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Actor Lee Jong Hyun sits for an interview to share his thoughts on the recently-concluded action comedy Study Group.
On the afternoon of February 24, actor Lee Jong Hyun had an interview at the Newsen headquarters in Gangnam, Seoul, following the conclusion of the TVING original series Study Group.
Study Group is a high-school-themed action comedy that follows Yoon Ga Min (Hwang Min Hyun), who dreams of excelling academically but is only gifted in fighting. Enrolling in a notorious school, where bullies reign, he forms a study group and, along with his friends, engages in bloody fights, making a desperate effort to study and go to college.
Lee Jong Hyun played the role of Kim Se Hyun, a student at Yusung Technical High School who wants to excel in studies, but is weighed down by the harsh reality of his miserable life.
Having successfully completed his debut K-drama Study Group, Lee Jong Hyun shared his thoughts on the show's conclusion. When asked about how he feels, he expressed his gratitude, saying, "Since my role was a big one, I felt a lot of pressure, but I'm so grateful that so many people liked it. Even the actors really liked it."
Regarding the reactions from those around him, he added, "At first, my friends said they couldn't watch it because I was in it, but once the show started, they ended up enjoying it," he said. "My family was so proud that they even hung up a large poster at home. My parents even made a calendar with my face on it and handed it out to people. I told them not to do that because it was embarrassing, but honestly, I was feeling happy on the inside."
Study Group enjoyed immense popularity, topping TVING's paid subscriber contribution rankings for four consecutive weeks.
Lee Jong Hyun cited Hwang Min Hyun's visuals as the show's number one factor for success and added, "The genre of Study Group itself is somewhat predictable yet unfamiliar [at the same time.]" He explained, "It's a school drama, but it incorporates action, and I think the action scenes themselves were well-made and executed in a really fun way." When asked if he contributed to the show's popularity, he replied, "I think people liked my performance because I blended in well and there weren't any moments where my acting felt lacking or stood out awkwardly."
Although Study Group is known for its dynamic action scenes, Lee Jong Hyun's character, Se Hyun, had little involvement in them. When asked if he felt disappointed about this, he admitted, "Watching the other actors pull off cool action sequences made me a bit envious. But I was already deeply immersed in my character, so I'm satisfied with the kind of action Se Hyun was able to do."
He continued, "In episode 10, he fights strategically alongside Min Hwan (Baek Seo Hoo), and in episode 5, although he gets help from Ga Min, he still manages to win in a believable way. I really enjoyed those unique action moments, like when he gets up with determination and wins by bumping his head. Those kinds of scenes were fun."
Leaving a strong impression from his very first scene, Lee Jong Hyun shared, "I had a lot of discussions with the director about Se Hyun's portrayal in the beginning. In the webtoon, you don't see much of Se Hyun's prickly side. But the director said that since Se Hyun is a character dealing with real-life struggles, he wanted him to look like an ordinary student." He continued, "Se Hyun isn't a fighter, but he was portrayed as a bit sharp-tempered — kind of like how small animals like cats or Chihuahuas tend to overreact when provoked."
When asked about his own school days, Lee Jong Hyun replied, "Back then, I was quite different from Se Hyun. I didn't like studying, nor did I put much effort into it. I preferred hanging out with my friends." However, he added, "Now that I've started acting, I find myself thinking a lot more about real-life concerns, just like Se Hyun. That's why I could understand his struggles — how he couldn't fully focus on studying because he was preoccupied with real-world problems."
If Lee Jong Hyun were in Se Hyun's position, torn between reality and his dreams, what would he choose? "I think I'd choose my dream," he said. "If I could give Se Hyun advice, I'd tell him to follow his dream. I hope he chooses his dream over reality and lives happily. But since I'm experiencing the realities [of life] myself while acting, I don't think I could say it to him so easily."
Director Lee Jang Hoon previously mentioned that the reason he cast Lee Jong Hyun in Study Group was because of his expressive eyes. Reflecting on this, Lee Jong Hyun said, "At first, I didn't really understand what he meant, but after the show aired, a lot of people around me said similar things. [They told me] my eyes always looked teary like I had a story to tell." He continued, "My deep double eyelids probably stood out more because I lost nearly 10kg for the role, and since it was my first time filming under such a tight schedule, I was often exhausted. Seeing that on the screen made me realize just how important it is to manage physical health."
When asked about his role model, Lee Jong Hyun said, "Kim Soo Hyun sunbae is someone I want to be like, both in acting and appearance. He comes to the company whenever he has time and sometimes teaches acting." He added, "He is someone with many years of experience, yet he still does slack off on his practice. I am learning a lot."
Lee Jong Hyun, along with the rest of the cast, is eagerly hoping for Study Group Season 2.
He expressed his wish, saying, "The project itself was amazing, but more than anything, it was the great set, actors, and staff [who made it so special]. Because being on set was so enjoyable, I think that's why everyone is hoping for a second season."
