Lee Min-ho from Omniscient Reader stated regarding his marriage plans, “If I love someone, it doesn’t matter if they are a celebrity.”
On the morning of the 17th, an interview with Lee Min-ho, the lead actor of the movie Omniscient Reader: The Prophet, was conducted at a cafe in Sogyeok-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul.
Omniscient Reader: The Prophet (directed by Kim Byeong-woo, provided by Lotte Entertainment and Smilegate, distributed by Lotte Entertainment, produced by Realies Pictures Co., Ltd., and co-produced by MYM Entertainment and SmilegateRealies and The Present Company) is a fantasy action film in which the world from a novel that has been serialized for over 10 years becomes reality on the day the novel’s conclusion is reached, featuring the only reader Kim Dok-ja (played by Ahn Hyo-seop) and the main character Yoo Jung-hyuk (played by Lee Min-ho), along with his companions, as they struggle to survive in a world that has perished.
With a production budget of approximately 30 billion won, it’s a major film based on the popular web novel of the same name that has received love from global fans. Recently transformed into a film this year following a webtoon, it features Hallyu stars Lee Min-ho and Ahn Hyo-seop, along with the global girl group BLACKPINK’s Jisoo, among others. Additionally, it is the latest work by director Kim Byeong-woo, who directed films such as The Terror Live (2013) and PMC: The Bunker (2018) after seven years, and it was produced by Realize Pictures, known for its blockbuster series Along with the Gods.
The film has confirmed pre-sales in 113 countries worldwide, including Japan, Singapore, and Vietnam, as well as in Europe and North America, signaling a positive prospect for global box office success. Unusually, the film is also set for theatrical release in Germany, where there are few instances of Korean films being released.
Lee Min-ho portrayed the protagonist Yoo Jung-hyuk from the novel serialized for over 10 years. The protagonist Yoo Jung-hyuk from the novel “Three Ways to Survive in a Ruined World” is a character with overwhelming skills and strength, capable of clearing all scenarios through a regression skill that allows him to start over upon death. He returns to the screen after a decade since Gangnam 1970.
Despite his limited screen time, Lee Min-ho stated, “I usually don’t pay much attention to the amount of screen time while working. I think about what role my character plays in the story. As long as it is convincing, I don’t worry much about the amount of screen time. It was the same in Pachinko.” He added, “Having experienced things through Pachinko, I feel like I can work in various ways in the future, regardless of the amount of screen time.”
Lee Min-ho recently shared that his beloved dog crossed the rainbow bridge, saying, “I spent a few days crying for it. I realized how much I relied on this dog. I have never felt like that before.”
Born in 1987 and now 38 years old, Lee Min-ho is at an age where he is considering marriage. He said, “I should do it” and added, “As I go through life, I find myself thinking more about what is important. When that happens, building a family and having my second child seems to be the most valuable thing a person should do. But it doesn’t go as intended. It feels like a miracle needs to happen for that. Marriage still feels vague, but if a moment comes where I instinctively think, ‘this is a miracle,’ I think I could get married.”
When asked if he might have ‘very high standards,’ he replied, “Personally, my standards for interacting with people and potential partners seem to differ. I have lived without placing much importance on little happiness or minor priorities. However, I think about sharing with someone who has experienced that sense of happiness, and I wonder what we are striving for together—someone who has qualities completely absent from me.”
In response to the question, “Could you marry a celebrity?” Lee Min-ho replied, “Of course,” adding, “If I love someone, that doesn’t matter.”
Meanwhile, Omniscient Reader: The Prophet is set to be released on the 23rd.
[Photo] Provided by Lotte Entertainment
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