INTERVIEW Actor Lee Je-hoon revives classic in 'Chief Inspector 1958,' bringing nostalgia with new twists

Actor Lee Je-hoon plays the role of Park Young-han in the detective series “Chief Inspector 1958.” Courtesy of MBC

When actor Lee Je-hoon decided to play the main role in the prequel of “Chief Inspector,” MBC’s long-running detective series from the 1970s, he found himself grappling with a blend of excitement and nervous anticipation.

Actor Lee Je-hoon / Courtesy of Company On

Portraying the younger version of the legendary character Park Young-han, famously portrayed by veteran actor Choi Bool-am, Lee shared that he put his best effort into the recent series “Chief Inspector 1958.”

“I wanted to show work that would make both Choi and viewers proud, so I poured everything I had into it. And I think we created a piece that is really worth watching, so I feel grateful,” the actor said during an interview with The Korea Times at a cafe in Jongno District, Seoul, Monday.

The police procedural series, set in 1958, follows the early days of Park, the chief inspector, and his three colleagues. Transferred to Seoul after gaining acclaim for his remarkable success in apprehending cattle thieves in a rural town, the young and passionate detective embarks on a new chapter in his career.

At his new station, he joins forces with the hot-tempered Kim Sang-soon (Lee Dong-hwi) and two fresh recruits, Cho Kyung-hwan (Choi Woo-sung) and Seo Ho-jung (Yoon Hyun-soo). Together, they tackle a variety of crimes, navigating the murky waters of corruption and politics within the law enforcement agency.

Airing from 1971 to 1989, the original series garnered immense popularity, with its highest viewership rating exceeding 70 percent. Given its formidable legacy, the prequel generated considerable anticipation, debuting to over a 10 percent viewership rating. Its maintained strong momentum as of Saturday, wrapping up with a final rating of 10.6 percent.

The lead actor of the original series, Choi, made guest appearances as the present-day Park, opening and finishing the new series’ episodes.

A scene from the series “Chief Inspector 1958” / Courtesy of MBC

“(The series) starts and ends with Choi, which felt very touching. In the scene where he talks in front of his colleagues’ graves, I couldn’t tell if he was acting or it was reality,” Lee said.

“I may have felt a sense of inadequacy in filling the shoes of the character Choi portrayed previously, but I’m honored to have been able to play this role and proud to be a part of the program.”

The actor shared that he studied Choi’s previous works outside the original series to recreate the younger version of Park.

“After taking the role, I looked up the original series episodes. I tried to copy Choi’s tone and dialect but I couldn’t do it exactly the same. Then I started to worry if I would limit myself by focusing too much on imitating him,” he said.

“So I thought of the image I personally have of Choi, like when I saw his series ‘You And I’ and his comedy bits as a child. So I even watched his food documentary show ‘Korean Cuisine and Dining.’ I wanted to show that a person can have a range of expressions, tones and faces in his younger years."

Lee added that Choi’s advice helped him create the character.

“I met Choi during our table reading and he told me he wants Park to keep the passion and anger to capture criminals. So I tried to express that a lot in the beginning,” he said.

From the 2016 crime series "Signal" to the vigilante drama "Taxi Driver," and now "Chief Inspector 1958," the actor has consistently embodied heroic characters engaged in battles against crime intertwined with social issues. Lee has openly shared his deep-seated interest in contemporary events, which has fueled his passion for narratives that delve into pressing social issues.

“As an actor, I take an interest in observing humans, much like one observes their surrounding environment. Naturally, I began to focus on incidents and events in society, nurturing hope for narratives where justice triumphs over evil, a desire shared by many,” he said.

“It may be a fictional story but I want to portray justice being served and truth uncovered through characters. Moving forward, I plan to continue contemplating this aspect as I decide on my works."