Lee Min-ho is taking on a bold new role in his latest drama, When the Stars Gossip, stepping away from his signature wealthy characters. 

For the first time, the K-drama actor portrays Gong Ryong, an obstetrician-gynecologist who embarks on an unexpected journey as a space tourist. 

This down-to-earth character marks a significant departure from his previous portrayals of affluent figures, offering fans a fresh perspective on Lee Min-ho’s acting range and versatility.

The series, which premiered on 4 January on tvN and is available for streaming on Netflix, follows the story of Gong Ryong and Eve Kim, a Korean-American astronaut played by Gong Hyo-jin, as they navigate their missions aboard a space station. 

Filipino fans are buzzing with excitement and humor over Lee Min-ho’s surprising new role in When the Stars Gossip. For the first time in his career, the actor steps away from his signature wealthy characters to play a struggling, down-to-earth man. 

Social media is filled with witty reactions, with some saying, “Lee Min-ho in a poor character was not convincing; his face card is too expensive,” while others joked, “Seeing Lee Min-ho portray a poor man isn’t something we ever saw coming.”

The unexpected role has sparked a mix of amusement and admiration among fans. 

One netizen shared, “Can’t believe I’m alive to see Min-ho play a broke, poor, career-dumpster-fire character... Phew, hilarious! (Also, that hairstyle — you just can’t take the chaebol handsomeness out of him ).” 

Another quipped, “FINALLY, from ‘Rich Min-ho’ to ‘Lee Min-broke’! No more money ang daddy!”

Despite the humorous takes, fans are largely supportive of the actor’s bold decision to break away from typecasting and try something fresh.

Lee Min-ho has built a career portraying some of the most iconic wealthy characters in K-drama history. In Boys Over Flowers (2009), he rose to fame as Gu Jun-pyo, the arrogant yet charming heir to the Shinhwa Group and leader of the elite F4. He followed this with City Hunter (2011), where he played Lee Yoon-sung, an MIT-educated operative working undercover as a wealthy IT expert in the Blue House. In The Heirs (2013), he captivated audiences as Kim Tan, the heir to the Jeguk Group, caught between the demands of high society and a forbidden love.

Lee continued his streak of affluent roles in The Legend of the Blue Sea (2016), where he portrayed Heo Joon-jae, a slick con artist from a rich family who falls for a mermaid. In The King: Eternal Monarch (2020), he took on the regal role of Lee Gon, the third king of the Kingdom of Corea, who discovers a parallel world. Most recently, he starred as Koh Hansu in Pachinko (2022), playing a wealthy and mysterious merchant entangled in a layered love story set against historical upheavals.

These roles cement Lee Min-ho’s reputation as a master of portraying characters with wealth and charisma, a signature trait that fans have come to adore.

Misogynistic lines

Despite Lee Min-ho’s bold departure from his usual rich-guy roles, When the Stars Gossip has faced criticism for misogynistic dialogue in its early episodes. 

One particular scene has drawn backlash for perpetuating negative stereotypes about women, with a controversial line describing female body parts in a manner that many viewers deemed inappropriate. 

“Going to classes and getting full marks for SATS, going to med school and seeing women’s uteruses every day, receiving babies daily. The aunties uterus was like alcohol, but also comforting. They were warm, and even if they were all wrinkled from smoking, the aunties’ breasts were very big and safe.” 

This has led to significant backlash from netizens calling for more thoughtful writing. 

As the series progresses, fans remain hopeful that Lee Min-ho’s portrayal of Gong Ryong will rise above the controversy and continue to showcase his versatility as an actor.