"Charming Cool Guy Transformation" Lee Je-hoon Reveals New Side in 'Dogul' [Comprehensive]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Isul] "You might wonder, 'Did Lee Je-hoon have this side?'"

Actor Lee Je-hoon returns with a new look.

On the morning of the 6th, a non-face-to-face online production report meeting for the movie 'Dogul' was held. Attending the event were actors Lee Je-hoon, Jo Woo-jin, Shin Hye-sun, Lim Won-hee, and director Park Jung-bae.

'Dogul' is a crime-entertainment film about a natural genius tomb raider Kang Dong-gu (Lee Je-hoon) who teams up with experts nationwide to uncover relics hidden underground, creating an exhilarating game. It aims to deliver unprecedented fun by using the unique theme of 'tomb raiding' never before seen in Korean cinema.

This is the directorial debut of Park Jung-bae, who honed his skills over many years as an assistant director on films such as 'Miss Granny' and 'Silenced.'

Lee Je-hoon plays Kang Dong-gu, the naturally gifted tomb raider. He said, "The script was fun. I wondered if a fresh crime-entertainment film could be made with the theme of tomb raiding, and I couldn't stop laughing while reading it," explaining his reason for joining the project.

He added, "I poured out all the sides of me that I hadn't shown before through 'Dogul.' I showed everything I have. It was my first time playing a sly character. Although I'm not like that in real life, the work provided a stage to play naturally and have fun," he said.

He also emphasized, "This is a work that gathers all the charms of actor Lee Je-hoon," urging high expectations once again.

Challenging the crime-entertainment genre with 'Dogul,' Lee Je-hoon said, "I've never done lively acting before. I showed a sly and natural side," expressing confidence by saying, "You will think, 'So Lee Je-hoon has this side too.'"

Jo Woo-jin added, "A coolness we've never seen before. People might get the impression, 'Was he this cool?'"

Director Park Jung-bae said about Lee Je-hoon, "When I first received the script and during the adaptation process, I had Lee Je-hoon in mind. I thought he was top among actors of his age, so there was no reason not to cast him," explaining the casting background.

The story covers tomb raiders who boldly dig down from the Gilt-bronze Buddha statue of Hwangyeongsa Temple, Goguryeo tomb murals, to Seolleung in the heart of Gangnam, Seoul, promising thrilling fun. Director Park said, "We put great effort into art and spatial realization," adding, "We built sets for tunnels, tomb interiors, and even Seolleung in Gangnam. We focused a lot on realism so that the audience can enjoy it vividly."

Regarding the scene where he tastes soil, Lee Je-hoon said, "If you savor the taste of soil, your teeth might break. The props team carefully scraped off all the black grains from the surface of the 'Kkulkkul Bar' so I could act comfortably. I was able to taste the soil sweetly," sharing an anecdote. "I ate a lot of soil, and it was delicious," he added.

Jo Woo-jin plays Dr. Jones, an expert in tomb mural excavation, marking his first collaboration with Lee Je-hoon. Jo Woo-jin recalled, "I thought he would be hard to approach, serious, and sometimes like an older brother, but it was a surprise."

He continued, "He was so gentle and cute, even full of aegyo. We met often, ate together, and talked about life. We worked while showing a lot of consideration for each other," he said.

About Jo Woo-jin, Lee Je-hoon responded, "I felt really comfortable. He accepted everything I threw at him. I acted enthusiastically with trust," he said.

'Dogul' is set to be released in early November.

Photo=CJ Entertainment

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