Lee Sung-wook Reflects on 'TRI.BE' Villain Role: 'I Didn't Read Comments to Avoid Being Hurt'

Actor Lee Sung-wook has shared his honest thoughts on the intense reactions to his villainous role in the recently concluded SBS drama 'TRI.BE'.

In the series, Lee Sung-wook played Jeon Nak-gyun, the archery coach, who incited viewers' anger with his sly and malicious portrayal. As the main antagonist orchestrating teacher abuse, admissions bribery, and match-fixing, he significantly heightened the drama's tension.

Reflecting on the drama's successful run, Lee Sung-wook expressed, "I really enjoyed watching it, and my family watched it together, feeling sad about it ending. The teamwork was great, and even though there were intense scenes, we filmed with laughter. I think I will miss it a lot." He also commented on the viewer feedback calling his character "too wicked," stating, "It's gratifying and makes me feel good. I take it as proof that I was able to embody the character well."

The actor admitted to feeling anger towards his character, Jeon Nak-gyun, specifically mentioning the scene where Seo Woo-jin (played by Park Jeong-yeon) gets hurt and the scene where he has to kneel before Bae Yi-jin (played by Lim Se-mi). He confessed, "I thought, 'This is too much.' I felt it was quite severe."

Lee Sung-wook acknowledged the significant internal discussions regarding the intensity of his villainous performance. "We discussed with the director that if we're going to portray him as bad, let's be ruthless," he explained. "While there were comedic elements before, we decided to go all out for that particular scene." Because of this, he revealed that he intentionally avoided reading comments, anticipating negative reactions. "I scrolled past comments because I was worried about getting too much hate. I appreciate the attention, but I avoided them to protect myself from getting hurt," he frankly admitted.

Furthermore, Lee Sung-wook disclosed receiving malicious direct messages (DMs) on Instagram, stating, "It didn't feel good."

Lee Sung-wook debuted in 2006 with the play 'Yi'.

He has showcased a wide range of acting skills in various plays, films, and dramas.

He leaves a strong impression in every project with his unique charisma and stable acting ability.