Lee Jae-wook Reveals Challenges Filming ‘Dear Hongrang’
Lee Jae-wook opened up about his grueling experience filming the historical drama ‘Dear Hongrang’, admitting he initially turned down the role.
“I initially declined the script for ‘Dear Hongrang’,” he confessed. “After the long shoot for ‘Alchemy of Souls’, I didn’t want to return to a historical set so soon. But then the writer sent me a heartfelt 5-6 page letter… Her words moved me deeply.”
Filming was no walk in the park. Lee described the physical toll of wearing hanbok, dealing with extreme weather, and traveling for hours to remote set locations.
“Filming historical dramas is physically taxing… After ‘Alchemy of Souls’, I subconsciously didn’t want to wear hanbok again.”
Lee portrays Hongrang, a character shaped by trauma and secrets. He revealed the intense emotional struggle in taking on such a complex role.
“I wanted to portray Hongrang’s suffering as truthfully as I could,” he stated. However, he felt overwhelmed by the character’s pain.
He conducted nearly all his own action scenes, achieving a striking transformation for the role. He dropped his body fat to just 5%.
“I did over 90% of the action myself… Seeing the crew work so hard kept me focused. I trained weekly and adjusted my body composition.”
The chemistry between Lee and co-star Jo Bo-ah shines throughout the series, adding depth to their complicated sibling bond.
“Bo-ah helped me stay focused on set,” Lee shared.
Known for hits like ‘Search: WWW’ and ‘Extraordinary You’, Lee Jae-wook’s performance in ‘Dear Hongrang’ is set to captivate audiences this season, blending mystery and romance in ways that promise to leave an impact.
Stay tuned for more updates on Lee Jae-wook and his latest projects!
