[TF Interview] Lee Joon-hyuk Finds the Meaning of a Protagonist in 'I Go to Work Even After Winning the Lottery'
Gong Eun-tae's role and performance... Focusing on the variations of fellow actors based on himself20 Years in Acting, "I'm Confident About the Workload"Actor Lee Joon-hyuk sat down with
for a wrap-up interview for the TVING original drama 'The 10th Lotto Winner'. / Reporter Kim Sung-ryeol[THE FACT|Reporter Kim Saet-byeol] Actor Lee Joon-hyuk has set another meaningful milestone with 'The 10th Lotto Winner'. While he previously filled the screen with intense or exaggerated energy, this time he grounded the character in a tone closer to his own, creating a stage for his fellow actors to shine. Lee Joon-hyuk wanted to create a set where the entire team could shine, not just a protagonist basking in the spotlight alone.Lee Joon-hyuk recently sat down with at a cafe in Samcheong-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, for a wrap-up interview for the TVING original drama 'The 10th Lotto Winner' (written and directed by Yoon Young-bin). He played the role of Gong Eun-tae, who, after winning 1.3 billion won in the lottery, continues to go to work to find the value of life, and shared various stories about the work and his character.Lee Joon-hyuk, who introduced himself as a "very shy person," shared with a laugh that meeting reporters and showcasing his recent work feels different now."I used to feel awkward and even scared meeting reporters. But these days, my old friends are all busy with their kids and don't hang out with me anymore. (Laughs) You'd think one of them would watch my drama, but none of them do. So, it feels like my friends have been replaced by reporters these days. I've gotten used to it and comfortable seeing them often."'The 10th Lotto Winner', based on a web novel of the same name, tells the story of Gong Eun-tae (Lee Joon-hyuk), the team leader of Sales Team 5, who continues to go to work instead of resigning after winning the lottery. The drama concluded on the 13th with its 10th episode.The project was a new challenge for Lee Joon-hyuk in many ways. He explained how he first encountered the project: "A distinguished company director recommended it, saying the script was interesting. I thought it would resonate with anyone who works in an office." He mentioned his fondness for the movie 'Sully' and said he was drawn to the story's question of what changes can occur in the world when everyone does the right thing.Lee Joon-hyuk stated, "While I need and like works that expose social injustices, at that time, I wanted to see a work like this. It was also a question of what role models and visions should be in place after diligently cleaning up society."For him, Gong Eun-tae was an opportunity to test a new direction as a protagonist. In his previous roles, he often played characters that left a strong impression, but this time he wanted to create a work where he could anchor the story while allowing the surrounding characters to showcase their individual charms. Lee Joon-hyuk said, "'Forest of Secrets' had a strong spin-off feel, so this project feels like my first leading role. I wanted to do a project where all the actors are seen together. It wasn't easy, but I liked the process of everyone taking responsibility while harmonizing well."Gong Eun-tae was different from the characters and acting styles Lee Joon-hyuk had shown before. He explained that while he had previously used exaggerated energy or filled the frame to emphasize character traits, this time he focused on leading the drama by receiving the rhythm of his co-stars."I've played many roles as a murderer, and even when playing supporting roles that highlight others, I often had to use exaggerated energy. But this time, I could play the bass while matching the rhythm of the talented team members. I think the project's direction was different. It was a work with subtle clashes rather than a story with big ups and downs, and there were actors who wonderfully received the small, ping-pong-like exchanges."Actor Lee Joon-hyuk led the drama as Gong Eun-tae, the team leader of Sales Team 5, in the TVING original drama 'The 10th Lotto Winner'. / TVINGOf course, it wasn't easy. As Gong Eun-tae is a character with relatively little emotional fluctuation, Lee Joon-hyuk had to alleviate boredom through subtle changes. He had to deliver long lines focused on work rhythmically while also responding meticulously to his co-stars' reactions. He said, "Eun-tae's concerns were mostly resolved in the beginning, and the structure was about going along with the team members afterward. It was important for me to maintain the middle ground without being boring," adding, "I was intensely focused on catching even small details like camera movements or blocking."He also offered his own opinions on how to portray the character. Lee Joon-hyuk said, "Originally, Eun-tae was set to smoke a lot, but I asked to remove it. I thought it would be better to show a more positive side in a work where everyone shows an ideal image, and for the character to be relatable to a diverse audience." In terms of external appearance, he referred to the webtoon original but considered a balance that was grounded in reality yet wouldn't displease viewers. He wanted to create a character that aspiring professionals, just starting their careers, could look at and think, 'I want to be a neat person like that,' rather than just a cool character.What Lee Joon-hyuk valued most in the project were the actors he worked with. As the protagonist, he felt responsible and burdened by the project's success, but he was satisfied with participating in a project where he could take on that burden while increasing his colleagues' screen time and allowing them to showcase their individual charms.He expressed his gratitude to Seo Hyun-woo multiple times. Yang Jun-ho, played by Seo Hyun-woo, is a character who has had a long career in the workplace. Lee Joon-hyuk said, "Hyung Hyun-woo expresses emotions as if he knows me just by looking at my eyes and adapts to me. He matches my rhythm, and he truly felt like Yang Jun-ho. I was touched that such a great actor supported me."He continued, "It felt like a reward for my hard work when I was a supporting actor. I felt like I had worked hard back then too. Ha Yul-ri, Hyang Eun, Ki Tae, and Hyung Kyun all had so much passion on set. I was grateful to be with such team members."Seeing his colleagues love the project in their respective roles also gave Lee Joon-hyuk strength. He said, "Even though he's older than me, seeing him love this project and endure until the end gives me strength. It was fun to have everyone open their senses and exchange with each other." He added, "I hope Hyung Hyun-woo becomes a superstar. Even when I look at the reactions, I find myself looking for the reactions to him first. I wish he had become more successful so that other actors could also receive the spotlight, but it's a shame we haven't reached that point yet."Actor Lee Joon-hyuk led the drama as Gong Eun-tae, the team leader of Sales Team 5, in the TVING original drama 'The 10th Lotto Winner'. / TVINGThrough this project, Lee Joon-hyuk re-examined his own idea of the protagonist's role. He realized that there isn't only one way for the protagonist to lead everything. He emphasized, "I've played many supporting roles, and most actors start as supporting actors. When I became a protagonist, I wanted to do a project that showcases the energy of the actors I work with until the end. Not every project can be like that, but I wanted to take on that challenge this time."Lee Joon-hyuk, who is not accustomed to praising himself, stated that he can confidently talk about the experience and workload he has accumulated over a long time. He said, "I've done about 40 to 50 projects and watched thousands of movies. I consume a lot of content, so I think anyone can see where my time has been spent. I watch movies even when I get home. I am confident about the sheer amount of work."However, this doesn't mean that work is always enjoyable. Lee Joon-hyuk honestly confessed, "I think a lot about why work is fun. Isn't it painful the more you do it? Eating snacks and watching movies is fun, but I'm not sure if work is fun." Instead, he used games as an example to explain why he continues to face difficult challenges. He explained that when the difficulty increases, it's hard and frustrating, but there's still a desire to keep trying."There are many things I want to create. What I've done so far is also close to that. Tom Cruise, even though he's earned a lot of money, continues to act risking his life. When I think about why he doesn't rest, it might be because he loves this game more than I do. I wonder if someday I'll be able to say I'm more curious about and love this job than he does."His criteria for evaluating a project's success are not solely based on viewership ratings. Lee Joon-hyuk acknowledged that viewership ratings are a realistic indicator but stated that the challenges in each project differ. In 'The 10th Lotto Winner', his goal was for other actors to gain attention through him. He laughed, saying, "I hope Hyung Hyun-woo gets to shoot commercials, and actors like Ha Yul-ri do well so they can enjoy the privilege of staying up all night."Actor Lee Joon-hyuk led the drama as Gong Eun-tae, the team leader of Sales Team 5, in the TVING original drama 'The 10th Lotto Winner'. / Ace FactoryWhen asked what his "life's greatest lottery win" is, after nearly 20 years as an actor, Lee Joon-hyuk pointed to his debut. He replied, "Debuting is difficult, but the writer gave me my debut. Isn't it because someone took a chance on me that I exist? I believe I should never forget that loyalty." He added that reporters who seek him out and listen to him can also be like luck to someone.He plans to continue trying new things in his future projects. He will appear in the SBS drama 'Awakening' in 2027 and said, "I want to try new things even if there's no reference. I hope to enjoy going down new paths, whether successful or not." He expressed his anticipation for new challenges, saying, "I'm preparing a story that doesn't exist anywhere in the world, a work that is occult and a student drama. Even if I don't get a perfect score, I want to try telling a story that didn't exist before.""The line 'We know, don't we? How fiercely we fought' from this project is the most memorable. I think it's similar for actors and people in all professions. We can't tell everyone how much we struggled, but we know just by looking at each other, fellow colleagues who fought fiercely together. That's why colleagues are so important. Through this project, I felt once again that I was with truly good people."sstar1204@tf.co.kr[Entertainment Department | ssent@tf.co.kr]
