Lee Dong-wook Reflects on the Timely Message of 'Harbin' Amidst Global Uncertainty

"We finished filming two years ago. It's quite surreal, as we thought it might be released in the summer. No one could have predicted the current state of the world. It's a world where we don't know what will happen tomorrow. It's both intriguing and unfortunate that the film is being released now."

The film 'Harbin' is being praised for its relevance to the current chaotic times. Lee Dong-wook, who plays the role of independence fighter Lee Chang-seop, highlighted the film's timely message. He remarked, "There's a line in the movie that says, 'This country is led by foolish leaders, but it always overcomes with the power of its people.' Whether it was 500 years ago during the Imjin War, 100 years ago with Ito Hirobumi, or now, history repeats itself, which is unfortunate." He added, "But the resilience of the people who overcame it is remarkable. It's a bittersweet thing to say that we have such DNA. I hope we overcome this time as well and the country returns to normal."

Lee Dong-wook's comments stem from 'Harbin' being a film about the determination and sacrifice of independence activists. 'Harbin' tells the story of Ahn Jung-geun (played by Hyun Bin) and his comrades leading up to the assassination of Ito Hirobumi at Harbin Station in 1909. The film encourages audiences to reflect on the attitude of citizens in chaotic times and the importance of proper leadership. Although Lee Dong-wook made a special appearance, his dedication to the role was as strong as that of the main character.

"When I first read the script, I didn't think I had much screen time. I just wanted to do my part well. But during filming, I thought, 'Why am I filming so much?' Haha. We shot the Battle of Shin Asan scene in Gwangju, and I stayed there for nearly 21 days. We initially expected a week, but heavy snow extended the waiting time. I think it helped me bond more with the staff and actors."

Lee Dong-wook praised his co-star Hyun Bin's serious demeanor. In the film, Ahn Jung-geun and Lee Chang-seop have different approaches to achieving independence, but they share the same determination. Lee Dong-wook said, "I was curious about Hyun Bin's attitude and approach on set. Perhaps due to the weight of the role and the film, he was serious and sincere. He showed leadership as the title role, and just watching him was reassuring."

"There's a scene where we sit and talk. It was an impromptu scene created with the director, and I wasn't sure how it would turn out. We went straight into filming without discussing 'how should we do this?' I just thought, 'Let's see what happens,' and sat down. But the eye contact and chemistry with Hyun Bin were great. It was thrilling, something I hadn't felt in a while. It felt like things were working without words. The director was pleased too. That scene seemed to show the backstory of Lee Chang-seop and Ahn Jung-geun, their friendship, and their strong trust in each other."

Lee Dong-wook faced challenges as the filming schedule for 'Harbin' overlapped with the drama 'Tale of the Nine Tailed 1938.' He said, "The end of 'Tale of the Nine Tailed' and the start of 'Harbin' overlapped. I was filming 'Tale of the Nine Tailed,' then 'Harbin,' and back to 'Tale of the Nine Tailed 1938.'"

"I had red-brown hair for 'Tale of the Nine Tailed,' but black hair for 'Harbin,' so I dyed my hair three times in two weeks. It was challenging to switch from the fantasy of 'Tale of the Nine Tailed' to the reality of 'Harbin.' I wanted to do well in both, which was a bit burdensome. I couldn't grow a beard while filming 'Tale of the Nine Tailed,' so I used a fake beard for 'Harbin,' worried it might look fake. Later, when I only filmed 'Harbin,' I grew a beard for a month or two and added a bit more. It was nice not having to shave every morning. Haha."

Since its release on the 24th of last month, 'Harbin' has consistently held the number one spot and surpassed 3.6 million viewers. Lee Dong-wook expressed his joy over the film's success, saying, "The success of the film is not just good for me. It provides nourishment for the actors, directors, staff, producers, and investors to move to the next stage." Through 'Harbin,' Lee Dong-wook not only delivered a meaningful message to the public but also demonstrated positive influence through his charitable actions. He donated 50 million won to support victims of the Muan Airport disaster. He humbly stated, "I did it with a good heart."

"I intentionally donated on January 4th, the last day of the mourning period. I thought it might fade away after this period, so I wanted to remind people once more. It's a small gesture from me. There are others who donate much more. I'm embarrassed that it got so much attention. But if my donation inspires others to give and leads to more donations, that would be a good thing."

Kim Ji-won, TenAsia Reporter bella@tenasia.co.kr