[INTERVIEW] ‘Lovely Runner’ actor Lee Seung-hyub reflects on familiar idol role (2024)

[INTERVIEW] ‘Lovely Runner’ actor Lee Seung-hyub reflects on familiar idol role (1)

Lee Seung-hyub plays Baek In-hyuk in the tvN series "Lovely Runner." Courtesy of tvN and FNC Entertainment

N.Flying member notes impact of music on his acting

By Pyo Kyung-min

The popular tvN series "Lovely Runner" wrapped up its final episode Tuesday, leaving viewers enchanted and eager for more. Known for its heart-warming romance between Ryu Sun-jae (Byeon Woo-seok) and Im Sol (Kim Hye-yoon), the show owes much of its success to the outstanding performances of its cast.

And among the stellar lineup is actor Lee Seung-hyub, who played Baek In-hyuk, Ryu's long-time friend and bandmate in the fictional boy band Eclipse.

Lee, a singer-turned-actor who burst onto the scene as a member of the rock band N.Flying, credited his real-life experience as a singer the key to his acting prowess during an interview with The Korea Times at his agency headquarters, FNC Entertainment, May 22.

"The fact that I'm a singer brought a unique dynamic to this drama," Lee said. "Witnessing viewers’ reactions, where they assumed I was initially an actor, finally felt like a validation of my career in acting. It was gratifying to know that my performance was seamlessly embraced."

[INTERVIEW] ‘Lovely Runner’ actor Lee Seung-hyub reflects on familiar idol role (2)

Lee Seung-hyub as Baek In-hyuk in the tvN series "Lovely Runner" / Courtesy of tvN and FNC Entertainment

Lee debuted back in 2015 as the frontperson and guitarist of N.Flying, expanding his career into acting just two years later. He continued to build his resume with roles in JTBC's 2021 romance drama "Nevertheless" and tvN's 2022 rom-com series "Shooting Stars."

In "Lovely Runner," Lee portrays the character Baek, a passionate young man who embarks on a journey from his hometown to Seoul at the age of 16, driven by his dream of becoming a singer. Along the way, he encounters Ryu, and together they navigate the challenges and experiences as members of a fictional K-pop juggernaut.

Lee emphasized that, similar to his character Baek, he has harbored a deep love for music since a young age. Reflecting on his own experiences, Lee shared that he left his hometown of Daegu at the age of 19, dedicating himself entirely to music as he made the move to Seoul.

“Playing Baek brought back many memories of my youth,” Lee recalled. “Like Baek, I too, being from the provincial area, had to travel to Seoul for lessons every weekend since there were no music schools nearby. It also reminded me of auditioning for my dreams during middle school.”

[INTERVIEW] ‘Lovely Runner’ actor Lee Seung-hyub reflects on familiar idol role (3)

Lee Seung-hyub as Baek In-hyuk in the tvN series "Lovely Runner" / Courtesy of tvN, FNC Entertainment

However, Lee clarified that he and Baek possess very different personalities. In person, Lee's deep voice and thoughtful demeanor stood in stark contrast to the vibrant and playful character portrayed on screen.

“Baek and I have completely opposite personalities. My natural voice is this low and I'm generally calm, whereas Baek is cheerful and always brightens the atmosphere with his high-pitched voice. So, I had some difficulty at the beginning,” he said.

“Even though Baek and I share a common passion for music, I felt that if my usual self was projected onto the character, I wouldn’t be able to faithfully portray the lively In-hyuk. So, I focused on acting practice to uncover and express my hidden playful and oblivious sides.”

Lee said his co-actors significantly helped him during these practices.

"The director of 'Lovely Runner' stressed the importance of camaraderie among the cast for the success of the drama and it proved to be true. I formed strong bonds with my fellow actors," the 31-year-old noted.

"In particular, I became close friends with (Byeon) Woo-seok. We spent time together off-set, bonding over drinks and workouts, and I received valuable acting advice from him. Byeon isn’t naturally outgoing, but his support was invaluable," Lee said, expressing gratitude to his fellow actor.

[INTERVIEW] ‘Lovely Runner’ actor Lee Seung-hyub reflects on familiar idol role (4)

Lee Seung-hyub as Baek In-hyuk in the tvN series "Lovely Runner" / Courtesy of tvN, FNC Entertainment

Lee's N.Flying bandmates also showed unwavering support for him throughout his journey.

"When you're close, there's a lot of teasing. My N.Flying bandmates would playfully tease me about my performance in the drama, which I interpreted as their way of showing affection and interest in my work," he said.

Lee is currently gearing up to make another appearance in an upcoming tvN drama soon, aiming to showcase his talents.

"I don't see much difference between my work with N.Flying and my acting career. I simply aim to continue honing my craft and eventually excel at it. My ultimate goal is gradual but steady progress," he said.

"I believe in the importance of the journey, so I'm more grateful for the learning experience than the success of 'Lovely Runner.' I take pride in the hard work I've put in."

Read More

  • 'Lovely Runner' builds strong fan base, defies success formula
  • 'Lovely Runner' dismisses speculation of link to SHINee's Jonghyun
[INTERVIEW] ‘Lovely Runner’ actor Lee Seung-hyub reflects on familiar idol role (2024)

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