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Korea Herald
20-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
Lee Min-ho's curious antihero turn
The K-drama superstar returns to cinema after a decade to play a central figure who barely shows up Lee Min-ho needs no introduction in Korea's entertainment world. Since his breakout as the imperious, poodle-permed Gu Jun-pyo in "Boys Over Flowers" at 22, he's cornered the market on romantic leads: the tortured chaebol in "The Heirs," the morally ambiguous mogul in "Pachinko," the starry-eyed astronaut in the recent flop "When the Stars Gossip." Always the hero, always front and center. But for a star who's built his career on main character energy, this latest role marks a left turn. In "Omniscient Reader: The Prophet," a genre-blending fantasy epic hitting theaters Wednesday, Lee plays Yoo Joong-hyuk — a battle-hardened warrior stuck in an endless loop, dying and restarting the apocalypse like it's just another Tuesday. He stalks the edges of the film in a leather coat, glowering at Ahn Hyo-seop's earnest everyman who's trying to save the world armed only with decency and determination. 'I'll be honest, it was lonely and desolate,' Lee says, speaking to reporters at a coffee shop in Samcheong-dong, central Seoul, Thursday. 'If you think about it, this is the protagonist of protagonists. Normally when we talk about a main character, we build their emotional arc throughout the film. My biggest challenge was figuring out how to fill those gaps convincingly.' It's not just the brooding, hard-to-like character that makes this turn stand out. As the first installment in what producers hope will become a franchise based on a hit web novel of the same title, director Kim Byung-woo had to compress the sprawling plotlines for the screen. Yoo Joong-hyuk took the biggest hit. He barely shows up, speaks a handful of lines and arrives without a backstory or context. Viewers are given almost no clues as to who he is or why he matters. Even his supposed bond with protege Ji-hye, played by Blackpink's Jisoo — the kind of pairing fans would line up to see — was a mystery to Lee. 'I honestly had no idea how we were even connected,' he says with a laugh. 'I was flying blind." Still, at 38 and on his fourth feature film, Lee speaks like someone no longer worried about screen time. 'I try to go straight for the essence,' he says. 'When I first met the director, we spent 80 percent of our time talking about Dok-ja (Ahn's character). The audience has to buy into him first. Only then does Yoo Joong-hyuk's presence start to make sense.' His approach: ditch the surface-level cool and focus on what the character contributes to the story. 'Reading the script, I couldn't find a single moment where the guy felt cool. Struggling through flaws and growing — that's usually what makes someone cool, but the film skips straight to the endpoint,' he says. 'So I had to ask: How does this one character carry the weight of the whole world-building?' That question took him to unexpected places. Yoo Joong-hyuk's endless loop of death and resurrection led Lee to reflect on mortality, memory and the trap of having too much experience. 'Most people probably dream of immortality,' he says. 'But would that really make you happy? I try not to let experience become the only lens I see the world through. That's how people get stuck. And Yoo Joong-hyuk is forced into experiences he never asked for, over and over. His only way to survive is ruthless efficiency.' Even the film's wild premise of a global apocalypse turned into a game show for sentient cosmic beings started to hit close to home. 'We're becoming more isolated as people, while everything gets more systematized,' he says. 'People shine when they're part of something bigger. And this whole live-streamed survival setup? That's our world too. Everything's about being louder, more extreme, competing for attention. It's the same story — just told through fantasy.' The stakes for "Omniscient Reader" are high. With a reported budget of 30 billion won and franchise hopes riding on its box office, the film faces the tricky task of winning over hardcore fans while also hooking newcomers who might be thrown by all the interdimensional jargon. Add to that the pressure of a sluggish post-pandemic box office — no Korean film this year has passed 4 million admissions — and this one needs at least 6 million to break even. Lee, for his part, seems unfazed. This return to film was a promise he made to himself in his twenties, and the numbers, he says, though important, aren't the point. 'Back then, I went to theaters for catharsis, looking for something meaningful. I told myself I'd wait until my thirties, when I'd have more to offer,' he says. 'Now I like these intense, compact, two-hour stories.' So what does he hope audiences will say? 'That it was fun.' He doesn't miss a beat. 'Simple is best. That one word says everything.'
Korea Herald
20-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
Interview: Lee Min-ho's curious antihero turn
The K-drama superstar returns to cinema after a decade to play a central figure who barely shows up Lee Min-ho needs no introduction in Korea's entertainment world. Since his breakout as the imperious, poodle-permed Gu Jun-pyo in "Boys Over Flowers" at 22, he's cornered the market on romantic leads: the tortured chaebol in "The Heirs," the morally ambiguous mogul in "Pachinko," the starry-eyed astronaut in the recent flop "When the Stars Gossip." Always the hero, always front and center. But for a star who's built his career on main character energy, this latest role marks a left turn. In "Omniscient Reader: The Prophet," a genre-blending fantasy epic hitting theaters Wednesday, Lee plays Yoo Joong-hyuk — a battle-hardened warrior stuck in an endless loop, dying and restarting the apocalypse like it's just another Tuesday. He stalks the edges of the film in a leather coat, glowering at Ahn Hyo-seop's earnest everyman who's trying to save the world armed only with decency and determination. 'I'll be honest, it was lonely and desolate,' Lee says, speaking to reporters at a coffee shop in Samcheong-dong, central Seoul, Thursday. 'If you think about it, this is the protagonist of protagonists. Normally when we talk about a main character, we build their emotional arc throughout the film. My biggest challenge was figuring out how to fill those gaps convincingly.' It's not just the brooding, hard-to-like character that makes this turn stand out. As the first installment in what producers hope will become a franchise based on a hit web novel of the same title, director Kim Byung-woo had to compress the sprawling plotlines for the screen. Yoo Joong-hyuk took the biggest hit. He barely shows up, speaks a handful of lines and arrives without a backstory or context. Viewers are given almost no clues as to who he is or why he matters. Even his supposed bond with protege Ji-hye, played by Blackpink's Jisoo — the kind of pairing fans would line up to see — was a mystery to Lee. 'I honestly had no idea how we were even connected,' he says with a laugh. 'I was flying blind." Still, at 38 and on his fourth feature film, Lee speaks like someone no longer worried about screen time. 'I try to go straight for the essence,' he says. 'When I first met the director, we spent 80 percent of our time talking about Dok-ja (Ahn's character). The audience has to buy into him first. Only then does Yoo Joong-hyuk's presence start to make sense.' His approach: ditch the surface-level cool and focus on what the character contributes to the story. 'Reading the script, I couldn't find a single moment where the guy felt cool. Struggling through flaws and growing — that's usually what makes someone cool, but the film skips straight to the endpoint,' he says. 'So I had to ask: How does this one character carry the weight of the whole world-building?' That question took him to unexpected places. Yoo Joong-hyuk's endless loop of death and resurrection led Lee to reflect on mortality, memory and the trap of having too much experience. 'Most people probably dream of immortality,' he says. 'But would that really make you happy? I try not to let experience become the only lens I see the world through. That's how people get stuck. And Yoo Joong-hyuk is forced into experiences he never asked for, over and over. His only way to survive is ruthless efficiency.' Even the film's wild premise of a global apocalypse turned into a game show for sentient cosmic beings started to hit close to home. 'We're becoming more isolated as people, while everything gets more systematized,' he says. 'People shine when they're part of something bigger. And this whole live-streamed survival setup? That's our world too. Everything's about being louder, more extreme, competing for attention. It's the same story — just told through fantasy.' The stakes for "Omniscient Reader" are high. With a reported budget of 30 billion won and franchise hopes riding on its box office, the film faces the tricky task of winning over hardcore fans while also hooking newcomers who might be thrown by all the interdimensional jargon. Add to that the pressure of a sluggish post-pandemic box office — no Korean film this year has passed 4 million admissions — and this one needs at least 6 million to break even. Lee, for his part, seems unfazed. This return to film was a promise he made to himself in his twenties, and the numbers, he says, though important, aren't the point. 'Back then, I went to theaters for catharsis, looking for something meaningful. I told myself I'd wait until my thirties, when I'd have more to offer,' he says. 'Now I like these intense, compact, two-hour stories.' So what does he hope audiences will say? 'That it was fun.' He doesn't miss a beat. 'Simple is best. That one word says everything.'
Pink Villa
18-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
Lee Min Ho planning marriage and kids soon? Actor reveals type of girlfriend he's looking for, 'Someone who...'
Lee Min Ho is known for his polished public image and iconic roles in dramas like Boys Over Flowers, The Heirs, and The King: Eternal Monarch. But in a recent interview held on July 17 at a café in Samcheong-dong, Seoul, the actor sat down to share his thoughts. He offered a refreshingly honest look at the man behind the fame. The interview was conducted as part of the promotional tour for his upcoming film Omniscient Reader: The Prophecy. But the conversation didn't stop at work. Instead, Lee Min Ho spoke about his personal life, his views on marriage and family. He revealed how his mindset has shifted as he enters the late thirties chapter of his life. Lee Min Ho gets real about marriage When asked directly about his views on marriage, the actor gave a simple yet thought-provoking answer: 'I should get married.' His candid remark was met with light laughter, but he went on to elaborate on the deeper meaning behind it. He shared that as time passes, he finds himself reflecting more deeply on what truly matters in life. This growing awareness has gradually led him to value the idea of starting a family and having children. 'I naturally think about marriage as well,' he added. However, he acknowledged that the path to finding a life partner hasn't been straightforward. 'But it doesn't work out as planned. I feel like a miracle has to happen,' he confessed. 'It's still vague, but if there comes a moment when I instinctively feel 'this is a miracle,' shouldn't I get married?' What Lee Min Ho wants in a life partner Lee Min Ho also addressed what he looks for in a partner and it's not about external perfection. He explained that his way of relating to people, including women, tends to differ from the norm. While he hasn't set any fixed criteria, he hinted that his choice would likely come down to meeting one of two key qualities that matter most to him. Lee explained, 'Up until now, I think I've lived my life not thinking much of the small happiness, the happiness that comes from the small moments of everyday life.' Lee further added, 'So I think I'd rather be someone who lives by looking at small things. I feel like I have to find someone who can think about 'what we're moving forward for' together with me.' Lee Min Ho shared that he envisions his ideal partner as someone with a personality quite unlike his own. He added that their profession doesn't matter to him, whether they're in the same industry or not isn't a deciding factor. About Omniscient Reader: The Prophecy The film is based on the popular web novel of the same name. It follows a man named Kim Dok Ja, played by Ahn Hyo Seop. He suddenly finds himself trapped in the world of a fantasy novel he had been reading. Lee Min Ho takes on the role of Yoo Joong Hyuk, the novel's original protagonist. He's a fearless warrior determined to prevent the world from collapsing. The film is scheduled to hit theaters on July 23, 2025.
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GMA Network
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- GMA Network
Lee Min Ho mourns passing of his pet of 16 years
Lee Min Ho took to social media to mourn the passing of his dog of 16 years, Choco. The "Boys Over Flowers" actor shared photos of his pet through the years on Instagram. In the caption written in Korean, Lee Min Ho expressed his gratitude for their time together. "I hope you had a happy time together, and I am always grateful for your love," he said. In April, Lee Min Ho visited the Philippines for his "MINHOVERSE" fan meet. Aside from "Boys Over Flowers," Lee Min Ho is best known for his characters in "City Hunter," "The Heirs," "The King: Eternal Monarch," "Pachinko," and more. This 2025, he starred in the romance series "When the Stars Gossip" with Kong Hyo Jin. —JCB, GMA Integrated News
Indian Express
01-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Top 10 K-drama actors: Kim Soo-hyun to Gong Yoo and more
Lee Min-ho Known for his roles in Boys Over Flowers, The Heirs, and Legend of the Blue Sea, Lee Min-ho is a global superstar and a prominent figure in the Hallyu wave.
