Lee Min Ho admits he ‘could fall any moment,' says problems arise from personal desires, pins all hope on Omniscient Reader

Indian Express

17-07-2025

Lee Min Ho is making a big movie comeback, 10 years after Gangnam 1970, and is hoping his next, Omniscient Reader, lands well on screen. The actor, known for his K-drama stints, showed up at the press conference for the upcoming film alongside co-stars like Ahn Hyo Seop, BLACKPINK's Jisoo, and others, and spoke about the pressure and weight that comes with being a Hallyu star. Directed by Kim Byung Woo, the movie is a fantasy action flick adapted from a massively popular novel of the same name, where the fictional world of the book turns real the day its decade-long run ends.
Lately, Lee, once the face of K-drama, has faced flat responses from audiences for his recent shows, with many fans criticizing his choice of scripts. But with the release of Omniscient Reader around the corner, the actor got real and said, 'I feel very burdened. It seems that movies receive much clearer evaluations than others.'
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Speaking of why Lee stayed away from the movie scene for 10 long years, despite being one of the most recognisable faces on screen, the actor said, 'I felt like I could take on deeper roles once I turned 30. In my 20s, I didn't want to rush into movies. Films are judged more clearly and harshly than other projects, and I wanted to be ready,' he shared in an interview in Seoul (Via Chosun Biz). Omniscient Reader: The Prophet is made on a massive budget of around 30 billion won. The movie is helmed by acclaimed Korean director Kim Byung Woo (The Terror Live, PMC: The Bunker) and backed by the same production house behind hit titles like the Along with the Gods franchise.
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Though Lee has been crowned the top Hallyu star for 12 years straight, he says he never really chased the label. In the film, he plays Yoo Jung Hyuk, the main character of the story, a man with extraordinary skills and resilience, someone who can survive even the toughest scenarios and start over after death. Talking about how closely he relates to the role, Lee said, 'I just think similarly to Yoo Jung Hyuk. I quietly do what I can in the given circumstances. It's a value system that's very similar to Yoo Jung Hyuk's. I never thought that I had to become 'Hallyu star Lee Min Ho' since my debut.'
In his decades-long career, Lee Min Ho, who became a household name right from the start with his iconic role as Gu Jun Pyo in Boys Over Flowers, back when OTT wasn't even a thing, has stayed away from controversies and accidents. He's always kept things transparent for his fans. But in his recent interview, he spoke about the sensitivity of the current industry situation saying he never takes things for granted, 'I could fall at any moment,' as he goes about his life. 'It's not that I live in fear, but I do believe one misstep can change everything. Most problems come from personal emotions or desires. When I feel like that, I remind myself to focus on what really matters.' He added that instead of thinking about his own needs, he tries to think about his family or the projects he's part of that's what helps him stay grounded. 'Still,' he said, 'you never know when something can go wrong. And if I'm constantly too cautious, I won't be able to live as myself. I could lose balance too, but I try my best to keep things in check and live a healthy life.' In the film, Ahn Hyo Seop plays Kim Dok Ja, the only person who had been reading the novel. Together, they team up to survive in a post-apocalyptic world.
Omniscient Reader: The Prophet hits theatre on July 26.