Lee adds salt and pepper to Wok of Love

LEE JUN-HO is already a well-known name in the music world as part of the Korean boyband 2PM. He has also earned accolades for his acting, playing a villain in the hit comedy drama, Good Manager.
His latest acting role is in the drama series Wok of Love as former star chef Seo Poong out to seek redemption in a jjajangmyun (black bean noodles) restaurant owned by a former gang leader, Doo Chil-sung (Jang Hyuk).
Playing their love interest is Jung Ryeo-won as bankrupt heiress Dan Sae-woo.
In an interview transcript provided by ONE HD, Lee talks about his role in Wok of Love.

You play a star chef in this series. How are your cooking skills in real life?
“I don’t really cook in real life. Through Wok of Love, however, I could experience the fun part of cooking.”
As a Chinese chef in the series, do you like Chinese food, and what is the hardest part of playing a chef?
“I love Chinese food. Yet, I had no idea that there are so many kinds of cuisines. Playing a Chinese chef [made me] realise that it is an appealing but tough career to have.”
Do you ever want to open a restaurant some day?
“No, I don’t. I just want to happily eat what other people make. But since I started to learn to cook, I have begun to think that cooking for others is nice. I think it will make me happy. It would be nice if someone happily ate something I cooked.”

You play Seo Poong who holds fast to his principles. How similar is this character to you in real life?
“My real character is very similar to Seo Poong’s. I tend to hold on to my principles. Yet, I do try to listen to others’ advice, and take that into consideration.”
You have played a prosecutor, director, retired athlete, cartoonist-wannabe, sword master and detective. What other roles would you like to take on?
“There are so many roles that I didn’t get a chance to play. I guess I would like to play another character with another kind of charm that Seo Poong has.
“The funny thing is that I happen to play a role that is far from what I hoped to do. I guess timing and luck both affect what I get to choose as my next work. If one role is meant to be mine, I guess it will come to me at the right time. I believe in fate.”

Catch Lee tonight at 8.10pm on Wok of Love on ONE HD (Astro channel 393) and next Tuesday and Wednesday for the show’s final episodes.