On February 12, Lee Joon Hyuk appeared on the YouTube channel Netflix Korea alongside Shin Hye Sun in an episode titled “We’re Here to Promote, But…”. During the conversation, he spoke about his recent drama Love Scout, in which he starred opposite Han Ji Min.
Host Yoo Byung Jae mentioned that fans had long hoped to see Lee take on a romance project and asked whether that demand influenced his casting. Lee responded that the opportunity actually aligned with a long-standing goal within his agency. “Our company’s director had talked for years about wanting me and Han Ji Min to work together on a project like this. It was something they set as a goal, and then it really happened,” he explained.
Lee also reflected on the shift in his career path. After filming The Roundup: No Way Out, for which he gained weight and immersed himself in a tougher image, he thought he would continue taking on similar intense roles. “I was working hard in that direction, but suddenly people started asking me to do melodramas instead,” he said with a laugh. “It seems like things don’t always go according to your own plans.”
Describing Love Scout as his first project centered primarily on romance, Lee admitted he had many concerns. “It was my first time focusing on romance,” he shared. “I worried a lot. I kept thinking, ‘Who would want to watch someone who’s always killing people in action films suddenly do melodrama?’ My previous roles were so intense, so I honestly didn’t understand why I was cast.”
Despite his doubts, Lee described the drama as a major challenge and credited his co-star Han Ji Min for helping him through it. “It felt like a big risk for me, but Ji Min supported me, and thanks to her, I was able to do it,” he said, expressing his gratitude.
Meanwhile, Lee Joon Hyuk and Shin Hye Sun’s new Netflix original series The Art of Sarah is set to release all episodes on February 13 at 5 p.m. KST.
Sources: Daum