Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

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

STORYZAPZEE
Lee Do-hyun stars as Go Woo-young in comedy K-drama 18 Again – his first lead role. Photo: Zapzee
Lee Do-hyun stars as Go Woo-young in comedy K-drama 18 Again – his first lead role. Photo: Zapzee
K-drama news

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

Comedy K-drama 18 Again recently wrapped, airing its final episode on November 10, and marking actor Lee Do-hyun’s successful first outing in a lead role.

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.

Stills from the K-drama 18 Again. Photo: Zapzee
Stills from the K-drama 18 Again. Photo: Zapzee
Advertisement

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.

Lee Do-hyun portrayed a middle-aged man in a teenager’s body in 18 Again. Photo: Zapzee
Lee Do-hyun portrayed a middle-aged man in a teenager’s body in 18 Again. Photo: Zapzee

“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.