Lee Je-hoon Discusses His Role in 'Soju War' and the Challenges of Portraying a Financial Expert

"In reality, the expressions are even more intense. We actually toned it down," said actor Lee Je-hoon, who plays an investment expert in the film 'Soju War.' The characters in the film express the tension and thrill of the financial world with expletive-laden dialogue. Lee Je-hoon portrays the character's sharp and cold demeanor with harsh words and piercing looks.

'Soju War' is a film set during the 1997 IMF crisis, depicting the story of those trying to save and those trying to take over the bankrupt National Treasure Group. In the film, the National Treasure Group is a company that sells the 'national soju.' Lee Je-hoon plays Choi In-beom, a character from the global investment firm Solqueen targeting the group. Choi In-beom is an elite graduate from Seoul National University, who also completed an MBA in the U.S. and worked as an analyst. He is a goal-oriented, materialistic character with both good and evil traits.

"I wanted to show the fierce journey of someone rising from the bottom in the financial world without connections. I wanted to portray a character with ambition. He has a sly side that uses tricks, but when you see such a character, you also think, 'Isn't this wrong?' He's someone who wants to make money but also feels guilty," Lee explained.

Choi In-beom lived in the U.S. for 10 years and works between the U.S., Korea, and Hong Kong. Despite having many English lines, Lee Je-hoon delivered them fluently.

"In reality, I'm not good at English. Haha. I wanted to appear fluent and professional. I constantly reviewed the script and listened to my English teacher's guide voice. I practiced pronunciation and speed, sometimes slowly, sometimes quickly, trying to perfect it. Everyone on set was very supportive, which made the challenging experience enjoyable," he shared.

The film also reflects on the era of the IMF crisis. Lee Je-hoon recalled, "I experienced the IMF crisis." He added, "The fact that it's based on the real 1997 IMF event intrigued me. It shows the conflict and friendship between two people with different values through soju, which can also apply to people living today."

"From middle school to the early 2000s, my family faced a crisis. My father, who ran a small business, struggled, and I watched him work as a day laborer. So, this story felt personal and relatable. I thought about what has changed over the past 20 years. Despite the world's progress, moral hazards are still prevalent. I believe many will relate to the film. I hope it remains a work that can be revisited for both its social and entertaining aspects," he expressed.

Lee Je-hoon collaborated with actor Yoo Hae-jin in this film. He expressed admiration for Yoo, saying he wishes to emulate his humorous side. "From the 1990s to the early 2000s, I dreamed of becoming an actor, and Yoo Hae-jin is one of the actors who defined that era. His presence is indispensable in explaining Korean cinema. I was excited to work with a senior I respected," Lee said.

"On set, he was humorous and had an exceptional talent for wordplay, which brought a lot of laughter. Watching him make people comfortable and end the day with smiles made me want to be like that. Even off set, he's the same. I hope to become someone who can make people laugh with wordplay. Haha. Working with him was more comfortable than tense. When filming according to a planned script and storyboard, it can become rigid, but with him, we could break those parts. His approach to finding answers freely was inspiring," he added.

In the film, the values of Pyo Jong-rok, who believes 'the company is life,' clash with Choi In-beom's 'work is work, life is life' philosophy. Lee Je-hoon, who is both an actor and a management company CEO, shared his perspective on balancing these roles.

"I live by the idea that 'work is work, and my life is my life,' which makes the on-off distinction clearer. It helps me continue my acting career. However, running a management company while acting makes it feel like work is me, and I am work. If you ask me to describe myself without the actor label, there's not much to say. Haha. It's a bit sad, but it's the life I chose. I'm contemplating how to move in a better direction. I always tell my company members that I hope they enjoy enough rest and work-life balance. But when I look at myself, despite being busy, I feel anxious about not having a schedule for next year. It's confusing. I'm thinking about how to navigate this wisely," he concluded.

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