Actor Lee Je Hoon: Growth beyond ”burnout”... ”I will act until I die”

"While learning 'The Art of Negotiation,' I began to believe that there is nothing I can't do." Actor Lee Je Hoon has grown even more through the JTBC Saturday-Sunday TV series "The Art of Negotiation."
During an interview held at a cafe in Seoul's Gangnam district on the 14th, Lee Je Hoon said, "I feel more disappointed than with any other work.
"The Art of Negotiation" is a program that focuses on the exploits of a legendary M&A expert from a major company.
In this TV series, Lee Je Hoon plays the role of Yoon JUNHO, an M&A expert and the "white snake" of the negotiation world. The series has received positive responses both at home and abroad.
According to Nielsen Korea, a ratings research agency, "Negotiation Skills" started with a 3.6% viewership rating for its first broadcast, and steadily climbed upwards, reaching 10.3% for the final episode.
It also drew a lot of attention from overseas viewers, making it into the top six in five Asian countries.
On the weekly charts, "Negotiation Skills" rose to fourth place in Hong Kong and Thailand, fifth place in Malaysia and Singapore, and sixth place in Indonesia.
Lee Je Hoon once again solidified his reputation as an actor people can trust through this work.
He said, "I thought the subject matter of the work was unique and difficult to approach, but when you look into it more closely, it's a universal story," and "It's encouraging to see the indicators of many viewers coming in."
"The title 'Negotiation Skills' may seem stiff or cold, but it shows the stories of people living in the world, so viewers can become engrossed in it," he said.
"I think everyone watched it," he said, adding, "I was very happy that the viewership ratings for the final episode were three times higher than the first episode." For Lee Je Hoon, this year was another "turning point" in his acting career.
The series is expected to be the "Best of the Best." The tvNTV series "Signal" marked his presence and SBS's "Revenge Agent: Model Taxi" established him as a leading actor and led the season-long series.
"This year is the last year of my life," he said, laughing, "I've recently realized that I truly value and love my work as an actor."
He also expressed his desire for a second season of "The Art of Negotiation." Lee Je Hoon said, "I've left the possibilities wide open. I hope the story will continue," and added, "Personally, I'm looking forward to watching it up to season 5.
I think it's possible. There's an infinite amount to show." In the interview that day, Lee Je Hoon said, "I think I've overcome burnout," and "Instead of collapsing from exhaustion, I'm seriously thinking about acting."
He said, "There are many things I want to try, but if I had to ask myself what is most important, I would say it's my role as an actor."
"I want to be an actor until I die," he continued, "not someone who wants to be judged by their price, but someone who wants to be a person of value."
I want to shine through my work," he added.