Lee Sang-yi Shares Touching Anecdotes About Park Bo-gum and Behind-the-Scenes of ‘Good Boy’

On the June 11 episode of ENA’s variety show Choi Hwa Jung and Kim Ho Young’s I Missed You, actors Heo Sung-tae and Lee Sang-yi took a nostalgic journey with hosts Choi Hwa Jung and Kim Ho Young to a legendary frozen pork belly restaurant in Yeouido.

The episode began with the group meeting near the Han River in Yeouido, where Heo Sung-tae reminisced about his days as an office worker in the area. The gathering kicked off with fried chicken appetizers that set a cheerful tone for the evening.

At the iconic pork belly restaurant, they indulged in juicy grilled samgyeopsal soaked in soy sauce and tender beef ribs while sharing memories from their acting careers. Heo and Lee originally met on the set of the movie Hitman and reunited for the upcoming drama Good Boy, which they revealed took nearly a year to complete.

As Choi Hwa Jung complimented Heo for his intense villain roles, Lee teased that fans would see an entirely different side of the actor in Good Boy. Lee also spoke fondly about their camaraderie with the cast, made stronger by the long filming schedule.

Lee opened up about his fear of water and praised Park Bo-gum for comforting him during underwater filming, saying, “He told me, ‘It’s okay, hyung, I got your back.’” Lee continued to shower praise on Park Bo-gum, describing him as a humble man who even cleans the shower and tidies up after meals. “A beautiful person leaves a beautiful space,” he said.

Amused by Lee’s admiration, Heo joked that he sometimes misses Lee. Kim Ho Young chimed in, likening it to how Korean moms adore singer Lim Young-woong. When asked whether he prefers Park Bo-gum or Lee Sang-yi, Heo admitted he often sides with Park on event decisions due to his “graceful leadership” but praised Lee for his “genuinely nice personality.”

Heo also shared that he gained 17kg in a month after being told he looked too thin by Squid Game director Hwang Dong-hyeok and gained another 7kg for Good Boy, suffering so much that he lost his toenail. Meanwhile, Lee revealed he shed 7kg and achieved just 7% body fat while filming The Roundup: No Way Out.

A known fan of Rain, Lee expressed his excitement about working with the artist in The Roundup: No Way Out. He recalled impressing Rain at a team dinner by passionately expressing his respect, which was met with praise. Lee even reenacted his award-winning performance of Rain’s “Rainism” from a UCC contest, proving his fandom.

In a touching moment, Heo recounted proposing to his wife at a pork belly restaurant while tearfully revealing his dream of becoming an actor. “She gently touched my cheek, and I just knew she was the one,” he said. Despite not remembering the moment the next day, it left a lasting impression.

Heo concluded by sharing his motivation: his mother, who initially opposed his acting career, is now his biggest fan. “After retirement, she lives alone. I want to fill her days with joy,” he said.

Choi Hwa Jung and Kim Ho Young’s I Missed You airs every Sunday at 9:20 PM on ENA.