The Unmet Aspirations of Lee Min-ho

Lee Min-ho, the South Korean dreamboat, has undoubtedly led a Rue de la Victoire life. His rise to the forefront of the Korean entertainment industry and subsequent foray into the international spotlight make him more than just a success story – they also make him a cynosure of all eyes. From Boys over Flowers through to Pachinko, Lee has had a massive impact on audiences. One look at the Hallyu star – a small smile of his, a flick of his hair, or a casual wave from him – can make his fans go down on their knees. He is the proverbial celebrity who embellishes everyday events, and even when he is a normal bloke, he captures our imaginations with his engaging personality.

But isn’t it daunting to think about the repercussions of being in the public eye? I was prompted to write this article after re-watching his first Movielog film on his YouTube channel, Lee Minho Film. It made me perceive the pressure the actor must be under to be true to himself. I can only imagine how he feels when the lights go out and he is left alone. During a Q&A session with Esquire Korea, Lee expounded on the specific video, revealing that it was meant to symbolize both the evolution of who he is through time and the other side of who he is – his true self.

Viewing this video for the umpteenth time made me realize that maybe the superstar –  while seeming self-assured, endearing and everything great – deals with uncertainty about his career and not accomplishing what he wants. If you pay close attention, the visuals that flash by quickly are a compilation of his achievements but split seconds later, you see him hunched up in a chair with his eyes closed, perhaps pondering about his work, his artistic journey, or his unfulfilled goals.

You can see him trudging up the stairs as the clip draws to an epilogue. A fatigued body and mind appear in the shower, and the images build to an intense scene in which the frame is completely dark, save for a faint glow emanating from a bedside lamp. Lee is seated, his facial silhouette seemingly weighed down with what appear to be profound thoughts as he is about to sleep.

His desire to experience his unmet aspirations drives these thoughts, most likely another reason that spurred him to produce this vlog. Before landing the part of Ko Hansu in Pachinko in an over-10-year career, Lee had been the prototypical romantic hero. As Hansu, he was, for the first time, seen playing an atypical antagonist, a dramatic departure from his previous on-screen personas. In various interviews, Lee remarked that it was time for him to experiment and explore roles that would satisfy him as an actor, in response to questions regarding his decision to play a grey character.

He believes that to fully express his versatility and diversity as an artist, he must now widen the scope of his performances. For the first time in a long time, his hunger drove him to audition for Hansu’s role. In our exclusive interview with Soo Hugh – the writer, producer, and showrunner of Pachinko – she observed that Lee “was the best actor for the role. I always say that all actors come with a clean slate, and in Minho’s auditions, he embodied Hansu. There was no question. He won the role.”

Lee – whether as the impetuous Gu Jun-pyo in Boys Over Flowers, action hero Jong Dae in Gangnam Blues, or King Lee Gon in The King: The Eternal Monarch – is a man of our dreams. In the grand scheme of K-drama, his life is one of luxury and glamor. However, his public image is at variance with the man on the inside. He’s the guy next door who cooks for his unit members, goes on night walks, and enjoys spending time with family and friends.

Even though he is a megastar frequenting prestigious events and award ceremonies, he is also an independent creative spirit who enjoys a lot of me-time at home and exploring his creative side by producing beautiful videos on YouTube. Sample LA California Ep.3, especially the segment Road to Heirs, which has Lee visiting Huntington Beach. It’s amazing how well he captured himself recalling filming experiences there for his acclaimed K-drama, Heirs.

His artistic passion absorbs him, as does his need to produce a body of work that truly satisfies his creative appetite. It’s been a long wait for his followers, including me, to see him return to the screen post-Pachinko. That happened thanks to director Park Shin-woo’s next, Ask the Stars, a television series starring Lee and Gong Hyo-jin. According to a NAVER report, the series chronicles the fateful meeting of a space tourist and an astronaut. Lee will play a prudent obstetrician-gynaecologist who arrives as a visitor to the space station. The sci-fi romantic comedy is set to premiere next year.