Lee Byung-hun Discusses Working with ‘Drug Scandal’ Yoo Ah-in: Reserved & Focused
Lee Byung-hun, who stars as legendary Go player Cho Hun-hyun, opened up about the emotional journey of bringing the movie “The Match” to theaters during a press conference held on March 19 at CGV Yongsan I’Park Mall in Seoul.
“There is always a mix of excitement and nervousness when releasing a film,” Lee said. “But this time, more than anything, I was overjoyed to hear that ‘The Match’ would finally reach audiences on the big screen. It has been a long road, and I couldn’t be happier.”
Director Kim Hyung-joo echoed the sentiment, stating, “After so many twists and turns, just being able to release this movie in theaters is incredibly meaningful.”
Originally completed in 2021, “The Match” faced an uncertain future after Yoo Ah-in, who plays Cho Hun-hyun’s disciple Lee Chang-ho, became embroiled in a drug scandal. The film’s release was postponed indefinitely, and initial plans for a Netflix release were scrapped. However, with distributor By4M Studio stepping in, the film is now set for a theatrical release on March 26.
Despite Yoo Ah-in’s absence from promotions, Lee Byung-hun addressed his experience working with the embattled actor.
“When I first heard Yoo Ah-in was cast as Lee Chang-ho, I was really excited. This was our first time acting together,” he revealed. “I had imagined him to be more outgoing, but he turned out to be quite reserved. We didn’t get many chances to talk deeply or spend time together outside of work, but whenever we were on set, he was extremely focused and dedicated to his role.”
Reflecting on their on-screen dynamic, Lee added, “Even though we didn’t get to know each other deeply, I could feel his passion for the character. His level of immersion helped me stay engaged in our scenes together.”
