03-08-2025
Actor Lee Dong-wook on why he became 'The Nice Guy' in new series
The series centres around the eldest son in an organised crime family (Dong-wook, left) and his first love (Sung-kyung). — Handout
Hallyu favourites Lee Dong-wook and Lee Sung-kyung partner up in the new series, The Nice Guy , which is a fresh yet nostalgic mix of romance and crime.
The story follows Seok-cheol (Dong-wook), the eldest son in an organised crime family who dreams of becoming a writer, and his first love Mi-young (Sung-kyung).
Together, they navigate a story brimming with youthful longing and harsh realities.
Speaking at a recent press event in Seoul, Dong-wook – celebrated for his performances in TV drama hits such as Guardian: The Lonely And Great God and A Shop For Killers – explained why he took the role.
'For the past four to five years, I've mostly been doing fantasy-based works, and I was feeling a bit worn out,' he said.
'I wanted to do something more grounded and realistic, where I could portray a realistic character.'
Adding that he did not do a lot of special preparation for the role, he said: 'You could call it everyday acting. At times, it might even feel like you're seeing the real Lee Dong-wook.
'I wanted to portray a more relatable, ordinary character – someone you might actually encounter in real life – by staying flexible on set and working closely with the other actors,' he said.
'Director Song Hae-sung described the show's vibe as a throwback to the 1980s and 90s, with a focus on first love and gangster life.
'We aimed for something subtle, like Pyongyang cold noodles – simple at first but lingering in your mind,' Dong-wook added.
Addressing ongoing concerns about glamourising gangsters – a frequent challenge in Korean noir storytelling – Dong-wook spoke candidly.
'The role of a gangster might come off as old-fashioned or cliche,' he said.
'But by showing the character as somewhat pitiful and pathetic, it feels more real.'
He added: 'When I spoke with the director and writers, we all agreed that there would be no glamorisation.
'I had no intention of making the character look cool at all.' – The Korea Herald/Asia News Network
The Nice Guy is available on Disney+ Hotstar.
