"I took on the role of Yi Bang-won in my first historical drama with a sense of responsibility," said actor Lee Hyun-wook, sharing his thoughts on wearing the royal robe of Yi Bang-won. On the 26th, tvN X TVING original drama 'Won-gyeong' released an interview with Lee Hyun-wook, detailing his challenge in the historical genre and his preparation process.

Lee Hyun-wook plays Yi Bang-won, the third king of Joseon, Taejong, in the drama. It is his first historical series. He expressed, "I was honored to have the opportunity to play Taejong. I felt a strong sense of responsibility and put my heart into it."

He continued, "Unlike usual works, it was interesting that the story was centered on the relationship of the couple, Won-gyeong and Bang-won, from Queen Won-gyeong’s perspective. Historical Yi Bang-won is also highlighted from various angles."

He added his interpretation. Lee Hyun-wook described Yi Bang-won as "someone who had to sacrifice others due to his choices despite his excellent capabilities, a strong yet lonely person."

'Won-gyeong' delves into the untold stories of Queen Won-gyeong and Yi Bang-won, known as political partners, exploring the political rift that began after they became Queen and King of Joseon and their intimate marital conflicts.

Lee Hyun-wook explained, "I was concerned about how to express the character’s emotions more delicately. I focused on portraying the depth of inner struggle and conflict, highlighting him more as a human being than the Taejong we typically know."

Unexpected challenges were encountered during filming. He said, "I was worried if a beard would suit me," but credited "the outstanding staff for creating a sophisticated look that didn’t feel awkward."

He left viewers with some highlights to look for: "There is joy in watching the actors’ detailed emotional performances, the dedication of the production team evident in the backgrounds and beautiful locations, and the various mise-en-scènes."

Additionally, he expressed, "We worked to portray emotions of characters from Queen Won-gyeong’s perspective, which haven’t been seen before, in various ways, hoping it remains a warm memory."

<Photo courtesy of tvN>