South Korean actor Lee Dong-wook, known globally for fantasy hits like "Goblin" and "Tale of the Nine-Tailed," revealed he is stepping away from the genre, saying he is "exhausted" from years of portraying supernatural roles.

Speaking during a press conference in Seoul on Sunday to promote JTBC's upcoming noir drama "The Nice Guy," Lee, 43, said he wanted to focus on "something more realistic" after years of performing in complex fantasy productions.

"For the past four to five years, I've focused on fantasy dramas," Lee told reporters. "It was exhausting to constantly create a new world view, to fly through the sky on wires, or to become an uncle from another realm."

His new project, "The Nice Guy," marks a shift for the actor. In the series, Lee stars as Park Seok-cheol, the eldest grandson of a notorious gangster family who harbors an unexpectedly poetic heart.

The show follows his emotional journey alongside his first love, played by Lee Sung-kyung, in a gritty noir setting.

"When I read the script for 'The Nice Guy,' it felt like my feet were finally back on the ground," Lee said. "I wanted to act out something realistic."

Unlike his fantasy-heavy past roles, Lee said he took a stripped-down approach to his new character.

"I didn't prepare anything special for this role," he said.

"It's more like everyday acting. You'll probably see parts of the real Lee Dong-wook in Park Seok-cheol. I wanted to portray a normal person you might find right next to you."

Director Song Hae-sung, also present at the event, praised Lee's dedication to the role.

"Lee Dong-wook's ability to bring subtlety to an otherwise heavy character was what made him the perfect fit for this project," Song said.

Lee's co-stars Lee Sung-kyung, Park Hoon, Oh Na-ra, and Ryu Hye-young also appeared at the press conference, sharing their excitement about working on the drama, set to premiere July 18.

While best known for fantasy and romantic roles, Lee said he hopes this new direction will resonate with audiences.

"Fantasy was fun, but I think it's time people meet me in a more human way," he said.

"The Nice Guy" will premiere with a back-to-back, two-episode release at 8:50 p.m. KST on JTBC.