He also talked about how he first learned that he was well-known overseas.

With his role as Jang Uk in the Korean fantasy show Alchemy of Souls, Lee Jae Wook has won the hearts of people all over the world.

The second season of the drama just ended to great reviews, and audiences loved the cast, especially the main actors.

But Lee Jae Wook says that at first he wasn't sure if he wanted to take part in the project.

The show had 30 episodes, which were split into two parts.

The first season came out in June and was over by August. The second season began in December and ended in January.

In a recent interview, Lee said that he wasn't sure at first if he should take on the project because of how long it would take.

"I wasn't sure if I would be able to do a long project well… But as an actor, I'm happy with how the series turned out, so I'm thankful to have been in it." The Korea Times, Lee Jae Wook

Lee also thought the setting of the series was hard to understand, even more so than the time span.

The show is a mix of fantasy, romance, and action, which was pretty new for him as an actor. Jang Uk's character was also hard to get right because it had many different parts.

"Alchemy of Souls" is a rare fantasy, romance, and action series in Korea. I wasn't sure if I could finish this series because it was so hard… And because Uk has many different sides, I was scared." The Korea Times, Lee Jae Wook

But he signed up for the challenge in the end because he was ambitious and creative as an artist.

"But then I thought, 'When will I ever see a piece like this again?' and decided to take the challenge."The Korea Times, Lee Jae Wook

He also said that the way he prepared for the same character in each season was very different.

He had to carefully change Jang Uk's mannerisms so that the character change would be clear but seem natural.

"I thought the characters were very different between parts 1 and 2. During the table read, the writers told me they want me to build the character (in season 2) as if he were a different person. So, to make a completely different character, I tried to find a new tone and read the lines in a faster, more strained way." The Korea Times, Lee Jae Wook
In the past few months, Lee Jae Wook has become a well-known star around the world thanks to how popular both seasons of the show were.

The actor said that when he went to Malaysia recently and got a huge welcome at the airport, he realized how popular K-content is around the world.

Alchemy of Souls fans are probably more than happy that he didn't back down from the challenge.

Source(1)

Lee Kyung Gyu's star-making influence goes beyond Kang Ho Dong, as Hong Jin Kyung shares how he helped her kickstart her career.

On the April 24 episode of KBS 2TV’s Problem Child in House, legendary comedian Lee Kyung Gyu appeared as a guest—and a touching story from the past was revealed.

Hong Jin Kyung surprised everyone when she said, “He’s the teacher for all of us. Personally, he’s the one who helped me debut.” She even pinned a carnation flower on his chest to show her gratitude.

Lee Kyung Gyu smiled and said, “I still remember when Hong Jin Kyung walked up the stairs onto the stage for the first time.”

Hong Jin Kyung then shared her journey to becoming a star. “I joined a supermodel contest, but only the top 3 winners were noticed in broadcasting. I got a special prize, so I had no chance to be on TV."

She continued, "At first, I was just a backup for a show. But somehow, I became a regular the next week. I never knew why."

She added, "I thought the PD gave me a shot. But then one day, I randomly met Kyung Gyu sunbae, and he told me it was actually him who recommended me.”

Kim Sook asked with a smile, “So Kyung Gyu sunbae said nice things about you to the PD?”

Lee Kyung Gyu playfully replied, “Don’t say it in such a childish way,” making everyone laugh.

He then explained more seriously, “The show was Scoop TV Entertainment, and I was pretty much the main MC. When Jin Kyung showed up, I saw her determination and passion."

He added, "While others didn’t seem serious, she really stood out. I told the PD, ‘She seems unique. Why not keep her on the show?’”

Kim Jong Kook chimed in, “So if the main MC said that, doesn’t that mean you basically got her in?”

That made Lee Kyung Gyu happy. He grinned and replied, “Exactly! You speak well. Be like him!”

He added, “After that, Jin Kyung’s career took off. She started doing shows with Lee Young Ja and just kept going.”

Fans are now calling Lee Kyung Gyu not only a top MC, but also a quiet star-maker behind the scenes!

Source: [1]