Rising star Lee Jun Young revealed this week that he once declined a commendation for helping stop a drunk driver, explaining that he didn't feel right accepting the award as a public figure.

The actor appeared on the latest episode of JTBC's Let's Eat Dinner Together (한끼줍쇼), where he opened up about his career, personal values, and an incident that briefly made headlines.

Lee, known for his performances in dramas such as Weak Hero Class 2, D.P., and Mask Girl, shared that acting allowed him to express emotions he otherwise hides due to shyness.

"I'm shy, but when I act, I realize I can legally express all my emotions as soon as I hear the director say 'action,'" Lee said. "I've been lucky enough to work on many Netflix projects."

During the interview, Lee recalled a tense encounter involving a drunk driver.

"While leaving work, I noticed the car in front of me nearly crashed into a guardrail twice," he said. "I honked, but they didn't respond, so I called the police. They asked me to follow the vehicle, so I did — for about an hour — until they were caught."

Though his actions were praised by authorities and the public, Lee declined an official award.

"Aren't there many more exemplary and courageous people?" he said. "I didn't like receiving it because I'm a public figure. I didn't think that was cool."

The actor also reflected on a key turning point in his career: his role in D.P., particularly a rooftop fight scene with co-star Jung Hae-in.

"I had so many regrets about that action scene that I started learning mixed martial arts afterward," Lee shared.

Known for his humility and grounded perspective, Lee continues to build his reputation not just as an actor, but as someone unafraid to make difficult decisions based on principle.