Ma Dong-seok says he’s glad to see Byeon Woo-seok succeed after 10 tough years

Actor Ma Dong-seok, internationally known as Don Lee, who has forged strong friendships with many colleagues throughout his career since his 2004 debut, recently spoke about his bond with fellow actor Byeon Woo-seok.

In January, Ma created a buzz by sharing a photo with Byeon on social media, captioned, "Run away with Dong-seok on your back."

The photo shows Ma with his right hand clenched into a fist and his left arm draped over Byeon’s shoulder. Byeon, smiling warmly at the camera, gives a thumbs-up, adding to the friendly atmosphere. After the photo was posted, netizens were amused by how Ma’s fist appeared bigger than Byeon’s face, while many expressed curiosity about how the two had formed their unexpected friendship.

When asked about the attention the photo received, Ma said, "We are close," before joking, "We do look like an odd pair, right?"

Ma, who played geology professor Kang Bong-rae in the 2019 film "Ashfall," which deals with the eruption of Mount Baekdu, explained, "Byeon Woo-seok also appeared in that movie. At the time, he had a small role."

He continued, "There is a scene where Jeon Hye-jin’s character and I argue about how to stop the chaos, and I get dragged out of the office. Some tall bodyguards come out alongside me, and one of them was Byeon Woo-seok."

Expressing his affection for Byeon, Ma said, "He is like a younger brother I really care about. He struggled for more than 10 years, and I am so happy that he found a great project and is finally getting the recognition he deserves."

Adding to the lighthearted mood, Ma said, "I actually have some unexpected friends. It’s not just boxing athletes I am close with."

Byeon, who started his career as a model and debuted as an actor in the 2016 tvN drama "Dear My Friends," rose to global stardom last year through the success of tvN’s "Lovely Runner."

Ma is currently promoting his latest film "The Holy Night: Demon Hunters," which opens on April 30. He will continue his activities with the upcoming KBS 2TV and U+MobileTV drama "Twelve" in August. Additionally, Ma is busy filming "Pig Village," a new Hollywood-targeted project featuring 100 percent English dialogue, for which he serves as both lead actor and producer.

This article from Xportsnews is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.