LEE JOON GI
THE BIG ISSUE KOREA
THE BIG ISSUE KOREA
RAISING AWARENESS
ABOUT
SOCIAL ISSUES
LEE JOON GI
THE BIG ISSUE KOREA
RAISING AWARENESS
ABOUT
SOCIAL ISSUES
The South Korean superstar, Lee
Joon Gi, graces the cover of The Big Issue (no. 187), a magazine that
benefits the homeless.
The magazine, sold by homeless people, is
a self-sustaining business which helps vendors tackle the various issues
which lead to homelessness. To become a vendor, one must be homeless or almost
homeless.
The magazine, which generates
income through magazine sales and other revenues,
is also produced and sold in many other countries including the UK,
Australia, Japan and Taiwan.
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LEE JOON GI
THE BIG ISSUE KOREA
SOURCE
Translated
by
@jg_k_drama
JUST
LIKE THAT,
BACK
TO LEE JOON GI
FROM THE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
THE BIG ISSUE KOREA
The cover model for the
latest issue is actor Lee Joon-gi. I only vaguely hoped to have him on the
cover of The Big Issue. He also hoped to get involved when the opportunity
came along. Then we linked up, and the cover of Issue 187 and the cover story
happened naturally.
The photos that make you
smile just by looking at them, as well as his interview with the right mix of
playfulness and seriousness, will charm you.
I hope, just as Lee Joon-gi hoped, that his
influence turns into positive energy and reaches everybody. May his influence
reach every one of those who might feel a bit lonelier than usual during this
long Chuseok holiday season.
FROM THE EDITOR
THE BIG ISSUE KOREA
He is not necessarily a
prolific actor. But a single glance at his filmography will tell you that he
is truly steady and consistent. It reflects his persistent efforts to pour
all of his energy and completely immerse himself into his role, no matter
what character he takes on.
Take a look back at the past
works he has starred in and you will only see the characters he plays, with
Lee Joon-gi the actor himself evaporated. He is always born anew, and then
disappears.
It has been 16 years since his debut, and he
has lived different lives by playing various characters.
Somewhere in between the
projects, he finds himself back to ‘Lee Joon-gi.’ This is about the time when
he becomes thoroughly Lee Joon-gi, and fragments of the story we shared with
him.
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Q.
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It has already been two
months since drama “Lawless Lawyer” wrapped.
What have you been up to
lately?
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LJG
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I fell so completely in
love with jiu jitsu that I would go to the gym at every opportunity in
between shoots. I still do that even now.
I have done many striking
martial arts, but it’s my first time doing grappling martial arts like jiu
jitsu, so it is very refreshing and so much fun.
I exercise, get back home,
look back at the day today, drink a glass of beer feeling good, and go to
bed—these are the things that make me happy.
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Q.
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It has been a tough
summer, with heat waves and torrential rain alternating.
Have you done anything
special this past summer?
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LJG
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As you said, this summer
has been really tough, so I did not get to spend much time doing active
things other than exercise.
Instead, I spent the time
focusing entirely on myself and recharging my batteries. Exercising, hanging
out with people, laughing…
I took this opportunity to
reflect on the value of ordinary everyday life.
I also had a lot of
conversations with my family.
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Q.
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It is not your acting
debut, but most people first knew you through the movie “King and the Clown.”
It came out back in 2005, so that movie is already 13 years old.
You said you watched it
over 20 times at the time, and how do you find ‘Gong-gil’ in “King and the
Clown,” the way Lee Joon-gi sees him now? Doesn’t it feel strange?
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LJG
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Gong-gil is the character I
cannot forget for the rest of my life. Sometimes I feel a mix of emotions I
had at the time of performing in “King and the Clown,” such as the tension,
sense of achievement, and beginner’s mindset, washing all over me. I try to
absolutely not forget those feelings I had.
Gong-gil is the character
that most symbolically represents my desperation, eagerness, aspiration,
passion as an actor, on top of the innocence I had back then.
Furthermore, I always think
I must not forget the attitude ‘Actor Lee Joon-gi’ had at the time.
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Q.
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Your Instagram profile
picture has long been ‘Gong-gil.’ Gong-gil seems really special to you.
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LJG
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My long-held dream of becoming
an actor finally became a reality when I met ‘Gong-gil.’ That is why he is
extra special to me.
Through him, I received
overwhelming love from many people. For me, “King and the Clown” is a work
that I will not forget for the rest of my life, and so is Gong-gil.
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Q.
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It has already been 16
years since your debut. Aside from Gong-gil, you have portrayed truly diverse
characters as an actor.
But there still are many
characters you want to portray, aren’t there? Like, the goals you want to
achieve as an actor?
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LJG
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Goals as an actor—that is a
difficult question.
I want to do my own action
performances for a long, long time, as long as my body allows me. Many people
worry about me doing dangerous action performances without using a stunt
double, and send me lots of support. I know that, so (before filming) I make
sure I am fully prepared, and I regularly exercise even during breaks.
Goals… Biggest goal is
playing an ordinary person you see in everyday life, just the way he is, and
conveying those feelings and sincerity to viewers. I have been thinking about
this since I was an emerging actor, but lately, those thoughts have become
much more intense.
Personally, I often feel
like, ‘Lee Joon-gi is closer to comedy on set.’ I want to do a project with a
comic touch that will allow me to feel and express that comedic side of me.
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Q.
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Looking back now, what was
your most memorable moment?
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LJG
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I guess those days of “King
and the Clown,” because the movie was such a phenomenon that it turned
Korea’s cultural industry upside down and had such a strong impact that it
quickly became a social issue.
Will I ever get to have
such moments again? Those were such brilliant moments. Those were the days
when ‘actor Lee Joon-gi’ made himself known to the public, a wide variety of
audiences beyond national borders for the first time.
I always cherish and live with those
precious memories. I try not to forget those emotions I had back then, when I
need the strength to move forward.
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Q.
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Any memories you wish to
erase?
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LJG
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Every human being has lots
of memories they wish to erase.
Normally, they are simple
mistakes, or the ones you regret, like “I should not have made that choice.”
But now, I almost never have such thoughts, probably because I have changed and become more positive. Even if I did have such thoughts, what difference would it make? I just want to live for today, working hard and having fun, and then welcome tomorrow.
I have received more love than I deserve, and I have felt just
as much loneliness.
Back then, it was painful, but looking back now, I think those
hardships I went through provided the nourishment that made me much stronger.
When I had negative thoughts about myself, I was able to get
over them and make this far, thanks to my fans who looked out for me and
protected me. I want to repay their unending love, which has always exceeded
my expectations even when I thought, ‘I could not possibly be more touched by
them than I am right now.’
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Q.
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You’re already famous as
an actor who expresses and communicates his feelings towards his fans.
I think, in the end, your
concert-style fan meetings and the photo books which you put your heart and
soul into can be understood along these lines.
What do ‘fans’ mean to Lee
Joon-gi?
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LJG
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Fans have stayed with me
throughout each project I have done as an actor, and even after that.
I want to do something new,
various things with my fans that we can share with one another.
The fan concerts are
precious moments that allow me to bring out my creativity and imagination in
a variety of ways even when I am taking a break from work.
Also, it’s during those
moments that I express my gratitude to my fans who send me unwavering
support. Those are my assets and precious memories I will carry with me from
here on out.
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Q.
|
I think I now understand
why you call your fans ‘family.’
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LJG
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I call them that because
they really are that precious to me.
When I thought, ‘I’ve lost
everything,’ it was my fans who held on to me. They are like the light I saw
when I was in despair.
So I feel a tremendous
sense of obligation to definitely repay their love. I think, now, we are a
shoulder to lean on to each other.
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Q.
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I think you are an actor
who values your relationships with others. You have often reconnect with the
people you once worked with, instead of making such relationships just a
one-time thing.
You worked with Lee
Moon-sik on “The 101st Proposal” and “Iljimae,” in addition to “Fly,
Daddy, Fly,” and you reunited with director Kim Jin-min, 11 years after drama
“Time between Dog and Wolf.”
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LJG
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I stay in close touch with
them. Because I value the relationships and memories I have with them.
I call them from time to
time to hang loose, have a drink, talk about things we haven’t been able to,
and look back on the past.
I love the fact that, while
those were good times, the lessons I learn from the same old stories take
different forms each time I talk about them. To me, that’s ‘healing’!
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Q.
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Of all the people you
became friends with, do you have a particular person in mind that you would
love to work with once again?
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LJG
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I have so many people who
are dear to me, so it is not easy to pick just one.
However, I told director
Lee Joon-ik that I definitely wanted to work with him again someday. Lee
Joon-ik told me, “I already made you an ‘actor’ with this really big
character, so let’s see what the future holds, instead of right now in this
moment.”
I should make an extra
effort to become a much more mature actor who can contain much more, while
waiting for that day [when I work with him again] to come soon. (Laughs)
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Q.
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You are the kind of actor
who makes us anticipate season 2 each time you finish a project.
I realize it is not easy
to choose, but suppose that season 2 really could happen, which project is it
that you’d anticipate the most and you are most curious about?
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LJG
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If viewers feel that way,
that’s the biggest happiness I can have as an actor.
To make dramas into
serialized seasons, really, lots of conditions must be met. I also think
whether to make it seasonal or not is determined only if the needs of the
public, and the fans who loved that drama, are satisfied. So I always want it
to happen, but I know it is not easy. (Laughs)
Personally, and the fans
feel the same way, I wish we could have shown more of the ending of “Moon
Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo.” Of course, I am satisfied with the current
ending as well. Perhaps, because of the ending we have now, more viewers miss
“Scarlet Heart Ryeo.”
Also, there are many more
works, but since it is the latest work I did, I’d like to single out “Lawless
Lawyer”—I wish there would be more to the story of Sang-pil, who has
just finished his revenge task, but continues to beat big evils, undertake
small cases as a defense lawyer, and live happily with Jae-yi as a
lovey-dovey couple.
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Q.
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You have starred in many
works that contain social messages.
I am curious what your
thoughts are on stars voicing their opinions on social issues in real life,
outside of work.
There are many such cases
outside of Korea, but in Korea, there is this climate that makes [speaking
up] particularly difficult.
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LJG
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I think it is a good thing
for celebrities to participate actively in social movements or activities.
Because celebs receive love from the public and can use their positions to
have a far-reaching, positive impact on the public.
However, I think they have
to be careful about what they say and how they act. They should not pick
sides, and they have to be cautious and think long and hard about the words
they are going to say many times if the words would likely cause a huge stir.
I think speaking freely,
and finding it somewhat difficult [to speak freely], are both good. Because
considering the weight of words is important.
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Q.
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The Big Issue, founded in
the UK, serves as a medium in exerting positive influence on the public
through the involvement of stars and celebs.
Such work done through
talent contributions helps homeless sellers directly in their efforts to
become self-sufficient.
Why did you decide to get
involved through The Big Issue?
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LJG
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I have known about The Big
Issue for a long time. I definitely wanted to get involved if I was given the
opportunity, but the timing was just not right.
This is even more
meaningful because I am not doing this alone, but together with the staff I
work with.
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Q.
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‘Lee Joon Gi’ as a hallyu
star has a strong influence over many people.
Have you thought about the
kind of influence that you have?
When you do a good deed
like this, the impact it has is particularly great. For a long time, your
fans have been leading by example in doing good deeds in the name of ‘Lee
Joon Gi.’
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LJG
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I think that every actor or
celebrity has given a lot of thought to the influence they have. I also have
often thought a lot about this.
I think the best I can do
is expressing my thoughts through my own life, through my acting. I am trying
hard to make sure that [my thoughts are] strongly expressed.
I am always grateful that I
can return the love I have received as an actor to many people, and to the
world, in the form of positive energy.
Of course, it is my fans
who help me realize this and put it into practice. I am very thankful. I
always remind myself to pay more attention [to giving back] and put more
effort into it, and that’s what I have been doing. (Laughs)
I was really surprised by
how much my fans have donated in various ways. I am always grateful to them
and touched by them.
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Q.
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Do you think there are any misconceptions that the public has
about Lee Joon-gi?
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LJG
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People mistake me for being
a cold person.
But I love hanging out and
having fun with people no matter what we do, and I laugh a lot.
I take great pleasure in
achieving something by working with several other people and cheering one
another up like eussha eussha* (*mimetic word that describes cheering up),
rather than producing a result on my own.
That’s why I love acting
and I chose this life as an actor.
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Q.
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When you do make a rare
appearance on a variety show, I find something totally unexpected about you.
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LJG
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I enjoy watching variety
shows. That’s probably because I get to have fun and be touched by seeing all
kinds of human beings in their natural, diverse shapes in the ‘real variety’
format—more so than when I am doing scripted projects.
I also feel comfortable
showing people the real me, exactly the way I am. I am open to working on
variety shows, as long as they allow me to present such content well and to
contribute to the show.
Maybe I wouldn’t be much
fun because I’d be trying too hard.
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Q.
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There isn’t much time left
until the end of the year.
Is there anything you wish to get done before the
year ends?
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LJG
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Personally, it would be
great if I could do one more project and show it before the public and my
fans, but it is not easy.
Living as an actor, I
sometimes work so constantly without a break that I feel overwhelmed, but
there comes a time when I should be more careful.
Right now, I am being
careful, but it is also true that I have difficulty creating opportunities.
I want my next project to
have more depth to it in terms of the message it wants to get across, so I am
being extra careful in choosing the next project.
At the beginning of the
year, my goal was to do two projects this year, but ah, it is so hard to
reach that goal.
Of course, I will keep
considering what to do next, and I hope to come back as soon as possible,
even if that may not be this year, with a great project that will touch my
fans and viewers.
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Q.
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I once read that you were
thinking a lot about “bad acting habits (*mannerisms = bad habits)” and “what
part of me can I make appeal to viewers?”
Are you still thinking a lot about
it?
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LJG
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The characters I have
portrayed so far have had so many stories to tell.
What I have done has been a
mix of everything—action, melodrama, epic, action drama, and thriller.
When you juggle all of
them, your acting sometimes comes off as some kind of talent show-off. I do
not want to do that kind of work either, so I think I have to expand my
imagination so that I can feel acting with my heart and create a performance
using my own head.
I should push myself
further and try not to idle but stay alert. I think hard about this all the
time; I don’t set aside certain hours of the day and go, “Ah, it’s time to
study acting,” but [acting] is a natural part of my daily life.
I often think about how I
balance the emotions I have actually experienced with my imagination in order
to create my own strengths.
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Q.
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Your fans are curious what
your next project will be. Can you give us some hints about it?
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LJG
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I am considering several
projects. At the same time, I am giving serious thought to what part of me I
have to show you and what kind of story should be told to the world.
Right now, it’s still too
early to talk about anything at all, so it’s hard for me to give you any
hints (laughs).
Most important is that I
want to see you again soon with a great project. I haven’t got much time.
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Q.
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We haven’t got much time
here either (laughs).
Last question. Forget you
are some character or celebrity ‘Lee Joon Gi’, and what set of values or
wishes do you pursue as ‘human Lee Joon Gi’?
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LJG
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As ‘Lee Joon-gi the human,’
there still are a lot of things about me that fall short, so I always think a
lot about what I could do if there was no ‘Lee Joon-gi the actor.’
I am still searching [for
the answer] and still learning.
But at the end of the day,
I want ‘Lee Joon-gi the human’ to be happy. I really do hope I can find that
happiness.
I still have not found the
answer. Only when that [finding such happiness] happens can I truly become a
person who can send out positive energy to my family on a small level, and to
many people around the world on a bigger level, and who will remain that
person until the end. I most certainly hope that will happen.
I want to grow old and
spend the rest of my life with my fans and the public as a good actor, and
cherish and live with many such precious memories.
Even today, I think a lot
about how I can make that happen. I wish only good things come our way, to
all of us!
May everyone who supports
me and looks out for me walk the ‘flower road’!
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Q – Question
LJG – Lee Joon Gi
SOURCE
Translated by:
@jg_k_drama
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