Top K-Drama Actor Reveals His Family’s Drastic Financial Downfall

In 1997, South Korea faced a significant financial crisis, which is also known as the IMF crisis. During this period, many working-class and middle-class families went bankrupt, completely overturning their lives in a blink.

As it turns out, actor Lee Je Hoon‘s family was among those who saw a drastic change in their livelihoods when the IMF crisis hit.

On June 2, KST, Lee sat down for an interview to talk about his latest movie, Big Deal, which is set against the backdrop of the 1997 IMF crisis. It tells the story of two professionals with opposing values battling over the fate of Korea’s national soju industry.

While talking about his personal experience during the IMF crisis, Lee stated, “I actually experienced a difficult time during the IMF crisis, so it was meaningful to tell this story.” The actor proceeded to recount the crisis period he witnessed firsthand.

From my middle school to when I was in my early 20s, I remember the IMF period. My family ran a business— a rice shop and a restaurant. After the IMF crisis, I saw my father going out to do day labor and that’s when I realized just how difficult things had become.

— Lee Je Hoon

Lee added that he vividly remembered what it was like to see small businesses collapse around him, and hence, the story of Big Deal hit close to home.

Despite the setback, Lee Je Hoon never faltered on his path. While studying as a Biotechnology major at Korea University, he decided to give his dream of becoming an actor a shot. Hence, he left the discipline and joined the School of Drama at the Korea National University of Arts. With over 20 years of hard work, Lee has now secured himself a position among the top Korean actors, leaving behind the scars of the IMF crisis era.