Lee Dong Wook has opened up about his long career, revealing that he has never experienced burnout despite working steadily for nearly three decades.

The 45-year-old actor entered the entertainment industry in 1999 after winning a modeling competition. Since then, he has appeared in many popular projects, including the School series, My Girl, Scent of a Woman, and Goblin.

He later expanded his acting range through darker genre projects such as Strangers from Hell, the Tale of the Nine Tailed series, and the Disney+ action thriller A Shop for Killers. He is currently continuing his role in the second season of A Shop for Killers.

Despite his long list of successful projects, Lee Dong Wook said he does not consider himself a top star.

“I do not think I am at the top. Maybe that is the reason I have been able to work for such a long time,” he said.

He jokingly named Yoo Jae Suk as his personal example of a true top celebrity.

“The top star I think of is Yoo Jae Suk. He is someone who can connect with every generation and the entire public. Unless you are at Jae Suk’s level, I do not think you can easily use the word ‘top,’” he said.

Lee Dong Wook explained that consistency, rather than special talent or status, may have helped him remain familiar to viewers.

“I have simply continued doing my work steadily and diligently. I rarely had long breaks, so I think viewers became familiar with seeing me. I also do not think I have done many things that would make the public turn away from me,” he shared.

The actor then discussed his personal approach to burnout. He said remaining inactive can make difficult emotions feel worse, while continuing to move helps him avoid falling into a deeper slump.

“When people do not work, they can lose their energy. Personally, I have never felt burnout. When you stay still, hide at home, and avoid contact with others, a slump can naturally become deeper. I believe you need to move even more during those times,” he explained.

He added that his attitude does not come from being completely devoted to work.

“It is not that I have a personality that loves working. I simply think that after a person is born, they should continue doing something. That may be why I have not taken many breaks,” he said.

Lee Dong Wook also explained that screen time is not the main factor he considers when choosing a project. He previously made a special appearance in the film Harbin and has continued selecting roles that allow him to try something different.

“I do not care much about the amount of screen time. When the overall story is good or my character has even one moment to shine, I do not think the size of the role is important,” he said.

He continued, “The most important thing is my desire to challenge myself with a new character or a new genre. That is usually my biggest standard.”

Outside acting, Lee Dong Wook has also built a strong presence in entertainment programs. He served as the host of Produce X 101, launched his own talk show Because Lee Dong Wook Wants to Talk, and became a popular recurring guest on the web variety show Pinggyego.

He said he continues appearing on variety programs because he genuinely enjoys making people laugh.

“I am now entering my late 40s, and I have realized that enjoyment and laughter are truly important. You only live once, so should life not be fun? I also do not think appearing on variety shows will seriously harm me,” he said.

Although he would like to host another talk show, Lee Dong Wook admitted that the experience was more difficult than he expected.

“I honestly want to try another talk show, but after doing one, I realized how difficult it is. It was hard to decide whether the focus should be comedy or information,” he explained.

He also noted that hosts must carefully handle sensitive social issues and study a new topic for every guest.

“I cannot know everything about every field, so having to study something new each week for every guest was not easy. I still have the desire to do it, but I probably will not. There may also be nobody who wants to give me another show,” he joked.

Lee Dong Wook also gave a playful response when asked about his chances of winning at this year’s Pinggyego awards. He recently appeared on the program with Kim Hye Joon to promote A Shop for Killers 2, marking his tenth appearance and earning the title of honorary member.

“First, I do not think Kim Hye Joon can win. I also do not think I can win this year. My performances on Pinggyego were too limited. It was a year that made me reflect on myself,” he said.

Despite his self-critical joke, Lee Dong Wook expressed affection for the program and said it has helped him feel closer to viewers.

“It is fun and pleasant that people mention Pinggyego wherever I go. I feel like I have become closer to viewers, and it gives me something to talk about when meeting someone for the first time,” he shared.