Lee Jun Ho opened up in a recent interview about his experience working on tvN's latest Saturday-Sunday drama, Typhoon Family, which has now come to a close.
The story of Typhoon Family revolves around Kang Tae Poong, played by Lee Jun Ho, who finds himself at the helm of a struggling trading company on the brink of collapse, with barely any staff, depleted finances, and no products to speak of, all set against the tumultuous backdrop of the 1997 IMF crisis.
Lee Jun Ho took on the role of Kang Tae Poong in the K-drama, a character who rises to the top of his family's trading business after his father.
Lee Jun Ho still feels a strong emotional attachment to the series, even after its conclusion. Having devoted nearly a year to preparing for "Typhoon Family", he finds it especially difficult to move on from this project due to the significant amount of time and affection he poured into it, leaving a lasting impression that persists.
Lee reflected on his portrayal of Kang Tae Poong, saying that the character's openness and unapologetic nature resonated with him. He admired how Tae Poong wears his heart on his sleeve and tackles challenges head-on, which made him wonder how his own life might have been different if he had adopted a similar mindset during his younger years. What drew Lee to Tae Poong was the character's complexity and depth, allowing him to explore a wide range of emotions and facets within a single role, ultimately leaving a lasting impression on him.
To capture the essence of the late 1990s in the series, Lee Jun Ho dedicated himself to ensuring every detail, from the characters to the time period, was accurately portrayed. When it came to his hairstyle, he drew inspiration from iconic figures of the era, such as Lee Jae Hoon from the group Cool and singer Kim Min Jong, emulating the styles that were popular among his seniors at the time. He even considered dyeing his hair to achieve the desired highlights, but ultimately opted for hairpieces to achieve the authentic look he was going for.
Lee Jun Ho went to great lengths to perfect the traditional Seoul dialect, recognizing that an exaggerated accent can quickly become humorous. To achieve an authentic tone, he meticulously studied old news interviews, ensuring his portrayal would be genuine and nuanced.
The finale of Typhoon Family concluded on a triumphant note, with its last episode achieving a nationwide rating of 10.3%, the highest of the series, according to Nielsen Korea. Lee expressed his contentment, stating that he was thrilled to have met his target, saying, "I had been aiming for a 10% rating, and I'm glad we were able to exceed it, which made for a satisfying conclusion."
Kim Min Ha, the star of Typhoon Family, confessed to being a longtime admirer of Lee Jun Ho, which left the 35-year-old actor feeling thankful. He recalled, "Min Ha shared with me that she's been a fan, and I'm truly appreciative. When we spoke, I didn't notice a significant age difference, and she came across as a peer or a friend. However, when she mentioned that she was in school while I was already working, it took me by surprise. At first, I had a hard time wrapping my head around the fact that she grew up watching me, but it's slowly sinking in. Initially, I was in denial about my age, but I'm gradually coming to terms with it.
Lee opened up about the significance of Typhoon Family to him, sharing his perspective as an actor. He reflected, "This project gave me the opportunity to reveal a new side of myself, one that's distinct from my previous roles. Following my appearances in The Red Sleeve and King the Land, I was eager to take on a completely different type of story. Having already portrayed a king and a wealthy businessman, which were roles I had wanted to tackle after completing my military service, I found myself pondering what kind of more lighthearted character I could embody at this stage in my career.
As the days passed, he found himself increasingly drawn to the idea of release, of surrendering to the natural flow of life. The phrase "Spring arrives when you relax your grip" kept echoing in his mind, and he spent many hours reflecting on its true significance. This period of introspection proved to be a valuable learning experience, particularly with the arrival of Typhoon Family, which brought its own set of lessons and insights.
Lee's thoughts also turned to his career as a performer, and he shared his insight that acting isn't just a hobby, but a way of life. He believes that embracing the role of an actor brings immense value and opportunity, allowing him to tap into the excitement and difficulties of developing a character and becoming one with them. As he delves into building his characters, he experiences a rush of excitement every time he sees the final product come to life on screen.
His ultimate goal is to leave a lasting impression on audiences, making them eager to reflect on his performances. For him, acting is a profession that evokes strong emotions, whether it's joy or a deep sense of connection. This ability to move people is what drives him. He feels grateful for the consistent stream of projects that have allowed him to continue doing what he loves. Although filming can be overwhelming at times, the sense of relief that comes after a project's release makes it all worthwhile. He has always preferred to stay busy, believing that being productive is more fulfilling than idle downtime.
You can now catch Typhoon Family on the popular streaming platform Netflix.
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