Rising Star Lee Won-jung: Transformative Roles and Dedication to Craft

≪Lee So-jung's Star Catcher≫
Introducing the Shining Stars of the Entertainment Industry.

---

"While portraying Sooyoung, I only slept and consumed minimal nutrition. It was different from my usual routine of eating five meals a day to build my body. As a result, I lost weight and felt my body deteriorating. Ultimately, I was able to act at a reduced weight of 62kg."

This is the story of Lee Won-jung, who gained attention two years ago for losing over 10kg to immerse himself in his character in 'Accidental Encounter, You.' This year, he took on the role of a terminally ill patient, once again showcasing his dedication to his craft.

Recently, I interviewed Lee Won-jung at a café in Gangnam. Born in San Francisco, California, he holds dual citizenship in Korea and the United States. After graduating from Anyang Arts High School's Theater and Film Department, he attended Gachon University. He debuted in 2019 with the drama 'Mr. Temporary.'

Since then, he has expanded his filmography by taking on various roles in 'Real: Time: Love,' 'Extraordinary Attorney Woo,' 'Accidental Encounter, You,' 'Hierarchy,' and 'Is It a Coincidence?' He is recognized as a rising star and made a strong impression this year with a special appearance as a terminally ill youth in 'Mary Kills People.' He is now challenging himself with a new transformation in 'A Hundred Memories.'

In 'Mary Kills People,' he played 'Jo Sooyoung,' a high school student diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer, convincingly portraying the fear, resignation, and intense love of a youth facing death. Despite being a special appearance, his poignant performance moved viewers to tears, creating memorable scenes.

Standing at 183cm, Lee Won-jung shared, "Before taking on the role, I was focused on building muscle. My skeletal muscle mass was 37, and my body fat percentage dropped to 5-6%. However, I had to completely shed the muscle for the character." He added, "As an actor, the character is the most important thing, so I decided to give it my all."

When asked about his current health, he smiled and said, "I'm okay now. I've regained my weight to 71kg." He continued, "I used to love working out, but after this role, I find it hard to gain weight again, so I can't exercise like I used to. I used to bench press up to 80kg, but now even 40kg makes my body tremble." He added, "It's a bit disappointing, but I'm satisfied because people appreciated my performance."

For the 2023 broadcast of 'Accidental Encounter, You,' he also lost 11kg, shedding an additional 5kg for a water torture scene, totaling a 15kg loss. Lee Won-jung confessed, "Back then, I focused on water control, but this time, as a cancer patient character, I almost starved myself, making it much harder than before."

He spoke about his strengths, saying, "I have quick initiative. I used to take it for granted, but recently realized that not many people act immediately when someone suggests something. I've always tried things without hesitation. I believe this trait will help me be more flexible in my future acting endeavors."

Lee So-jung, Ten Asia Reporter forusojung@tenasia.co.kr