'Taxi Driver 3' Lee Je-hoon "The Martial Law Episode, Emphasizing the Importance of Citizen Solidarity"

"I wanted to talk about what dangers can arise in a situation where power is unchecked, and how important the choices and solidarity of citizens are at such times."

⬦ Martial Law Episode... "Reflects the Concerns of the Era"

Actor Lee Je-hoon, who won the acting award for the SBS Friday-Saturday drama 〈Taxi Driver 3〉, revealed the intentions and burdens behind the martial law episode in the drama during an interview held on the 19th at a cafe in Gangnam, Seoul.

〈Taxi Driver 3〉 has depicted stories of punishing villains through various characters, and the final episode drew attention by featuring the protagonist preventing a state of emergency with citizens. The final episode, which included the martial law episode, recorded a nationwide rating of 13.3% according to Nielsen Korea, and Lee Je-hoon received the SBS Acting Award for this work last year. This marks his second consecutive win following 〈Taxi Driver 2〉 in 2023.

Lee Je-hoon explained, "Although it is a story based on dramatic fiction, it is not completely detached from our society. There were significant social events in 2024 before the drama was produced, and each person living in reality would have thought about that situation from their own perspective. I think the concerns of the era are reflected in the work."

In the 〈Taxi Driver〉 series, Lee Je-hoon has showcased various performances by taking on multiple sub-characters in each episode. In this season, he transformed into a girl group manager and even showcased dancing, which became a hot topic.

Lee Je-hoon, who practiced for a month while "crying" for this scene, shared, "I felt like I had no more characters to bring out, and I thought I needed to start completely over and relearn acting."

⬦ The Rediscovery of Jang Na-ra and Yoon Si-yoon... "I Also Dream of Playing a Villain"

In the 〈Taxi Driver〉 series, the glamorous lineup of villains has garnered attention as much as Lee Je-hoon's diverse acting. In this season, actors Jang Na-ra and Yoon Si-yoon took on villain roles, which was different from their usual images, attracting interest.

Lee Je-hoon stated, "In 〈Taxi Driver〉, the role of the villain is really significant in each episode, and the power of the story completely changes depending on who takes it. I am grateful that Jang Na-ra and Yoon Si-yoon courageously challenged themselves, even though they had little experience playing villains."

Lee Je-hoon picked the rooftop confrontation scene between Kim Do-gi (played by Lee Je-hoon) and Kang Joo-ri (played by Jang Na-ra) in episode 10 as the most impressive scene of this season. He shared, "I have always thought that I want to try playing such a villain someday. I am waiting for that moment."

When asked if he felt any pressure as his character in 〈Taxi Driver〉 is a messenger of justice, Lee Je-hoon replied, "Since I have been educated since I was young, I instinctively think about what is right and wrong and act according to what I feel. I think it is natural to be conscious of external perspectives as someone working in the entertainment industry rather than thinking that I need to change something."

⬦ The Uncertain Future of 〈The Second Signal〉... "Hope Efforts and Values Do Not Disappear"

The tvN drama 〈The Second Signal〉, which was highly anticipated as Lee Je-hoon's next project, has become uncertain for release due to the past controversy surrounding lead actor Jo Jin-woong.

Regarding the impact of someone else's issues on his work, he expressed his regret, saying, "I hope that the efforts and values of many people do not become vague or disappear due to personal issues."

Lee Je-hoon also expressed his anticipation for 〈Taxi Driver〉 Season 4. Although he has not heard any specific details yet, he mentioned that he is waiting from the viewer's perspective, adding, "I am happy to hear that many viewers are looking forward to Season 4. I don't think the Rainbow Transport family would want to part ways either."

Lee Je-hoon stated, "If you ask me to describe the current actor Lee Je-hoon, I think the 〈Taxi Driver〉 series is the biggest work. I am looking for a representative work that can show another side of Lee Je-hoon, and if such a work exists, I want to throw everything into it and do it."