SINGAPORE – Throughout his 16-year career, South Korean actor Lee Je-hoon has played characters who are slim and fit.

But in the spirit of expanding his repertoire, he now wants to show a version of himself that is 10 or 20kg heavier.

In an interview on Friday, the 38-year-old told The Straits Times that he was “not afraid at all” of being portrayed as unglamorous on screen.

“That is a different way to portray (myself) and will expand my range as an actor. I am more than happy to take those opportunities if they come.”

When ST pointed out to him that he would have to eat a lot to play an overweight character, he laughed and said: “The whole process of preparing will be so much fun.”

Lee, who stars in K-drama Taxi Driver 2 which is streaming on Viu, was in town to attend two fan meetings on Saturday, where he is expected to serenade fans with his singing and play games with them.

He has always gone the extra mile. For example, to play an underground mixed martial arts fighter in the drama series Move To Heaven (2021), he trained at least six days a week for four months.

And to portray an independence activist who protested by refusing to eat in the movie Anarchist From Colony (2017), Lee reportedly drank only protein shakes during five weeks of the six-week filming period.