[SC Interview] "I Was Even Called 'Lovely' for the First Time Ever"... Lee Hong-nae, from 'The Uncanny Counter' Villain to a Tsundere Sergeant in 'The Legend of the Military Cook' (Full Story)

[Sportschosun Reporter Jo Ji-young] Actor Lee Hong-nae, 36, has emerged stronger after pushing through what felt like an endless tunnel.

Lee Hong-nae played Sergeant Yoon Dong-hyun, the cook at Ganglim Outpost who is about to be discharged, in TVING's original series 'The Legend of the Military Cook' (written by Choi Ryong and directed by Jo Nam-hyung). He met with Sportschosun at a cafe in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on the afternoon of the 18th and spoke about the passion and affection he poured into the series.

'The Legend of the Military Cook' is a military cooking fantasy drama that follows a rookie soldier who swaps a rifle for a kitchen knife and a bullet belt for an apron as he becomes a legendary army cook. Based on the popular WEBTOON of the same name by J Robin, the live-action adaptation drew strong attention for its quirky and comedic setup. Nicknamed a live-action version of 'Cooking Master Boy' in the military, the series not only stayed near the top of TVING's viewing rankings but also recorded the highest ratings among TVING original dramas that aired simultaneously on tvN.

In particular, praise has continued to pour in for Lee Hong-nae, who played Yoon Dong-hyun, a veteran sergeant with a so-called "minus hand" that makes food taste worse whenever he touches it, yet who is actually warmer and more caring toward his juniors than anyone else. From his delicate emotional acting, which infused sincerity into an otherwise indifferent tone, to the subtle facial expressions and reactions that changed with each situation, he brought the character vividly to life and deepened the show's immersion. Moving effortlessly between sly, playful charm and serious, weighty emotional beats, he gave Yoon Dong-hyun greater dimension. Together with his junior Kang Seong-jae, who becomes the legendary cook, he won viewers over with understated, everyday realism and detailed expression.

That day, Lee said, "In the final episode, Yoon Dong-hyun is discharged and tells the unit members, 'Thank you,' before leaving. After watching the last broadcast, I had trouble sleeping that night because I felt so good. It felt like I was really being discharged from the military. I was happy to be leaving, but I also felt sad and relieved at the same time. I felt that same bittersweet emotion as if I were actually being discharged, and I was happy throughout the broadcast because I received so much love."

Lee, who enlisted in an artillery unit of the 8th Corps in Goseong, Gangwon Province, in 2011 and completed his service in 2013, laughed as he recalled, "Some people say military dreams are nightmares, but not for me. I was actually serious about the military, even though I got rejected early. I had even taken the exam for the Republic of Korea Air Force Academy. I also had military personnel among my relatives on my mother's side, and during my service it seemed like a path that suited me, so I even considered becoming a career soldier. I was working part-time in Seoul when I was called up, and joining the military felt like a huge turning point in my acting life. As an aspiring actor, becoming a soldier was great because I didn't have to pay rent and I got regular meals. Still, the reason I decided to leave was that acting kept calling me. Acting kept asking, 'Don't you feel regret?' So I was discharged and continued my career as an actor."

He also described the process of building Yoon Dong-hyun, a fitness-obsessed character, saying, "I had already lost a lot of weight because of my previous project, and then I joined 'The Legend of the Military Cook.' As soon as I heard I had been cast, I made an exercise plan and set up a diet. Yoon Dong-hyun was written very clearly in the script. He is a character who prioritizes protein over taste and building his body over cooking. I gained 9 kilograms while creating him, but I still felt it wasn't enough. It was the best I could do within the time I had to prepare. I do have some personal regret that maybe if I had had a more imposing body, I could have reached viewers more effectively."

His thoughts on updating his life-defining role through 'The Legend of the Military Cook' were especially meaningful. Lee first gained attention for playing Ji Cheong-sin in the 2020 OCN drama 'The Uncanny Counter,' and then won over audiences once again through this series. He said, "I learned so much through Yoon Dong-hyun. This was a project I prepared for with absolute desperation. As an actor, I have a rough, rebellious, even scary and thug-like image, don't I? So I worried that viewers might feel distant from Yoon Dong-hyun's cute and lovable charm. Honestly, I was also very concerned because of the villain image from 'The Uncanny Counter.' Because of those worries, I talked more with Jo Nam-hyung, and it was something I kept thinking about throughout filming. I was careful not to let the colors I had shown before seep into Yoon Dong-hyun. Director Jo helped me a lot with those concerns. In fact, he acted better than I did and showed me many examples. Through that process, I think Yoon Dong-hyun became my own. I was definitely able to break away from my previous image through this character. It must have been a challenge for Director Jo Nam-hyung to cast me as well. Thank you for discovering my cuteness."

He added, "It's embarrassing for me to say this myself, but until now, no one had ever called me cute after watching my work. But this time, I even heard people say I was cute. Even my parents, who are from Gyeongsang Province and usually aren't very expressive, told me I looked lovable. That was a first. To be honest, my parents had always worried about me in their own way. Since I often played nasty characters who bullied the lead, my mother would often ask, 'Did you apologize to your co-star?' Not long ago, there was a family gathering with all my relatives, and what surprised me most was that everyone from my cousins to my older aunts was watching 'The Legend of the Military Cook' together. They all kept saying, 'Hong-nae is really cute,' and I was shocked. In my life, this was the first time I had ever heard the word 'lovely.'"

Lee, whose chemistry with Park Ji-hoon as Kang Seong-jae stood out, confessed, "When I first read the script, I thought the most important part of Yoon Dong-hyun was his meeting with Kang Seong-jae and the changes he goes through after that. So I went into filming determined to be a reliable helper and a kind of tall guardian figure as Kang Seong-jae became a cook. I started out thinking, 'I need to help Park Ji-hoon act well,' but in reality, it turned out the other way around."

He said, "I actually received a great deal of help from Park Ji-hoon. Yoon Dong-hyun has some exaggerated movements and comedic elements, so he could easily have come across as overdone. But it was Park Ji-hoon as Kang Seong-jae who convinced viewers not to see it that way. It was thanks to his delicate acting. At the same time, I wondered whether all the actors could have been so loved if it weren't for Park Ji-hoon. We went through all of this together, and he was truly someone with a lot to learn from. I tried very hard to think of ways to help him, but I'm not saying this to be modest. I really don't think I was able to help Park Ji-hoon much. He is like a bamboo tree, standing upright and straight. If I could convey my true feelings to him, I would want to say, 'Thanks to you, I was able to create the character of Yoon Dong-hyun.'"

He also expressed admiration for the much-talked-about Migak Boys (Kang Ha-gyeong, Im Ji-ho, Lee Sang-yi, and Kang Jun-gyu) in the series. He said, "I don't have any idol-like charm at all, so while watching Migak Boys, I kept thinking how amazing they were. I watched that segment clapping along. Everyone was disciplined, yet they hit every point precisely. It's not easy to find that kind of idol energy, but they all did so well." He added, "I also kind of want to join as 'Plain Yoon Dong-hyun.' I would like to blend in with Migak Boys as Plain Yoon Dong-hyun, but looking at the result, it's obvious I would be the one stumbling around, so I'll just keep it as a wish. I thought they were incredible, I wanted to applaud them, and part of me wanted to do it too, but it was probably a good thing I didn't. Another thing I felt while filming with Lee Sang-yi was that he is truly multi-talented. He sings so well and dances well too. Just being around him brightens the whole atmosphere. Because Sang-yi was there, I think the Migak Boys scenes came alive even more. When I first read the script, the character Hwang Seok-ho was less lovable than he is now. But because Lee Sang-yi played him, he became a character who is both annoying and lovable. The energy Lee Sang-yi brought blended perfectly into the drama, and that is probably why Migak Boys turned out so well."

He also mentioned the most memorable cooking scene. Lee, who picked the music video sequence featuring Yoon Kyung-ho and Ra Mi-ran in episode 5 of 'The Legend of the Military Cook' as his favorite, said, "It was the scene where Yoon Kyung-ho, who ate the food I made, went into another dimension. There is also the special presence of Ra Mi-ran as the world shifts into a music video. While working on this project, it was the one and only time I couldn't hold back my laughter and had to tense up my whole body to get through the scene. It was so, so fun, and I had the honor of watching Yoon Kyung-ho and Ra Mi-ran act from very close up. This is truly a great example of a special appearance, and it made me think again that they are truly special actors. Just before Yoon Kyung-ho kissed Ra Mi-ran, he said, 'Oh my, what is this?' and I just couldn't hold it in. I found Choi Ji-woo in Ra Mi-ran's face. As the number one fan of Yoon Kyung-ho and Ra Mi-ran's fiery romance, I want to see it again."

In response to viewers' hopes for a second season of 'The Legend of the Military Cook,' he said, "Unfortunately, Sergeant Yoon Dong-hyun has already been discharged. Of course, I heard that some people leave the military and then re-enlist later as a staff sergeant after taking a break. Wouldn't a second season only be possible if it receives tremendous love? I don't know how the decision on a second season will be made, but as a fan of the show, I would love to see it too. Kang Seong-jae is still growing after overcoming hardship and adversity, isn't he? I think he is still in the process of becoming a legend. And maybe Yoon Dong-hyun could return in season 2 as a civilian who opens a restaurant, or in some other form. If they call me for season 2, I would be very happy to join. I'm ready to do anything."

Finally, Lee Hong-nae said, "What I have felt while continuing to act is that I am going through a long tunnel with no end in sight. So acting can be unsettling and difficult, and I worry about how long this life will continue. Through 'The Legend of the Military Cook,' I came to the conclusion that a stable path is not always the right answer. It seems like a project that gave me confidence to keep taking new paths and new challenges, even if they are uncertain. Acting has also become more fun lately. While working on 'The Legend of the Military Cook,' there were moments when I wondered if it was really okay to have this much fun while filming. I was supposed to help Seong-jae grow, but I think I ended up growing myself."

'The Legend of the Military Cook' stars Park Ji-hoon, Yoon Kyung-ho, Han Dong-hee, Lee Hong-nae, and Lee Sang-yi. The script was written by Choi Ryong, who also wrote 'Chairman Is at Level 9,' 'My F***ing 20s,' and 'Dogbin Is Updating,' and it was directed by Jo Nam-hyung of 'A Superior Day.'

Jo Ji-young, soulhn1220@sportschosun.com