(Following interview ③) Actor Lee Gyu-hyung, praised for his role in the film "Boss," also emphasized his passion for the stage.
Lee Gyu-hyung held an interview on the afternoon of the 20th at a cafe in Samcheong-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul. At the event, he met domestic reporters and talked about the film "Boss" (director Ra Hee-chan), which opened on the 3rd.
"Boss" is a comic action film that depicts the desperate confrontations of organization members who fiercely "yield" the boss position to each other for the sake of their own dreams as the group approaches the selection of the next boss, which will determine the organization's future. After opening, it held the No. 1 spot at the box office during the Chuseok holiday and on the 19th achieved a cumulative audience of 2,258,190, surpassing the break-even point and continuing its success.
Following last year's well-received film "Handsome Guys," Lee Gyu-hyung took on comedy again and naturally delivers physical gags close to slapstick in "Boss," eliciting laughter. On the secret of this comedy, Lee said, "Comedy has taught me that it's a battle of timing. Especially when meeting audiences live on stage, I learned that unexpected, unintended things can be used as comedic timing," emphasizing his experience in theater, musicals and other performance stages.
He said, "What I learned from performing is not that different when acting in movies or drama, since ultimately you're dealing with people. The things I'm lacking were sometimes helped by the editing process. In that sense, the director is envisioning things I don't see. Keeping that in mind, director Nam Dong-hyeop of "Handsome Guys" has his own philosophy and his own comedic timing, so I think many people enjoyed it, and it seems to be the same this time," he emphasized.
Lee's next project is also a musical. He expressed anticipation, saying, "In the December opening 'The Man in Hanbok,' based on a novel of the same name, I play a documentary PD who explores the relationship between Jang Yeong-sil and Sejong in a modern setting. I take on two roles, the PD and Sejong. Because it's an original premiere, the script changes daily and the songs are constantly revised, and I enjoy this kind of work. As the production develops, actors' opinions are heavily reflected, so that's why."
He said, "Around the same time, the musical 'Fan Letter' is also coming back. This is its 10th anniversary; it's a work I've been with since the premiere. These days, it's surprising to see Korean original musicals go to Broadway and win at the Tony Awards like 'Somehow Happy Ending,' and on OTT platforms Korean culture is loved, like 'Kedahun (K-pop Demon Hunters),'" his eyes shining.
Lee said, "Movies topping Netflix, winning Tony Awards, and 'Fan Letter' going to a U.K. showcase — these were unimaginable 10 years ago, and as someone working in the same arts and culture sector, it's hard to fully grasp. I'm adjusting my schedule as much as possible and only performing when I can handle it. I consider the stage my base. I try to do at least one production each year. The charm of the stage is so different from acting in front of a camera; it has a unique appeal and catharsis, which can be addictive. I don't think there's a greater dopamine boost than that for me," he said emphatically.
Above all, he stressed, "These days it's frighteningly possible that AI could replace this market; in Hollywood they're even striking. But live stage performances, with live accompaniment and being seated close enough to the front rows to feel the actors' spit, are experienced in 4D and cannot be replaced. The same performance is different every day. Different audiences come, the basic emotions between me and the other actor differ, and even if you perform the same scenes, each day is different, which is why some people watch the same production multiple times."
He added, "Now foreign audiences also come to Korean musicals and plays. I'm very grateful and feel renewed. Last year when I went to Europe I watched musicals like crazy. Just as people think to see a show when they go to New York or Soho in London, I hope when foreign tourists come to Korea they think they should see a Korean musical. Now that the world knows Korean culture has strong musical content, I hope live performances follow suit."
[Photo] Provided by Ace Factory.
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