Villainy of 'Decibel' Lee Jong-seok, Right Again This Time [Summary]

Movie 'Decibel' Press Screening Scene
Bomb Designer Holding the Secret of Terror Role

Actor Lee Jong-suk. Photo by Mindmark

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Iseul] Actor Lee Jong-suk (33) returns to the screen with a cool, stern face. His wicked and languid expression is welcome. He creates a tense atmosphere and fully delivers his role. Once again, his portrayal of the villain earns high marks.

On the afternoon of the 7th, at the press screening of the movie "Decibel" (directed by Hwang In-ho) held at CGV Yongsan in Ichon-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, Lee Jong-suk said, "I was surprised that my role was bigger than I expected."

Opening on the 16th, "Decibel" is a sound terror action film about a bomb designer (Lee Jong-suk) who tries to seize the city with a special bomb that explodes when noise levels rise, and a former navy executive officer (Kim Rae-won) who becomes his target. The film uses the concept of a noise-reactive bomb that shortens its explosion time or detonates when surrounding noise exceeds a certain decibel level. Actors Kim Rae-won, Lee Jong-suk, Jung Sang-hoon, Park Byung-eun, and Cha Eun-woo star in the film.

Lee Jong-suk plays the designer and a Mensa member navy captain who confronts Kim Rae-won. As a Mensa member navy captain holding the secret of the urban bomb terror, he designs the noise-reactive bomb that explodes when noise increases, using his brilliant intellect. He pointed out that, unlike previous villain roles, his character is underpinned by sadness. He emphasized, "I didn't think of him as a simple villain." He added, "I thought hard about making this compressed character appear three-dimensional."

Lee Jong-suk has been active across genres in dramas such as "Big Mouth," "Romance Is a Bonus Book," "While You Were Sleeping," and "W," as well as films like "The Witch: Part 2," "VIP," and "Blood Boiling Youth." In "Decibel," he adds tension with his villainous face. He shared, "When I first read the script, there were scenes that seemed fun to act out, so I wanted to take on the challenge." Regarding the focus of his voice acting in the film, he explained, "Before my character appears visually, I tried to exclude emotions. Since the speech style is distinctive, I consulted with the director on how to perform it."

Jung Seok Lee, Eun Woo Cha. Photo by Mindmark

Director Hwang In-ho stated, "I didn't want to portray it as a revenge story." He added, "There is a line, 'We are still underwater.' I wanted to depict the life of a man who has no choice but to make certain decisions. That lingering feeling is the core."

Lee Jong-suk and Cha Eun-woo play brothers and showcase strong chemistry. Lee Jong-suk said, "It was my first time acting with Cha Eun-woo, and as everyone feels, he is cool and handsome. He took it seriously, so we could act together with tension." Cha Eun-woo expressed, "I am excited and nervous about the press screening. It is an honor to act as brothers with Lee Jong-suk." He continued, "I hoped to act together, so it's amazing to meet him. Thanks to that, I immersed myself more in the role. He gave me advice like an older brother during difficult scenes, and I am grateful."

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