Actor Lee Ki-taek Captivates Hearts as a 'Straightforward Sub-Male Lead' in JTBC Drama

Actor Lee Ki-taek has captured hearts as the 'straightforward sub-male lead' in JTBC's weekend drama 'Efficient Meeting of Single Men and Women.' Known for his role in the love triangle with Han Ji-min and Park Sung-hoon, Lee has shown a contrasting charm in real life with his thoughtful and careful demeanor.

On the occasion of the drama's conclusion, Lee Ki-taek was interviewed on the 6th of this month in a meeting room in Yeoksam-dong, Seoul. The drama tells the story of Oh Yi-young (played by Han Ji-min), a woman who decides to find love and meets Song Tae-seop (played by Park Sung-hoon) and Shin Ji-soo (played by Lee Ki-taek), each with their own unique charm, as she discovers the true meaning of love. Lee played the role of Shin Ji-soo, a theater actor and professional part-timer.

In the drama, Shin Ji-soo, who was part of the love triangle, chose to support Oh Yi-young's decision after being firmly rejected by her in the latter part of the series. Despite the reduced screen time, Lee interpreted Ji-soo's exit as 'pure.' He explained, "The moment Yi-young rejected Ji-soo's confession, Ji-soo's role changed to supporting Yi-young's choice," adding, "I am satisfied because supporting the person you like on their path shows Ji-soo's pure sincerity."

Lee Ki-taek, who debuted as a fashion model, began his acting career in 2020 with the web drama 'Dangerous Cohabitation of Two Women - In Seoul 2' and gained attention with the BL (Boys' Love) series 'Bon Appetit.' He has since appeared in TV Chosun's 'My Happy Ending' and ENA's 'Namib,' becoming more recognized by the public.

His casting in 'Efficient Meeting of Single Men and Women' was the result of a recommendation from the director of 'Namib' B team, leading to an audition opportunity. "I received a call a month after the audition," he said, "I wanted to meet the director's expectations, so I prepared intensely. I thought a lot about expressing a bold personality that is the opposite of mine."

Though different in personality, Lee Ki-taek's acting journey resembles the life of 'professional part-timer' Shin Ji-soo. To pursue his dream of becoming an actor, he went straight to a construction site after military discharge to earn the registration fee for a modeling academy. Even after starting his modeling career, he worked various part-time jobs for over two years to pay for acting classes. "I believed that if I groomed myself, I would eventually become a chosen actor," he said, "I strive to show a better version of myself every moment, driven by diligence."

Working with senior actress Han Ji-min was a significant learning experience for Lee. He expressed gratitude, saying, "Thanks to her guidance on set, Ji-soo's charm was better portrayed."

"Senior Han Ji-min memorized all the staff's names on set, creating a comfortable atmosphere. She even told me to call her 'noona' from our second meeting. Since Yi-young and Ji-soo have a comfortable relationship, she helped me act comfortably. She was very considerate of her co-actors."

Contrary to his 'straightforward' character in the drama, Lee Ki-taek's real-life dating style is cautious. He stated, "I believe there should be no burden or rejection felt by the other person. Age difference doesn't matter," adding, "I first observe if the other person feels uncomfortable, so I'm not the type to rush in like Ji-soo." His views on love and marriage haven't changed much before and after the drama, and he values appropriate distance and respect in relationships.

Despite his growth into a leading role, Lee confessed to still feeling vague anxiety. "Being in a profession where you are chosen, anxiety always coexists, but I approach it with gratitude. The label of a model-turned-actor is a burden, but I want to set a good precedent," he said. With this belief, he writes down his plans on A4 paper every year to self-assess. This year, he has registered for boxing for action roles and Japanese classes for overseas activities, showing his dedication to self-management.

"I've only been learning for two months. I can't even dream of sparring yet, just doing jump rope and mitt work. Due to my schedule, I go about twice a week, so progress is slow. (laughs) My goal isn't big. I just want it to become natural."

In the upcoming Coupang Play variety show 'Bonjour Bakery,' set to be released in May, Lee Ki-taek will showcase his true self, not as an actor. Joining esteemed seniors like Kim Hee-ae, Cha Seung-won, and Kim Seon-ho, he will take on the role of an assistant patissier, marking his first fixed variety show appearance. Having taken baking classes three times a week before filming, he approached it with a worker's mindset, saying, "I have no worries about my appearance in the variety show because I approached it as going to work," and expressed confidence, "Thanks to the warm embrace of the seniors, I enjoyed filming."

"Cha Seung-won and Kim Seon-ho are gentle and humorous. Kim Hee-ae warmly embraced everyone, creating harmony. Contrary to my worries, we laughed heartily and enjoyed filming."

He also mentioned his experience appearing as a tone-deaf duo on Mnet's 'I Can See Your Voice' in 2018. Regarding the video that recently resurfaced through algorithms, he laughed, "I participated thinking it would be good for an actor to have all kinds of experiences." He emphasized, "My singing skills are mediocre, but I'm not tone-deaf. I practiced not singing well with daily calls with the writer."

Lee Ki-taek aspires to be a 'competitive actor' beyond a 'rising star.' His goal is to consistently participate in one or two projects a year, always showing the public a new side of himself. He said, "'Efficient Meeting of Single Men and Women' is another turning point in my life," adding, "I think it was a drama that showed people 'Oh, Lee Ki-taek can act like this,' 'I thought he was always boring, but he can bring characters to life charmingly,'" he laughed.

Reporter Tae Yuna, Ten Asia youyou@tenasia.co.kr