Jung So Min Or Go Yoon Jung? Lee Jae Wook Names Best Leading Lady In ‘Alchemy of Souls’

Tags: lee jae wook; Jung So Min; Go Yoon Jung; Alchemy of Souls; Alchemy of Souls Part 2; Alchemy of Souls: Light and Shadow

BY Elijah Mully Jan 09, 2023 09:32 PM EST

Lee Jae Wook shares his unforgettable experiences from his recently concluded drama "Alchemy of Souls," which dominated the small screen for 15 long weeks.

The actor also opened up about the things he learned from his co-stars, future plans and more. Read on to know more.

Lee Jae Wook Shares Honest Opinions About 'Alchemy of Souls'

Following the drama's conclusion, Lee Jae Wook dishes his honest feelings about his best drama yet, "Alchemy of Souls"!

The tvN drama stars Lee Jae Wook as the most powerful mage who saves the world from ruin. For 15 long weeks, the series was able to capture the attention of the public.

Lee Jae Wook expresses his gratitude to fans who tuned in the series from beginning until the end. Since "Alchemy of Souls" is the actor's first fantasy series, the work holds a special place in his heart.

"I actually refused to appear in the series at first," Lee Jae Wook confessed. "I had no background when it comes to fantasy action works so it was easy for me to say no. But looking back, I'm thankful that I accepted the challenge."

Lee Jae Wook On Becoming Jang Uk

Despite playing only one role in the series, Lee Jae Wook had a hard time transforming into Jang Uk as his character possesses contrasting traits in the first and second part of the series.

Lee Jae Wook shares that there was a huge difference in his character in Parts 1 and 2. To further immerse himself in his acting role, he thought of Jang Uk as a different person who has his own temperament and critical thinking.

In particular, the actor also reminisced about his struggles during filming. He stated, "I prepared myself physically three months prior filming. Although it was hard, it was one of my favorite moments in the production process."

Aside from his acting rehearsals, Jang Uk also enrolled himself in stunt classes for his fight scenes in the drama. He familiarized himself with his sword, and experienced minor injuries during the process.

Furthermore, Lee Jae Wook also focused on his tonal delivery, diction and facial features as his character changed so much from Part 1 to Part 2. Thankfully, all of his hard work had paid off in the end.

Lee Jae Wook Reveals Thoughts On Female Lead Changes in the Series

"Alchemy of Souls" received criticism from the public after the series replaced Jung So Min with Go Yoon Jung in Part 2.

Jung So Min took the role of Mu Deok, a maidservant whose body possesses the soul of Naksu, who was played briefly by Go Yoon Jung in Part 1.

The actress' performance gained extreme popularity in both domestic and overseas channels, completely captivating viewers' attention.

ALSO READ: 'Alchemy of Souls' Episode 30: Lee Jae Wook Finally Marries Go Yoon Jung

In Part 2, Go Yoon Jung headlined the series as Jin Bu Yeon, who was originally played by Jung So Min. Though the cast changes were relevant to the plot, many viewers were not pleased by the production unit's decision.

When asked about this, Lee Jae Wook stated that he wasn't bothered by the changes at all. The actor was glad to meet both actresses who helped him improve his performance as a rookie star.

"Go Yoon Jung wasn't difficult to work with," the actor said. "She's a vivacious actress who has lots of positive energy and thanks to her, we successfully filmed every scene without dullness."

As for Jung So Min, the actor stated that he has immense respect for the actress, saying, "Jung So Min is a senior who has made me feel that I was capable of doing any role given to me."

When asked which actress is his favorite, Lee Jae Wook answered, "Jung So Min and Go Yoon Jung are great actresses. I loved working with them. I never lost my smile on the set because of them."

Catch Lee Jae Wook on "Alchemy of Souls" on Netflix!

ICYMI, watch the teaser here.