Hallyu favourites Lee Dong-wook and Lee Sung-kyung partner up in the new series, The Nice Guy, which is a fresh yet nostalgic mix of romance and crime.
The story follows Seok-cheol (Dong-wook), the eldest son in an organised crime family who dreams of becoming a writer, and his first love Mi-young (Sung-kyung).
Together, they navigate a story brimming with youthful longing and harsh realities.
Speaking at a recent press event in Seoul, Dong-wook – celebrated for his performances in TV drama hits such as Guardian: The Lonely And Great God and A Shop For Killers – explained why he took the role.
“For the past four to five years, I’ve mostly been doing fantasy-based works, and I was feeling a bit worn out,” he said.
“I wanted to do something more grounded and realistic, where I could portray a realistic character.”
Adding that he did not do a lot of special preparation for the role, he said: “You could call it everyday acting. At times, it might even feel like you’re seeing the real Lee Dong-wook.
“I wanted to portray a more relatable, ordinary character – someone you might actually encounter in real life – by staying flexible on set and working closely with the other actors,” he said.
“Director Song Hae-sung described the show’s vibe as a throwback to the 1980s and 90s, with a focus on first love and gangster life.
“We aimed for something subtle, like Pyongyang cold noodles – simple at first but lingering in your mind,” Dong-wook added.
Addressing ongoing concerns about glamourising gangsters – a frequent challenge in Korean noir storytelling – Dong-wook spoke candidly.
“The role of a gangster might come off as old-fashioned or cliche,” he said.
“But by showing the character as somewhat pitiful and pathetic, it feels more real.”
He added: “When I spoke with the director and writers, we all agreed that there would be no glamorisation.
“I had no intention of making the character look cool at all.” – The Korea Herald/Asia News Network
The Nice Guy is available on Disney+ Hotstar.
