As 18 Again wraps, Lee Do-hyun reflects on playing a 37-year-old locked in a teenager’s body – ahead of his return in Netflix’s Sweet Home
The K-drama remake of Hollywood movie 17 Again starring Zac Efron, 18 Again saw Lee Do-hyun performing with Kim Ha-neul and Yoon Sang-hyun, following supporting roles in Hotel del Luna and Prison Playbook
Saying goodbye to the series, Lee said, “I feel sorry and grateful. This became such meaningful work to me, and it’s bittersweet that I can’t show you [his character] Go Woo-young any more.”
A remake of US comedy movie 17 Again, the drama follows the 37-year-old Hong Dae-young as he somehow reverts back to his 18-year-old body, then going by the name Go Woo-young. Lee’s portrayal of a middle-aged man, who suddenly returned to younger days, drew plenty of praise from viewers.
Lee tried his best to make Hong and Go feel like the same person. He closely observed the walk, speech and habits of actor Yoon Sang-hyun, who played the older Hong. He even drew sketches of Go.
“I had to look like Yoon Sang-hyun,” he said. “If I appeared and didn’t resemble him, then that could interfere with viewers’ immersion. So I studied hard. I dug into the script with the director and Yoon to create Go Woo-young.”
As a result, Lee captured the hearts of many by successfully playing a role who looks like a high school student on the outside, but is a middle-aged man – and husband and father – on the inside.
“I really didn’t expect [the praise] and I am just so grateful. I did try my best, but it’s all thanks to all the help I got from the director and seniors.
“There are so many things I could have done better, but I can’t be perfect. Where else would I be able to perform such a role? You can say that I played an entire life story of a man, from his teens to when he is 37 years old. The fact that there were so many things I had to do made me so happy.”
He also portrayed a heart-fluttering, affectionate romance with co-star Kim Ha-neul, who played Hong’s wife and high school sweetheart, Jung Da-jung.