Director Ahn Pan Seok on Lee Je Hoon's white hair styling in 'The Art of Negotiation'

Lee Je Hoon and director Ahn reveal the thought process behind the main character's white hair styling in The Art of Negotiation.

The Art of Negotiation is an office drama that follows the exploits of the ace negotiator Yoon Joo No (Lee Je Hoon) — a corporate M&A expert — and his team.  

Taxi Driver actor Lee Je Hoon takes on the role of Yoon Joo No, known as the "white serpent" of the negotiation world, garnering attention with his white-haired styling.  

Regarding his styling, he shared, "I expressed the character's near-perfect inner qualities as a negotiator in a way that could be understood just from the first impression of him alone. This aspect allowed me to see Yoon Joo No as a distinctive character."It is also revealed that this styling came through the strong recommendation of director Ahn Pan Seok. Lee Je Hoon revealed, "When the idea was first proposed, both I and those around me were concerned that it might not be feasible. However, the director strongly pushed for it, and thanks to the meticulous and detailed work of our makeup and costume teams, I was able to proceed with confidence."  

Director Ahn Pan Seok explained that he saw Yoon Joo No's white hair as a symbolic element. He stated, "Since the character interacts with influential figures, he couldn't simply come across as a young man. I felt he needed to appear on equal footing with those around him. That's why I thought that the white hair that the writer initially wrote in the script would be nice as an object that makes his age impossible to guess."

He further explained, "One of our consultants actually has white hair and told me that it turned white in his early 30s." "Just like how [it is said that] Marie Antoinette's hair turned white overnight during the French Revolution, I wanted Yoon Joo No's hair to evoke an inexplicable, strange feeling in the audience, thereby, adding depth to his character."

Talking about Lee Je Hoon's immersion into the role of Yoon Joo No, director Ahn Pan Seok remarked, "From the moment he arrives on set until filming wraps, he lives as his character. He's so immersed in the character that even during breaks or meals, he maintains that presence. I hope viewers look forward to everything Lee Je Hoon brings to the screen."

The Art of Negotiation will premiere on March 8. The K-drama is reported to stream on Viki.  

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