Lee Min-ho: "Puberty in my thirties... I need time to find myself"

Actor Lee Min-ho revealed the emotional confusion he experienced at the peak of his career and his ongoing process of internal exploration. In a recently released video from the tvN variety program "You Quiz on the Block," Lee Min-ho mentioned the changes brought by past success and the psychological state he felt during that process.

The Discrepancy with Reality Faced at the Peak of Success

Lee Min-ho said he needed time to adapt to the environment that changed rapidly after the drama "The Heirs." He explained that after the drama achieved great success, he experienced a state where he felt a lack of reality beyond just being happy. This is interpreted to mean that he needed a process to balance the situation where his social position suddenly changed while his emotional state and the reality he stands upon remained the same.

In particular, he revealed that he chose to isolate himself to deal with such situations. He said that during his 20s, he lived an isolated life, such as minimizing meeting people and spending time alone even during private hours. He added that whenever he felt impulsive emotions at that time, he suppressed them by thinking of his family who must be protected and the people who support him.

"Now is Puberty"... Exploring Identity Through Self-Objectification

Lee Min-ho defined his current state as "puberty." He recalled that during his 20s, he did well while feeling the emotions appropriate for his given age, but he said he faced new difficulties in the process of worrying about what kind of energy he should fill the next 10 years with. He explained that now is a time to find himself.

In this process, he mentioned the term "knowing one's place." He said that self-objectification, looking into oneself, is the beginning of all standards, and revealed that he is contemplating what his desires are, what makes him happy, and what brings out new energy. He also said that he sometimes experiences difficulty in setting standards for life because of his personality, where if he traps himself in a box, he wants to get out, and if he lets himself out, he tries to go back into the box.

Feelings for Family and an Independent Attitude Toward Life

Lee Min-ho also mentioned his attitude toward life. He showed a will to aim for a life lived for his own path rather than living for the paths of others, wanting to give meaning to every step. This was conveyed in the sense that it is also a prerequisite for delivering good energy to others.

Regarding his relationship with his family, he revealed an emotional bond with his mother. Mentioning that his family has recently entered a period of stability, he said he felt the passage of time through an experience where his mother spoke about the time remaining. He expressed his desire to make memories with his family that can last a long time within the given time.