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| yna@yna.co.kr 2026-07-23 15:48:15
SEOUL, July 23 (Yonhap) -- It took two and a half years for Disney+'s series "A Shop for Killers" to return with its second season.
Actor Lee Dong-wook, who met reporters in Seoul's Gangnam district on Wednesday, said "continuity" was the most important element in bridging the long gap between the two seasons.
"Season 2 isn't a new story but an extension of season 1," he said.
Maintaining visual continuity was equally essential.
"I always gained about 8 kilograms (17.6 pounds) to play Jeong Jin-man, so I had to put on weight again," Lee said with a laugh. "I also drank plenty of water to 'prevent aging' because I couldn't look older after two years."
"A Shop for Killers" is based on Kang Ji-young's novel "A Shop for Killers." The action series follows the conflict between Murder Help, a shopping mall for assassins run by former mercenary team leader Jeong Jin-man (Lee), and Babylon, the organization where he once worked.
Season 2, which premiered Tuesday, follows Jeong Ji-an (Kim Hye-jun), who has taken over as the mall's new leader after believing her uncle Jin-man to be dead, and the unexpectedly returned Jin-man as they strike back against Babylon together.
Lee, who described himself as normally reserved, admitted he felt nervous before filming began.
"I don't usually get nervous, but I was anxious the day before the first shoot for season 2," he recalled.
The return of many crew members from the first season quickly eased those nerves.
"When I arrived on set, everything felt so familiar and welcoming," he said. "The tension disappeared the moment I saw the staff. It felt like we had just finished filming season 1 yesterday."
Season 2 reunites Lee, Kim Hye-jun, Cho Han-sun, Kim Min and Geum Hae-na from the first season.
"It felt like everyone had prepared incredibly hard," Lee said. "I thought, 'Why does everyone look so determined?' It motivated me to work even harder."
Joining them are Jung Yoon-ha, Hyunri and Okada Masaki, who play members of Babylon's East Asia branch.
"They prepared thoroughly and blended in as though they'd always been part of the cast," Lee said. "It made me think, 'All I have to do is perform well.'"
Season 2 also raises the bar with larger-scale action sequences.
One standout scene features Lee and Cho performing an uninterrupted two-minute one-on-one fight on a long bridge, filmed in a single take with a 360-degree camera following their movements.
"It wasn't an easy shoot," Lee said. "If we made one mistake, we had to start over from the beginning, so we both gritted our teeth and gave it everything we had."
Lee said the true protagonist of the second season is Kim Hye-jun's character, Ji-an.
"Season 2 is really about Ji-an's growth," he said. "It shows how she has changed since season 1 and how her uncle Jin-man watches that growth. I even joked with Hye-jun, 'You're the main character, so you should be promoting the series the hardest.'"
Although Lee is one of Korea's leading actors, he has continued to challenge himself by appearing in a wide range of entertainment programs.
He served as the representative "national producer" on Mnet's "Produce X 101" in 2019 and hosted SBS' talk show "Because I Want to Talk with Lee Dong-wook" from 2019 to 2020.
More recently, he has frequently appeared on Yoo Jae-suk's web variety show "Pinggyego." He also reunited with Gong Yoo, Kim Go-eun and Yoo In-na for the spin-off variety show "Goblin 10th Anniversary Trip," celebrating the 10th anniversary of tvN's hit drama "Goblin."
"I appear on variety shows because they're fun," Lee said. "Many of my friends work in variety, and they're fun people to be around. I'm already in my late 40s, and I've realized that joy and laughter are important in life. You only live once, so why not enjoy it?"
Looking back on the "Goblin" anniversary program, Lee said it reminded him of the enduring love viewers have shown the drama.
"I was happy when I received the offer, but I was also amazed," he said. "I kept wondering, 'How have people continued to love this drama for 10 years?' I'm also grateful that the cast has remained so close all this time. I sincerely thank everyone who has supported us."
With only two episodes released and six remaining, Lee kept his message to viewers simple.
"I hope people just enjoy it," he said. "Sit back, relax and let the series take you on a roller coaster ride."
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