Agent Kim Reactivated villain Lee Dong-ha skips reward vacation for theater

Actor Lee Dong-ha, who left a powerful impression as a villain in the hit SBS drama 'Agent Kim Reactivated', is heading straight to the theater stage. He is drawing attention for his extraordinary passion for acting, having declined a reward vacation provided by the drama production to prepare for his next work.

Lee will appear in the play 'The Seagull', which will be performed from August 9 to 31 at the Ticket Link 1975 Theater in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul. In this masterpiece by Russian author Anton Chekhov, he is set to undergo a new acting transformation, taking on the role of Trigorin, a famous writer endowed with talent who wavers amidst constant anxiety and desire.

To prepare for this production, Lee decided not to participate in the reward vacation scheduled for the 'Agent Kim Reactivated' team this summer. Rather than joining the celebration of the drama's success, he chose to focus on his performance preparations, demonstrating a deep sense of responsibility and concentration as an actor.

In the recently concluded SBS Friday-Saturday drama 'Agent Kim Reactivated', Lee showcased cold charisma as Chief Nam, the secretary to Joo Kang-chan (played by Joo Sang-wook), the CEO of Ju Hak Construction. He heightened the tension of the drama by delicately portraying a cold-blooded character who rarely shows emotion, leaving a deep impression on viewers with his intense villainous performance.

As interest in Lee rises alongside the drama's success, the fact that his next project is a Chekhov classic is also catching eyes. Since he must express the complex psychology and inner workings of a character on a stage that is entirely different from a flashy action drama, expectations are high that he will showcase a new acting spectrum.

Lee receives steady interest not only for his professional activities but also for his married life with his wife, actress Park So-jin. He married Park, an actress from Girl's Day, in 2023, establishing themselves as a prominent actor couple in the entertainment industry. Recently, Park also shared her unwavering affection by posting a message on her SNS cheering for her husband's appearance in 'Agent Kim Reactivated'.

One of the best-known anecdotes in Lee's history is that he renounced his Italian citizenship to choose Republic of Korea citizenship and fulfill his military service obligations. Although he previously held Italian citizenship, he settled his nationality to serve in the military and subsequently completed his service faithfully. This fact drew significant attention when it was revealed later.

Having left a strong impression as a ruthless villain in the drama, Lee now embarks on a new challenge by expressing the complex inner world of an artist depicted by Chekhov on the theater stage. All eyes are on how his choice—to leave behind the lingering emotions of a hit drama and postpone his reward vacation for the stage—will translate into his performance.