Omniscient Reader's Lee Min-ho returns to the screen after 10 years, revealing various stories about his life as a Hallyu star, marriage plans, and more.
On the morning of the 17th, an interview with lead actor Lee Min-ho for the film Omniscient Reader: The Prophet was conducted at a café in Sogyeok-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul.
Omniscient Reader: The Prophet (directed by Kim Byung-woo, provided by Lotte Entertainment and Smilegate, distributed by Lotte Entertainment, produced by Realize Pictures Co., Ltd., co-produced by MYM Entertainment, Smilegate Realize, and The Present Company) is a fantasy action work where the world of the novel becomes reality on the day the novel serialized for over 10 years is completed, and the only reader, Kim Dok-ja (played by Ahn Hyo-seop), survives in a ruined world with the main character Yoo Jung-hyuk (played by Lee Min-ho) and his companions.
With a production cost of about 30 billion won, the film is based on the popular web novel of the same name, which has received love from global fans. Following the recent webtoon adaptation, it is reborn as a film this year, featuring Hallyu stars Lee Min-ho and Ahn Hyo-seop, along with Chae Soo-bin, Shin Seung-ho, Nana, and BLACKPINK's Jisoo. This film is a new work from director Kim Byung-woo, who directed 'The Terror Live' (2013) and 'PMC: The Bunker' (2018), after a seven-year hiatus, and was produced by Realize Pictures, known for the 'Along with the Gods' series.
Currently, the film has secured pre-sales in 113 countries worldwide, including Japan, Singapore, and Vietnam, as well as Europe and North America, signaling a strong interest from international audiences. It is also exceptionally set to premiere in Germany, where there are few cases of Korean films being released.
Lee Min-ho passionately played the role of Yoo Jung-hyuk, the main character of the novel serialized for over 10 years. The protagonist Yoo Jung-hyuk in the novel 'Three Ways to Survive in a Ruined World' is a character with overwhelming skills and strength, able to clear all scenarios using a regression skill that allows him to start over from the beginning after death. He returns to the screen 10 years after 'Gangnam 1970.'
"Why did it take 10 years to appear in a film?" In response to the question, he said, "When I go to the theater, I either want to resolve some emotions or feel a profound story, and I thought an actor who can elicit deeper feelings than a 20-something actor should come out. Therefore, I felt I should start working from my 30s," adding, "As the release approaches, I feel a lot of pressure. Films tend to receive much clearer evaluations, I think."
If you gather all the wonderful settings in the world, it would be Yoo Jung-hyuk, wouldn't it? In the novel, everyone envies him, but he is a character far removed from reality. "I never felt cringy during my work. This character didn't make me cringe either. Everyone says Yoo Jung-hyuk is a cool character, but I wondered, 'Is there anything cool about him?' On the contrary, I thought it was a desperate role. I discussed with the director that it should be 'more desperate,'" he noted, adding, "You may not believe it, but I have never thought about wanting to look cool while working. The character's setting makes it look cool. I have played many roles with numerous deficiencies, and it seems that makes them appear cool."
Before Omniscient Reader was adapted into a film, Lee Min-ho was ranked first in 'Yoo Jung-hyuk hypothetical casting,' and earlier, director Kim Byung-woo stated, "No matter how much I think about it, there was no one but Lee Min-ho. He was the only actor who could naturally deliver Yoo Jung-hyuk's lines. I thought his mere presence could create a genre and make an impact. There is only one actor who can realize the genre with a single close-up shot. If that's our casting strategy, Yoo Jung-hyuk was certain," showing his trust.
Regarding his synchronization with Yoo Jung-hyuk, he said, "That was the biggest hurdle. I recognized the character itself as one that holds significant symbolism in the original work and carries great meaning. It was a character that was too burdensome to match. In fact, I hope the audience assesses that 'this is enough' rather than me judging the synchronization myself."
He continued, "When I first received the casting offer, I didn't know much because I hadn't read the original work. I was worried about what aspects I needed to show through Yoo Jung-hyuk," adding, "It's the same with other works, but I do not judge by substituting Lee Min-ho personally into the character. If a sequel comes out, I think Yoo Jung-hyuk can expand into the next story and show a lot of great aspects. From what is publicly released now, I don't think it's especially cool."
Lee Min-ho also aimed to express the character's overwhelming physicality and capabilities, saying, "I did some workout. When I was doing 'Pachinko,' I had gained a lot of weight, but losing that weight was a bit challenging. I gained about 5 kg and lost it again after filming."
He mentioned that he doesn't pay much attention to the amount of screen time when selecting recent projects, saying, "I tend to assess the meaning of the character's existence and what function it has within the story. As long as it is persuasive, the amount of screen time is not very important," adding, "I feel like everything of mine has been taken away within the film. If a series progresses in the future, I think more diverse emotional aspects of Yoo Jung-hyuk will come out. Since I am working on the 'Pachinko' series, I believe many new aspects will definitely be filled, allowing me to work in various ways in the future."
He also remarked, "There's a discussion about screen time, but I think that’s a prejudice of Korean audiences. In foreign films, isn't it that 'someone supports someone else'?" adding, "I haven't particularly cared about the amount of screen time for a long time. When I was in my 20s, there were no offers for supporting roles, so it wasn't about thinking of the amount. The story that the work wants to convey is absolutely the first priority, and it must also hold meaning. If it is clear why I need to do this work, the role or the amount of screen time is not very important," he revealed his stance.
Lee Min-ho has maintained the top position among Hallyu stars for 12 consecutive years. Having worked as an actor for nearly 20 years, he continues to receive love from global fans without any major incidents or controversies. However, he noted that he thinks, 'I could fall at any time.'
He said, "I have similar thoughts to Yoo Jung-hyuk. I quietly do what I need to do in the given circumstances," adding, "It’s a value system that closely resembles Yoo Jung-hyuk. Since debuting, I never thought, 'I have to become Hallyu star Lee Min-ho.'"
Lee Min-ho stated, "Because of such things, I am not usually anxious, but I always think I could become that way. (Regarding personal life controversy, issues), I feel that all of them arise from personal emotions and desires. In those cases, I try to think about more important things. In the end, personal issues related to private life stem from personal desires and become problems."
He further added, "Rather than myself, I think about more important things like family or the weight of the projects I'm involved in, and I try to restrain my desires while thinking of something bigger. Nevertheless, it's a sensitive situation, so you never know when these issues might arise," expressing his honest feelings, "On the contrary, I also think that if I keep worrying about these things, I won’t live my life as myself. I might be the same, but I try to restrain myself as much as possible and maintain a healthy life."
Looking at his recent activities, including Apple TV+'s 'Pachinko' and the new film Omniscient Reader, he seems to be letting go of his desire for lead roles and taking on new challenges.
"Do you enjoy challenges?" To this question, he replied, "I think that's my original temperament. I have always sought new experiences," adding, "I feel even more that way since my 30s," and stated, "These days, I am close with my senior Lee Jung-jae, and I am inspired by seeing how intensely he immerses himself. While living, I often think 'I can create incredible energy myself.'"
Meanwhile, Omniscient Reader: The Prophet will be released on the 23rd.
[Photo provided by Lotte Entertainment]
[OSEN]