Lee Byung-hun Honored at BIFAN: Reflects on 30 Years in Acting and Global Success

Renowned actor Lee Byung-hun has been selected as the star of the special actor exhibition at the 29th Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival (BIFAN). Reflecting on his 30-year acting career, Lee expressed a mix of surprise and honor at this recognition. He shared his joy over the global success of the Netflix series 'Squid Game' and the animated film 'K-Pop Demon Hunters' (referred to as 'K-Demon'), while also expressing concern over the current downturn in the film industry.

On July 4th, a press conference for the 'The Master: Lee Byung-hun' special actor exhibition was held at the Culture Hall of Hyundai Department Store in Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province.

Lee, the focus of the special exhibition, shared, "I am happy and delighted, but also a bit embarrassed. It's an honor to have a special exhibition, something I wondered if I would ever experience." He continued, "I questioned whether I had achieved enough to deserve this. I remember thinking as a child about the senior actors who had special exhibitions for their lifetime achievements, wondering if I could ever reach that level. It's fulfilling and rewarding as an actor to have reached this point." He added, "I hope to have another special exhibition at BIFAN in 30 years. It would be an honor to be invited again."

Despite his extensive career, Lee revealed that he has only shown three of his works to his son, as many of his films are rated for mature audiences. He noted, "There are moments when my son confuses my TV drama characters with me." He shared a humorous anecdote about showing his son the Netflix animation 'K-Demon,' only for his son to be disappointed upon learning Lee voiced a demon. "I think my son wishes I played more 'good guy' roles," Lee said with a smile.

Lee's role in 'Squid Game 3' has recently garnered global attention. Released on June 27, the series topped the global non-English series chart within three days, with 60.1 million views. It became the first series to rank number one in all 93 countries where Netflix's top 10 is tracked, including the U.S., Japan, France, and Brazil.

When asked about the success of 'Squid Game,' Lee commented, "I thought it was experimental when I first read the script. Director Hwang Dong-hyuk is a genius storyteller. While the drama is entertaining and provocative, it also encapsulates current social, political, and economic issues. I believe the global audience resonated with these themes." He emphasized, "The overarching theme is 'humanity.' I think the lack of humanity is something people worldwide have felt deeply, which is why they were so captivated by the series."

In addition to 'Squid Game 3,' Lee's work in 'K-Demon,' where he performed both Korean and English dubbing, has also received positive global feedback. Lee expressed his astonishment at the success, saying, "'Squid Game 3' topped globally, and 'K-Demon' ranked first in the film category. It's surreal."

Lee recounted his experience with 'K-Demon,' saying, "Sony Pictures contacted me while I was in the U.S. a few years ago. I was surprised they were creating a story centered on K-pop. I was skeptical about how much interest it would garner when streamed." He humorously recalled the initial rough sketches he saw, doubting the project's potential success.

Lee shared the challenges of dubbing in English, noting, "It was difficult to express detailed emotions and nuances. I had to do several takes." He expressed his delight at the project's success, saying, "It's incredible to see the current status of K-pop and its global impact."

Reflecting on his career, Lee acknowledged the ups and downs of the Korean film industry. "The crisis is real," he said, but he also noted the opportunities presented by streaming services. "Streaming allows us to showcase our work to a global audience. If a project is excellent, the results can be phenomenal." He expressed hope for finding solutions to the industry's challenges, describing the current period as a "revolution."

Lee, who has portrayed numerous characters, believes in the mutual influence between himself and his roles. "There are many people in the world, each with different circumstances. I try to approach people with a broad perspective, always observing and learning," he said. He attributes his acting success to the belief that everyone has hundreds of personalities within them, which he tries to amplify in his performances.

Due to time constraints, Lee couldn't answer all questions at the press conference. He humorously concluded, "If I answered everything now, it might be anticlimactic. Perhaps I can share more at my 40th or 50th anniversary."

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