Lee Sung-wook Reflects on 'Try' Co-stars: 'Great Energy from Young Actors'

Actor Lee Sung-wook, who recently concluded his role in the SBS drama 'Try', shared his experience working with the new generation of actors.

In a recent interview with OSEN, Lee Sung-wook discussed his portrayal of Jeon Nak-gyun, the archery coach, noting how his antagonist performance sparked viewers' anger and heightened the drama's tension.

Due to the high school setting of 'Try', Lee Sung-wook found himself sharing many scenes with emerging young actors, alongside his more experienced peers. "The archery and rugby club members all had great energy and were very bright," he recalled. "Even when I was performing villainous actions, the other actors really met me halfway, making it comfortable to film." He also reminisced about instances where the rugby players' laughter led to retakes.

Lee Sung-wook also highlighted what he learned from his younger colleagues. "I felt the passion and drive they had at that age. As an actor with many years of experience, you can sometimes rely on seniority, but this project reminded me that I need to maintain that intense passion," he stated.

Echoing the drama's title, 'Try', Lee Sung-wook emphasized the importance of challenge in his current career goals. "Just as I rediscovered passion, I want to be an actor who continuously challenges and grows," he said. He added, "I aim to proactively seek out roles and projects across all genres where I can take the initiative and propose my involvement."

Looking back at his character, Jeon Nak-gyun, who was dismissed as the archery coach and did not appear at the end, Lee Sung-wook offered his own imagined ending. "I thought it would be interesting if he ended up looking quite pathetic," he mused. "Perhaps he'd encounter Jeong-yeon but be unable to even greet her, or maybe he'd rationalize his downfall by thinking it was just bad luck rather than admitting fault."

Lee Sung-wook debuted in the 2006 play 'Where the Wind Blows' and has since built a diverse career across theater, film, and television. He gained significant recognition for his role as resident doctor Heo Seon-bin, the long-term boyfriend of Jang Gyeo-ul (Shin Hyun-been), in the 'Hospital Playlist' series.