I've always been told I look older [for my age], so I've been asking myself when I'll look younger, but now that I'm in my late 30s, people say I look like I'm in my mid-30s. Only now do I feel that things have changed. This is the moment I've been waiting for. Hahaha.
After his debut 19 years ago, he continues to achieve great success in the industry, sticking to his convictions and remaining resilient. He is actor Lee Min Ho, who has been a Hallyu star for more than a decade.
His appearance in the film comes nearly ten years after the Chinese film "Bounty Hunters." In the movie “The Knowing Reader: The Prophecy,” he plays the role of Yoo Jong Hyuk, the protagonist of the novel, whose contents become reality.
His intense action, calm judgment, and unwavering faith make this character seem like a role tailor-made for him. Lee Min Ho stated during his interview for the movie “The Knowing Reader: The Prophecy,” saying, “I feel like I am waiting for an evaluation.”
His return to the film industry after a long absence was entirely his personal decision. “There was something that struck me in my twenties – when I wanted to vent my emotions or have deep experiences, I naturally turned to films. Instead of works that featured actors in their twenties, I found myself drawn to projects that offered greater depth. That's why I deliberately avoided acting in films in my twenties, thinking that I would be in them in my thirties.”
Lee Min Ho had previously received an offer from the production company "Realis Pictures" to participate in the film "With the Gods", but due to conflicts of interest and circumstances, he was unable to participate. Now, he has been selected again by the same production company for the movie “The Knowing Reader: The Prophecy.” In this regard, Lee Min Ho said, "When I received the offer for 'With the Gods,' I was in my twenties. I usually don't give much importance to relationships when choosing any project. The production company gave me another offer ten years later, and especially for this project, we had many discussions from the planning stage, which led to my participation. My agency and I also had many conversations about how to turn this project into content."
Director Kim Byung Woo praised the actor highly, saying, "If it weren't for Lee Min Ho, Yoo Jong Hyuk wouldn't exist." In fact, Lee Min Ho was the first choice in opinion polls among fans of the original work.
That was the biggest obstacle I faced. When I read the original work, I realized that the character carries a lot of symbolism and meaning. This made it more difficult. As for my suitability for the role, I guess it's not my place to judge - I'd just be grateful if the audience felt it was "good enough."
Having played characters in works with a strong comedic tone, such as Boys Over Flowers and The Heirs, Lee was often forced to act out scenes that could easily be described as embarrassing. But he said, "I never felt embarrassed while working on those projects. I don't think this project made me feel anything like that either."
In my previous works, the character's story often unfolded sequentially [alongside the plot]. But in this project, instead of presenting a comprehensive story, the structure focuses on supporting the persuasive power of the worldview through the character of Yoo Jung-hyuk. This aspect worried me a lot.
Regarding the praise for Yoo Jong Hyuk's wonderful character, he said, "I approached it by asking myself: Is there really something great about him? I used to say to the director: He must be more desperate. I thought that the more desperate he was, the more convincing he would be to the viewers."
It never occurred to me to look attractive while working on a project. If anything seems attractive to me in the work, it is the scene itself, not me. I actually think that the greater the feeling of inadequacy or inadequacy, the more attractive the character is. Most of the roles I've played so far have had some kind of deficiency, and I think the moments where they overcome that with the help of the heroine are the source of that wonderful aspect.
Regarding some of the reactions that indicated his lack of screen appearance in the project, he said: "When I work, I don't focus too much on how long I'm on screen. I pay more importance to the meaning of the character's existence and their role in the story. It has to be convincing. I experienced that through pachinko, so I think I will be able to participate in various projects in the future."
He continued, "My role has been fully demonstrated in this movie. If the series continues, I think we will be able to see more of Yoo Jong Hyuk's feelings and depth." “There was talk about screen time, but I think that's kind of a bias specific to Korea. If you watch foreign films, no one really talks about who's supporting whom, right? I never cared about screen time a long time ago. In my twenties, I didn't even get offers [for supporting roles], so it wasn't a matter of choice. But I never chose projects based on the size of my role. What matters to me, first and foremost, is the story the project wants to tell, and it has to have meaning. As long as I'm clear about why I'm involved in project, the size of the role or the time on screen does not matter much to me.”
When asked if there was someone like Yoo Jong Hyuk in his life, Lee Min Ho began by saying, “Oddly enough, I never really admired or relied on anyone that much, even from a young age.”
In fact, my dog passed away a few days ago. So... I spent a few days crying and letting him go, and even during the press conference, I was overcome with sadness. At the same time, I realized, “Oh, I was relying on him more than I thought.” I think there have been times in my life when I've depended on someone without even realizing it. But I never admitted it clearly and said, “I'm counting on you.”
The conversation naturally turned to questions about marriage. After thinking, Lee Min Ho said, “Sure, I should get married.” "These days, I find myself thinking more and more about what is really important in life. When I think about it, things like starting a family and having children are, in a way, some of the most important and valuable things to be a human being. So, of course I think about it."
But things don't always go the way we hope. I feel as if a miracle is bound to happen. Until now, the idea of marriage remains ambiguous. I think that if the moment comes when I instinctively feel: “This is a miracle,” then I will have to get married.
When asked if the “miracle” meant that his standards might be too high, Lee replied: “I think my standards in dealing with people in general are a little different. My standards in relationships are also a little different. I haven’t defined it precisely yet, but I feel like it must be one of two things: I’ve lived without attaching much importance to simple happiness or small things. So, it has to be either someone who finds happiness in small things, or someone who can share with me the idea of: ‘Why are we even doing all this?’” Either someone completely different from me in that. Side, or someone who looks like me.”
He added: "Her profession doesn't matter — even if she's in entertainment, that's fine. I don't care who she is or what kind of work she does, really."
Lee, who is now in his late 30s, said that this is the time in his life when he feels most satisfied. “My early 20s were a time to gain experience, and my late 20s were a time to organize those experiences. Now, I feel like I'm in another phase of trying new things again.”
At this stage, I dream of freedom with a sense of responsibility. In the end, the experiences of my twenties filled the last ten years, and I realized I didn't have to stop there. I have a growing desire to fill myself with something new. Even when I think about the next 10 years, I feel like I will be able to move forward with positivity. I'm not afraid of things that people usually hesitate about. I love immersing myself in new environments, and I enjoy replenishing my energy through those experiences.
Regarding his reputation for maintaining a clean career without any controversies surrounding his personal life, Lee Min Ho shared, "I've never been worried about it, but I think I might find myself in such a situation at any time."
Whenever I have personal desires, I try to remind myself of things that are more important than me - like my family, the future of my projects, and my highest values. I believe that these thoughts naturally motivate me to exercise self-control and exert effort.
He added: "We live in a very sensitive time. No one knows when a problem may arise. But if I become too aware of it, I feel that I cannot live life as I normally would. I try to maintain a balance within the limits of my abilities."
Lee Min Ho ranked first for the 12th consecutive year as the most beloved Korean actor abroad, in the Hallyu survey conducted by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Foundation for International Cultural Exchange (KOFICE). The actor stated, "Calmly doing my best under the current circumstances is the value I strive for. In this sense, I am very similar to Yoo Jong Hyuk. I believe that any title given to Lee Min Ho is subject to change at any time. I have not been a 'Hallyu star' since my debut. With the mentality that things are always changeable, I want to give my best moment by moment."
Speaking about the immense love he has received from his overseas fans, Lee Min Ho said, "These days I receive a lot of messages in Hindi. The AI translation is working well now, so even though I can't read them all, I read them a lot. I also check posts and read direct messages sometimes."
