[Interview] "As You Stood By" Lee Ho-jung, "Lee Jung-rim reached out to me after "Song of the Bandits"

Actress Lee Ho-jung shared how she came to join the Netflix series "As You Stood By", saying she was grateful to receive the offer after the director saw her previous work. She also explained the special meaning the project holds for her.

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On the afternoon of the 17th, Lee Ho-jung met with YTN at a café in Nonhyeon-dong, Gangnam District, Seoul, during interviews commemorating the release of "As You Stood By" on Netflix. In the series, which premiered on November 7th, she transforms into the ambitious character No Jin-yeong, showcasing a striking new side of herself.

"As You Stood By" follows two women who decide to kill to escape a reality where it's kill or be killed, only to become entangled in unforeseen events. Within just three days of its release, the show entered the Top 10 in 22 countries worldwide, including South Korea, Brazil, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Thailand, Vietnam, and Indonesia.

Lee Ho-jung first expressed her gratitude for the enthusiastic response from viewers at home and abroad. She said, "I'm relieved and grateful that so many people are watching it. It seems to be receiving more love than I expected, which makes me really happy. I hope it spreads even more through word of mouth".

Playing an ambitious woman who will stop at nothing to achieve her goals, Lee Ho-jung raised the tension of the story. Her character, No Jin-yeong, dreams of becoming the first female Commissioner General of the Korean National Police Agency, and ruthlessly eliminates anyone she perceives as an obstacle.

Marking the eighth year since her acting debut in the 2016 MBC drama "Night Light", Lee Ho-jung delivers a completely different performance in this project, proving her solid acting range. She sheds the glamorous and upbeat image she has shown in the past, fully embracing a character driven by fierce ambition.

When asked how she joined the project, Lee Ho-jung said she accepted the offer after receiving a call from director Lee Jung-rim. "I later heard that the director saw one of my previous works and wanted to work with me", she said. "She told me she watched "The Night Owl". It was the first time something like that happened to me, so I was really thankful and happy".

After receiving the script, she was drawn to the fast-paced plot and the character. "I happily received the script, but from episode four onward, I became really curious and wanted to be a part of it so badly. I was so eager that I even trembled during the meeting. About two weeks later, I heard the final decision".

She added that No Jin-yeong wasn't just a typical villain, which made her want to portray the character even more effectively. "I found an old interview where I said I wanted to play a psychopath", Lee Ho-jung said with a laugh. "For No Jin-yeong, I thought it would be good if she became increasingly hysterical toward the end".

Lee Ho-jung also described the character's background. "No Jin-yeong is someone with exceptional capabilities who rises to a high position, respected and admired by her juniors. In society, she probably seemed perfect. But at home, she grew up competing with her older brother in a dysfunctional family full of conflict".

She revealed that she contributed ideas to depict the character's perfectionist tendencies. "I felt that No Jin-yeong would move through life with everything planned out, so I always kept a suit and dress shoes in the trunk of her car. That detail didn't actually appear in the show, but I wanted to convey the feeling that she was always prepared".

Lee Ho-jung added that she pushed herself even harder because the director believed in her. "I'm not great at expressing myself, but I really liked the director", she said. "Her words, 'I wanted to work with you', truly touched me. I didn't want to disappoint her, so I worked even harder".

Finally, Lee Ho-jung said, ""As You Stood By" was a project I genuinely wanted to do, so I was happy throughout the process. Being part of a good production means a lot to me. It's a show that leaves you with a lot to think about, and it carries a meaningful message, so I hope people will definitely check it out".

"As You Stood By" premiered on Netflix on November 7th. The cast includes Lee Ho-jung, Jeon So-nee, Lee Yoo-mi, Jang Seung-jo, and Lee Mu-saeng. The series is directed by Lee Jung-rim, known for "VIP" and "Revenant".