Lee Se-ho Delivers a Powerful Performance in 'ONE: High School Heroes'

Actor Lee Se-ho has showcased a compelling performance in the drama 'ONE: High School Heroes', following his role in 'Trauma Center'.

Released on the 30th, 'ONE: High School Heroes' quickly became the top driver of new paid subscriptions on the streaming platform Wavve.

'ONE: High School Heroes' is a high school action drama based on the Kakao Webtoon 'ONE'. It follows the story of Yi-gyeom (played by Lee Jung-ha), the top student oppressed by his father, and Yoon-gi (played by Kim Do-wan), who seeks to exploit Yi-gyeom's innate fighting talent. Together, they form the masked 'High School Heroes' to unleash their suppressed anger and overturn the hierarchy of school violence. The drama's fast-paced narrative, realistic school life setting, and intricate character dynamics have resonated with viewers.

Lee Se-ho plays Choi Ji-hyuk, a second-year student and the top delinquent at Yeonseong High School, who awakens Yi-gyeom's fighting instincts and finds exhilaration in doing so. He plays a pivotal role in introducing the show's unique world to the audience.

In episodes 1 to 4, Choi Ji-hyuk, a symbol of oppression and violence, wields a bamboo sword on the rooftop, his personal kingdom, attempting to break not only Yi-gyeom's body but also his spirit. However, when Yi-gyeom stands firm against his violence, Ji-hyuk, driven by rage, continues to swing his bamboo sword, a weapon that also defines his identity, in an effort to subdue him.

Ironically using the bamboo sword, a symbol of discipline and etiquette in martial arts, as a tool to amplify his violence, Choi Ji-hyuk's charismatic portrayal dramatically highlights the dark and absurd reality of Yeonseong High School. His line, "Is fighting a competition? Even if you get hit a hundred times, you win if you smash a brick on their head," encapsulates the drama's worldview and prompts a deep reflection on violence.

Lee Se-ho masterfully embodies the role of a vile and hypocritical villain, delivering raw action sequences filled with intense emotions and breathless energy. His portrayal of a character who loses composure and goes on a rampage with the bamboo sword enhances the show's realism and immersion. His character's depiction of the cyclical nature of school violence and its generational transfer hints at the intense high school action drama to come.

Debuting in the film 'The Shepherds', Lee Se-ho has built his acting repertoire with roles in 'Kingdom: Ashin of the North', 'The Outlaws 3', 'The Nobleman', 'Cross', 'War', 'Broken', and dramas like 'Hwarang', 'Rebel', 'Delivery Man', 'Parasyte: The Grey', 'The Fiery Priest 2', and 'Trigger'. Recently, he made a strong impression on viewers as Captain Lee Hyun-jong in Netflix's 'Trauma Center', portraying a soldier injured during an armed group attack in South Sudan. In the film 'Revelation', he played Jung Hwan-soo, the son of a pioneering church pastor and a candidate for the new church's head pastor, delivering a realistic and impactful character performance.

'ONE: High School Heroes', featuring Lee Se-ho, is exclusively available on Wavve every Friday at 11 AM.

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