20 magical things Lee Joon-gi has said
2022.02.02 article from Cinem@rt
part 1 – https://www.cinemart.co.jp/article/news/20220201005380.html
part 2 – https://www.cinemart.co.jp/article/news/20220202005381.html
1. Things he values most when being on set.
“The first thing I do after deciding on my next project is to go talk to the staff and my co-stars and have drinks with them. Because that’s how we get to understand our characters and have some conversations.
Of course, I read the script and do research to understand my character, but I believe nothing is more important than connecting with the people I work with for months to come. These are the people who will support me on set, and I can also learn something from them.
On set, sometimes I run around acting like a fool and talk to the staff a lot. When I first get a script, I try to make time to remember the names of my co-stars and staff before I start working on memorizing my lines.”
(from JG’s 2009 interview for <Iljimae>)
2. On getting along with his co-stars.
“Some actors distance themselves from their co-stars on purpose when they play characters hostile to each other in a drama, but I am not like that. I try to make friends with my co-stars so we can feel comfortable with one another. Then I can even get to hit them harder or throw them around [when filming action scenes] (laughs).
It’s better if we feel comfortable in each other’s company. Then we can decide on the order in which we shoot action scenes, and we can cheer each other up when we are exhausted. We actually get better results for action scenes if we make things go well that way.
Anyway, acting is only acting, not real life. In real life, we are colleagues who rely on one another and motivate one another.”
(from JG’s 2009 interview for <Iljimae>)
3. Criteria for choosing a project.
“I choose a project based on how useful I can be to contribute to that project. What matters is whether or not this project really needs the strengths that I have.
I do not particularly find a project more entertaining simply because it is a historical drama set in a certain period. I take time to think hard about things like: whether or not I am an actor that can really be of help to this project; whether or not the character I’m portraying will make this project more fun and improve its quality.
There are areas I am not good at, such as portraying rough and tough characters. If I approach a project thinking that I might as well give it a try because it is a historical drama, even though that’s the area I am not good at, then I will end up failing to be thoroughly part of the project.”
(from JG’s 2014 interview for <Gunman in Joseon>)
4. On doing historical dramas.
“When you work on a historical drama, both being faithful to the facts and taking risks are important. If you fail to get the basic facts correct, you will not be able to realistically portray the era or the people who lived in that era. This is why it is essential to work with the director to read, discuss, and cross-check all the sources related to the events or the way things were at that time. However, if we only focus on depicting the world completely realistically, it could be just as boring and suffocating.
So while staying true to the facts, we also discuss thoroughly how to tap into our imagination and make it dramatically entertaining, full of tension, and moving at the same time. If we go overboard, we could risk making viewers uncomfortable, so we always do a lot of thinking in the creative process.”
(from JG’s 2014 interview for <Gunman in Joseon>)
5. Differences between historical and contemporary dramas.
“When I return to a set for a contemporary drama following a historical drama, the biggest difference I notice is in the volume of my voice and the way I talk. Basically, when I do a historical drama, I speak louder, more clearly, and more deliberately and slowly. So if I perform in a historical drama for a long time, that particular way of talking becomes a sort of habit. But I live in modern times after all, so it [my natural way of talking] comes back quickly as I continue to act [in a contemporary drama] (laughs).
Since I wear hanbok when performing action (fight) scenes in a historical drama, it makes the way my body moves look beautiful and my movements look bigger. Filming action scenes in a contemporary drama, on the other hand, has its own charm that’s different from historical dramas despite several restrictions because I get to bring my opponents under control in a faster pace, which makes the scene look more dynamic.”
(from JG’s 2017 interview for <Criminal Minds>)
6. On developing his character.
“I think it’s the same for every actor, but I create my character by imagining how he grew up and the environment in which he grew up and doing an in-depth analysis on how he’s become the character he is now. Sometimes I feel sorry for my own character when portraying it.
Take Hyun-joon in <Criminal Minds> for instance: he struggles to get over his past wounds, doesn’t take care of himself but keeps pushing himself into a corner. I felt so sorry for him that I wanted to give him a hug.”
(from JG’s 2018 interview for <Criminal Minds>)
7. On being pure and innocent.
“I think that, at the basis of every character I play, there is always an underlying element of ‘innocence’ that every human being has. Even when I get older, I still get to stay young and have a rich imagination because I have never lost that refreshed mindset of mine.
When you become a grownup and start gaining more experience, you could end up with a half-baked sort of wisdom and learn shortcuts on set doing things half-heartedly. But if I only thought of a set as a mere workplace, I would be an actor that only gives a dull interpretation of his character and it won’t be as fun.
If I think up some facial expressions that no one else imagined I could do, and if I perform in a way that makes them look attractive, then I can be an actor that surprises viewers. I believe that sort of thing will eventually make people have faith in me as an actor. I always want to become that kind of actor, so I do not want to lose this “innocence” I have right now.”
(from JG’s 2015 interview for <Scholar Who Walks the Night>)
8. On feeling lonely and alone.
“Doing acting for a living means that you get to be loved by many people, but it also comes with loneliness, so I also get such feelings of loneliness inside of me. Wang So is a prince but he still feels empty inside and even feels hopeless as if he was thrown into the palace and left all alone there. I think because I could feel what he’s feeling, I was able to immerse myself into this role [Wang So].”
(from JG’s 2017 interview for <Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo>)
9. Thoughts he has as an actor; his position as a star
“I tend to be more on the careful side. I think about all the negatives in advance and prepare myself for them. For instance, every time I choose a project, I tend to think it’s probably about time I failed. I am an actor in the first place, but I also have to think about my position as a star, so perhaps that’s why I am more sensitive to things like this.
Stars are people who get all the spotlight and love from so many people, but they are also subject to criticism, so they could get thrown off balance. This is why I try my best not to pay too much attention to all that. Even if I don’t get the spotlight at the time, I hope at least the projects I’ve worked on will be loved for a long time and will live in your memory for long.”
(from JG’s 2009 interview for <Iljimae>)
10. What motivates him as an actor.
“If I could say this without fearing that I might be misunderstood, my life in the military had absolutely no impact on me as an actor at all. Rather, those new things that motivate me every time I work on a project are a big influence on me. On each project I work on, a challenge for me is how I should portray the character that’s given to me, and that challenge is, in and of itself, what motivates me.”
(from his 2014 press conference at 除隊後初来日)
11. Anxiety and conflict.
“Actually, I am a complicated person (laughs). Just as I always do when choosing a project, the higher the expectation that I have to show some [different] side of me, the more I feel like this weight of anxiety is bearing down on me. For historical dramas, in particular, I am proud of the fact that I am more experienced than other actors, but I also get so scared and anxious that the public might be disappointed in me because I am not as good as I used to be.
But once I make up my mind about doing a project, then all I can think about in my head is, “I will definitely make this a great project!” so I am back to square one. In that sense, I am rather a simple person (laughs).”
(from JG’s 2017 interview for <Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo>)
“I guess I come across as determined because, once I’ve made my decision, I tend to get aggressive and push ahead with it. Honestly, though, I tend to take a lot of time to make a choice. No matter what project I have to choose. After a lot of thinking, I always tell myself repeatedly, ‘Hey, Lee Joon-gi! You have to be bold when you need to be!” I’m your so-called “blood type B” guy who’s supposedly headstrong and getting his own way, but I am actually more serious and careful than that.”
(from JG’s 2014 interview for <Gunman in Joseon>)
13. What animal would he compare himself to?
“If I’m going to compare myself to an animal, it’d definitely be a cat. Cats have a soft body, great motor skills, and I think I actually look like one. I love cats for being so clever.”
(from JG’s 2009 interview for <Iljimae>)
“My childhood treasure was my computer! I used to make great fun out of constantly upgrading my computer (laughs). Back then, I dreamed of becoming a computer programmer. I love cars, too. Be it cars or whatever, I love things that perform well.”
(from JG’s 2009 interview for <Iljimae>)
15. On loving new things.
“I like to be the first to try new electronics and use new terms or phrases that I come across on the internet. Whatever it is, when I see something new, I am very eager to be the first to experience it firsthand. I am also very willing to embrace and learn things that are popular among young people and things that interest me.
That’s why, from the moment I wake up in the morning until I go to sleep at night, I am constantly checking the internet (laughs). I even read the negative things written about me. I try to constantly check and keep an eye out on what’s going on in the world.”
(from JG’s 2014 interview for <Gunman in Joseon>)
16. Sister 11 years younger than him.
“Since I’m a guy from Gyeongsang-do [*a province in the southeastern part of Korea] I am pretty laconic. So I am not really the kind of older brother who shows off his gentleness to his younger sister. I am more like the type of brother who quietly keeps an eye on his sister and cherishes her without really saying so. In <Gunman in Joseon>, we are in these painful situations so it looks like my gentleness [Yoon-kang’s] to Yeon-ha pours out naturally. But after watching it, my real-life younger sister told me I looked like a completely different person (laughs).”
(from JG’s 2014 interview for <Gunman in Joseon>)
“I made my screen debut with Japanese movie <Hotel Venus> so the first fans I met were my Japanese fans, and they are the ones who have supported me for the longest time ever. So, to describe my Japanese fans in one word, I’d say they are like guardian angels to me.”
(from JG’s 2014 interview for <Gunman in Joseon>)
(When singing ‘As Long As You Love Me’ by Justin Bieber) There is no reason you can’t ride the wave and vibe along even if you don’t know the song. Let’s do this. Instead of hesitating and wondering when you clap, we are going to work together to clap along. But if we only clap, it will probably be like a classical music concert, so we are going to scream together as well. See? How the mood has just changed!
(from his concert in Japan during his 2018 Asia Tour “Delight”)
19. ‘Fans, I have a present for you.’
“The keyword that sums up the life of actor Lee Joon-gi… Up until now, I have said ‘Passion,’ but now I think it is ‘Love.’ I’ve worked constantly and there were moments where it was very hard for me. But whenever that happened, I have always looked for and turned to my fans, and my fans have always thought about me as well. By the time this [Asia] tour came to a close, I fully realized ‘We need each other’ and became addicted to my love for fans(”fan love”).
Your love for me is a great driving force for me, and so I also want to become a big presence in your life that can comfort you. That’s why the biggest present I want to present to you is my ‘work (project).’”
(from his 2019 fan meeting < SPLENDER Family DAY ‘I have a present for you’>)
20. What does “hero” mean to him?
“For instance, I think anyone who can comfort someone else can be a hero. Every time my fans tell me things like, ‘Your work comforted me and brought me healing,’ I realize that I can also be a hero to someone. That’s when I feel more serious about my job as an actor.”
(from JG’s 2014 interview for <Gunman in Joseon>)
