<Interview> Lee Jae-gyun, ”An actor you can trust and rely on”... Proving his worth through the recommendations of his seniors

There are "actors you can trust" and "actors you can trust and rely on." No matter what character they're playing, they perfectly immerse themselves in the role they're playing. These are the words I used after seeing an actor like Lee Jae-gyun.

Lee Jae-gyun recently starred in ENA's "Salon de Homes," in which he played the role of Kim Gwang-gyu, a new security guard who suddenly appears at the Gwangseong Housing Complex. In the early part of the series, Kim Gwang-gyu comes under suspicion for his suspicious behavior, but in the second half, he takes on a central role in the 'Ribbon Man' case, delivering a delicate performance.

Lee Jae-gyun, who meticulously portrayed the dual roles of the character, from a suspicious character to an accomplice, said, "I started working on this project after learning about Kim Gwang-gyu's painful circumstances." He continued, "The director explained that this work is based on a comedy, but is also a mystery drama. He planned and constructed my character as if it were a puzzle."

He continued, "From the viewer's perspective, seeing Gwang-gyu meant being confused. So I thought a lot about whether it was okay to make that expression. I perfected the character of Gwang-gyu by adjusting even the smallest details."

Though he started the drama knowing the character's true identity, his acting was pure and natural. "The character has a lot of twists and turns, so if I'd tried to act in a calculated way until then, it would have seemed different," he said. "I decided to focus on each moment of the scene without calculating it."

He continued, "Gwang-gyu is usually talkative and silly, and he has that side to him," he said, laughing, "That side of him is similar to my normal self."

Lee Jae-gyun has solid acting skills, having played strong characters in films such as "Park Hwa-young" and "Shark: The Beginning," and tvN's "Royal Inspector and Joy," and left an impression with his performances like these.

However, in 'Salon de Holmes', he not only showed his previous appearances, but also a new side of himself, revealing a mysterious yet comical yet peaceful side. He said that this face was the real Lee Jae-gyun, laughing, "When Gwang-gyu's foolish side came out, my side came out. When he was constantly suspected and regretted that it wasn't true, that's who I really am."

Lee Jae-gyun, who brilliantly portrayed a character that wasn't overly dramatic but was close to his true self, confessed, "It was also great to act like this."

His parents were even more pleased. "My mother heard a lot about the project. When she came to the preview screening for 'Park Hwa-young,' she barely looked at me. When she called me for 'Salon de Holmes,' she asked, 'Are you Ribbon Man?'" he laughed.

'Salon de Holmes' is a production in which he worked with many senior actors. Lee Jae-gyun's acting also blossomed among them. Regarding Lee Si-young, who led the drama and worked with him the most, Lee Jae-gyun said, "She made me feel at ease. We even exchanged emails." He added, "Lee Si-young senior is so good at comedy that I trusted her. Filming was fun."

He continued, "Except for the serious scenes, we had to remember that it was a comedy. So I think we were always thinking about the importance of comedy."

Lee Jae-gyun also shared some behind-the-scenes stories from the set. "There was a scene where I was running away and Lee Si-young senior was chasing me, but she was so good at sports that I was caught up and had to do a retake," he said, drawing laughter.

Regarding Kim Jung-oh (Kim Hyun-deok), with whom he plays the role of master and disciple, a serial killer and his pursuer, he said, "He has a really kind face in his everyday life. I really respected him while we were acting together. I didn't have to act separately, I just followed my seniors." He added, "We have a common acting style without having to say much. I acted together with the mindset that we were learning something, and I learned a lot."

Jung Yong-joo and Nam Ki-ae have continued their relationship with each other in "Salon de Holmes" after previously working together on a project.

In fact, the two actors played a major role in their joining "Salon de Holmes." They each recommended their junior colleague Lee Jae-gyun, who they had been impressed by, for the project. After being recommended by the two actors, director Min Jin-ki met Lee Jae-gyun and trusted his acting abilities, giving him the role of Kim Gwang-gyu. That's how much Lee Jae-gyun is vouched for by the actors he works with.

Regarding earning the trust of his seniors, he joked, "It makes me want to work harder, serve them better, and be more polite."

Since 'Salon de Holmes' ended with great success, production of Season 2 has been confirmed. Lee Jae-gyun was also seen working with the detective agency at the end of Season 1, teasing his reunion in Season 2. He expressed his affection, saying, "Season 2 will definitely happen. I tried to go a little wild in Season 1, so I want to go even wilder." "I want to go wild without being careful. I had a lot of fun when I did comedies. I want to show more of that in Season 2."