Actor Lee Hee-jun Returns in the Musical 'Let Me Fly'

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He is an actor who has truly shown a "thousand faces," seamlessly transitioning between spine-chilling villains and innocent country youths in films and dramas. Actor Lee Hee-jun is now meeting audiences on the musical stage.

Tonight on Nightline Invitation, we are joined by actor Lee Hee-jun, who has returned in the musical "Let Me Fly."

Q. It has been a month since the opening of the musical 'Let Me Fly.' How do you feel about being on stage?


[Lee Hee-jun / Actor: The story of the musical "Let Me Fly" is such a happy and beautiful tale, so I feel a deep sense of joyful satisfaction throughout the performances. Also, while waiting in the wings—what we call the sode—watching the other actors perform the first scene while I wait to go on around the second scene always brings a smile to my face. It makes me think, "I am part of such a lovely story," and it feels wonderful every time.]

Q. Is there a special reason you chose this project?


[Lee Hee-jun / Actor: When "Let Me Fly" had its premiere, some colleagues I like went to see it. The show was just so good. It was so wonderful that I couldn't even bring myself to go straight home. You know that feeling when you see such a great show and your heart is so overwhelmed that you just can't head right home. After a few years passed, they offered me a role, asking me to join this production. So I gathered some courage because I love the story so much and really wanted to do it. Another major reason is that I have an 8-year-old son, and he doesn't quite know what his dad actually does. He just thinks I'm someone who reads books because he sees me with scripts. Since this show is rated for ages 8 and up, I really wanted to show it to my son. I think he came to see it around my third performance, and knowing that my 8-year-old son was watching me from somewhere in that darkness made me so nervous. But that nervousness felt amazing.]

Q. How did your son react after seeing his father on stage?

[Lee Hee-jun / Actor: It's been almost a month since then, and now he sings songs every morning at home. He follows along with the songs I sang and dances to them. It feels really great. Finally, my son knows what his dad does.]

Q. What kind of production is the musical 'Let Me Fly'?


[Lee Hee-jun / Actor: A 19-year-old youth who dreams of becoming a fashion designer suddenly wakes up as a 70-year-old elderly man after a single night. He has become an old man and ended up in the future. Next to him is a quirky grandmother whom he calls his wife, and the story follows his fierce struggles to return to the past where his beloved Jung-bun is. Through it all, it's a very beautiful story where he finally realizes what is most precious to him.]

Q. You play an 'old man' with the innocence of a 19-year-old. What did you pay special attention to?


[Lee Hee-jun / Actor: Although it's an elderly role, the character in "Let Me Fly" considers himself to still be 19 years old. Another actor plays the role of the 19-year-old youth while we practice together alongside each other, so I watched that actor's acting very closely and tried hard to act just like those young actors do.]

Q. The highlight scene is the 'Grandfather's R&B Song.' Did you ever burst out laughing?


[Lee Hee-jun / Actor: My face turned a lot redder during practice. That's because I'm not normally an E-type, as they call it—an outgoing personality. I'm usually very introverted. But that scene has somewhat of a show-like element to it. There is a part where I put on a bit of a show by myself. Of course, it's a scene where I'm singing a serenade to my beloved wife, but I haven't had much experience with that kind of scene, and doing that through song wasn't easy, so my face turned a lot redder during practice. Now, I just put on a thick skin and go for it.]

Q. Do you have a favorite scene in this production?


[Lee Hee-jun / Actor: There is a serenade sung by the grandmother and grandfather together near the ending, and I really like that part. After going through all the time travel and working so hard—though this might be a spoiler—there is a duet song they sing sitting together on an old bench. (Is that the scene coming up right now?) Yes, I love that scene so much. The song is just wonderful.]

Q. What kind of actor do you want to be remembered as?

[Lee Hee-jun / Actor: I just hope to be someone who can continuously show people, audiences, and viewers fun, laughter, emotion, and engaging stories through great acting. That's really all there is to it. What else is there for an actor?]
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.