Actor Lee Seung-woo shared his thoughts on the conclusion of '24-Hour Fitness Club'.
On the 5th, the KBS 2TV drama '24-Hour Fitness Club' (written by Kim Ji-soo, directed by Park Joon-soo and Choi Yeon-soo, produced by CJ ENM STUDIOS, Bon Factory, Monster Union, KeyEast) ended, and actor Lee Seung-woo, who played the adorable mascot 'Alex' of the gym, conveyed a heartfelt final message.
In the drama, 'Alex' is a trainer known as 'Baby-face muscle guy' who boasts a sweet face but a very angry body. He believed in and followed the gym director 'Hyun-jung' (Lee Jun-young) like a religion. In the 10th episode, the story of 'Alex', who unconditionally believed and followed Hyun-jung, drew interest. Although he entered medical school according to his mother, the hospital director's wishes, he gave up on becoming a doctor due to his fear of needles and lost his will to live. The hidden story of how 'Hyun-jung' helped 'Alex' regain his motivation through exercise resonated with many viewers, garnering sympathy and support. Later, he dramatically showed his solid body through exercise, telling his mother, who wanted him to become a doctor, "What I created is not the result of living according to what you wanted, but the result of living according to what I wanted."
Lee Seung-woo noted, "It was a scene that showed the deep worries of the character along with the hidden past of 'Alex', who always seemed positive and carefree, and I felt a lot of pressure because I had to take my shirt off. The actor Lee Jun-young and the seniors supported me with exercises continuously from before filming until the end, and thanks to the seniors helping me with emotional scenes through their reactions, I was able to finish well."
Playing a role as a mood maker between 'Hyun-jung' and 'Rosa' (Lee Mi-do), who experienced conflicts in the early episodes, and being swayed by gym members with his cheerful and positive personality, Lee Seung-woo depicted a character who gradually grew as a trainer while overcoming past wounds with lively energy and laughter. After the conclusion, through his agency 51K, he stated, "Throughout the filming of the drama, not only actor Jung Eun-ji and Lee Jun-young but also the seniors and staff took great care of me, and I want to take this opportunity to express my gratitude first. It was a place where everyone valued and respected each other, so the synergy while acting was exceptional. If there was something I missed, my colleagues helped me, and we comfortably shared ideas during filming. I have many good memories, so whenever I think of '24-Hour Fitness Club', it feels like I've just returned from a 'happy school trip'."
Just as gym trainers and members became close like family, the enjoyable atmosphere captured on every episode made the parting feel bittersweet, and I realized I missed the '24-Hour Fitness Club' family. I pondered a lot about how to comfortably reach the viewers, and it was a fiercely filmed piece, including the process of getting fit. I am extremely grateful to those who watched the drama to the end. Just like 'Alex', who decided to live an independent life knowing what he really wanted instead of being told what to do, if viewers think, 'Should I exercise for my own body?' it would be more than enough gratitude. Please be careful of the impending heat waves, and I will strive to show good performances as an actor," he expressed his heartfelt thanks.
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