Lee Joon-hyuk reveals secret to filming 7 projects amid industry drought

Actor Lee Joon-hyuk has revealed his recent status as a "prolific actor," having filmed five movies and two dramas this year. His statement—that rather than actively negotiating appearance fees, he focuses on not missing opportunities amidst an industry where production numbers have significantly decreased—goes beyond personal choice, reflecting the contraction currently facing the Korean content industry.

Lee appeared on the 978th episode of the MBC entertainment program "Radio Star" on the 26th, where he discussed his recent busy schedule and his criteria for selecting projects.

During the broadcast, Kim GuRa introduced Lee, who recently starred in the film "The King's Warden," by noting, "You are currently active as a prolific actor." Indeed, Lee is maintaining a vigorous acting career, having filmed five movies and two dramas this year.

However, Lee did not interpret his high volume of work simply as a result of a surge in popularity or demand. Instead, he highlighted the reality that the number of available projects has decreased compared to the past.

"Because works are rarer than before, I don't turn them down when an opportunity comes," he stated, adding, "I tend to just take the roles as they are given without negotiating."

He noted that he maintains a similar attitude regarding appearance fee negotiations. When Kim GuRa asked, "With this much work, it would be reasonable to raise your appearance fee," Lee replied, "The industry isn't in a position for that. The works have dried up," adding, "I have almost never negotiated my appearance fees."

The Korean film and drama industries have been experiencing a shift where both production volume and the production environment are changing simultaneously due to complex factors, such as rising production costs, shrinking investment, and intensifying platform competition. From an actor's perspective, this means that a high number of appearances does not directly translate into increased negotiating power.

Lee also revealed that he once turned down a project due to the appearance fee. He said, "Just once, I was offered about one-third of the usual fee, and I turned it down because I felt it wasn't right."

However, the core of the refusal was not the amount itself. Lee explained, "It wasn't the price that was the problem, but the attitude. Their attitude was like, 'Do it if you want to, or don't if you don't.'"

He also shared that the performance of the project he turned down was not successful. Lee drew laughter by jokingly adding, "The project's performance wasn't good either. Even the audience turned it down."

In essence, he placed more importance on the attitude of the production crew and the industry toward the actor rather than the low fee itself.

Hwang Seok-jeong empathized with Lee's story. She shared her experience of being hurt in a professional environment where, even after accepting a low appearance fee, there was a lack of respect for the actor, saying, "When you accommodate them like that, they come at you with such a disappointing attitude."

The remarks of the two actors are significant as they demonstrate how appearance fees in the entertainment industry serve as an indicator of how an actor's labor and professionalism are evaluated, beyond mere monetary compensation. As the film and drama production environments contract, actors must consider not only the quality of the work and the role but also how they are treated during the production process.

Lee has steadily expanded his filmography by moving between supporting and leading roles rather than being constrained by the scale or genre of a project. His strength lies in a wide acting spectrum, having adapted his image to suit various character personalities and narrative importance across both films and dramas.

His recent participation in numerous works, including "The King's Warden," is an extension of this approach. His choice to view the existence of a project as a vital opportunity, rather than attempting to maximize fees, is a realistic way for an actor to survive in an increasingly fierce content market.

A high volume of work does not necessarily signal an actor's prime. However, remaining steady in the field during an era of decreasing productions is a significant competitive edge. Lee's brief observation that "the works have dried up" captures both the reason he was able to film seven projects this year and the cold reality facing the Korean content industry.