[Interview] Lee Jong-won, Who Escaped the Dirt Spoon and Became a Gold Spoon, Says "Happiness Over Money"

Leading Role Leap in Just 4 Years Since Debut... Helping with Family Story Acting

Actor Lee Jong-won. Photo by Eco Global Group

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Iseul] Actor Lee Jong-won (28) has arrived like a refreshing rain in the entertainment industry, which has been suffering from a shortage of new faces. He debuted in 2018 with 'Back to the Future' and gained recognition by working alongside Bae In-hyuk and Ha Nyi in 'XX' (2020). Since then, he appeared in supporting roles in dramas such as 'The Spies Who Loved Me,' '(I Don’t Know Much, But) It’s Family,' 'Hospital Playlist' Season 2, and films like 'Nina and the Secret' and 'In Your Dream,' before landing his first lead role in 'Geumsujeo' (Gold Spoon). It was a proud achievement to secure a lead role in a terrestrial TV drama just four years after his debut. He described himself as someone who fell like a shooting star.

On the 15th, at the Eco Global Group building in Seocho-dong, Seocho-gu, Seoul, Lee Jong-won told Asia Economy, "I still can’t believe the drama has ended. It feels like the broadcast will continue today and tomorrow," shaking his head. He added with a smile, "It felt like I was filming two projects at once. Switching between roles made my parents feel like four people."

Starting on September 23 and concluding on the 12th of this month with 16 episodes, MBC’s Friday-Saturday drama 'Geumsujeo' tells the story of a child born into a poor family who accidentally obtains a gold spoon, switching destinies with a friend born into a wealthy family, and becoming a self-made gold spoon. Based on the popular webtoon of the same name, the drama stars Lee Jong-won, Yook Sung-jae, and Jung Chae-yeon.

Lee Jong-won received praise for his portrayal of Hwang Tae-yong, who chooses a dirt spoon life over wealth and fame, reflecting on the true meaning of being a gold spoon. He said, "The line in the final episode, 'I am the gold spoon,' felt like a sentence that runs through the entire drama. I acted with the mindset that happiness doesn’t come from money and fame, but anyone can become a gold spoon by pursuing what they love." He strongly empathized with Tae-yong. "I’ve always wondered what I love more than money and how to be happy. If you discover and continue pure love, anyone can become a gold spoon."

Although he switched between the dirt spoon Lee Seung-cheon and the gold spoon Hwang Tae-yong, his unique sophisticated aura made him well-suited for the chaebol role of Tae-yong. In reality, Lee Jong-won revealed that, like Seung-cheon, he lived in a semi-basement and experienced financial difficulties but lived with love and unity within his family. "My father was a career military officer, so we moved a lot. One day, he was scammed and couldn’t work anymore. From then until my third year of high school, our family’s financial situation declined. It was tough enough that I received free school meals and milk. Although it was difficult materially, our family always trusted and supported each other, which was a great strength. My mother always supported my choices and instilled a strong sense of responsibility. Instead of attending night self-study, I worked part-time and paid 50,000 won out of the 200,000 won I earned toward a housing subscription savings plan, which helped me grow independent."

A scene from the drama 'Geumsujeo'. Photo by MBC

Lee Jong-won took the path of acting through what is called a 'forced debut.' His stylish and charming appearance began to attract attention on social media (SNS), leading to his casting as a model, which in turn gave him the opportunity to act by appearing in singer Lee Seung-hwan’s music video. Through an introduction from an industry insider, he signed with his current agency, Eco Global Group. He has lived diligently and completed his military service early. He said, "I was lucky. I discovered the joy of acting through a music video I appeared in by chance. I felt the joy of discovering a side of myself I didn’t know, and through acting, I became curious about another side of me. I went from playing a fool in the music video to becoming a gold spoon (laughs). It still doesn’t feel real."

"Seniors say, 'Acting is a lifelong learning profession,' and that’s true. It makes me reflect on myself and continuously discover new sides of myself. All the characters I’ve played so far exist within me. It’s about discovering them among countless circles. I look forward to discovering more of myself in the future."

Lee Jong-won has worked diligently without rest over the past year. Along with 'Geumsujeo,' he finished filming 'Bad Memory Eraser,' which is set to be released soon, and is now taking a short break to recharge. He traveled to Helsinki, Sweden, and even saw the aurora borealis. He said, "Meeting new people and learning about their cultures in new countries is enjoyable. This trip lasted over two weeks, and I returned having grown. While hunting for the aurora, I actually saw it, and it was truly magnificent."

"After resting, I’ll keep going. I want to challenge myself with thriller, historical, and fantasy genres. I’m always curious about playing villains. A cunning, smart, and kind villain would be attractive. I’m also curious if there is evil inside me. I will find it and show it somehow, but I want to enjoy the process. Sometimes heavy emotions overwhelm me, but just feeling burdened doesn’t help. I plan to work harder and perform the roles given to me."