How Lee Dong-wook is Similar to His ‘Single in Seoul’ Role

For Single in Seoul, Lee Dong-wook returns to the big screen with Lim Soo-jung, where his role encompasses a large part of who he is in real life.

As 2023 draws to a close, scheduled for release is a spate of new K-dramas and Korean films spanning genres, with romance retaining its top spot on the priority list—Single in Seoul being a prime example; the rom-com movie hits theaters on November 29.

Two characters with distinct personalities and lives are followed in the story. When they meet for work, long-forgotten memories come flooding back, exposing deep scars.

Park Yeong-ho (Lee), a power influencer and essay instructor, is happily single following successive break-ups and enjoys an extensive fan base. Joo Hyeon-jin (Lim), on the other side, has idealistic views of love; she works as the chief editor of a publishing firm and oversees the “Single in the City” essay series.

An unlikely encounter between these two distinct individuals breaks the mold while also changing Yeong-ho’s tune—his views on living single.

In a pre-release interview with KBS2 for the movie, Lee revealed that he could relate to Yeong-ho’s similar qualities. Yeong-ho complains at first; his guards are vigilant, and despite his frank nature, he avoids talking about himself. But over time, he shows a more amiable and compassionate side. That, in co-star Lim’s opinion, is Lee Dong-wook’s real-life side. “I think the fans will really like it,” she says.

Akin to Yeong-ho, Lee has been single for a while and thinks this is pertinent to his circumstances. Speaking to The Korea Times, he shares that returning home after hanging out with friends doesn’t make him feel lonely—in fact, he actually likes his me-time. Simultaneously, he wants to indulge in the moments and emotions that come with dating. “So, my thoughts are going back and forth,” he adds.

Lim Soo-jung, recognized for her performances and collaborations with some of the biggest Korean actors, considers Lee to be her finest partner on-screen. She sheds light on Lee’s widely accepted sweetness while working on the movie, citing an example that involves something she can’t eat: “I’ve been a vegetarian for a long time. There are some items that I can’t eat. Finding tasty Hotteok without ingredients I can’t consume is difficult. Still, he got it and gave it to me. So, I remember that to this day.” Lim recalls continuing, “I really empathize with the process of people with different values gradually opening their hearts. And when I heard that actor Lee Dong-wook received an offer for this work, I thought, I have to do this no matter what.”

Directed by Park Beom-soo, Single in Seoul is about falling in love, with its charm riding on its protagonists, a highly relevant scenario that struck a deep chord with the actors.