Actor Song Seung Heon arrives for the red carpet of the 17th Shanghai International Film Festival at Shanghai Grand Theatre on June 14, 2014 in Shanghai, China. (Photo : Getty Images/Feng Li)
After a long hiatus, Song Seung Heon will finally be making his small-screen comeback in SBS' "Saimdang, Light's Diary." Recently, the 40-year-old actor has given his fans a treat when he shared what viewers can expect from his character.
The veteran actor, who shot to stardom in 2000's "Autumn in My Heart," held an exclusive meet-and-greet fan event in Singapore on Jan. 07, Saturday. It is to promote the upcoming SBS drama, which will premiere on Turner's Oh!K starting Jan. 25.
There, Song opened up about the challenges that come with taking on the role of Lee Gyum. His character is described as an upright, refined gentleman who has loved the heroine since childhood.
"The thing about having to wear a beard is you have to be standing for one to two hours (while the beard is being put on), so that takes a lot of time," said Song through a translator, as cited by The Malay Mail." That is why sometimes, I eat the meals while the beard is still on."
For Song, Lee Gyum is everything that he is not. While his character is skilled in the arts, the actor revealed that he does not have an affinity towards arts due to a traumatic experience he had many years ago.
In his younger days, the actor's art teacher made him draw one art piece a day, which went on for around one to two months. The process was so tiring to the point that it turned him off art and drawing entirely, the "When a Man Falls in Love" actor recalled.
Lee Gyum is also good in archery and in playing Geomungo, a traditional Korean stringed instrument. Song said wryly that it is truly implausible that his character can do everything without exception.
Directed by Yoon Sang Ho, "Saimdang, Light's Diary" follows a modern-day historian, Seo Ji-Yoon (Lee Young Ae), who stumbles upon the diary of a historical figure Shin Saimdang (also played by Lee). She uses the diary to solve the mystery of an unknown painting.
The upcoming SBS drama marks Lee's small-screen comeback 14 years after the 2003-2004 hit drama "Dae Jang Geum" (Jewel in the Palace). Thus, the show has already been syndicated to six countries in Asia through Turner Entertainment Company, Yonhap News Agency reported.
"Saimdang, Light's Diary" will premiere on Jan. 26 at 10:00 PM (KST). Check out the trailer here:
