Seoul: The "Escape" star Lee Je-hoon collaborated with acclaimed director Ahn Pan-seok for the first time in the upcoming JTBC series, "The Art of Negotiation," bringing a genius mergers and acquisitions (M and A) expert to life.
According to Yonhap News Agency, at a press event promoting the series, the director, known for hit TV series including "Secret Affair" (2014), "One Spring Night" (2019), and "The Midnight Romance in Hagwon" (2024), expressed his admiration for the actor's transformation into his character. "Throughout some 70 days of filming, Lee embodied the role completely. He carried an air of mystery, making it impossible to determine his age or power status," the director said. "From his appearance to the way he walked, he was the character."
The 12-episode series follows Yoon Joo-no (Lee), the head of the M and A team at the cash-strapped San In Group, as he fights to save the company from default. To embody the taciturn and serious character who rarely reveals his true emotions, the actor made several changes, he said, including changing his hair color to silver, which required him to arrive on set four hours earlier than others each time filming took place.
"I think the transformation worked well in capturing the character's mystery, who acts only after long hours of serious contemplation," he said. "I was initially worried about it (changing hair color), but looking back, I'm glad I went through with it."
"I learned a lot about negotiation from my character, as it plays a role in every decision we make, from the moment we wake up until when we go to bed," the actor said, adding that the experience also taught him how to understand others' perspectives through the art of negotiation.
Other cast members include Lee Dae-myung as a lawyer who joins the M and A team, Sung Dong-il as the CEO of Sun In Group, and Jang Hyun-sung as the group's chief financial officer.
Actor Lee stressed that while the Saturday-Sunday series may appear to be an office drama, it ultimately is a deeply human story, crafted by a director known for delivering such narratives with depth and sincerity. "Whenever I attend a press event for my projects, I usually feel both nervous and excited," he said. "But this time, more than anything, I feel proud. I am thrilled to share this well-crafted drama with audiences, and I can't wait for everyone to see it," he said.
"The Art of Negotiation" will premiere at 10:30 p.m. on Saturday on JTBC.