Lee Byung Hun, one of Korea’s most respected actors, surprised fans by opening up about his difficult early days in acting.
On September 19, he attended the Actor’s House talk session at the 30th Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) and shared honest reflections about his career.
Lee Byung Hun confessed, “Honestly, even after I became an actor, I didn’t really want to be one. I had never even dreamed of becoming an actor. My mother’s friend suggested I audition, and I had never acted or even read lines before, so it was really hard.”
He recalled his struggles in the 1990s, saying, “In the mid-90s, I had already failed with two movies. Back then, if a new actor failed once, no one wanted to invest in you again. I thought of myself as a failed actor.”
But fate changed when he worked with director Park Chan Wook on Joint Security Area (JSA). Lee Byung Hun said, “Director Park had also failed before, so we were both taking a chance. That project turned everything around.”
Reflecting on his 35-year career, Lee Byung Hun admitted, “Actors live by waiting. Sometimes years pass without projects, and you start blaming yourself. But you can’t just sit still. You have to keep preparing, whether it’s learning English, horse riding, swimming, or reading a lot. A prepared actor cannot be ignored forever.”
Despite his status as a global star with projects like Squid Game and G.I. Joe, Lee Byung Hun humbly said, “When people call me a global star, it still doesn’t feel real. I always feel nervous, but in the end, I just tell myself, ‘Let’s go for it.’”
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