Lee Sung-wook on His Villain Role in 'Trainee': 'I Want to Try Even More Brutal Villains'

Actor Lee Sung-wook has opened up about his experience portraying villains, particularly his recent role as Jeon Nak-gyun in the SBS drama 'Trainee'.

In a recent interview with OSEN, Lee Sung-wook discussed his performance as the archery coach who stirred up viewers' anger. He shared, "When I first read the script, I felt the story was simple, bright, and hopeful. While I had concerns about my character, I believed as an actor, I should try various roles. I chose this project thinking it would be enjoyable overall, even if I received backlash."

Lee Sung-wook, who hasn't played many villains before, found the character Jeon Nak-gyun relatable to real-life individuals, making the portrayal less challenging. He explained, "He's a character with clear objectives and a direct way of speaking, so it wasn't too difficult. Although I don't understand it, aren't there many people in reality who refuse to admit their mistakes? In that sense, Jeon Nak-gyun was actually a fitting character."

He contrasted this role with Choi Sil-jang in the recently released Netflix series 'Hunting Dogs'. "I had to portray a character with power that is rarely encountered in everyday life. I relied heavily on fellow actor Jin Seon-kyu and the director for research," he added.

Reflecting on the filming of 'Trainee', Lee Sung-wook attributed the numerous NGs to the high level of improvisation. "The director allowed for a lot of spontaneous moments on set, cutting out unnecessary parts. Most NGs happened because we couldn't stop laughing. Se-mi and Yo-han also laugh a lot, so the atmosphere was bright. We often burst into laughter while exchanging ad-lib ideas," he recalled.

Despite the acclaim for his villainous portrayal, Lee Sung-wook expressed a desire to take on even more challenging villainous roles. "Choi Sil-jang was a detestable character, but I'd like to try playing a truly brutal villain. I want to continue exploring roles, whether good or evil, that are worth taking on after reading the script," he stated.

When asked about the gap between his characters and reality, he remarked, "While parts of myself were reflected in playing Jeon Nak-gyun, my attitude towards life is very different. I consider myself an idealist who values the process itself, and I tend to be righteous in real life." He further commented, "I think I resemble Bang Heung-nam, played by Jung Soon-won, more than Bae Ji, played by Im Se-mi. It's the aspect of working hard without necessarily taking the lead that feels closer to my reality."

Finally, addressing the drama's theme of 'good adults,' Lee Sung-wook shared his thoughts. "It seems there aren't many adults with true 'adulthood' these days or in the past, perhaps due to human greed. A balance is necessary between idealistic characters like Joo Ga-ram or the principal and realistic individuals. However, I certainly don't want to become an adult who only thinks of themselves, like Jeon Nak-gyun," he concluded.

Lee Sung-wook made his acting debut in the 2006 play 'The Glass Mask'.

He has garnered attention for his impactful performances in numerous popular dramas, including 'Mr. Sunshine', 'Anna', and 'Narco-Saints'.

In 2023, Lee Sung-wook expanded his range as a villain with his roles as Jeon Nak-gyun in 'Trainee' and Choi Sil-jang in 'Hunting Dogs'.