[Exclusive] Lee Sang-yeob says he is On the Verge of Insanity
Everyone’s either experienced workplace drama or heard about the struggles office workers and beyond go through. Korean work culture is no different. Well known as one of the country that having harsh working culture, Korean drama always portrayed the conservative Korean corporate culture which includes frequent overtime, verbal and physical abuse, workplace bullying and even the sexual harassment.
Thanks to Oh!K, K-Popped! had the chance for a Q&A session with Korean heartthrob Lee Sang-yeob, who stars in MBC’s currently airing drama On the Verge of Insanity.
The drama focuses on middle-aged workers struggling to survive in a turbulent workplace while trying to cope with new challenges. Taking the lead is a veteran engineer who faces the biggest crisis in his career of 22 years when he gets demoted to the personnel department, a new and daunting experience that is completely unfamiliar to him. Lee Sang-yeob’s costars include Jung Jae-young, Moon So-ri, and Kim Ga-eun.
Q: The villains/main antagonist characters you played in the past are very impressive, but you have gradually returned to being the “good guy” in Good Casting and Once Again. Why did you choose to play the villain again this time?
Lee Sang-yeob: I like to be different. I tend to choose characters that are the total opposite of my most recent role. I can’t completely say my role this time is of a total villain though – my character has cute characteristics which appear as the series progresses.
Q: Please describe your character in the drama.
Lee Sang-yeob: I play Han Sae Kwon, who is a go-getter and strives to be successful in life. He tends to also miss out on certain things in life and that’s when you can see the cuter side of his character. You really can’t say he’s a total bad guy.
Q: How did you prepare for this role?
Lee Sang-yeob: Like my other projects, I made sure to go through the script thoroughly and spent a lot of time to really break down my character and understand it.
Q: What were your thoughts when you read the script for the first time?
Lee Sang-yeob: I thought it was very realistic the moment I read it. I’ve never been an office worker, but the script expressed the day-to-day emotions of a hectic office environment really well. That’s why I felt it would be fun to be part of this.
Q: Do you think that this drama reflects the current situation of the Korean workplace?
Lee Sang-yeob: Absolutely. I think it not only reflects the Korean workplace, but the common conflicts among people in general around the world.
Q: How similar or different is your character compared to yourself in real life?
Lee Sang-yeob: Han Se Kwon is a completely different character compared to who I really am. Success is important but I am the type who prioritizes spending time with people as I love the idea of being able to interact and build memories together. I would say that the clumsy part of the character is very much like me in real life though. You will know what I mean when you watch the series.
Q: What is the experience / chemistry like working with the other cast members in this drama?
Lee Sang-yeob: I think I work very well with Moon So Ri and Jung Jae Yeong. I was nervous at first they made me feel comfortable around them. They’re also very receptive to my acting so it makes me feel like I want to be continuously better. It’s the same for Kim Ga Eun and the other actors so the filming environment is extremely fun to be in.
Q: If you were in a situation in which your boss suddenly demotes you – would you choose to take on the challenge or leave?
Lee Sang-yeob: I think I will choose to leave the job. I don’t think I can be as composed as Ban-Seok in the drama and accept everything as it is. I’m not as mentally strong as I may appear to be.
Q: What was the most fun/interesting moment/s during filming?
Lee Sang-yeob: There is a scene at the end of Episode 1 where I get hit from my ex-wife (played by Moon So Ri) on the head. I got hit a lot there (laughs). It wasn’t painful but as I got hit so much, it was something that has made quite an impression on me.
Q: What is the most impressive part about this drama that you think would hook viewers?
Lee Sang-yeob: I would say it’s the realistic emotions. I’m confident that the viewers will be able relate to all the day-to-day emotions through the actors.
Q: What message does this show hopes to convey to the audience?
Lee Sang-yeob: This drama represents the generic feelings of resentment in a workplace environment. You will be able to find comfort as you watch the series and find that there are others out there who share your pain and anger. On The Verge of Insanity/Not Crazy will be a drama which you can empathize with, be consoled by, and also be able to find a ray of hope in life.
Q: Is there anything you’d like to say to the office workers in Malaysia?
Lee Sang-yeob: I think office workers are all similar, be they in Korea or Malaysia. I don’t play the role of a good employer here but rest assured that I completely understand and relate to the emotions of the workers as I’m filming this series. Please don’t judge me too early in the series and start hating my character as you will find Se Kwon to be a cutie later on.
New episodes of On the Verge of Insanity premiere every Thursday and Friday at 7.40pm on Oh!K (Astro Ch 394). The final 2 episodes debuts on Thursday and Friday, August 12 & 13 same time; encore on Monday and Tuesday, August 16 and 17 at 12.50pm.