Lee Dong-wook reveals facial changes after 7kg weight loss

Actor Lee Dong-wook brought laughter to fans by revealing the unexpected side effects he experienced while transforming his physique for various roles. He gave a candid account of undergoing extreme physical changes—bulking up by more than 7kg for one character and then losing it again—noting that even his facial structure has changed to the point that his way of washing his face has had to adapt.

On the 25th, a video titled "Summer Vacation Special Lecture is Just an Excuse" was released on the YouTube channel DdeunDdeun. In this episode, Lee appeared to discuss the preparation process for his projects and the physical demands actors must endure.

Recalling the filming of the Disney+ series "A Shop for Killers," Lee revealed, "At that time, I gained at least 7kg." He explained that since his character was a former mercenary, he increased his weight to build a more realistic physique.

"The character's average weight was around 74–75kg, but I increased it to 82kg during filming," he said. "Gaining weight was much harder than I thought."

It wasn't simply a matter of eating more. Lee shared that he built his body through strict dietary management, stating, "I ate five meals a day, constantly making sure to eat chicken breast, beef, and so on."

However, weight changes for an actor do not always move in one direction. For his next project, a completely different image was required, necessitating another round of weight loss.

Lee revealed that he lost 7kg again for his role as a civil servant in "Love Affair," stating, "I felt that if I wore a suit with that body, it wouldn't look right."

The process was equally difficult. "It didn't come off as easily as before," he explained. "I did 100 minutes of aerobic exercise every day. I did 50 minutes on the Stairway to Heaven and 50 minutes on a bicycle every day." He stated that his current weight is approximately 73kg.

The weight loss brought more than just a change in numbers; people around him noticed the transformation due to his sharper facial lines and deeper features.

When Heo Kyung Hwan joked while looking at Lee's face, saying, "You haven't been hit in the eye while fighting, have you? Your nose is big and your eyes look deeper," Lee shared an unexpected anecdote.

Responding with, "That is a very good question," he said, "Usually, you wash your face up and down, right? Now, I have to wash mine horizontally," which caused a burst of laughter on set.

He then demonstrated the motion by stroking his face, explaining, "If I don't do it like this, the area around my eyes doesn't get cleaned properly. It's because my eyes have become deeper."

Yoo Jae-suk also asked, "Is it because your eyes became deeper?" and Lee replied seriously, "That's right," drawing laughter once again.

For an actor, the body is not just an appearance but a vital tool for completing a character. Lee has been reconstructing himself by adjusting his weight and image to convincingly portray different individuals in every project.

Behind his reputation as an actor with perfect visuals lies intense self-discipline. While 7kg is just a number, the process reflects the significant time and effort an actor endures to bring a single character to life.