[Edaily Starin Gim Ga Yeong Reporter] “For me, coming across a good project is like winning the ‘lottery.’”

Actor Lee Jun-hyuk gave this response when asked, “What kind of luck is like winning the lottery?” during a wrap-up interview for the TVING series *Even Lottery Winners Go to Work*, held on the 12th.
Lee Jun-hyuk confided, “For me, a good project isn’t defined by numerical metrics like a film grossing 10 million viewers; since I’m also a consumer, it’s a project I can secretly give a perfect 5-star rating on review sites.”
He continued, “Since my livelihood is important to me, just getting my next project is like winning the lottery.” He added, “It feels like a lottery win because the opportunity came to me, and whenever I wonder if I’ll be able to keep working, another project comes along. I think it’s similar for everyone in freelance work.”
He added, “It’s not exactly a state of complete peace of mind, but it feels like I’m winning the lottery little by little,” concluding, “It’s good luck.”
“Even Lottery Winners Go to Work,” starring Lee Jun-hyuk, is an office drama about “Gong Eun-tae,” a team leader who was constantly being pushed around and barely getting by day to day. After winning the lottery jackpot, he returns to work with a new mindset—carrying his 1.3 billion won prize instead of a resignation letter. Since its release on TVING and tvN, the series has ranked highly on TVING and achieved stable viewership on tvN, surpassing a 5% viewership rating.
In this series, Lee Jun-hyuk stars as Gong Eun-tae, an ordinary office worker and rookie team leader at Hongsung International who wins the “lottery jackpot.” He approached his work faster and harder than anyone else, earning a lightning-fast promotion to team leader, yet he had lived his life without ever once expressing anger in the face of unreasonable situations. However, his work life changes completely when a single lottery ticket—which he was forced to buy—wins the grand prize.
Speaking about the role of Gong Eun-tae, he revealed, “Actually, in a way, the roles I’ve played so far have involved much more character-driven acting. I’ve played supporting roles far more often, and I’ve had to deliver standout performances alongside the lead.” He added, “In the case of Eun-tae, it feels like this is almost the first time I’m playing the lead. ‘The Good or Bad Dong-jae’ was a spin-off, and there was the framework of Hwang Si-mok.”
He continued, “Eun-tae was the first role where I could play a character a bit closer to who I am,” adding, “So it did feel a little more comfortable.”

Lee Jun-hyuk, who portrayed an office worker in *Lotto First Prize*, noted that the drama’s setting and the filming industry share similar environments. “I felt that Eun-tae’s office life wasn’t any different from our own,” he explained, adding, “We also have hierarchical relationships.”
He continued, “I heard this script was rejected many times. Also, since I’m not an actor with a string of hit shows, I’d heard it would be difficult to get it scheduled, but when this project finally came together, it felt like it was made with the spirit of ‘just go for it,’ just like the lines in the drama.”
He explained, “What I wanted to do in this drama—and what I really wanted to do if I were the lead—was to create a story where many characters feel like leads.” He continued, “Although I felt the pressure of being the lead in this drama, I was able to tell a character like Ji-hye (played by Ha Yul-ri) to ‘go for it’ so she could become the protagonist in Episode 10, and she pulled it off brilliantly. “I think those aspects were quite similar to the situation both on and off the screen,” he revealed.
He explained that he has been acting for a longer period than his character, Gong Eun-tae, has been working at the company, saying, “I felt we weren’t that different. Just as Eun-tae relied heavily on the employees of Sales Team 5, I also relied heavily on the other actors.”
He repeatedly emphasized that he was grateful that so many characters received attention in the drama. “I was so grateful that people liked the ideas I had from the beginning,” he confided. “What I initially envisioned—and discussed extensively with Hyun-woo—was that I hoped this project would bring attention to many actors. So when the drama received a positive response, I thought, ‘We weren’t too far off,’ and I was truly grateful.”
Lee Jun-hyuk pointed out that he shares some similarities with the real-life Gong Eun-tae. “I grumble a bit more than Eun-tae, but I could still relate to him,” he said. “In the drama, the team leader mentioned that once he gains influence, he can give opportunities to his team members. Similarly, in *The Good or Bad Dong-jae*, I wasn’t able to appear alongside the rookie actors at the production press conference, but this time, having gained a bit more influence, we were able to do it together. I think those aspects were similar.”
Lee Jun-hyuk also revealed that he bought lottery tickets while filming the drama. “I don’t usually buy lottery tickets,” he said. “I used to hope that luck would come my way through my work, but since this drama is about the ‘lottery,’ I tried to buy tickets every week.” He then added with a laugh, “But I didn’t win.”
Viewers who watched the drama even commented that Lee Jun-hyuk’s handsome looks seemed unreal. He responded, “It’s not so much that I look better than I do in real life, but rather that depending on the project, there are things we create through teamwork.” He added, “Actually, I haven’t really had much of anything for 20 years. Everyone knows that, right? I didn’t start out making a fortune off my looks or anything like that. It’s unfair. I’ve struggled longer than Eun-tae,” he pleaded, drawing laughter.
Regarding the recent string of compliments about his appearance, he said, “I’m grateful. Looks are subject to the trends of the times—they come and go.” He added, “Once the trend passes, people might say I’m not that great later on, but for now, I’m grateful.”
He confessed that he had also tried to portray that image in his work. He wanted to infuse the character of Gong Eun-tae with an even more fantasy-like quality. “I thought people in their 20s today might view those in their 40s and 50s as having a slightly more youthful vibe, so I took care of my appearance and tried to incorporate that into the role,” he said. “We also suggested removing elements like Eun-tae smoking and focused on portraying the image of an office worker we wanted to showcase. I thought it would be better if he had a cleaner, more polished look.”
He revealed that he eats half a meal a day to maintain his appearance. “Half a meal means eating something like powdered food and a slice of bread a day,” he explained. “I was born a healthy baby, so I gain weight easily even when I eat very little, which is why I’m being careful. But doing this makes life feel generally gloomy. It’s all for nothing. I just love days when I can enjoy a delicious hamburger,” he said, drawing laughter.
He continues his busy schedule with the movie *Vampire* and the SBS drama *Awakening*. Regarding *Awakening*, he said, “I boldly ventured into the occult genre and realized it was no ordinary task,” adding, “I decided to take it on because I judged that it’s not easy for SBS to schedule such a strong occult drama. So I put in a lot of effort to make it good. I worked really hard,” thereby raising anticipation for his upcoming project.