[Interview] Lee Jung-jae "Always Pondering Unique Villains, The Joy of Imagining Is Great"

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Isul] When Lee Jung-jae acts, it’s different. Although he plays a villain, it feels quite justified, and despite being ruthless, he inevitably appears charming. "Deliver Us from Evil" marked the pinnacle of his filmography. It’s no surprise that the reaction is "As expected, it’s different when he does it." When we met for the interview, he was still elegant and dignified. He never got flustered even with somewhat mischievous questions. His humble and graceful demeanor revealed a rich confidence.

Lee Jung-jae recently shared various stories in an interview held at a cafe in Samcheong-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, ahead of the release of the film "Deliver Us from Evil" (directed by Hong Won-chan).

"Deliver Us from Evil" is a hard-boiled chase action film depicting the desperate pursuit and battle between In-nam (Hwang Jung-min), who gets entangled in a new case due to his final contract killing mission, and Ray (Lee Jung-jae), the ruthless pursuer chasing him. Director Hong Won-chan, who was invited to the Midnight Screening at the 68th Cannes Film Festival with "Office" (2015), took the helm.

Lee Jung-jae completed a new villain role as the ruthless pursuer Ray. His appearance is intense from the start. Ray decides on revenge at his estranged brother’s funeral. “The scene where he looks indifferently at his brother’s portrait at the funeral was the most important moment for Ray in the film. I agonized and prepared for countless hours for that fleeting moment.”

He added, “I wanted to show a unique character. I hoped to break away from the usual acting style. I wanted the audience to be convinced that ‘this could be possible.’ Since the script didn’t explain much, I created the character through imagination.”

No matter how unique the character, there is always a motive for the chase. Why is Ray so obsessed with revenge and anger that he risks his life over the death of his estranged brother? Lee Jung-jae answered, “Rather than a strong affection for my brother, I saw it as an excuse for a predator who wants its prey. I thought, ‘Since my brother died, let’s go check it out.’”

Regarding his appearance in a white coat at the funeral, he said, “I thought it was right for Ray to wear his usual favorite outfit. I chose the coat because I wanted him to look a bit different at the funeral.”

Lee Jung-jae provides another visual treat with his stylish fashion. This meets his unique charm and richly layers the character. “Ray is a killer, but I thought he blends in somewhere and doesn’t stand out. If you only consider the plausibility of a killer in noir, you can’t explain the subtle points, so I wanted to express what that subtle character feeling is.”

The elaborate tattoo makeup extending down the back of his neck is also striking. The iced Americano he constantly drinks adds a new vibe. Lee Jung-jae said wittily, “I had makeup on every day. During the Thailand shoot, even standing still, I was drenched in sweat, which erased the tattoos, and after action scenes, they peeled off. Senior actor Hwang Jung-min once did theater with tattoos. We got ideas from him and the makeup team and devised a way to make the tattoos not come off easily. Since we were doing it anyway, I decided to go all out and got tattoos from my neck to my ear.”

He continued, “Although he’s a violent character, I didn’t want him to just scowl all the time. I don’t really like the ‘I’m scary, right?’ vibe. As soon as I arrived on set, I asked the directing team to prepare an iced Americano with ice. I told them to make sure it made a sound when stirred and to put a straw in it. I wanted the action of drinking the beverage to be visible.”

Previously, in "The Thieves" (2012), he played the despicable character Popeye who uses any means necessary, and in "Assassination" (2015), he portrayed Yeom Seok-jin, who transforms from an independence activist to a traitor, drawing 12.7 million viewers. In "The Face Reader" (2013), he was remembered as the ambitious and mad Grand Prince Suyang, a strong villain character. With Ray, it seems he will reach the peak of his villain filmography. What is the reason the public is so enthusiastic about Lee Jung-jae’s villains?

“Using imagination to express villains is effective. Compared to other characters, villains allow for a wider range of imagination. In ‘The Face Reader,’ I portrayed a violent character who spoke politely. I thought the color of violence would look different when staring at or speaking to someone. ‘Deliver Us from Evil’ is the opposite. Since there are fewer parts where the audience can read thoughts, I had to express violence better through actions and visuals. I thought about what kind of villain no one else has done and tried to express it. I also saw points where I could go a little differently. I’m just grateful for the good response.”

Ray engages in a tense showdown with In-nam, played by Hwang Jung-min. The two men risking their lives provide dazzling visuals with impactful action scenes. It’s their reunion after seven years since "New World" (2013). Lee Jung-jae said, “We had fun filming the previous work, so I was looking forward to this one too. We became closer during overseas shoots as we shared accommodations. After filming, we ate and drank together and talked about the project,” showing affection by adding, “Our relationship has deepened more than during ‘New World.’”

Lee Jung-jae has been preparing for his directorial debut while writing the film "Hunt" (working title) over the past four years. The film is a spy action drama where top agents Park Pyung-ho and Kim Jung-do of the Korean Central Intelligence Agency chase the head of a North Korean spy ring and face a huge truth. He also stars as Park Pyung-ho, an overseas team agent of the KCIA. “I’ve been writing scripts for a long time but couldn’t guarantee when they would be made into films. ‘Hunt’ is the one being produced. I cautiously suggested it to Jung Woo-sung, hoping he would do it. He’s currently filming ‘Squid Game,’ so we haven’t been able to prepare in earnest.”

Jung Woo-sung also finished filming his directorial debut "Protector" (working title). Both are stepping forward to present works as directors. The two have been close friends, once called the Cheongdam-dong couple, and continue their friendship to this day. Additionally, they are releasing lead roles simultaneously and facing off. Lee Jung-jae said, “I enjoyed watching ‘Steel Rain 2: Summit.’ It handled political diplomacy as a black comedy and had impressive action in the latter half. The message was also good.”

He added, “It’s encouraging that such very different films meet audiences at the same time. I hope even broader stories will be made into films.”

Lee Jung-jae, who still uses honorifics when speaking to Jung Woo-sung in private, credits sincerity as the secret to their friendship. “We must have gotten close because we care about and think of each other. The strong sense of ‘being on my side’ makes me feel thankful, secure, and proud. Language is also important. Using honorifics makes me respect and understand the other person more. I don’t drop honorifics with other juniors and colleagues as a sign of respect. But juniors find it difficult if I don’t, so I drop them once we get closer.”

Lee Jung-jae is also famous in the film industry as a loyal actor. Not only does he take good care of family and social occasions, but he sincerely worries and helps when others are in difficulty. Many voices of gratitude are often heard, saying they can feel his sincerity as he quietly tries to help. We asked him about his philosophy on human relationships.

“I think it’s honesty. When I first meet someone, I tend to show all of myself. I don’t know if continuously showing my true self is loyalty. (laughs) The process of getting to know what kind of person the other is takes a long time, and there are many cases where I thought I knew well but realized I didn’t. That time feels unnecessary, and I want to be honest to avoid misunderstandings.”

Photo = CJ Entertainment

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.