NAMOOACTORS
LEE JOON GI’S
MANAGEMENT
COMPANY
CELEBRATES
21ST
ANNIVERSARY
ON
15 JANUARY 2025
Tuesday, 14 January 2025
NamooActors, Lee Joon Gi's Management Company, Celebrates 21st Anniversary on 15 January 2025
Wednesday, 8 January 2025
Unravelling The Fascinating Tapestry of The Life of The Revered Actor Lee Joon Gi
UNRAVELLING
THE
FASCINATING
TAPESTRY
OF
THE LIFE
OF
THE REVERED
ACTOR
LEE JOON
GI
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 Some actors are easier to love and admire than others. Lee Joon Gi, an actor with talent, humour and heart, is one of those who are greatly revered for their amazing, attractive personalities and impressive achievements. The Star November 2024 Bali Photobook takes a look at the life and thoughts of the multihyphenate actor-martial artist-singer-dancer-model. In their interview with Lee, readers are able to glean invaluable and exciting insights
into the lesser known details of revered actor's life. Lee, who is at the top of his game, has starred in many films and television masterpieces with timeless relevance. He has left an
indelible mark on the film and television industry since his 2005 blockbuster movie, The
King and The Clown and has earned a permanent place in the hearts of the global audience.   https://www.tiktok.com/@aung_jg/video/7374796573517171973  
The first question is, Was the May 2024 trip his first
trip to Bali? It was not. It seems that he did not experience the environment
and the culture the first-time round. That second trip gave him more time. He
promised to bring his family on his next visit. When was his first time in Bali? Fans know that he went to Indonesia in 2009 for the tvN Love programme. Did he go to Bali then?   
People experience changes in lifestyles as they age. The 42-year-old Lee revealed that he has recently changed in the way he looks at things. Perspectives. Previously, he would go to a place to ‘look-see’ only in an arranged tour but in early 2024, he travelled privately with his younger sister to Japan. He booked the train tickets from Narita Airport and the hotel online. The casual travel was a free-and-easy experience. They walked leisurely along the roads. Flexibility is the keyword. For him, it’s better to reach the holiday destination first before deciding on where to go next.    Fans know about the trip as he had posted about it on Instagram.
    https://www.instagram.com/jg_k_drama/reel/C4iFavor8Oz/?hl=en  Was there a reason for visiting Tokyo Disneyland?
He had already been to Disneyland but he had not been to Tokyo DisneySea. Going there incognito gives a different vibe. Every day, he would search online for interesting places where
young people hang out, like pubs or cafes. Trying new things in a new
environment appeals to him. It seemed that he left everything to chance. Having
no transport was not problematic. Walking, for him, was fine. Smartphones make life easy as checking for information is so convenient. In the future, he would
use this free-and-easy method of travelling from time to time.
Lee favours the self-exploratory-active tourist method of
travelling. It’s a milestone for him.
   It seems that Lee had a sudden urge to travel. He was beset by
the pressure to choose his television or film projects. The choice of TV scripts weighed heavily on him. What he needed was to take his mind off his stressful situation and give
himself a complete relaxation time. After some discussion with his sister, they
decided to go to Japan. The trip was well worth it. It can be said that he reaped many benefits from his trip as he was
refreshed and derived healing with his changed feelings, new environment and
changed scenery. He returned with new ideas. He promised himself that he would
go on private travels to other countries as this experience has given him the self-confidence
to do it.  The trip to Japan was a self-realization adventure trip. Lee kept things under wraps until his holiday was over. He
recharged and he did so in familiar territory. Is Japan Lee’s comfort zone? Many
of his overseas holiday trips had mostly leaned towards Japan, probably his
favourite tourist destination. The short travel distance is a plus factor. True or not, but according to fan reports, he went to watch the dolphins in Japan quite
a number of times.
What has Lee been up to recently? At the moment he has been busy making his final decision on his choice of production. What he is referring to is probably, TV drama production rather than film production. He has mulled over what he has to do and has ruminated on how to deliver a (great) performance that would resonate with and please his fans and audience. And, he was also in the midst of preparing a Japanese song for his Japanese fans and was busy memorising the lyrics. It seems all wheels are working and turning, and the next thing we know is the announcement of his next project. Fans know how serious Lee is about bringing his characters to life. He taps into his deep emotions. With his efforts, he would surely bring another dose of happiness, pleasure and healing to his fans.
 
Does he have any special technique of memorizing the lyrics?
His approach is not very different from someone who is singing a
new song, including a foreign song, for the first time. Listening carefully to the whole
song and the lyrics. Copying the lyrics down. Listening and singing along to the song repeatedly.
Diligence in memorizing is the keyword. Lee held his Yokohama concert in the middle of last year, on 14 June 2024.
   An interesting but probing question he fielded was whether he has any novel way of meeting or connecting with fans while he was still young. It seems like a deceptively innocent question. One can interpret it as whether he has thought of creative ways to engage with his fandom? Creating personal bonds between entertainer and audience is important.  Lee’s answer was unconventional and delightfully surprising. In
his future interactions with fans, he would be happy to meet older or senior
fans and chit-chat with them. He knows that fan engagement before, during and after a concert, is important. One would suggest that he offers ‘Backstage Passes’ during his FM or Fan Concerts to his fans, young and old, so that he can communicate or connect with them. Play some ‘games’ or ‘challenge them to display their various
skills’. The winners get a hug from him. Back or Front hug?   What are his preparations for his fan meetings? He spends nearly a month practising his dances. A favourable effect
is weight loss. One suspects there is more to this than meets the eye. Lee
doesn’t talk at length about his arduous, painstaking preparations including
his singing practices, stage games, interactions with fans, etcetera.        Lee also elaborates on his Japanese fan meets or fan concerts. He
listens to a number of Japanese songs and contemplates the types of songs that
appeal to him. He sings and practises regularly. If he doesn’t understand the
words, he checks with the dictionary.     The interviewer mentions Lee’s influence on her as a fan. She
has begun listening to K-pop songs. What songs does he listen to? Lee entertains himself with good songs. Recently, he has been listening
to South Korean boy groups, Stray Kids and Seventeen or watching their performances.
He also enjoys listening to BTS' songs. STRAY KIDS  SEVENTEEN  BTS  He humbly states that if he were to perform a cover song on stage, it might be quite a challenge. Fans disagree because in his concerts, he enchanted them with a cover song.
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BOynqFNgXjs
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=toOIywofxNs&ab_channel=96504  What is his secret of dancing well?
One must have a love and passion for dancing. Even when he
goes to the dance studio, he would be pumped and very excited. He takes the
time to chat with his team of dancers.           Does he warm up before dancing? If he does vigorous dancing, he warms up first. But, if it is not
strenuous, he would jump up and down or do squats. He sweats.
 https://www.instagram.com/chanya__jg/reel/DAfeeshJYq5/?hl=en
If family members accompany him on a trip, would he still choose to visit Hawaii? He would despite the fact that he had been there before.      Asked another direct question – whether he would still go on a
trip to Hawaii, with or without his family, it is quite surprising that he
still chooses to do so.  The interview questions address his attachment to Hawaii. Hawaii is part of the United States of America. It is where he
received The Rising Star Award at the 27th Hawaii International Film
Festival (HIFF) in 2007. According to a press release by HIFF with reference to
The King and The Clown, The Rising Star Award is 'a portent honor' forecasting that 'the star's future work will form a composition of great merit and substantial significance, elevating the
medium of film with the artist’s outstanding contribution to global cinema’.   https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2024/12/719_9563.html      
Lee was asked a question that got him pondering on his future
trips. Even without time constraints, he was not able to point out the country he
would like to visit next. Lee mentioned having been to South Africa which he
described as possessing naturally beautiful and impressive scenery. His only complaint
is that it is too far away.
It is clear that distance and travel time are key parameters in his travel choices. He has to be reminded that when he was younger, he proclaimed that Antarctica was his ultimate destination.
  
The actor certainly knows how to prepare for an overseas trip. Since walking is compulsory, a pair of running shoes is necessary. He needs a watch and a handphone with GPS features.
Boy, was he ready for the next question, ‘What does he
enjoy in Tokyo DisneySea?’
He tried everything; he had fun from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Actually,
he wanted to see the last show but unfortunately, he had to return to his hotel.
      What memories did he create when he went to Tokyo with his
sister? He divulged that he had been to Tokyo a number of times for work but he did not really venture very far from his performing venue and hotel. This time, he was happy that he had the freedom to go sight-seeing and the opportunity to observe the Japanese lifestyle at close quarters.     In every production, the audience
sees a different Lee Joon Gi. He immerses himself seamlessly into every drama.
His next role will be intriguing; it leaves much to the imagination. High
expectations are pinned on him. The interviewer’s curiosity is
aroused by the idea of Lee being the producer of a TV drama. When he was 30 years-old, he thought he could produce his own television
series. Lee had always felt that he would make a good director. At one juncture
in his life, he wanted to try it because he felt that he had the chance to
produce one but on seeing the workload, he realised that it was not an easy
task. None could predict the success of any production. The stark realization
about the challenges involved in TV production prevented him from switching to
production. He is convinced he would remain as an actor for life. FOOD FOR THOUGHT Lee could produce meaningful 15-minute dramas, which are beginning to get popular on Netflix.
What are the criteria for your choice of TV production? His answer shows his unwavering pursuit of excellence as he reviews scripts for quality and meaning. For him, the first criterion is that the story has to be interesting. The actor wants to enjoy playing the role. Last but not least, the story should be meaningful and positively affect the
audience. Fans believe that he would deliver an electrifying performance in
his next project; he would be effortlessly captivating in it.  Does he have instinctive feelings about the scripts that he reads? In his 20’s, it was easier to choose. He had a gut reaction with
his choices. His strong sentiments were proven correct with Iljimae and Time
Between Dog and Wolf. Another excellent choice was his 2016 Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo. It seems harder to rely solely on instincts or hunches after his 30s.
Now, while he discusses with his management company to make choices, he also
gives careful consideration to the opinions of others.                 What type of production does Lee want to try? There are limitless possibilities. There are lots of roles he has
not tried and he is open to new experiences. He believes that there will now be
a huge difference when one sees the new image of Lee Joon Gi. Lee will not allow
himself to be pigeonholed into certain roles; he wants to show different sides
of himself. He wants to embrace diversity and be involved in vastly different productions. 
He is asked to describe the roles he wants to portray.
Romance. Lee wants to act in a romance story in which he hopes impress his audience with his understanding of the character and the essence of the drama, and a more impressive level of acting performance. He wants the romantic male character to be able to bring healing to the audience.
Besides that, he wants to try anti-hero roles or play antagonistic (ambiguous) characters that give him the opportunity to express many nuances that show the complexity of the character. At the moment, the audience's perception of him as a sharp, fine and righteous hero in his dramas is ingrained in their minds but it is time for them to revise that image of him.
 Another very interesting question is, ‘Which TV character that
you have played mostly resembles yourself?’   Lee thinks Baek Hee Sung, his Flower of Evil character, bears
a resemblance to him. The other TV character, Iljimae, is also similar to his
character.   The fans, for the life of them, probably fail to understand what he has in common with his Flower of Evil character but they can easily envisage the resemblance between Lee Joon Gi, the real-life hero, and the heroic Iljimae. 
If he were to act as a real character (biographical) in a show,
who would he choose? He has not thought deeply about this question. But previously, he thought
that Yeonsangun, the tyrannical 10th Korean monarch of the
Joseon Dynasty would be an interesting character to play. He thinks it would be haughty of him to think
that he can perform the role well but when the time is ripe, he hopes to deliver a
powerful performance as a formidable character.   Can Lee interpret a character no matter how difficult it is to do
so? 'I quickly immerse myself in the filming and think of the
historical moment. Getting into character quickly and maintaining that level of
immersion is important in sculpting a character. I would collaborate with
the other actors to make the character realistic and authentic.' Once filming starts, Lee gets into the mood of things, feels a peace of mind and deeply engages himself in the filming at the filming site for 6-8 months. Whenever there is a mental block and he could not think it through at home, he knows that it would eventually be solved at the filming site. Filming rehearsals are like jigsaw puzzles - the mind and body are wholly involved to fill in the gaps. Very few actors just ‘snap into character’. The few that do, like Lee, are a rare and wonderful enigma.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CY9-l2SJ_10
 It is said that there are a lot of
Korean actors involved in Japanese productions. Being involved in such
production is appealing to Lee and he also likes collaborations between Korea
and Japan.
In fact, he has been involved in
Korean-Japanese productions before.    At the moment, which character that you have played is most unlike you?    Wang So, the Fourth Prince, in SBS’ Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart
Ryeo, is a difficult character to portray. He is lonely, his heart is full of
pain but he meets a young lady who comforts him. At the beginning, in the discussions with the director, Lee discloses that he did
not really understand the character but later on, he was determined to improve
what was lacking. 'If one day I did not act for a long period of time, I hope fans
will understand that I need time and space to prepare for the next production.' Lee hasn't performed in any dramas in at least a year and fans are restless and anxious. He did not have any projects in 2019, 2021 and 2024.
   
 ‘Which one of your TV shows, do you think, needs a sequel?’ Time Between Dog and Wolf. But, probably, they (the producers and
production staff) did not think of filming a sequel.        The other one is Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo. China had produced a sequel. It will be excellent if a Korean sequel is also produced. I like time-travel love stories - heartwarming stories about fate that touch
people’s hearts. If I can portray this character poignantly (in a sequel) and melt the hearts
of the audience, it would a wonderful thing. Expectations are sky-high and fans are excited about this. The question is, 'When will it materialize?'       
Memorizing the script is not easy. Would he use the Doraemon Memory
Bank gadget if it exists? Yes. Memorizing a script is challenging. If there is such a
memory gadget, it would be a relief.   If you have a superpower, which power do you want? It would be nice to freely travel anywhere including travelling through time
and space. I want to experience and understand the lives of people in the 70s
and 80s.   If the character you play possesses this special space ability, what type
of character and story would you choose? An avenging angel or a righteous hero who uses his superpowers to
defeat society’s evil or villainous people.  If you have two wings, where do you want to go? I have a fear of heights, so I will not fly very high. If I can
fly all over the world, I will go round the earth just once.  When you filmed The Sword of Aramun, how did you get close to the
horse? Horses, from the very beginning, have been my friends. I try my
best to communicate and coordinate with them. Lee, a hippophile and horse whisperer, has a special affinity with horses.                
If you are faced with two choices (TV series), one which you like
and the other which your fans want you to choose, which one would you decide on?
I would opt for the choice of my fans.
       In all the shows you have starred in, which ending do you like best? Time Between Dog and The Wolf. Even now when I look at it, I still love the television series. I would like to film it again and re-edit the ending.      Which character that you've played is fulfilling? He considers every show that he has completed to be satisfying and rewarding. Nowadays, actors are given time for rehearsals at the filming
sites. Prior to that, there were no such luxuries as the filming hours
were punitive and the cast were forced to film continuously the whole day. He remembers
filming the whole night in his younger days but filming conditions have since improved. He prides
himself on having stoically withstood the demanding filming schedules. The advantage is those years trained him and developed his strong
work ethic. Who he is today is the result of the past.      As an actor, which Shakespearean character does he want to play?  His answer is obvious. Hamlet, whether on the stage or in a film. When he was at the university, he had always pondered on how to interpret Shakespeare’s tragic play.
He
had previously admitted that while he was in high school, he was drawn to
acting after watching Hamlet.   Which is more impressive: Filming in Korea or Filming overseas? Filming for THE STAR magazine in various foreign places, in Lee's words, is ‘no joke’, which is interpreted to mean awesome or pure, unadulterated joy. Lee had amazing
travel experiences overseas with his annual projects with The Star Magazine.     When you pose for photographs, what is on your mind? I would like to have some rollicking fun and play jokes but my
professional ethics dictate that I must be immersed in the photo-shoot or
filming.       Which TV series that you have watched has never bored you? He has watched the film, Memories of Murder, which was directed
by the renowned Korean director Bong Joon Ho and starred the inspiring Song Kang Ho,
more than 30 times. At one point in time, he watched it nearly every day. He
was amazed at the sterling acting performance and he has benefitted from
watching a film of such high calibre.   
Lee has proclaimed that he wanted to play anti-heroes or
antagonistic characters. Up till now, his film resume consists of righteous
heroes or pitiful characters but now he wants to make a quantum leap to play starkly
different roles like leading antagonist or bad guy roles.
He wants to amaze the audience with this radical transformation.
Fans know that the versatile Lee can seamlessly transition from one role to another one and they are certain that his future main antagonist character role will be unforgettable and he will definitely be the driving force in his filming projects.
When Lee was asked who he would like to collaborate with, he divulges that he would like to work together with the many
talented seniors in the film industry like, Song Kang Ho and Choi Min Sik. He
hopes to be ‘an exciting newcomer’ to entertain the seniors.  
‘I feel you can freely control minor facial muscles to express nuances.
Is it natural or do you consciously control them?’
Basically, he reads the script and muses over the nuances of
acting. He would feel, think, rehearse and get into the character. When the
camera starts rolling, his muscles would move naturally. He didn’t know that
such facial changes would evolve so naturally. When he looks at the screen, he is
shocked by the subtle changes.
 
When filming, how do you control your emotions and get out of
the character after filming?’
By focusing on being in the present moment, he thinks he could interpret and get into the character naturally. He tries to capture the key elements of the role. After each filming project in the future, he hopes to be able to get out of the character quickly.
Other than filming TV series, has he ever thought of getting into different projects? He would like to be involved in variety shows or documentaries in the
future.
 He keeps an open mind about joining a variety show in the future.
Lee was asked about his participation on You Quiz On The Block, a variety show.
He had a guest appearance on the variety show, and Yoo Jae Suk, the host, made him perform something interesting. Such programmes make people realize and appreciate the beauty of variety shows.
Lee Joon Gi appeared in Episode 209 of tvN's variety show on 30 August
2023.
  https://www.tiktok.com/@luvje8/video/7316138918557043974
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