Lee Min Ho has opened up about why he spent the past five years moving away from the romantic comedy image that made him one of Korea’s best-known Hallyu stars.
While promoting his new film Assassin(s), the actor explained that he intentionally chose projects that placed more focus on the overall story and ensemble cast rather than making one character the center of everything.
Lee Min Ho said, “For about five years, I think my basic approach was that I wouldn’t do romantic comedies.”
He continued, “Rather than projects where one character stands out, I focused more on stories where the narrative comes first and the spotlight is shared among several actors.”
That shift can be seen in his recent work, including Pachinko, Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint, and now Assassin(s).
In Assassin(s), Lee Min Ho plays Young Il, a rookie reporter involved in a story set in 1974. For the actor, the role was another chance to move further away from the polished romantic lead image viewers have often associated with him.
He said one of his main concerns was whether he could naturally blend into the period and the world of the film.
“For this project, my challenge was whether I could really blend into a character from that era,” he said. “Rather than trying too hard to do something special, I tried to simply exist naturally in the scene.”
Lee Min Ho also revealed that his role had less screen time than many of the characters he played earlier in his career, but that did not affect his decision to join the project.
“If there is a point where the character feels alive within the story, I think that is enough,” he explained.
The actor also reflected on Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint, saying he had hoped to explore more of the relationship between Yoo Joong Hyuk and Kim Dok Ja.
He added, “I think Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint* is one of Korea’s representative IPs. If it can return in any form, I would like to participate.”*
Despite stepping away from romantic comedies for several years, Lee Min Ho made it clear that he has not completely left romance behind.
Instead, he said he now wants to take on love stories that fit his current age and emotional perspective.
“Rather than stories about falling in love at first sight and having a fiery romance like in my 20s, I think it may be time for a different kind of love,” he said.
He added, “If I do romantic comedy again, I think it should reflect the emotions I have at this age. If I simply repeat the kind of rom-coms I did in my 20s, I don’t think it would bring out new energy in me.”
Looking back, Lee Min Ho also said he is now grateful that he starred in many romance projects earlier in his career.
“At the time, people often asked why I kept doing romance, but now I think I’m glad I left behind so many of those works,” he shared.
For Lee Min Ho, the past five years appear to have been less about rejecting his “rom-com king” image and more about expanding what kind of actor he wants to become. At the same time, he is leaving the door open for a more mature romance role in the future.
