A Rising Star: Lee Jeong-ha’s Ambitious Year Ahead

Lee Jeong-ha’s Year of Excitement

In an interview at the Wave Originals press event held at the Post Tower in Seoul, young actor Lee Jeong-ha revealed a charming personal goal for the year: visiting an amusement park with his nephew. With a bright smile, Lee talked about his 9-month-old nephew saying, “He’s only crawling now, but they say he’ll be walking in two months. I can’t wait for those first steps so we can enjoy a day out at an amusement park.”

Lee is keeping colleagues and fans entertained with his dual roles in the Korean drama landscape. He stars in ONE: High School Heroes, an original drama set to challenge school hierarchies and individual destinies. Starring as Ui-gyeom, a character oppressed by parental expectations, Lee struggles between a pre-destined medical career and an undeniable fighting talent. Alongside, another captivating character, Yoon-ki, played by Kim Do-wan, they team up as masked vigilantes—out to fight hierarchical oppression and bring justice.

#### Shaping Up for Roles

The transition from portraying a professor’s dream to a fighting hero wasn’t only about acting. To bring ONE: High School Heroes to life, Lee Jeong-ha embraced physical changes too. After increasing his weight to 98 kg during the shooting of Moving, he slimmed down to 85 kg for ONE. “I lost quite a bit preparing for the role and continued shedding weight during filming,” Lee shared.

#### A Journey from Dreams to Acting

Before landing significant roles, Lee had other paths in mind. As a student, he nurtured dreams of teaching and at one point was keen on becoming a soccer player. “I found myself excelling in memorization-heavy subjects like Korean history and geography,” he humorously added during the interview.

Lee Jeong-ha’s passion for acting was further fueled by his love for the original webtoon of ONE, prompting him to express his fandom directly to the director. This love was combined with dedication, as he mentioned earlier projects wrapping just a month before ONE filming commenced in March 2023.

#### Keeping Active: Off-Screen Hobbies

Off the film set, Lee stays active with swimming and soccer. “Swimming offers solitude while soccer keeps my team spirit alive,” he noted, recounting ongoing soccer matches with local friends. For leisure, Lee enjoys sports like ping pong and bowling—exemplifying his love for all things involving a ball.

Debuting in Lovely Notice in 2017, Lee Jeong-ha has made a mark with roles in popular dramas such as Shinipsagwan Goo Haer-yeong, Run On, Nevertheless, Moving, and thank-you gesture-filled Thank You, along with films like Victory and It’s Okay! It’s Okay! It’s Okay!.

Catch the finale of ONE: High School Heroes set to be released on October 13 at 11 AM.