Lee Je-hoon reflects on intense role in 'Escape' and near-death experience

Lee Je-hoon was recently seen in ‘Escape’, which hit theaters on July 3. Directed by Lee Jong-pil, ‘Escape’ thrusts viewers into the gripping story of survival amidst a life-or-death pursuit between North Korean soldier Gyunam, played by Lee Je-hoon, and Officer Hyeon-sang, portrayed by Koo Kyo-hwan.
In an interview on ‘News Room’, the actor spoke about his transformative journey, beginning with his intense portrayal in the film Reflecting on his role as Sergeant Gyunam, Lee Je-hoon recounted the arduous physical and emotional demands of the character.“I really depicted the desperation of someone fleeing during filming”, he shared, recounting, “It was a challenge I took on with everything I had, running, rolling, and colliding”, as quoted by Kbizoom.
Detailing the sacrifices made for authenticity, Lee revealed, “Being in such harsh conditions, I couldn’t eat properly. I portrayed a character like Gyunam, who shares what little food he has with fellow soldiers. It reminded me of dry firewood. To do that, I had to severely restrict my food intake, fasting for four and a half months”. When asked about managing without eating while putting in so much effort, Lee responded, “So I felt dizzy often. But even a sip of water, a piece of chocolate, everything mattered. I was deeply immersed. I had to show the appearance of a person hanging on without sleeping, to be shown on a big screen and delivered to the audience”.
Despite the grueling conditions, Lee Je-hoon approached each scene without reservation. “There may have been shortcomings in my acting, but I filmed every scene with no regrets, giving it my all. I poured everything into it”, he affirmed. The film’s rigorous production also brought unexpected moments of levity, as Lee recalled an incident during a scene involving a deep swamp. “I think I ate a lot of dirt”, he humorously remarked further adding, “Fortunately, the art team filled the swamp with very tasty nuts. I enjoyed eating it during filming. It was actually good. These days, thanks to the strength of the art and props teams, I can film extreme scenes smoothly and safely. I’m thankful for that”.
Beyond his on-screen challenges, Lee Je-hoon revealed a personal ordeal, sharing his experience with acute ischemic colitis that necessitated emergency surgery. “I thought I was taking care of my health, but unfortunately, something like acute ischemic colitis happened suddenly. Before undergoing surgery, I signed a consent form for death”, he revealed solemnly. “My life flashed before my eyes like a shooting star. I wondered if I had lived without regrets. Just before closing my eyes, I thought, ‘I almost died’”.
Contemplating his future, Lee expressed a renewed perspective on life and career ambitions. He said, “I thought about doing what I wanted to do, which is what I’m doing now with YouTube filming. I love movies, but seeing many independent movie theaters disappearing made me start introducing precious theaters. So, I started with the intention of introducing theaters on my YouTube channel. I don’t know how long I’ll do it, but I want to make about 100 films”.
Lee Je-hoon also shared his eagerness to explore new horizons in his career, particularly in portraying villainous characters. “I have a strong desire to play villains. I’ve done a lot of righteous characters, but now I want to try playing a mysterious character who isn’t clearly good or evil”, he shared.