Interview: Lee Jun-hyuk on His Role in 'Lotto 1st Place Goes to Work'

“I felt like this was my first time as a lead. It reminded me of the past, and I received treatment for it.”

Actor Lee Jun-hyuk is currently enjoying the emotional experience of being at the center of a 'good position,' much like his character Seo Dong-jae in the drama 'Good or Bad Dong-jae.' This feeling comes from his role in the recently concluded Tving original series 'Lotto 1st Place Goes to Work,' which ended on October 14.

“I felt like this work was my first lead role. 'Good or Bad Dong-jae' was a spin-off. I’ve always wanted to be part of a project that all actors could shine in, and 'Lotto 1st Place Goes to Work' was exactly that. It allowed other characters to have their share, and I felt that sharing responsibilities mirrored the dynamics within the project,” he said.

'Lotto 1st Place Goes to Work,' directed by Yoon Young-bin, is an office drama about team leader Gong Eun-tae (played by Lee Jun-hyuk), who approaches work with a new mindset after winning the lottery. Director Yoon described the project as one where “Lee Jun-hyuk needs to hold the center while the surrounding actors shine,” and Lee expressed his attraction to the stories of characters fulfilling their roles.

“I love 'The Miracle on the Hudson.' It poses the question of what miracles can happen when everyone does the right thing. While works that expose societal injustices are necessary, I wanted to see a piece that showcases role models or visions of people living rightly. This project came at the right time,” he added.

While standing at the center as the lead, Lee did not want to create a work that solely highlighted him. Having spent a long time in supporting roles, he had a strong desire for all participating actors to have their share in the project.

“I’ve played many supporting roles, and most of my time has been spent that way. I think it’s interesting when all the actors involved can bring their energy to the project until the end. Not every project can be like that, but when I’m the lead, I wanted to try something like this,” he said.

Gong Eun-tae is different from the strong characters Lee has portrayed in the past. Instead of filling the screen with his energy, he approached the role by stepping back and supporting the rhythm of the surrounding characters.

“Until now, I’ve often played characters with strong personalities, which required me to fill the frame and exert excessive energy. However, with Gong Eun-tae, I think I found a point where I could bring a bit of myself into the role. This time, I enjoyed matching my performance to the rhythm of my talented teammates,” he explained.

Since the work focused on small changes rather than major events, capturing subtle emotional shifts was crucial, and the chemistry on set was paramount.

“The direction of the work and teamwork were important. In some projects, I have to fill every moment within the frame, but in this one, it felt like the camera, director, and actors were all finely tuned to each other. The camera followed that, and the actors responded, allowing for a delicate back-and-forth,” he said.

Particularly, the quick exchanges with the actors from Sales Team 5 created a vital sense of realism in the project. Their ability to read each other's movements quickly led to a natural teamwork.

“(Seo) Hyun-woo knows exactly how to fill the frame when I move even slightly. Other actors, including (Lee) Hyun-kyun, have that same sensitivity. When everyone is open to that, the process of receiving and returning energy was really enjoyable,” he noted.

This process also made him reflect on his past as a supporting actor. Seeing his fellow actors support him reminded him of how hard he had worked in similar positions before.

“I also worked very hard when I was a supporting actor. Watching my teammates support me this time felt like a bit of healing, reminding me that I had put in that same effort back then. I’m really grateful to my team,” he said.

After years in the industry, Lee Jun-hyuk feels most proud of the time he has dedicated to his craft rather than any flashy accolades. He believes his filmography speaks for itself.

“I’m not one to praise myself much, but I’ve done about 40 to 50 projects and watched a lot of films and content. It’s clear where my time has been spent. I can confidently say I’ve put in a tremendous amount of work. In the long run, I hope it shows that I truly love this industry,” he stated.

Having quietly fulfilled his role in the industry for a long time, Lee finds similarities with Gong Eun-tae. While work is not always enjoyable, both he and his character become more immersed when faced with challenges.

“There are similarities. Lately, I’ve been thinking, ‘Why do I find work enjoyable?’ The truth is, the more you work, the more painful it can be. But even in games, as the difficulty increases, you keep playing despite the frustration. I think I’m similar in that regard. I’m not sure if it’s fun, but I’m definitely immersed,” he said.

Even with newfound financial stability, he does not plan to stop working. Observing others who continue to take on new challenges after achieving success makes him curious about how far he can go.

“Tom Cruise has a lot of money, yet he continues to take risks. I wonder if he enjoys this work more than I do. I think about why he does it when he doesn’t have to, and it makes me think I can push myself further. I hope that one day I can say, ‘I truly love and am curious about this work,’” he said.

Gong Eun-tae’s character is not just about being a stylish office worker. He aims to portray an image of a neat and rational professional that young people entering the workforce can relate to without feeling burdened.

“I wanted to create an image that young people entering the company would look at and think, ‘I want to be a clean person like that.’ Gong Eun-tae doesn’t smoke, and I wanted him to be a rational office worker that today’s youth could relate to. I put a lot of thought into his style and color,” he explained.

This direction also influenced the character's lifestyle choices. He suggested removing the original smoking habit to make Gong Eun-tae a more relatable character for a wider audience.

“Originally, Gong Eun-tae was supposed to smoke a lot, but I wanted to eliminate that. This drama also aims to show an ideal image, and I wanted him to be a character that more diverse viewers could empathize with. I also wanted to express Gong Eun-tae in a more unisex way,” he said.

Lee Jun-hyuk is preparing for upcoming projects, including SBS's 'Awakening,' the drama 'Lee Seob's Love,' and the film 'Vampire,' which feature different genres and characters. As he continues to make choices that move beyond familiar images, fans are eager to see what new facets he will reveal.

“I think it’s part of my character to want to try new things even without references. It might deviate from what fans expect, and it could succeed or fail. But I hope everyone enjoys the process of exploring new paths together. It could be a personal transformation or a transformation of the work itself. I want to tell stories that haven’t been told before, rather than repeating existing references. I might not hit a home run every time, but I believe the process of searching for answers with the staff is what matters,” he concluded.