Lee Hee-jun Discusses Japanese Actor Sakaguchi Kentaro's Admiration

On December 23, actor Lee Hee-jun shared insights about Japanese actor Sakaguchi Kentaro's admiration for him during an interview at a café in Samcheong-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul. The discussion centered around Lee's latest film, 'Bogotá: The Land of Last Chances' (보고타: 마지막 기회의 땅), directed by Kim Sung-jae. The film portrays the survival stories of Koreans who enter the smuggling market in Bogotá, Colombia, a place chosen as a last resort for those with no hope. In the film, Lee plays the role of Su-young, a customs broker and the second-in-command in the Korean smuggling market.

'Bogotá' was officially invited to the 29th Busan International Film Festival in the 'Korean Cinema Today - Special Premiere' section, where it was first showcased to domestic audiences. The film is set for a formal release in South Korea on December 31. Reflecting on the film's improvements since the festival, Lee expressed confidence, stating, 'The movie has become a bit better, more rhythmic, and the music has improved as well.'

He humorously questioned if it was just his imagination but acknowledged the challenges of conveying a long narrative, saying, 'There were many jumps in the story, and it must have been difficult, but the director did a great job.' Lee also praised director Kim Sung-jae for his perseverance in completing the project after a five-year hiatus due to COVID-19 disruptions.

During the Busan International Film Festival, Lee had a special encounter with Sakaguchi Kentaro, who was in Korea to celebrate his invitation to the festival and his role in the Coupang Play original drama 'Things That Come After Love.' In an interview, Sakaguchi expressed his admiration for Lee, particularly for his performance in the drama 'Mouse.'

Lee recalled 'Mouse' as a project that weighed heavily on him, as it involved witnessing the murder of his character's parents, which he found difficult to imagine. He initially turned down the role four times before ultimately accepting it due to the insistence of Lee Seung-gi, who said the project would fall apart without him.

Despite the challenges, Lee was pleased to connect with Sakaguchi. He shared, 'I met Sakaguchi Kentaro at the Busan International Film Festival. He said he enjoyed my work and wanted to act together. We informally agreed to collaborate someday. While it’s not guaranteed, we expressed our desire to work together.' He added, 'If we meet in a project, I would speak Korean, and he would speak Japanese, so I hope we can find a way to make that work.'