LEE JOON
GI
TWO DECADES
OF
GLOBAL STARDOM
THE NAME THAT
SELLS
THE STAR
THEY WANT
BUT WON’T
ACKNOWLEDGE
AS
THE LEAD
IN
KIDNAP
GAME
A LOOK
INSIDE
THE BILLING
PARADOX
OF
A PAN-ASIAN
CO-PRODUCTION
.jpg)
|
|
  Fuji Television recently released a press
statement - undated, curiously enough - that has sent ripples through the
entertainment industry. But here's the thing about press releases: they're
meticulously crafted communications designed to present information in a
specific light. What they don't say often speaks as loudly as what they do. When the news broke that Lee Joon Gi was starring in Kidnap Game, the media, the public and the fans thought Lee Joon Gi was leading the show. Even, the write-up losted Lee Joon Gi's name first. Everyone, except God knows who, was misled. Then, a piece of news appeared.
UNDATED  https://www.fujitv.com/whats-new/kidnapgame/
New 20 June 2025 
Today, we're examining
the layers beneath the glossy production of kiDnap GAME - and
considering how a system may be overlooking a globally recognized star.
THE CASTING COUP THAT WASN'T kiDnap GAME isn't just another drama. It's a
massive Pan-Asian co-production spanning three entertainment powerhouses:
Japan's Fuji TV, Hong Kong's MakerVille, and Korea's SimStory. On paper, it's a
dream collaboration. In practice? It raises questions about how international
talent is positioned in such productions.
 The casting of the legendary Lee
Joon Gi - South Korea's acclaimed actor and a globally-established
multihyphenate entertainer - alongside Kentaro Sakaguchi, Japan's popular
rising star, was clearly a strategic move to ensure success in both countries.
But let's be honest
about one thing: with Lee Joon Gi's established global popularity, this series
would likely draw significant worldwide viewership regardless of market. His
name alone carries weight with international audiences.
THE VISUAL LANGUAGE OF POSITIONING WHAT POSTERS, IMAGES AND WEBSITES REALLY TELL US FUJI TV WEBSITE  .png) VIU TV WEBSITE  JAPAN'S MEZAMASHI TV INTERVIEW
To understand the placement of actors in
posters and websites, you need to look beyond ‘who's standing where’.
This is a calculated practice that blends
visual psychology, contract law, and marketing strategy into a single, powerful
image. Here's the visual
evidence:
Now, let's consider
what this placement may communicate.
THE LEFT-SIDE POWER POSITION
Audiences, including
those in the East, read left-to-right. Therefore, the left side of a poster is
often considered the position of visual prominence - the first place the eye
goes for Western and many Asian audiences.
By placing Lee Joon Gi
on the left, these websites signal star power to attract the massive global
audience. They're leveraging his recognized face to draw viewers.
But here's where it
gets interesting:
LEFT placement =
Lee Joon Gi, the Korean and global star, is visually presented in a position of
prominence.
RIGHT placement =
Kentaro Sakaguchi, popular in Japan but less known outside it, occupies the
secondary position.
This pattern appears
consistent across platforms, suggesting a deliberate strategic decision about
who the marketing team believes will sell this show to the world.
JAPAN'S MEZAMASHI TV INTERVIEW
  BILLING AND PHYSICAL PLACEMENT On an official poster or official websites, billing dictates physical placement.
                                       JAPAN'S MEZAMASHI TV INTERVIEW  https://www.instagram.com/oishee_jg/p/DYn4fXWmXoi/?img_index=7               
Let's reinterate: A key
detail in the marketing for the upcoming thriller kiDnap GAME. Lee Joon
Gi's image is on the LEFT and Kentaro is placed on the RIGHT in both Fuji TV website and VIU TV website.
The
placement of Lee Joon Gi on the left and Kentaro Sakaguchi on the right is a
deliberate strategic decision, not a random choice.
‘LEFT placement’ means Lee Joon Gi, the
Korean and global superstar is The Most Important Actor in the series.
The Left-Side Bias: Western
audiences read left-to-right. Therefore, the left side of an image is
considered the 'hero' spot. The top-billed actor usually gets the
left-center position.
In
marketing, the left side of an image is a position of visual prominence - it's
the first place the eye goes for Western and many Asian audiences. By placing
Lee Joon-gi on the left, the websites signal
star power to attract the the huge global audiences.
In
Western and even Eastern reading patterns, the LEFT side is a position of prominence. Placing
him on the LEFT instantly signals the show's high production value and Lee Joon
Gi’s enormous appeal to the massive global audience.
  Lee Joon Gi is a massive South Korean and global superstar with a devoted and passionate fanbase across Asia, and the globe. Actually, Lee Joon Gi is in a class of his own.
                Lee Joon Gi took two decades to be what he is today with his enormous accomplishments. He has been called Lee Joon Gi The Legendary Hero by Elleman Hong Kong and 'More Than Outstanding' by Waves China.   LEE JOON GI TWO DECADES OF ACHIEVEMENT KENTARO SAKAGUCHI A RISING CAREER
Let's put this in
perspective.
LEE JOON GI A TWO-DECADE CAREER
2005: The King and The Clown -
one of the highest-grossing films in Korean cinema history, named among the
best films in Korean cinema. Received numerous international awards from the
USA and China.
2007- Present: Annual fan concerts across
East and Southeast Asia
2016: Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart
Ryeo - 73% viewership in Singapore and Malaysia, 2.5 billion
cumulative views in China, 2nd most popular show in North and South America.
Received Taiwan’s KKTV 2018 Best Actor of The Year
2016: Resident Evil: The Final
Chapter - a cameo in the highest-grossing film of the entire Resident
Evil series
2018: Lawless Lawyer -
awarded Singapore's Starhub Best Male Asian Star award
2020: Critically Lauded Flower of Evil - won several awards, innumerable accolades and Cultura's title 2020 Icon For Drama Singing Career: Multiple Concerts in Asia & Multiple Albums - Lee is not just an Actor-Martial
Artist but also a Singer-Dancer (and Model)
Magazine features: Two Chinese publications
highlighted his 'Legendary' status (Elle Men Hong Kong 2018) and 'More Than
Outstanding' status (Waves China 2021)
2016 Magazine: Hallyu Pia's (Japan) 20th
Anniversary: Recognized as the star featured in the most issues in the
magazine's history
    Voice work: Lent his voice for several
versions of the Korean Language Learning series: Korean, Chinese, English,
Japanese & Spanish
   ENGLISH VERSION   CHINESE VERSION  JAPANESE VERSION  SPANISH VERSION
KOREAN VERSION  His Japanese, Chinese, Taiwanese and Korean fanbase has been with him since 2007 - nearly twenty years of devotion. Other foreign fan clubs followed. 10 April 2026: Japanese fans held a celebration for his 44th birthday and 20th fan concert anniversary on ‘Eyes on Me Splendor Family Day’. His Chinese, Taiwanese and other foreign fans also celebrated with him.
His Own Official
Magazine, The Star, which has been published annually since 2016
Lee Joon Gi is one of the 100 Korean people who are featured in the 100th celebratory issue of Cultura, the prestigious Korean magazine for culture and the arts. The October 2022 issue is a milestone for the magazine. The honour bestowed on Lee speaks volumes about the status of the sterling global actor and superstar.
      
https://m.blog.naver.com/cultura2006/222892702593 http://www.cultura.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=2849 http://kor.theasian.asia/archives/324363      His powerful acting performance in several TV series and films has won the hearts of critics especially The King and the Clown (2005), Arang and The Magistrate (2013), Gunman In Joseon (2014), Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo (2016), Lawless Lawyer (2018), Flower of Evil (2020), Again My Life (2020), and The Sword of Aramun (2023). His action and stunt performamce is spectacular. His role of Kay / Lee Soo Hyun in Time Between Dog and Wolf, Wang So in Moon Lovers: Scarlet Ryeo, Commander Lee in Resident Evil: The Final Chapter, Bong Sang Pil in Lawless Lawyer and Aramun in The Sword of Aramun has cemented his action roles as benchmarks for action performance in the industry. LEE JOON GI FILM AND TELEVISION
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lfRH8JWWs70&ab_channel=ILZANpire
THE SPECTACULAR LEAP LAWLESS LAWYER (2018)  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eSw8Yj4P2FQ THE SPECTACULAR LEAP THE SWORD OF ARAMUN        
His series Flower of Evil stayed
on Japanese popular charts for 7 weeks and was adapted from screen to
stage in Japan in March 2026.
NOMINATIONS & AWARDS  
  
      https://www.instagram.com/p/B2jwDqsp-dU/ (source — Sports DongA | https://n.news.naver.com/entertain/article/382/0000761832)     Lee Joon Gi and The King and The Clown were the winners of many awards.   
MOON LOVERS: SCARLET HEART RYEO 2016 TAIWAN KKTV BEST ACTOR OF THE YEAR    LAWLESS LAWYER 2018 STARHUB BEST MALE ASIAN STAR SINGAPORE    CULTURA SOUTH KOREA 2020 ICON FOR DRAMA      TOKYO AND OSAKA JAPAN    THE PHILIPPINES        LEE JOON GI SINGING & DANCING (CONCERTS & ALBUMS) 
     https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gYJZRfQFGUU&ab_channel=GrazieLJG https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=My75UCetJvw&ab_channel=LeeJoongi  LEE JOON GI EYES ON ME SPLENDOR FAMILY DAY CONCERT YOKOHAMA 10 APRIL 2026      YOKOHAMA JAPAN      GIMPO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT SOUTH KOREA    SEOUL SOUTH KOREA                    This is a man who took two decades to build what he has today. https://www.instagram.com/p/CNSD4ARsWwQ/ https://theactorispresent.kr/lee-joongi/
KENTARO SAKAGUCHI A RISING CAREER
Kentaro Sakaguchi started acting in 2014
(a decade of experience versus Lee's two decades),
He is a popular star in Japan.
He is primarily known within
the Japanese market.
He is 34 years old. Now, none of this
diminishes Sakaguchi's talent or potential. He's been handed a crucial role
in kiDnap GAME and rightfully appeals to the local Japanese
audience watching on Fuji TV. However, the
difference in their career trajectories and international recognition is
notable and worth examining.
The Narrative: A Father and a Detective The show's premise is compelling. Lee Joon Gi plays Han Ki Joo - a genius surgeon whose daughter is kidnapped Kentaro Sakaguchi plays Toshiro Niide - an elite detective investigating the case One is a desperate father. The other is a
determined investigator. Two men central to the story, whose paths are destined
to collide.
Lee Joon Gi’s
character is arguably the emotional core of the story. Yet the billing
structure places Sakaguchi in the primary position.
THE PRESS RELEASE
THE LANGUAGE  READING BETWEEN THE LINES
What they said: 'Anchored by
Japan's Kentaro Sakaguchi as the lead, alongside South Korean superstar Lee
Joon Gi'.
The official cast list
describes Sakaguchi as the ‘Leading Role’ and his character as a
detective who ‘takes the helm as the solo lead’. The press release
appears to establish Kentaro Sakaguchi as the protagonist of the series.
 EXAMINING THE CONTRAST FUJI TV
  VIU TV  
A joint press release from Fuji TV,
MakerVille, and SimStory states that Kentaro Sakaguchi is the ‘sole lead’ - yet
the marketing materials visually place Lee Joon Gi in the dominant left
position.
This creates an interesting
question: Why the apparent disconnect?
What this may suggest: 1.
The
production is positioning Sakaguchi as the narrative lead 2.
Lee
Joon Gi's name and image are being used to draw international / global viewers 3.
The
show is being marketed as Japanese-led 4.
Lee
Joon Gi's star power is being leveraged for global distribution 5.
He is
positioned as a supporting character while Sakaguchi takes the spotlight
Whether this
constitutes strategic marketing or something else is open to interpretation.
UNDATED https://www.fujitv.com/whats-new/kidnapgame/
     
THE GLOBAL RECOGNITION GAP Lee Joon Gi's global fanbase spans continents. He has devoted followings in:
His name alone
attracts international viewership. His face on a poster signals production
value to global audiences.
Kentaro Sakaguchi is a
popular Japanese actor with a primarily domestic following. There's no shame in
that - but the difference in international recognition is significant.
When the press release
positions Sakaguchi as the ‘solo lead’ and Lee Joon Gi as ‘alongside’, some may
interpret the message as:
'We need your
global fame to sell this show, but we will not give you the recognition that
fame deserves.'
Questions About the Production Structure This situation raises
questions about how international talent is valued in co-productions. Lee Joon
Gi's career includes:
And yet, he's being positioned as a
supporting actor or perhaps 2nd lead in a project that likely
benefits from his international recognition.
Some may view this as: Using global talent to
attract global audiences Positioning local
talent as the lead Reaping the financial
benefits of both Giving primary credit
to the local talent
Whether this is a
standard industry practice or something more concerning is a matter of
perspective.
A Question Worth Considering
Is Kentaro Sakaguchi
being positioned for greater international visibility through Lee Joon Gi's
star power? The evidence suggests this is possible.
By placing Sakaguchi alongside (and above) a global star (LEE JOON GI), Fuji TV is positioning Kentaro Sakaguchi for international recognition. Some may view this as a strategic industry move: take a proven global star (LEE JOON GI), make him secondary to your local talent, and let his spotlight shine on your lead (Kentaro Sakaguchi).
THE VISUAL SCHISM When a joint press
release states that Kentaro Sakaguchi is the ‘sole lead’ but the marketing
materials visually place Lee Joon Gi in the dominant left position, it creates
a clear disconnect.
The visuals suggest: ‘Lee Joon Gi is
the FACE of this show’. The press release suggests: ‘Actually, no. He's just supporting’.
Which one is true?
THE REALITY Here's what the
available information indicates: 1.
Kentaro
Sakaguchi is described as the lead. The show appears to revolve around his
character. 2.
Lee
Joon Gi is positioned as the top supporting actor - the ‘second biggest name’
attached to the project. (In fact, Lee is the biggest name in the show) 3.
Lee
Joon Gi's name is being used to attract global attention. 4.
The
hierarchy is evident: Sakaguchi is the star, Lee Joon Gi is the support. 5.
The
collaboration appears Japanese-led: a Japanese product featuring international
talent.
THE BROADER CONTEXT This isn't just about
one actor or one show. It's about how the entertainment industry treats
international talent. Lee Joon Gi has spent two decades
building a global career. He's crossed borders, languages, and cultures. He's
proven himself in every conceivable way.
And yet, in a major Pan-Asian
co-production, he's being positioned narratively as a supporting character.
He's the desperate father, not the hero.
Some may view his
story as a case of international talent being used to elevate domestic
actors.
WHAT DESERVES ATTENTION Lee Joon Gi's enormous talent. His immense global fame. His widespread popularity. His two decades of determination, strong work ethic, hard work, dedication and passion. All of it appears to be used by a system that may not fully honour him. That deserves
attention. The fans see it. The industry knows it. And we're all watching how this plays out.
QUESTIONS WORTH ASKING If Kentaro Sakaguchi
is the ‘sole lead’, why is Lee Joon Gi's face the one drawing global audiences? If Lee Joon Gi is just
a supporting actor, why is his name the one that guarantees globall viewership? If this is truly a
Pan-Asian collaboration, why is the Korean who is a global superstar being
positioned behind a Japanese lead, who is a rising star?
THE BOTTOM LINE Lee Joon Gi has built an extraordinary career over two decades. His accomplishments span multiple countries and countless accolades. He has earned his place as a globally
recognized star.
Kentaro Sakaguchi is a
popular Japanese actor with a promising future.
There's room for both
in this industry. There's room for both in this show.
But questions remain about the casting structure. Questions about how global talent is valued. Questions about what ‘collaboration’ truly means.
Lee Joon Gi has earned his place. And we're all watching how this plays out.
|
|
