Lee Yeon-hee Wants to Show True Self After Major Changes in Life

• english.chosun.com

February 03, 2021 11:12

Actress Lee Yeon-hee is set to return to the big screen with a romantic comedy after a six-year absence.

“New Year Blues” has a special significance for Lee, who has been in showbiz for almost two decades since her debut in 2004, because it has coincided with major changes in her life — she is now in her 30s and married.

Lee Yeon-hee

The much-anticipated romantic comedy revolves around four couples, each coping with their own problems. Its portrayal of characters dealing with jobs, relationships, marriages and other aspects of everyday life is expected to resonate with cinemagoers.

Lee plays a part-time worker at a ski resort who takes a trip to Argentina after being dumped by her boyfriend of six years.

“It’s been a while [since I appeared in a film in 2015]. I feel nervous about whether people will like it, but I’m also excited,” Lee said during an online media event on Tuesday.

“I’m like my character in the movie, in that I tend to keep things inside when I get hurt by other people. Once I nearly quit my job but felt refreshed after going on a trip. Since then, I’ve gone away after completing every project. Since I’ve been there, I thought if I drew on my experiences in my 20s to portray the character, viewers would relate to her,” Lee said.

Asked how she felt about returning to acting after marriage, she said, “I got married [last June] after shooting of the film ended, but I don’t think being married would affect my ability to play a romantic role.”

She said she is satisfied with married life. “I think growing older and getting married are all just part of life. It gives me a new perspective on life, and I feel more comfortable and stable now,” she said. “I also have many thoughts about how I can do better as an actress. I just want to be myself — to make what I already have my strengths and display them.”

“New Year Blues” hits cinemas on Feb. 10 to coincide with the Lunar New Year holiday.

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