BEIJING, Jan. 16 (Xinhuanet) -- South Korean movie star Lee Min-ho takes on his first lead role in Director Yoo Ha's "Gangnam Blues".
This time around though, Lee explores a completely different role than he's used to - an aggressive, violent character, a stark contrast from the usual romantic-film-comedy hunk he's become known for. Confessing that he has no experience playing this new character, he says he hopes the role can help expand his repertoire.
It's the third and final movie in the filmmaker's street trilogy. Like the previous two films, "Once Upon a Time in High School" and "A Dirty Carnival", "Gangnam Blues" also explores the theme of desire, betrayal and power struggles on the streets of Seoul.
Along with the film's director and co-stars, Lee attended a press conference in Seoul on Tuesday to talk about the movie.
The 27-year-old is now one of the most sought-after South Korean actors. Lee began his career in television, with shows like "Boys Over Flowers" and "City Hunter", which catapulted him into super-stardom across Asia.
But "Gangnam Blues" is his first attempt to establish himself as a film star.
Lee said he was excited when he got the opportunity to star in the film and embrace the chance to lose some of his "bad TV habits". . "This is the first film where I played the lead, so I really needed to step up my game. Instead of just trying too hard, I wanted to focus on the delivery of this character. The director helped a lot with that. It should be more effortless, instead of trying too hard," he said.
The previous films in Yoo Ha's trilogy were also known for their no-holds-barred, unapologetic violence. Lee said that during filming, he had to let out a part of himself that he didn't know existed.
"I feel like I've let the violent side of me come out. I didn't even know that I could deliver this kind of aggressive and violent look," he said.
Set in the 1970s, "Gangnam Blues" tells the story of two orphans navigating through the power struggles and violence on the streets of Seoul during the Gangnam district's real estate development boom.
Even though it's a tale from another era, Lee said that the theme of desire still has resonance today.
"You can see it all around you, even today. For example, you see it in fathers who want to provide for their family, and buy presents for their kids; or the generation of twenty-somethings who are studying hard or working hard for a better future," he said.
"Gangnam Blues" will hit theaters in South Korea next Wednesday, and in Hong Kong on February 5th.
(Source: CNTV.cn)
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