Lee Min-ho on the desperation behind his 'Boys Over Flowers' role

Actor Lee Min-ho has candidly shared the desperation he felt during his early debut days, the intense efforts he made to embody his characters, and his deep affection for his family.

"Gu Jun-pyo's hair: a symbol of sincerity and desperation"... Memories of a 300-to-1 audition

In a recently released clip from the tvN variety show 'You Quiz on the Block,' Lee reminisced about being cast as the protagonist Gu Jun-pyo in the drama 'Boys Over Flowers.' Having overcome a staggering 300-to-1 competition rate, he revealed how much he had to cling to hope at the time. He specifically recalled participating in the audition with curly hair—a signature trait of the character—explaining that it wasn't merely a stylistic choice, but a symbol of 'sincerity' and 'desperation' to prove he could embody the role.

"That hair wasn't the kind that makes you look cool at a young age, so honestly, I didn't want to do it," Lee said, describing the hardship of maintaining the style in his daily life to stay in character. He added that while he is relieved the project was a success, "if it hadn't worked out, I don't know what would have happened," noting that the choice ultimately became a 'masterstroke.' He confessed that his hunger for acting was so intense that he actually felt anxious on set if he received an 'OK' according to the storyboard. He shared a memory of crying alone in sorrow, saying, "If they let me do it just a few more times, I could do better," revealing the raw desperation he felt to deliver a perfect performance.

The gap between a chaebol character and reality: "I thought of my mother's small silhouette"

Lee also spoke about the sense of dissociation he felt between his actual self and the chaebol character Gu Jun-pyo. "A chaebol character enjoys things that are unimaginable every day, but my reality at the time was completely different from that," he said. Recalling the most difficult period for his family, when they had to live apart, he mentioned the small and lonely silhouette of his mother facing bills alone. He expressed a deep sense of responsibility, saying, "Even though I was young, I thought about entering social life quickly to lighten that burden." He shared that the sight of his mother looking happy when he earned his first money from commercial shoots is a memory that still fills his heart.

Furthermore, he confessed that he even isolated himself to adapt to the sudden changes following the drama's success. Lee revealed, "Because it was burdensome to continue working while unprepared, I chose an isolated life in my 20s, minimizing meeting people and spending time alone." He reminisced about the times he worked to suppress impulses to protect both his family and himself. Following his rapid rise to fame, he spent time contemplating how to bridge the gap between his reality and his social position. "When I returned home after finishing a schedule, seeing that despite it being a nice house, the furniture didn't match or the bed looked too small, I thought about the isolation between my current self and my social position," he added.

"I am currently in puberty"... A continuous process of finding oneself

Lee, who has built a successful career, defined his current state as being in 'puberty.' While noting, "I think I have passed through well, trying to fully feel the emotions I should have felt in my 20s and early 30s," he added, "I am only now having time to find myself while contemplating what kind of energy I should carry for the next 10 years."

He emphasized the importance of 'self-objectification' and 'understanding one's place'—constantly looking inward—showing his will to live an independent life. He explained that he aims to live for his own path rather than following the paths of others, striving to give meaning to every step he takes.

Finally, he described his tendency to constantly push himself rather than seeking easy satisfaction, saying, "Because of my personality, where I want to go out if I'm trapped in a box, but want to enter a box if I'm let out, I always live with a sense of discomfort without a standard." He added that because of this nature, he constantly faces internal struggles as he lacks a fixed set of personal standards.