[INTERVIEW] Lee Hyun-wook on ‚The Queen Who Crowns‘: ‚I gave it my all‘

Lee Hyun-wook, who performed King Taejong within the Tving and tvN sequence „The Queen Who Crowns“ / Courtesy of Gilstory ENT

Actor Lee Hyun-wook describes his profession as „a tree that’s slowly however absolutely rising its branches,“ steadily increasing his filmography with multi-dimensional and difficult roles, irrespective of the obstacles.

In a current interview, Lee mentioned his expertise engaged on the tvN and Tving drama „The Queen Who Crowns,“ set within the late Goryeo (918-1392) and early Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910).

The historic drama facilities on Queen Wongyeong (Cha Joo-young), who rises to energy alongside along with her husband, King Taejong (Lee Hyun-wook), revealing the fiery dynamics between the king and queen, husband and spouse, and the unstated tensions that lie between them.

Lee took on the problem of portraying Yi Bang-won, who later turned Joseon’s third monarch King Taejong, as each a deeply human character and a decided ruler striving to keep up his authority.

„This can be a particular venture for me as a result of it’s my first historic drama,“ he stated. „I labored on it for practically a yr and poured my coronary heart into it. I needed to point out a unique aspect of Taejong, and I put a variety of effort into that.“

Not like earlier portrayals of King Taejong, which emphasised his masculine and charismatic presence, Lee aimed to carry out a extra humanized model of the monarch.

„If it had been the identical Taejong as in previous dramas — overwhelmingly robust and domineering — I wouldn’t have taken on this position,“ he stated. As an alternative, he positioned his belief within the manufacturing workforce, which helped him overcome the strain of portraying such a major historic determine.

Director Kim Sang-ho’s confidence in him additionally performed a vital position. „Throughout our first assembly, the director informed me that I used to be the Yi Bang-won he was searching for. That gave me an enormous increase of confidence,“ Lee recalled. „He noticed one thing in my earlier works, significantly in ‚Music of the Bandits,‘ the place I struggled with feelings over a cherished one.“

Actors Lee Hyun-wook as Taejong, left, and Cha Joo-young as Wongyeong / Courtesy of Tving

Balancing love and battle

One of many key relationships in „The Queen Who Crowns“ is the dynamic between Taejong and Queen Wongyeong, who love one another but continuously conflict over political disagreements.

Lee frightened that their interactions may lean an excessive amount of towards hatred moderately than the advanced mix of affection and battle he needed to painting.

„It was irritating for me personally. I needed to point out that they struggled, overcame conflicts, and nonetheless cherished one another,“ he stated. „I did all the things I may, however in the long run, I really feel just like the hatred stood out greater than I supposed. I used to be involved that it’d tarnish the real-life figures’ reputations and honor.“

By means of his analysis, Lee concluded that Taejong deeply cherished Queen Wongyeong till the tip. He primarily based this interpretation on historic data exhibiting that Taejong personally selected her burial website and determined they need to be buried collectively.

On condition that the drama focuses on Queen Wongyeong’s life, balancing her relationship with Taejong was vital to sustaining the story’s perspective. To realize this, the director and solid engaged in in depth discussions to search out the best tone and steadiness.

To make Taejong really feel extra human, Lee intentionally adjusted his method to conventional historic drama performing kinds.

„I didn’t simply use the standard power of a historic drama,“ he stated. „For intense moments, I didn’t simply roar each time. If I had, I wouldn’t have been in a position to get into Taejong’s emotional state. It was tough to specific the power outward whereas preserving the small print exact, however I believe I managed to search out the best steadiness.“

Admiration for Cha Joo-young

When requested about working with Cha Joo-young, Lee was filled with reward. „She’s an entire actor — sensible and immensely gifted. She didn’t come from a conventional performing background, so the quantity of effort she will need to have put in is unbelievable. She’s actually fascinating and clever,“ he stated.

To commemorate their collaboration, Lee ready a particular reward for Cha on the drama’s ultimate day. „I wrote her a letter and gave her 55 flowers,“ he stated. „Queen Wongyeong handed away at 55, so I needed the reward to have significance for her.“

Whereas Lee’s portrayal of Taejong has earned him reward, he stays centered on his personal areas for enchancment.

„Whether or not it’s an audition or a venture, if issues don’t prove the best way I imagined, it’s pointless accountable others,“ he stated. „I’ve by no means as soon as been absolutely happy with my very own efficiency. I believe most actors really feel that method—we’ll most likely by no means be content material, even till the day we die.“

Nonetheless, Lee acknowledges that „The Queen Who Crowns“ is a milestone in his profession. „This was my first historic drama, and it left a mark on my filmography,“ he stated. „I gave it my all.“

Actor Lee Hyun-wook / Courtesy of Gilstory ENT

This text from the Hankook Ilbo, a sister publication of The Korea Instances, is translated by a generative AI and edited by The Korea Instances.