Actor Lee Jung-jae revealed his inner struggles with anxiety and fear despite his extraordinary success, sharing an honest and emotional confession during his appearance on the October 29 episode of tvN’s You Quiz on the Block.
The episode featured several notable guests, including Seoul National University professor Kim Soo-young, police officer Oh Young-hoon who rescued two young men in Cambodia tennis legend Rafael Nadal, and the world-renowned Korean actor Lee Jung-jae, who has achieved global fame following his role in Squid Game.
Having been in the entertainment industry for 33 years, Lee has experienced not one, but three major career peaks. Host Yoo Jae-suk praised him, saying, “Each of your peak moments wasn’t just a success it was sky-high.”
Lee reflected humbly, “It still feels unreal. During Sandglass, I didn’t even understand what was happening. Later, with The Face Reader, I received so much love. That’s when the meme ‘You’ve got something on your face handsomeness’ started going around,” he recalled with a laugh.
From the youthful heartthrob of Sandglass, to the dark, magnetic villain in The Face Reader, and then the struggling everyman in Squid Game, Lee Jung-jae has continually reinvented himself, breaking away from expectations and redefining his image with each role.
Looking back, he shared, “When I think about it, today always feels like the most meaningful day. The project I’m working on right now is the most precious one to me.”
Known for his calm and grounded demeanor, Lee revealed that this mindset comes from experience. “I’ve been at the brink before, so I try to be careful. It’s good to enjoy success, but it’s also important to stay balanced. I never want people who support me to feel uncomfortable watching me.”
When co-host Jo Se-ho asked if he ever feels anxious, Lee didn’t hesitate: “I’m always anxious. Even yesterday, while filming a drama, I kept wondering, ‘Would this be better if I did it differently?’ I worry about small things like that, and I’m also anxious about how audiences will react when the project is released.”
Yoo Jae-suk sympathized, saying, “It’s natural. When you’re working at a world-class level, that anxiety gets even bigger but what can you do? You just keep going.”
Lee then added thoughtfully, “I still feel like I’m standing at the edge of a cliff. The higher I climb, the scarier it feels. But along with that fear, there’s also a little hope a curiosity about what new world might open up if things go well.”
He ended with humility, saying, “I know my limits. There are people who can surpass them again and again, but I don’t think I can do that every time. Accepting that brings me peace.”
Lee Jung-jae’s rare honesty about fear, fame, and self-acceptance offered a deeply human perspective from one of Korea’s most celebrated actors reminding audiences that even at the top, the climb never truly stops.
Sources: Daum
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