From the U.S. to Taiwan, 'Weak Hero' takes over Netflix worldwide upon Season 2's release
Lee Je Hoon opens up about the challenges of running his own agency, his never-ending work schedule, how he makes investments, and more.
On April 14, an interview with the Taxi Driver actor Lee Je Hoon, whose latest drama The Art of Negotiation wrapped up airing, was held at a cafe in Gangnam, Seoul.
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.
The drama concluded on a high note, scoring 10.31% (nationwide) and 11.29% (metropolitan). And at the center of the show's success is its lead actor, Lee Je Hoon.
Talking about how the drama impacted him, Lee said, "I learned a lot through this drama," adding, "In a way, since I started running a management company in 2021, there have been many times when I was emotionally shaken and those feelings surfaced. I tried my best to hide it and not show it outwardly, but I'm a human too, I constantly had thoughts like, 'Isn't this unreasonable? Why is this happening to me?'"
He continued, "Every time situations like that came up, I would think, 'Why did I even start a company and put myself through all this? Just being an actor is already hard enough and overwhelming.' But through Yoon Joo No, I learned a lot about how to lead a company more wisely and how to negotiate with people. I think the key to it all is sincerity." "It's about honestly laying everything out — like, 'Why do I want this? And what does the other person want from me in order to make it happen?' I've come to realize that approaching things in roundabout ways or trying to hide something just doesn't work. If you show your honesty and sincerity without any strings attached, and if that comes across to the other person, then I truly believe there's nothing you can't achieve."
Lee Je Hoon also spoke about situations where negotiation is necessary. "When looking at a project and considering how it's interpreted, there is ultimately the creator’s desire to show something. But at the same time, I believe the audience and how they receive it are just as important, if not more so." "When I think about how I want this drama to be remembered by viewers or the audience, I believe a good project isn't something that fades away after just one viewing — it's something people keep coming back to, again and again."
He continued, "Keeping that in mind, I keep engaging in conversations because I want the project to become that kind of work," and added, "When it comes to the practical side of things — like guarantee [payment], number of shooting days, schedules for other projects — there's a lot. And since the coordination is nonstop, I often find myself pushing through and saying, 'I can do it,' 'Trust me with it,' just to make the project happen."
When asked what kind of boss he is in real life, he shared, "In front of my employees, I try to be understanding and say things like, 'It happens,' 'It's okay,' or 'If you keep at it, you can do anything.' But when I'm alone, I often pull my hair out, thinking, 'What am I supposed to do about this?'" He added, "That's why I learned a lot from Yoon Joo No. In the end, it's about making an effort to move toward a solution." He continued, "Rather than being overwhelmed by stress at the moment, I try to act with the mindset and hope that I'll eventually overcome the obstacle and move forward positively. I've come to believe that if you carry that kind of attitude, there's no problem you can't overcome." He went on to say, "In a way, every project comes with its own set of crises and issues, but I've developed a mindset that allows me to handle them wisely."
Lee Je Hoon on making a bold transformation by dyeing his hair white
Even before the premiere, Lee's visual transformation of dyeing his hair white had drawn much attention. However, the actor said this new and unique look came with many concerns.
"I never even considered having white hair to portray the nature of the character with sound judgment and rationality through imagery, but the director had a clear image in mind." "Since we weren't just filming for a day or two, but for four months, I thought it would be impossible to maintain that look. The production team felt the same way, and so did the makeup staff and hairdressers."
He went on to say, "In a way, it was almost like special effects makeup — that's how much time and effort went into creating Yoon Joo No's look. When we saw how he looked on camera during the first shoot, everyone was satisfied."
He also said, "I was really worried that viewers might find it weird and think, 'What's with the white hair?' But as time went on, I started to feel that there was no better look to convey the mystery surrounding Yoon Joo No."
He shared that he spent three hours a day transforming into the character, to a level comparable to special effects makeup. "As I would go on, my head would start to feel hot. I had to make a real effort to keep my composure (laughs). It was definitely challenging, but I felt a great sense of satisfaction in stepping into the role of Yoon Joo No, so I approached the filming with a positive mindset."
He went on to express his affection for the role, saying, "There were painful moments, but all I could feel was gratitude for being able to act like this." Speaking about his visual transformation, he said, "I'm so happy with it — it's to the point where I feel proud. All I had to do was endure, and I'm so thankful to the hairdressers and makeup team for making it happen." He added with a smile, "If this turns into an installment series, I guess I'll have to keep the white hair." When asked, "Do you actually get white hairs?" he replied, "Now that I'm getting older, I've been getting a lot of white hairs, so I dyed it just the other day."
The Art of Negotiation concluded with an open ending. When asked about the possibility of a second season, Lee Je Hoon said, "The crisis of Sanin Group's debt hasn't been fully resolved yet. We've left a wide possibility for the story to continue, so I'm hoping a sequel will be written.
In response to the question, "As an expert in multi-season dramas, do you see potential in this for another season?" he answered, "I think this story could easily go to Season 5 and beyond, like an American series."
"If the production team and broadcaster see value in this project, I really hope they'll listen to the viewers and continue developing the story."
Lee Je Hoon discusses the 2025 stock market crash and how he manages his investments
Also an angel investor, Lee Je Hoon, when asked if he has learned anything from Yoon Joo No's way of doing investments, said, "I'm interested in it too, and I often look into it, but I always feel that making predictions and having expectations about the future can be premature and is always difficult. I've gradually built my portfolio based on my experiences, but I'm still tapping on the stone bridge before crossing. Compared to when I didn't know as much, I've become less bold. I find it more difficult to make decisions now. It's ironic, but the more I know, the harder it becomes — at least for me. That said, I see the current situation [2025 stock market crash] as an opportunity. We've had times of volatility like this before. Human beings have a will to recover, and I believe we'll overcome this crisis and rise again. It may feel chaotic, but I see it as an opportunity. I even added more to my U.S. stock investments.
Responding to "Have you ever failed in an investment or lost money?", he said, "Of course. The amounts weren't large. Everyone diversifies their assets in their own way, and when I invest in a certain area, I don't usually go in too heavily. In the past, I focused only on the domestic market, but these days I take a broader approach, looking at overseas markets as well, so my investments are more spread out. People often say it's safer to invest only in developed countries, but I also believe that markets in developing countries could perform well in the long term, so I'm keeping an eye on them too. I try to envision the 'end result', but when I wonder whether I'll ever really reach an end before I die, I realize that human greed and desire have no limit. I hope my assets will grow, and I take action toward that goal, fully accepting the risks that come with it. I think that’s just life: a constant coexistence of ups and downs."
Will Lee Je Hoon ever take a breather?
Lee Je Hoon is booked and busy this year too. After wrapping up The Art of Negotiation, he is currently filming The Second Signal and Taxi Driver Season 3, both highly anticipated K-dramas. "This kind of situation has occurred due to my schedule, and I feel apologetic towards the production teams. I have completely surrendered my body to work and am just throwing myself into it. I've let go. I told them, 'Do as you wish,' 'Use me however you need,' and 'I don't have a personal life this year at least'. So if people ask me, 'When do you get to rest?' or 'Do you find your own ways to be happy?' I just want to say, 'I've given that up.' Right now, all I want to do is finish farming [these projects] well."
He continued, "I haven't had a vacation in four years. I've experienced burnout, but I feel like it's already passed. Now it’s more like I've transcended it. If I were to compare it to runners, it would be like a 'second wind' or 'runner's high.' It's the state where you push past your limits and keep running tirelessly. Now is not the time to worry about my physical condition. I think I'll only truly know how I'm doing once I finally get a chance to rest."
