[Interview] Actor Lee Ki-taek, "Happy to play the role"

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"The director told me that Ji-soo should be a character who is loved no matter what he does, but at the same time feels realistic, someone who could exist anywhere".

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In an interview held on the 3rd at the Yonhap News building, Lee Ki-taek said he "had a lot of fun and felt happy" portraying a bold, younger male character who captures viewers' hearts in the JTBC drama "The Practical Guide to Love".

In the series, which ended on the 5th, he played Sin Ji-soo, a theater actor who attends a blind date in place of an older acquaintance. There, he meets Lee Eui-yeong (Han Ji-min) and forms a love triangle with another suitor, Song Tae-seop (Park Sung-hoon).

Lee Ki-taek has portrayed younger male characters multiple times in previous works, including "Three Bold Siblings", "My Happy Ending", and even the BL (Boys' Love) series "Bon Appetit".

"Even though they're all 'younger man' roles, I thought each character had clear differences", he said. "During auditions, directors often told me my image changes drastically depending on my hairstyle. I think that made them believe I could transform to fit the character they envisioned".

In the drama, Sin Ji-soo won viewers' hearts with his tall appearance and straightforward charm. While both Lee Ki-taek and his character shared a passion for acting, he noted that Ji-soo's unpredictable and outgoing personality was very different from his own.

"Ji-soo speaks boldly and acts playfully, but everything he does is sincere, that's why he isn't unlikable", Lee Ki-taek explained. "Even when expressing his feelings to Eui-yeong, he tried to keep a boundary so she wouldn't feel pressured, and so his sincerity would come across as pure".

Through this project, Lee Ki-taek formed a key axis of the drama by creating a love triangle alongside veteran actors like Han Ji-min and Park Sung-hoon. He admitted feeling pressure, especially since his character had to be charming enough to make Eui-yeong hesitate.

"I've admired both of them since before I started acting, so I really wanted to blend in well rather than stand out", he said. "I contributed a lot of ideas about scenes, outfits, and hairstyles, and when the director said on set, 'Ji-soo has really come to life', I was deeply moved".

If "The Practical Guide to Love" introduced Lee Ki-taek's charm as an actor, his next project, Coupang Play's "Bonjour Bakery", premiering on the 8th of next month, will show his more personal side.

"Bonjour Bakery" is a variety show where actors open a senior dessert café in a rural village and bond with residents. Lee Ki-taek transforms into an assistant pâtissier, helping Cha Seung-won.

"I approached it with the mindset of a worker rather than a TV personality", he said with a laugh. "It might just be my own thought, but senior Cha Seung-won told me I did great. I'd be happy if I could become one of his favorite juniors".

Lee also shared that he learned baking for the show and is constantly preparing himself to seize opportunities.

"Before preparing for '"The Practical Guide to Love"', I learned golf. Now I'm learning boxing and Japanese. I'm preparing for boxing for action roles, and studying Japanese because I think it will help with activities in Japan".

Before becoming an actor, Lee Ki-taek entered the entertainment industry as a model. Starting with the 2020 web drama "In Seoul Season 2", he has steadily built his acting career through various projects.

"I started modeling because I wanted to act, but I really enjoyed it", he said. "Through modeling, I developed an understanding of clothing and visual image, which helped me build the character of Ji-soo".

Although he has recently gained attention as a supporting male lead in works like "My Happy Ending" and "The Practical Guide to Love", the journey to establishing himself as an actor has been filled with anxiety and self-doubt.

Through this process, the drama gave him courage, as it tells the story of people taking their first steps toward love despite fear and hesitation.

"Setting up a blind date isn't easy", he said. "Everything is part of the process toward a result, and even if there's no result, we shouldn't blame ourselves. I want to tell viewers not to criticize themselves, if you love and take care of yourself, people will eventually recognize you".

He added, "When I was doing minor roles, I started with the mindset that I'd be on set once a year. Now, I hope to become an actor who works on one or two projects a year. No matter the genre, I want to be known as someone sincere and truly good at acting".