Language, Secrets and Synergy: Lee Joon Gi Opens Up On The Pan-Asian Thriller, Kidnap Game

LANGUAGE

SECRETS

AND

SYNERGY

 

LEE JOON GI

 

OPENS UP 

ON

 

THE

PAN-ASIAN

THRILLER

 

KIDNAP GAME 

In a series of candid, refreshingly honest interviews with Fuji TV, Beyond Memory (Taiwan), and The Star, global superstar Lee Joon Gi pulls back the curtain on his latest venture: the high-stakes Pan-Asian thriller Kidnap Game.   From mastering foreign languages on the fly to sharing the screen with Asia's top talent, Lee Joon Gi opens up about the thrill, the pressure, and the personal breakthroughs that defined this massive international collaboration.   FUJI TV   DIRECTOR’S INSIGHT WHY LEE JOON GI?        But first, we need to know the revelation made by the producer and director, Yusuke Kato, in his interview with Fuji Television. Lee Joon Gi was their absolute dream choice for the role of Ki Joo. ‘When casting for this project, we started by looking at works from various cities to find actors who fit the image we had in mind.’         VERSATILITY Director Kato Yuji praised Lee Joon Gi’s intense dramatic performances in Flower of Evil and Again My Life.      ACTION AND  GLOBAL APPEAL He also highlighted Lee Joon Gi's Hollywood action prowess in Resident Evil: The Final Chapter.         MULTILINGUAL TALENT   Fluency in both English and Japanese made Lee Joon Gi a standout choice. 'We simply couldn't imagine anyone else in the role of Dr. Han Ki Joo,' Kato Yuji noted.     FUJI TV THE ART OF THE GAME AND A DYNAMIC PARTNERSHIP       When the offer for Kidnap Game first landed, the scale of the production immediately caught Lee Joon Gi’s imagination.       ‘This time, in addition to Japan and Korea, several cities in Asia are participating, and I am very happy to be involved in such an international drama after a long time. I previously appeared in a Fuji TV production called 'Hotel Venus,' so I am grateful to have been given this opportunity again. When I first received the offer, I imagined the diverse locations, the actors, and the story of facing various situations in each place, and I found it very interesting.’ EMBODYING ‘KI JOO’   In Kidnap Game, Lee Joon Gi portrays Ki Joo, a genius surgeon who finds himself swept into a dangerous high-stakes game.     MINDSET OVER PROFESSION     Rather than focusing solely on his character’s medical background, Lee Joon Gi grounded his performance in emotion. ‘Although I play a genius surgeon, the character is portrayed more as a participant in the game than as a doctor, so I focused on fully embodying the role of a father with a daughter.’     THE EMOTIONAL CORE 'While Sakaguchi Kentaro’s character, Detective Shinde, is passionate and fiery, Ki Joo is calmer – perhaps even a bit cold,' he explained.   ‘At his core, though, Han Ki Joo is a father who deeply cherishes his daughter. I wanted to convey that quiet depth through subtle emotional beats.’       ON WORKING WITH SAKAGUCHI KENTARO   Lee expressed profound respect for his Japanese co-star.     ‘I’ve watched Kentaro’s work for a long time and always wanted to collaborate with him. Seeing his intense passion on set every single day was inspiring. Even with my years of acting experience, I learned so much from him.’    IMMERSION, ANIME, AND ICONIC DREAMS     Speaking with Beyond Memory, Lee Joon Gi reflected on how filming with a predominantly Japanese crew pushed his language skills to new heights.     THE ULTIMATE JAPANESE IMMERSION   Because filming took place in a foreign production environment, Lee Joon Gi had no choice but to throw himself into the language completely.       NATURAL GROWTH   ‘Most of the crew was Japanese, and the script was in Japanese. Being immersed every day made it impossible for my Japanese not to improve,’ he laughed. ‘I can now converse naturally with Japanese friends. Learning Japanese again has been my greatest personal achievement on this project.’       THE SECRET BEHIND HIS ACCENT?         Lee confessed that his lifelong love for anime played a major role in helping him pick up natural phrasing and rhythm!     REDISCOVERING THE CRAFT         Working under the Japanese production system – built on deep examination and seamless collaboration – gave Lee Joon Gi a fresh perspective on his craft.   ‘We formed such a close bond that no one wanted to say goodbye when filming wrapped,’ he reflected. ‘To finish a project in such a positive, unified atmosphere was the ultimate gift. It was the absolute best way to start 2026.’     A DREAM CO-STAR         When asked which Japanese actor he would love to collaborate with next, Lee Joon Gi didn’t hesitate: Takuya Kimura. ‘He has approached his career with incredible seriousness, never stopping. He transcends eras and remains a true icon. I have endless respect for him.’     TRAVEL GROWTH AND WHAT DEFINES 'LEE JOON GI'           For The Star, the actor dove into the psychological demands of filming across multiple international locations while keeping the project strictly top-secret.         SECRET TRAVEL   Navigating multiple countries under secrecy added immense pressure during his creative process.       THE TRAVELER’S PERSPECTIVE   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hAMuDbdHVlw     To cope, Lee adopted the mindset of a traveller. During downtime, he wandered local streets, observing everyday life.   CREATIVE FUEL  AND  FINDING HEALING IN THE PROCESS           ‘Storing those everyday sights and feelings in my heart gave me so much creative fuel - and healing. It made me realize that I’m in a great position as an actor to take on diverse global challenges.’     WHAT DEFINES LEE JOON GI TODAY?         When asked how he defines himself at this point in his journey, Lee Joon Gi offered a grounded, introspective reflection.   ‘The way I am right now, in this exact moment. The present me carries the real issues I need to solve, and it’s the present me building the foundation for the future. That’s why I do my absolute best to live fully and make every single day count.’