[HanCinema's News] Lee Hae-young-I Sparks Viewer Interest With New Role in "Mr. Plankton"

Actor Lee Hae-young-I is not an especially famous name in South Korean dramas. However, viewer interest in the actor has been piqued following his appearance in "Mr. Plankton" on Netflix. There, Lee Hae-young-I plays Chae Yeong-jo, the father of the lead character Hae-jo played by Woo Do-hwan. Or at least, that was what they had assumed. The relationship turned frosty when they learned that Yeong-jo was not the biological father, there having been a mistake with the insemination.

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Yeong-jo is an ambiguous character, seeming loving in the past but borderline cruel in the present day. Yeong-jo's rejection of his son is what spurs the main conflict of the story, with Hae-jo seeking out his real father. But Yeong-jo's emotional ties to Hae-jo linger, anchoring much of the story. Lee Hae-young's performance in particular emphasizes this point. On paper, he doesn't seem that relevant, yet leaves such a strong impression that viewers can only assume his return is inevitable.

In September, Lee Hae-young-I also enjoyed a fairly prominent role in "Officer Black Belt" on Netflix. There's no obvious reason for the higher profile of these roles. A veteran actor, Lee Hae-young-I has dozens of roles going back to "Over the Rainbow" back in 2002. His characters are named, but generally don't rise to level of supporting cast. Though he has no confirmed upcoming roles, casting directors have almost certainly taken note of Lee Hae-young-I's recent work.

Written by William Schwartz