Lee Moon Sik

Ordinary Man Hits the Big Time


The soaring popularity of actor Lee Moon-sik is proven by the number of movies in which he recently appeared. He was the lead in Mapado released last spring, Detective Mr. Gong and Troublesomes. He even played the male lead in a TV melodrama, The 101st Proposal, for the first time in his life.

His latest production is the movie Fly, Daddy, Fly, in which he plays a timid father who learns to box so he can avenge his daughter. “My second son was born on the day shooting for the film started,” Lee says. “The movie is about paternity. But I’m a negligent father who can’t go home regularly.” He lost 12 kg and developed his six-pack for the role. Viewers will understand how much physical pain he suffered when they see him racing a bus and observe his desperate match against a high school champion.

His appeal comes from his ordinary looks and natural, innocent smile. Born in a remote village in Sunchang, North Jeolla Province that only got electricity when he was a sixth grade, the countryman is now a national star. In response to the barbed remark that he seems to capitalize excessively on his image as an ordinary man, he takes a key ring out of his pocket, a gift from his fans. On it are engraved the words (don’t forget) “the initial intentions.”

Source: english.chosun.com

doozy: I'm currently watching 101st Proposal and I must say, although Lee Moon-sik obviously isn't the typical hunk you'd see in K-drama, he does have a certain charm. That ordinary, realistic appeal that everyday people like ourselves can relate to and emphatize with.