Actor Lee David revealed the behind-the-scenes and aspirations of 'Holy Night'.
On the 24th, an interview with lead actor Lee David for the movie 'Holy Night: Demon Hunters' (screenplay and directed by Lim Dae-hee, provided and distributed by Lotte Entertainment, produced by Big Punch Pictures and Nova Film) was held at a café in Samcheong-dong, Seoul.
That day, Lee David said, "Just the other day, during the screening, it suddenly occurred to me that it has been a while since I stood outside the theater, looking at the audience. Given the current season and everything else, I felt grateful right away," sharing his feelings ahead of the movie's release.
'Holy Night: Demon Hunters' is an occult action film where the 'Holy Night' team, consisting of the dark fixers Bow (played by Ma Dong-seok), Sharon (played by Seo-hyun), and Kim-goon (Lee David), confronts hordes of evil in a city overrun by a cult that worships evil.
Lee David shared insights into joining the project, saying, "They contacted me first, and when we met, I looked through the script. I thought, there are definitely parts that seem interesting. Kim-goon may not have a heroic persona, but within the team chemistry, there will surely be contributions he can make, like witty exchanges. I thought the role of occasionally stepping out to lighten the mood was an attractive point, so I said, 'I will join.'"
The character 'Kim-goon,' played by Lee David, plays an indispensable role in the 'Holy Night' team with his versatile skills. He extracts information from demons and worshippers, sets up incidents he's tasked with, and records and assists in all activities of Bow and Sharon on the exorcism scenes, leaving a powerful impression as a multi-player.
Lee David noted, "When I first saw the script, I realized that Kim-goon is not a character with abilities like Bow and Sharon. I thought that in the exorcism scenes, his role might appear limited. Nevertheless, there's a team chemistry that they show as they move together. Ultimately, Kim-goon serves as an element that brings awareness to the group. If that aspect comes across, I think it won't be bad. After all, with the three of us constantly moving, not everyone can be seen at all times. There are scenes where I appear at first and then disappear, but when it's my turn, I think it was not about exorcism. During less active moments, my character's personality had to come out through interactions. Conversely, when in action, the other two have their roles, so I felt that rather than trying to do more, it was crucial for the team to operate together. My mindset was to support from behind as much as possible."
Lee David discussed his character, 'Kim-goon.' He laughed, saying, "When I first heard the name, I thought it was Kim plus 'goon,' but then they said, 'Goons is the name.' From that point, I realized this character has a unique background; he doesn't smell like an ordinary person." He added, "There isn't a detailed backstory to Kim-goon. He was part of the group shown in the movie, along with his sister, and Bow saved him from that situation. There's a hierarchy even within that group. I was a low-ranking character with no abilities."
He also expressed his disappointment regarding the action. Lee David mentioned, "I practiced wielding a three-segment staff on set quite a bit. I thought I would eventually get to use it, but in this movie, there wasn't much action. Of course, there were a lot of discussions. If there's a sequel, I hope to show a more developed Kim-goon. I told the director that I'd like to use the staff then," he added with a smile. "It might sound funny, but during scenes with significant fighting, I approached with a sense of mission, doing my best to avoid hits. Suddenly, I had this thought: Perhaps Kim-goon is actually good at fighting. In the early sequences, enemies swarm, and he dodges skillfully. Didn't he already read the movements?" he laughed.
He also conveyed the energy he felt on set. Lee David said, "While Kim-goon was filming the exorcism process with a camcorder, I actually captured some footage. As I did it, personally, I found myself searching for good angles due to my own ambitions. At times, there was talk about possibly using it later. So, I thought, 'I better capture it well.' People also told me, 'Just in case, shoot well.' But really, it was an observational character. When the actors Jeong Ji-so and Sharon were exchanging lines, it was hard to even breathe. The space was confined, and they were facing off. While filming, I marveled at the scene."
He also shared his chemistry with producer and acting partner Ma Dong-seok. "When I watch Ma Dong-seok's movies, there's always a comedic element unique to him. However, I often feel like it's a situation where he's the one being pranked. That comedic code comes in unexpectedly during the unfolding events. Many parts made me laugh without realizing it," he recalled. He added, "In any case, being with him might provide points that I can also share with the audience. I had high expectations for it being a good experience. I was genuinely caught off guard and laughed a lot due to his endless ad-libs and ideas. At the same time, I felt pressure; I needed to be on my toes to keep up with him since he is incredibly flexible."
Outside of the project, there were insights into Lee David's journey. After enlisting in October 2021, he has been actively working post-military service. He reflected on his enlistment, saying, "I was shooting before enlisting, but I didn't know how it would be edited. Being in the army, I only heard that I was working on something. I struggled hard during my service. One day, when a junior joined, he told me, 'I watched the movie!' He mentioned he saw the movie with Ma Dong-seok. They screened it while I was in service, and he happened to catch it. He said he enjoyed it, so I grabbed him and asked, 'How was the movie?!' I was curious after hearing that."
Regarding his matured image post-military service, he said, "I don't feel that has changed. Sometimes, when I meet people pre- and post-service, they say I seem a bit more grown-up. I think Seo-hyun mentioned that it felt like something had changed. I'm not aware of that change, but perhaps it exists."
He continued, "If I had gone in my early twenties, I would have felt those changes more deeply, but I enlisted a bit late. I went at 28 and was discharged at 30. So I think I didn't feel the changes as drastically. After serving, I thought, 'Oh, I'm thirty now.' I think various concerns came with that. After military service, there's this feeling: since there's nothing else to do in-between, I should work hard from here on out. But that sensation is different in your twenties compared to in your thirties. With that realization hitting me as I turned thirty, I spent some time between worries and contemplation. I'm not sure if I became a better person during that time, but those concerns I had were there."
In particular, Lee David mentioned, "I somewhat wish to go back to the military for about six months," surprising many. When asked why, he said, "Actually, I was in the military band. Compared to other forms of service, I don't boast about my tough military experience often. The tough part isn't just the training; it's also about the timing. But perhaps because I enlisted late, I thought that while working, one day in service I realized, 'Oh, here they serve meals at set times, I don't have to think too much and just sleep until work comes,' and I found that peaceful. The concerns I had post-service when I turned thirty included the feeling of needing to live an autonomous life. I think for a month or two, it might still be okay to return."
He also shared behind-the-scenes insights about being cast in the 'Squid Game' series during his service. Lee David explained, "During my term as a trainee, I heard that people were buzzing about 'Ogam' meetings. I thought to myself that this isn't the time to be involved, but thankfully, due to relations from filming 'Namhan Mountain Fortress,' they called me back. The staff was the same, so when I heard I was in, I felt relieved. I don't think it was possible to suppress the excitement. Considering how much it became a hot topic and popular, I felt good about it. However, as I continued to film projects, I noticed a habit of pressing the brakes when I rise to success. On that day, I was exceptionally happy but tried to maintain calm to avoid being influenced by anything else."
Furthermore, Lee David mentioned the lessons he learned on the set of 'Holy Night,' saying, "As an actor, I was reminded of the importance of agility. It's not just about approaching what's written, but I must be open on set. Everything around me needs to come closer, and I must be able to embrace that. It was a location that resonated deeply. I realized that everyday life is incredibly important. Ultimately, how I appear on set reflects who I am inside, and for those moments to emerge, my persona must rise. To do that, I thought I need to embody the attitude of that character before stepping into the work. Although this might seem like an obvious point, it felt vital to me. At the same time, it's quite interesting to portray a character that can express and release untamed elements."
Finally, aiming for a 'prolific filmography,' Lee David stated, "I think I'm somewhat hard on myself. I believe I need to update my filmography. However, simply adding more projects isn't ideal; I want to enhance the quality of each work. Regardless of which page I'm on or which project I'm doing, I want to feel that it's excellent. I hope the moment I become less harsh on myself will come."
Meanwhile, 'Holy Night: Demon Hunters' will be available in theaters on the 30th.
[Photo] Provided by Lotte Entertainment
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