From Grim Reaper To Gumiho: Lee Dong-Wook Is Set To Star In Another Fantasy Series
We stan a versatile oppa. *finger heart*
There’s nothing that Korean superstar Lee Dong-wook can’t and won’t do. Throughout his successful 20 years (and counting!) experience in the entertainment industry, he still manages to pull off surprises for his fans.
Whether you’re still nursing a major Goblin hangover (we'll always remember him as this handsome grim reaper) or you’ve managed to pull yourself together after watching his recent psychological thriller drama on Netflix, Strangers from Hell, we have some good news that will make you swoon.
For his upcoming project, Lee Dong-wook is set to star as male gumiho, a mythological nine-tailed fox. If this doesn’t get you at the edge of your seat, we’re telling you that it’s the first time ever for a Korean drama to use a male gumiho as a lead character. Beat that!
“Its genre is urban fantasy melodrama,” shared the foxy (pun intended!) 38-year-old actor during his recent interview with W Korea. “I’ve heard that this is the first time there’s been a main storyline about a male gumiho. It’s unique. The director and writer are aiming to put a twist to conventional ideas, and that’s exciting too.”
Tale of Gumiho revolves around the life of Yi Yeon (played by Lee Dong-wook) who once ruled as a living god of the Baekbudaegen Mountain Range, but now works as a public official between the world of the living and the underworld. His task is to clean up the mess left by those who passed on while maintaining his disguise. While he has it all–gorgeous looks, intelligence, and great athletic abilities–his personality and violent nature gets in the way.
Jumping from one character to another is not new to Lee Dong-wook. We’ve seen the range of his acting skills–as a chaebol (My Girl), emergency doctor (Life), lawyer (Touch Your Heart), and most recently a wicked dentist (Strangers from Hell). His versatility is second to none. Trust us when we say we’re beyond ecstatic for this one!
Tale of Gumiho is scheduled to premiere in early September on tvN. It will also star Jo Bo-ah (Forest and Temperature of Love). It is directed by Kang Shin-hyo and written by Han Woo-ri.
Check out the gallery below to see more of his photos in W Korea, and read quotes from his interview with the publication as well:
Lee Dong-Wook on "W Korea"
Lee Dong-Wook on "W Korea"
On the phenomenal success of "Guardian: The Lonely and Great God" ("Goblin") where he portrayed the role of a grim reaper: “At the time, honestly, I wasn’t able to really feel how popular ‘Goblin’ was... While the show was on, I was just so busy filming. It wasn’t just me that was like that, many other actors would have been the same way.”
On what he realized after filming "Goblin" and the after effect of the show on his career: “That’s when I thought, ‘It seems like I’m going to be busy now’ and ‘Things are going well because the drama was a success.’ However, on one hand I was cautious about not getting intoxicated by the happiness. I still say to other people and to Gong Yoo, ‘Goblin’ is Gong Yoo’s drama and writer Kim Eun Sook’s drama.’ It’s important to create a good atmosphere, but I’ve never thought something like, ‘This result is my own.'”
On his mindset as an actor: “In terms of narcissism, I also agree that it’s required for this job. Since we’re in a situation where we’re always being selected or evaluated, it would be hard to endure if you didn’t think to yourself, ‘I’m good at this, there’s something that I do better than other people.’ If that becomes excessive then, well, it becomes a personal problem.”
On pleasing the people he works with: “It’s not possible to please everyone in this job. It’s great to just please fifty out of a hundred people, but it’s easy to feel hurt because of the fifty people who hate me or aren’t interested in me. That’s why there’s a need to repeat to yourself, ‘I’m a good person.'”
On thinking of himself as "lacking:" "The words ‘You did well’ are meaningful when someone else says them, and I think that I have to look at myself realistically. That personality trait can be hard sometimes, because there are moments when I need to love myself but I’m purposely careful not to do that. My agency director sometimes tells me not to be so hard on myself, but I say to them, ‘No, I have to fully understand reality. I have to know myself.’ Maybe I’ve been able to come this far thanks to that.”
On the connection between his strict self-evaluation and self-esteem: “They’re connected. That’s why I said it can be hard sometimes. There was a time when I went through a severe slump and didn’t leave my home for two to three months. It was after the end of the JTBC drama ‘Life.' I felt scared too about leaving the house. I felt like people would just point at me when they saw me, and I felt like no one was on my side. I got so deep into that feeling that I was at rock bottom. I didn’t meet up with anyone and I just stayed at home or worked out.”
On healing and the people who helped him heal: "when I was lost in thoughts about what was wrong with me, I was helped a lot by people who encouraged me by telling me I’m a good person. Gong Yoo was one of those people. I once again realized that even when going through a crisis and having a hard time, people are the important thing.”
On what he felt after working on the psychological thriller "Strangers from Hell:" "When the drama was over, I thought that I was okay. However, there were times when I was drinking with friends or acquaintances and even if all I did was look at them once, they’d say, ‘Why are you looking at me like that?’ I looked in the mirror one day and I didn’t feel like I was looking at myself, I had a peculiar and unfamiliar feeling instead. So I thought, ‘Ah, I’m not totally okay.'”
On choosing the right projects suitable for his age: “I do wonder how long I can do fantasy works and romantic comedies. In my experience, there are a lot of times when romantic works need the male actor to be cute. When I do something kind of cute while acting and think, ‘When will viewers stop thinking of me as cute?’ that’s when I suddenly feel that I’m getting older. However, I think I can still do a good job at it.”
On his ambitions: “I want to receive more recognition from the public and people in the industry. Whether or not you receive that is directly connected to the concept of ‘success.’ I hope that one day I will feel satisfied with myself. I don’t mean at all that everything I’ve done so far has been no good. I just I want to feel satisfied with myself too and feel more relaxed every day."
Lead photos from SSYM, W Korea , and Unsplash | Gallery photos from W Korea | Source: Soompi
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