[Interview] Lee Jeongha "Gained 30kg, 'Moving' Bongseok is the right fit"

Actor Lee Jeong-ha Interview

Protagonist Bong-seok in Disney+ Series 'Moving'
Treated Like a Real Son by Han Hyo-joo and Jo In-sung
Gained Weight and Tried Wire Stunts... Felt a Sense of Achievement

Lee Jeong-ha [Photo by Walt Disney Company Korea]

"I am Bongsuk from 'Moving.' Please believe me."

After the release of 'Moving,' the world of rookie actor Lee Jeong-ha (25, Lee Gwan-min) changed. He gained 30 kilograms (kg) for the role and then lost weight after filming, resulting in a big image gap. Even at new project auditions, people often fail to recognize him. No matter how much he explains, they don’t recognize him, which makes him feel "disappointed" and he complained a little.

On the 21st, Lee Jeong-ha, whom we met at a cafe in Anguk-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, said, "I feel proud when people tell me to gain weight again," adding, "I feel good when people call me 'Bongsuk' rather than Jeong-ha."

'Moving,' an original series on the online video service (OTT) Disney+ based on the webtoon of the same name by writer Kang Full, was released on the 9th and will conclude with 20 episodes by the 20th of next month.

Lee Jeong-ha plays the main character Bongsuk. Bongsuk is a high school student with superpowers inherited from his father Dusik (Jo In-sung), who has flying abilities, and his mother Mihyun (Han Hyo-joo), who has superhuman sensory abilities. Raised with his mother’s love, he is warm and pure.

'Moving' stills [Photo by Walt Disney Company Korea]

He said he couldn’t easily believe it when he received the audition acceptance call for 'Moving.' Lee Jeong-ha recalled, "At first, it didn’t feel real. When my mother heard the news and said, 'You worked hard. Thank you,' I finally realized it."

In recently released episodes, the passionate love story of Bongsuk’s parents, played by Jo In-sung and Han Hyo-joo, received a warm response. Their son Lee Jeong-ha laughed, saying, "Watching my mom and dad’s love on screen made me realize how precious I am."

He said, "Han Hyo-joo sent me a DM (direct message) saying, 'I liked that Bongsuk was Jeong-ha.' I was really thankful. Thanks to senior Hyo-joo, I could fully become Bongsuk without pressure. I’m grateful for the unforgettable moment she gave me."

Lee Jeong-ha also said, "At some point, I felt discouraged wondering if I could play the son of such beautiful and cool seniors like Han Hyo-joo and Jo In-sung, but they treated me like their real son on set, which helped me immerse myself."

For wire filming, he prepared by combining dance and Pilates. Lee Jeong-ha smiled, saying, "It felt like I was actually flying, so I was happy and had fun." He recalled, "Every time Bongsuk gained weight, the stunt team added more members to support the weight. Thanks to their hard work, we filmed safely without accidents."

The first shoot was a staircase scene. Lee Jeong-ha recalled, "It was tough because I had to tense my whole body and hang on the wire." He added, "While filming that difficult scene, I gradually figured out how to ride it. Before I knew it, I was able to enjoy it."

Lee Jeong-ha [Photo by Walt Disney Company Korea]

When asked what superpower he would want if he could have one, he chose the ability of Lee Kang-hoon (played by Kim Do-hoon), who has great speed and strength.

He said, "I like soccer, so if I had super strength and speed, I might become a national team player. If I could actually fly, I’d want to fly home after work. I want to challenge unrealistic moments. I want to sleep on clouds and eat kimbap at Namsan Tower like my dad Jo In-sung."

With his handsome looks and boyish, refreshing image, Lee Jeong-ha gained 30kg to become the warm and simple Bongsuk. He laughed, "I ate whatever I wanted without holding back, but I was always hungry." He added, "I ate whatever came to mind, but I ate ramen the most. I ate various kinds like bibimmyeon and Buldak-bokkeummyeon."

Having taken a big step forward, Lee Jeong-ha said he also wants to act in classic melodramas. Citing the films 'About Time' (2013) and 'La La Land' (2016), he said, "I want to act in heart-wrenching, passionate romances and everyday romances. The drama 'Reply' series was also impressive. I’m also interested in the roles played by Ryu Jun-yeol and Seo In-guk."

He said he is straightforward when dating in real life. Lee Jeong-ha said, "I’m the type to express my feelings honestly. I try to convey my true feelings rather than hide them."

'Moving' stills [Photo by Walt Disney Company Korea]

Lee Jeong-ha debuted in 2017 with the Dingo web drama 'Heartthrob Warning.' He also participated in KBS2's 'Idol Rebooting Project - The Unit.' He met his current agency through an audition for KBS2's 'School 2017.' When asked why he became an actor, Lee Jeong-ha answered, "I want to convey the joys and sorrows I feel through dramas and movies to the public."

After the recent release of 'Moving,' his personal social media account followers doubled. He said, "I feel overwhelmed and restless," showing he didn’t know what to do. About a year ago, after finishing filming 'Moving,' he also shot a movie. His future, spotlighted like a comet, is bright.

"I learned about challenges through 'Moving.' Because I thought about Bongsuk throughout the filming, I really lived as Bongsuk on set. I feel good that people recognize and appreciate my efforts for the role, like wire action and weight gain. I also feel a sense of accomplishment. This accomplishment will be a great driving force for my acting. I will work even harder at acting."