Actor Lee Je-hoon discussed his collaboration with Yoo Hae-jin.
Lee Je-hoon conducted an interview for the film 'Big Deal' (distributed by SHOWBOX, produced by The Lamp) at a café in Sogyeok-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, on the 2nd.
'Big Deal' depicts the story of chief financial officer Jong-rok (Yoo Hae-jin), whose life revolves around the soju company, and global investment firm employee In-beom (Lee Je-hoon), who pursues only revenue, as they stake the fate of soju for the people of Korea amidst the 1997 IMF financial crisis.
Lee Je-hoon plays the capable employee In-beom at a global investment firm in the film. Initially unable to understand Jong-rok's dedicated attitude toward the company, as well as the team gatherings where they would enjoy a drink together after work, he undergoes a transformation while spending time with Jong-rok.
Lee Je-hoon collaborated with Yoo Hae-jin in the film. He remarked about Yoo Hae-jin, "The time I concentrated on watching Korean movies was from the early to mid-1990s going into the 2000s. At the center of those films was senior Yoo Hae-jin. I know that his debut film was 'The Case of the Gas Station,' and even though I wasn't of age to see it in theaters, I realized clearly that 'there is such a presence.' After that, as I watched Yoo Hae-jin's works, I think about how, if you were to remove actor Yoo Hae-jin, could any of Korea's movies be complete? I wondered when I might get to meet him, and I was excited to finally meet him through 'Big Deal,' feeling at ease as he treated me just as he would a colleague."
He continued, "His wit and wordplay showcased through entertainment shows are constant. It was fun being together, so I wanted to be by his side. During stage greetings, usually, we move around a lot, and the energy consumption can be exhausting, but since senior Yoo Hae-jin shared interesting stories, I felt happy as time flew by during the stage greetings. Looking at those things, I felt like he will continue to be a beloved presence to the public."
Lee Je-hoon noted that he learned a lot from Yoo Hae-jin. He said, "Even during acting, when there's a story board, there can be aspects that become rigid as we film scenes according to the plan. There can be a compulsion, but senior Yoo Hae-jin expresses the liveliness of characters with a more carefree stance. So, I was able to see a more natural chemistry between the characters. It was simply delightful. This work may feel like a project where it would be regrettable to conclude my acting collaboration with senior Yoo Hae-jin. I want to meet him again."
Regarding memorable scenes in his collaboration with Yoo Hae-jin, Lee Je-hoon said, "There were several such scenes. When we faced each other at the soju factory and I witnessed the earnest expressions on his face and his heartfelt desire to sustain the company, I thought, 'I can just act based on the script,' but seeing senior Yoo's voice, sincere face, and heart made me resonate. That experience was fascinating. Afterward, during our passionate conversations, we drank together through multiple sequences, and then five years later, encountering him in front of the courthouse showed a face of betrayal, but I had to warn him that now he must bear the consequences of his goals. That felt bittersweet. The expressions of friendship and conflict in the relationship outlined in the screenplay were perhaps expressed more richly because senior Yoo was there. In the end, although it's an epilogue, the different values of the two would cross paths and express themselves in reverse, which was refreshing and interesting. Overall, it was all wonderful."
Although Yoo Hae-jin is well-known as a drinker in the entertainment industry, Lee Je-hoon is not. However, since 'Big Deal' is a work centered around 'soju', he found himself in an inseparable relationship with alcohol. Lee Je-hoon commented on his drinking capacity, "It's about one can of beer and half a bottle of soju. I can say that is a pleasant drinking capacity. One bottle of soju is something I remember doing in college when the freshman would generously decide to drink a whole bottle, which was a bit of bravado. After downing it in one go, I couldn't recall anything within an hour. The next day, I had a terrible headache and asked what went wrong. Thankfully, nothing serious happened. The fact that I couldn't remember was terrifying, and I learned profoundly that such bravado is unacceptable."
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