that feeling would have lingered."
Lee Hyun-wook debuted in the 2010 film 'Thorny Heart' and gained recognition for his role as Yoo Gi-hyuk in the 2019 OCN original webtoon drama 'Hell Is Other People.'
Now a 16-year veteran actor, he continues to work actively this year. Lee Hyun-wook is set to appear in the upcoming Tving series 'Shark: The Storm' as Hyun Woo-yong, a boss who rises as a new force in the underworld with immense power and is a 'master of fighting.'
Finally, Lee Hyun-wook said, "I’m looking at my next project, but nothing has been decided yet. While doing 'Wongyeong,' I was more sincere than in any other work. I have a lot of regrets and worries. I think it will stay in my memory for a long time. It feels like a turning point for me, so I want to send it off well."
[Shin Young-eun, Star Today Reporter]
