Choi Gu has spent his entire life on battlefields, and the veteran commander now wants only to rest with his family once one last mission ends. Lee Sung-min plays the aging Yabyeolcho leader in Sacred Jewel, the JTBC historical drama that sends an expedition into a war zone in search of a relic said to protect Goryeo. His experience is set to shape Baek Gyeol, the young commander leading the escort unit into his first battle.
On November 13, Newsen shared Lee Sung-min's comments ahead of the premiere, covering why he chose the project and how he prepared for the role. He explained that reuniting with director Jung Dae-yoon was a major reason for signing on. "One of the reasons is because I wanted to reunite with director Jung Dae-yoon after working together on our previous project, Reborn Rich," he said.
Lee Sung-min also pointed to his trust in writer Jung Hyun-min, whose historical drama Jeong Do Jeon he had thoroughly enjoyed. "I also had great confidence in the project because it was written by Jung Hyun-min, whose drama Jeong Do Jeon I thoroughly enjoyed," he said. He added that the drama's unique premise and story set it apart from other historical dramas he had seen.
Choi Gu leads the Yabyeolcho, Goryeo's elite special unit, and has been chosen to command the escort unit alongside the inexperienced Baek Gyeol. "He is a veteran commander of Goryeo's Yabyeolcho who has passed middle age and is approaching old age," Lee Sung-min said. He added that Choi Gu's experience and leadership, along with the exhaustion built over countless battles, make the character compelling, and that influencing Baek Gyeol's growth interested him as well.
Sacred Jewel is set in 1258 during the Goryeo Dynasty, when the kingdom is on the brink of defeat after 30 years of war with Mongolia. The story follows the heroic fight of an expedition unit that sets out onto the battlefield in search of the Avalokitesvara Bead, a sacred relic believed to possess divine power to protect the nation, and a princess who sets out to save them.
Ahn Bo-hyun plays Baek Gyeol, while Claudia Kim plays Princess Wang Hui. Ha Yun-kyung and Yoon Kyun-sang round out the ensemble, and the series is produced by SLL and Celltrion Entertainment.
Asked to describe Choi Gu in three keywords, Lee Sung-min chose "wounds," "longing," and "sword." He explained that the words cover the scars on Choi Gu's body and the wounds in his heart from decades of war, along with his regret over time away from his family and his hope of reuniting with them after this expedition.
The sword carries its own meaning for Choi Gu. Lee Sung-min described it as being like another self for a veteran warrior, the one thing that can protect both the commander and his comrades so he can return home alive to his family.
The long journey at the center of the story also pushed Lee Sung-min back into training. "Since the story follows a long journey in search of the Avalokitesvara Bead, physical stamina was essential. I even returned to an action school after a long time to prepare for the action scenes," he said.
That preparation extended beyond his own scenes. He stressed that the cast and crew had to travel and film as one group for a long period, making teamwork, trust and unity essential to the production.
One line from the script stayed with Lee Sung-min after his first read. The script's cover carried a line noting that the king had sent ten men of the Yabyeolcho, and he said the phrase kept coming back to him.
"Sacred Jewel is special because it expands upon a part of history recorded in historical documents to create its own story," he shared. "I hope the hard work and dedication of the writer, director, staff, and actors will reach viewers. I hope you'll show the drama lots of love."
Sacred Jewel premieres on December 5 at 10:40 p.m. KST on JTBC in its Saturday-Sunday slot. International viewers can watch the series on Amazon Prime Video.
Source: Newsen via Naver
