Lee Min Ho is drawing attention for his different acting approach in the upcoming film The Assassin(s), with director Heo Jin Ho sharing how the actor prepared to portray a more realistic character.
The Assassin(s) follows the investigation surrounding the suspected background and unanswered questions behind a shooting incident that shocked South Korea in 1974. In the film, Lee Min Ho plays Young Il, a young reporter character whose role reportedly expanded during the development process after the actor joined the project.
Director Heo Jin Ho explained that Young Il was initially planned as a smaller role, but Lee Min Ho’s interest in the project led to the character receiving more depth. He said, “When Lee Min Ho showed interest, I thought adding a young reporter character would work well, so that part of the script became bigger.”
The director also revealed that he was impressed by Lee Min Ho’s previous performance in Pachinko, saying he wanted to see the actor take on a more grounded and realistic role.
Heo Jin Ho praised Lee Min Ho’s approach on set, describing him as an actor with many ideas who was able to bring a natural feeling to the character. He shared that some of Lee Min Ho’s dialogue came from the actor’s own suggestions during filming.
One example involved a scene where Young Il visits someone to gather information. The original script only included him bringing a fruit basket, but Lee Min Ho suggested that the situation could feel like a bribe and added a more natural line, creating a different atmosphere in the scene.
The director said Lee Min Ho’s ability to add unexpected but realistic details helped make the character feel more relatable. He also noted that after playing many roles with a polished image, Lee Min Ho showed interest in portraying a more ordinary and realistic character following his work in Pachinko.
With The Assassin(s), Lee Min Ho is expected to showcase a new side of his acting through a character that focuses more on realism and human emotions.
