CRIMINAL MINDS
PRESS CONFERENCE
19 JULY 2017
A DIFFERENT
PRESENT
LEE JOON GI
THE GIFT  
Nothing draws as much attention as ratings promises and pledges by the cast of new Kdramas at press conferences. Criminal Minds, the most anticipated drama of 2017, has picked up steam with its emotionally-charged teasers and trailers.
After an absence of four years, Lee Joon Gi is making his comeback to contemporary drama. His previous modern drama was Two Weeks which he shot in 2013.
During the press conference for Criminal Minds on 19 July 2017, when Lee Joon Gi was pressed by the interviewer for precise ratings promises, he did not evade the issue.
THE GIFT
FOR
THE AUDIENCE
His Pledge
The passionate and determined actor is definitely hungry for success. He divulged that he has been learning a lot about editing videos and he will be dishing out some goodies if everything goes right.
So, what was his pledge? He promised that if their drama receives a lot of love and the ratings reach 7%, he would put together a video featuring some hilarious ‘Behind The Scenes’ (BTS) happenings involving him and his costars to express their appreciation and gratitude to their supportive audience. It is also his gift to them.
 
BTS
He further added that they might even perfom a group dance. No one doubts the ability of the attractive and talented team to pull it off.
A BONUS GIFT
FOR
HIS FANS
Lee Joon Gi’s most loyal fan-base expect his hard work to pay off, so what about a bonus gift to reward their unwavering support? Would it be too much for them to demand that he does the Lambada? A ten-minute dance would be just sufficient. Don’t raise your eyebrows. As they say, ‘Ask, and you’ll be given’.
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LEE JOON GI
APOLOGIZES
FOR
STARRING IN SO MANY HISTORICAL DRAMAS
 
In the same press conference, Lee Joon Gi also apologized to his fans for being involved in so many historical projects.
There had been strong reaction from his fans who felt that his apology was totally unnecessary. Apologising for all his amazing historical works? Had he not been involved in those dramas, the world audience would have been deprived of fantastic entertainment as he holds a rare distinction of being a multi-hyphenate: actor-martial artist-singer-dancer-model-entertainer.
THE KING AND THE CLOWN
(HISTORICAL FICTION MOVIE)
 
Lee Joon Gi’s only historical movie was such a mind-blowing success that he was overwhelmed when he became an overnight sensation.
MOVIE DIRECTOR
LEE JOON-IK
 
It was reported that the celebrated South Korean movie director, Lee Joon-ik has praised Lee Joon Gi as ‘The Perfect Leading Actor’. The director who has a slew of successful movies to his credit had in 2005 worked with the then 23-year old Lee Joon Gi in the 'The King and The Clown'’. The movie was described as ‘one of the highest grossing Korean movies of all time’. It earned US$74.4 million.
The director credits the success of the movie partly to the actor’s positive attitude and passionate work philosophy. Lee Joon Gi won over ten awards for his remarkable performance as an effeminate clown in the movie.
Source
Awards
Fans share the director’s sentiments. Needless to say, they appreciate Lee’s all-encompassing passion, determination and genuine spirit that is rare in front of the camera. And, Lee Joon Gi always brings a depth and complexity to the characters that he plays: he truly personifies the ideals of a great actor.
ILJIMAE
(HISTORICAL FICTION DRAMA)
 
It goes without saying that all his historical dramas are superb. Once you’ve started watching them, you’ll be hooked. But some undiscerning viewers have snubbed one historical drama but it did not rock Lee Joon Gi's status as ‘The God of Historical Dramas’.
Iljimae was extremely popular and when producers try to replicate its success with another actor, it proved to be a failure.
TWO (2)
OUTSTANDING KOREAN ACTOR AWARDS
SEOUL INTERNATIONAL AWARDS
Two of his historical dramas, ‘Arang And The Magistrate’ (2013) and ‘The Joseon Gunman’ (2015) won him the ‘Outstanding Korean Actor Award’ in the Seoul International Drama Awards.
ARANG AND THE MAGISTRATE
(HISTORICAL FANTASY DRAMA)
The historical fantasy drama, ‘Arang And The Magistrate’, is based on the Korean legend, The Legend of the Virgin Arang’. It is about a mysterious ghost who seeks the help of a handsome magistrate, Kim Eun-oh (Lee Joon Gi), to discover the cause of her death. It features the Jade Emperor and the Grim Reapers.
   
THE JOSEON
(HISTORICAL FICTION DRAMA)
Lee Joon Gi's acting performance in The Joseon Gunman is nothing short of spectacular. There is also an aura around him that is totally and unmistakably masculine. He displays an amazing range of skills and talents: martial arts stunts, horse-riding prowess, gun and sword-wielding skills, and physical agility. That impressive performance is exceeded only by his electrifying performance as the macho Prince Wang So in Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo.
But, his portrayal of the masculine-androgynous vampire in The Scholar Who Walks The Night is really quite stellar. 
THE SCHOLAR WHO WALKS THE NIGHT
(HISTORICAL FANTASY DRAMA)
 
As for the compelling historical fantasy vampire drama, ‘The Scholar Who Walks The Night’, Lee Joon Gi was in top form playing the role of a beautiful and mysterious scholar-vampire in 2015. The drama, which is set in an alternate Joseon kingdom, speaks of the battle of two powerful vampires. Lee Joon Gi plays Kim Sung-yeol who assists the Joseon king in disposing of an evil but powerful vampire through an ingenious means.
But, it is shocking that such an interesting and entertaining drama is considered ‘a flop’ just because of some dubious ratings! Despite that, it was voted the Best Historical drama by DramaFever fans.
Never be influenced by the toxicity of the naysayers. Watch the drama and you’ll be surprised!
   
SCARLET HEART RYEO
(HISTORICAL FICTION DRAMA)
A GLOBAL SUCCESS
 
Lee Joon Gi’s recent historical fiction drama, Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo, has been a dramatic success in the global sphere as it has widespread appeal. It is an adaptation of the Chinese novel, Bu Bu Jing Xin.
The South Korean drama script writer uses a unique and creative way, a solar eclipse, to start and end the amazing story. The solar eclipse, a natural phenomenon, separates the 21st century from the 10th century Goryeon era. Instant Change. Once the modern girl jumps into the river and emerges as a Goryeon girl, the modern era becomes history. The Goryeon world that is depicted in the drama is a historical fiction world, and not a fantasy world. Hae Soo is a fictional character, not a 'fantasy' character. Wang So and the other historical figures existed in Korean history. Modern World versus Goryeon World. Contemporary History versus Goryeon History. But, ah...yes, when the drama ended its run, Wang So had become a romantic fantasy in the minds of many broken-hearted ladies. The poor things have been fantasizing about him since that fateful day when they started watching Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo!
SOUTH KOREA
The drama received the South Korean K-Culture Pride Award, The Grand Prize of Korea Brand Awards, in 2016.
CHINA
It has been reported that MLSHR has exceeded 2.5 billion views in YOUKU, China’s biggest online video channel.
HONG KONG
The drama maintained its top position in Korean drama ranking in Hong Kong LeEco TV in 2016.
SINGAPORE AND MALAYSIA
MLSHR controlled 73% of the Kdrama viewership in Singapore and Malaysia.
TAIWAN
KKTV
BEST ACTOR OF THE YEAR AWARD
It was such an amazing success in Taiwan so much so that he was presented with the Best Actor of the Year 2016 by Taiwan’s KKTV. MLSHR was ranked Number 1 in live video clicks for KKTV, the Taiwan VOD service site.
 
DRAMAFEVER
The drama was broadcast to the American audience through DramaFever and it kept its popularity at Number 1 starting from October 2016.
And, DramaFever presented the cast with two awards, ‘Best Historical Drama’ and ‘Best Ensemble’.
THE ONLY SOUTH KOREAN DRAMA
IN
THE AMERICAN FANDOMETRICS CHARTS
2016
MLSHR is the ONLY South Korean drama so far to have entered the American Fandometrics charts. This truly speaks for itself.
Lee Joon Gi’s performance in MLSHR has been phenomenal. As Wang So cum Emperor Gwangjong, he has brought the audience on an amazing emotional rollercoaster ride from the beginning till the end. Lee’s ability to excavate the viewers’ emotions ensures that Wang So would be forever etched in their memory. The global viewers have been irresistibly drawn to watch and rewatch MLSHR not only because of Lee Joon Gi’s memorable performance but also, its enthralling story-telling technique.
But it hadn’t been plain sailing for Lee Joon Gi and his drama.
Lest we forget. In South Korea, MLSHR’s ratings languished behind a rival historical drama. Unbelievable. Many global fans were outraged. As it transpired, many mischievous and malicious commenters crept out of the woodwork and speedily launched a virulent attack on the drama. The detractors made short work of the drama with their continual mudslinging.
Hindsight. The Ratings Game. Look back at the vitriolic comments which were steeped in destructive negativity and one begins to understand the system.
It was truly shocking. But it was also a great revelation to the international audience that the local ratings for the superb drama were lower than those of a rival historical drama that was merely mediocre.
Many of Lee Joon Gi’s global fans strongly believe that he has been short-changed, and that he should have won more awards. But, is it hard for MLSHR global fans to imagine any future justice for the actor and his drama?
  
LEE JOON GI
THE NUMBER ONE
SOUTH KOREAN ACTOR
To Lee Joon Gi’s fans, he will always be their Number One actor and the Number One South Korean Actor.
Lee Joon Gi: NUMBER 1
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