Lee Yi Kyung shines when he’s pathetic. Even in roles that risk being overshadowed due to the support of acting skills, he doesn’t come off as childish. Instead, his patheticness stands out. Lee Yi Kyung has firmly established himself as an actor.
In 2011, Lee Yi Kyung knocked on the door of living rooms with MBC’s “Heartstrings,” and steadily built his acting skills through “School 2013,” “Nine: Nine Times Time Travel,” and “Blade and Petal.” In 2014, he creeped out viewers with his portrayal of the right-hand man of Lee Jae Kyung (played by Shin Sung Rok) in SBS’s “My Love from the Star.”
However, when Lee Yi Kyung let go of the weight, he soared higher. It was through KBS 2TV’s “Go Back Couple” in 2017 that he truly impressed viewers. Wanting to portray the naive and foolish character of Go Dok Jae from the 1999 drama “Lonely Cupid,” Lee Yi Kyung even wore a long wig and added to viewers’ enjoyment with his lively comic acting.
Seeing the fun in being pathetic, Lee Yi Kyung sharpened his skills further the following year as he played Lee Joon Gi in JTBC’s “Welcome to Waikiki.” Representing the ‘pitiful’ youth without tears or laughter, he received great love and was the only member of season 1 to shine in season 2. To this day, many consider “Welcome to Waikiki” as Lee Yi Kyung’s masterpiece.
Thanks to this, calls from the entertainment industry never ceased. He appeared in shows like “Real Men,” “The Society of Hip-hop,” “Night Goblin,” “Seoulmate,” “Player,” and took on regular roles in “I Live Alone,” “What Do You Do?”, “Brave Detectives,” “Midnight Horror Stories,” “Access Denied to Non-Staff,” and “Tomorrow’s Warning Shot.”
Lee Yi Kyung’s comic charm on screen has reached its peak. Particularly, in the movie “Secret Agent,” released in 2022, he led the unexpected success of the work as the main character, portraying the realistic journey of North Korean soldier Yong Ho who wins the lottery, captivating the audience. This work succeeded in attracting 1.98 million viewers, establishing itself as a pillar of comedy films.
Above all, his activities in 2023 and 2024 are dazzling. In the tvN drama “Marry My Husband,” Lee Yi Kyung summons viewers’ fists with his portrayal of Park Min Hwan, the most despicable man imaginable. Representing the worst loser of modern times through his misdeeds and obsession with Kang Ji Won (played by Park Min Young).
Lee Yi Kyung vividly portrays the multi-faceted character of Park Min Hwan, maximizing the potential of the character. He depicts Park Min Hwan, who may seem light and one-dimensional, with depth through his experience gained from various works, earning praise. Thanks to this, the overall story of the work has become richer.
Park Min Hwan without Lee Yi Kyung is unimaginable. As Park Min Hwan becomes more evil, praise for Lee Yi Kyung’s acting grows, and as Park Min Hwan becomes more pathetic, rumors of Lee Yi Kyung’s retirement surface. In episode 14, the ending where he ultimately turns black by obsessing over Kang Ji Won, completely captivated viewers.
Source: Daum
