Actor Lee Dong Wook (43) is gaining attention as a symbol of outspoken conviction.
Since the end of last year, Lee has consistently voiced his concerns as a citizen regarding the turmoil sparked by former President Yoon Suk Yeol’s December 3rd martial law incident.
During the height of candlelight protests demanding Yoon’s impeachment, Lee wrote on a fan communication platform, “Stay strong. Dress warmly in the cold. Spring will surely come.”
Even ahead of the release of his film ‘Harbin’, Lee courageously spoke out. As his remarks became a hot topic, he addressed them directly in an interview on January 6th.
He calmly explained, “Rather than feeling pressure about speaking out, I simply wanted to support the fans who were attending the protests. They were out there in the cold, and I couldn’t be there with them physically, so I wanted to cheer them on. I’m sure many of my colleagues feel the same.”
Lee added, “This year marks the 80th anniversary of Korea’s liberation. I hope that by the 100th anniversary, our country will be a much better place to live in.”
Following the impeachment of former President Yoon, Lee shared a photo of himself listening to Girls’ Generation’s “Into the New World” on his fan platform, expressing his approval. He captioned it, “It feels like spring is one step closer,” and “Finally, it’s spring. This winter was far too long.”
Lee’s public stance even led to an awkward incident where he was openly criticized by right-wing singer JK Kim Dong Wook, who posted on social media, “He doesn’t know anything. It’s embarrassing to share the same name with someone like that.”
Despite being targeted by JK Kim and some malicious commenters, Lee remained undeterred. On June 1st, he once again used the fan platform to encourage voter participation in the upcoming 21st Presidential Election on June 3rd.
He wrote, “I voted early, on the first day. I have filming on the actual voting day, and early voting is more convenient—shorter lines.” He continued, “To those who say there’s no one worth voting for: voting is about preventing the worst outcome. If you don’t have a best option, choose the next best. If that’s not available, choose the lesser evil to block the worst.”
Despite ongoing criticism, Lee shared in a recent interview, “If people still have to fear consequences for expressing their thoughts, then democratization isn’t complete.” He added, “I don’t think entertainers should hide their feelings. But the reality that being honest invites backlash makes me reflect a lot.”
SEE ALSO: JK Kim Dong Wook criticizes election outcome, sparks legal and political debate
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