“Netflix’s Favorite” Actor Chooses One Role That Pushed Him So Hard That He Broke Down In Tears

After When Life Gives You Tangerines and Weak Hero: Class 2 both brought tremendous success to the streaming platform Netflix, U-KISS member-turned-actor Lee Jun Young (also known as Jun) was crowned the next “Netflix’s Favorite Star.” In fact, during the Weak Hero press conference, Lee Jun Young acknowledged how fortunate he was and expressed his gratitude for the opportunities to take on different roles on the platform.

That said, though, the idol and actor revealed that his most challenging villain role was for a 2023 Wavve original K-Movie, Brave Citizen.

In a recent episode of KBS‘s Problem Child In House, Lee Jun Young named his role as Han Soo Kang the most memorable villain—one that had the biggest emotional aftereffects. In Brave Citizen, Han Soo Kang is a menace. He is a shameless school bully, backed by his powerful family. When the movie was released, Lee Jun Young’s chilling portrayal of the borderline psychopath received high praise.

He noted, “The scene in which [he] had to torment a grandmother was difficult,” as it reminded him of his own grandmother, who was unwell at the time of the shoot.

I thought I acted evil enough, but the director told me I still looked too nice, so I tried even harder to channel the villain.

But there was a scene where I stubbed out a cigarette on a piece of gimbap that the grandmother was selling. It was an ad-lib scene. I was immersed in the moment. But when break time came, the emotions overwhelmed me, and I cried.

— Lee Jun Young

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