You can find all of our “Bias Duality” articles in one place by clicking here! This week’s “Bias Duality” article is dedicated to an artist who makes our world go round, Lee SeungGi. With 68% of the total votes cast by Kpopmap readers on the poll in our previous “Bias Duality” article, Lee SeungGi was chosen by an overwhelming majority of fans to appear on this series! To participate in choosing the artist who will be featured in our next “Bias Duality” article, you can vote for your favourite idol/actor below! If you would like to see a different idol/actor (one who is not mentioned in the poll) featured in the series, please leave their name in the comments section, and we will add them to the vote lineup next time! Now onto our bias!
Driven By Excellence: Lee SeungGi’s Personal Duality & Evolution
Guided by the virtue of novelty, Lee SeungGi is the first person we think of when we hear the word “all-rounder”. Singer-songwriter, actor, variety star, MC, executive producer, and much more, the list of titles Lee SeungGi has garnered for himself is endless. An entertainer in the truest sense of the word, Lee SeungGi is beloved not just for the treasure trove of talents he is blessed with but also for his immensely endearing personality, kind disposition, and playful outlook on life. Not a day goes by when we don’t spend hours thinking about how Lee SeungGi has changed lives for the better, and that is truly saying something, especially in an industry that is wired to be cold and indifferent to hopes and dreams. Not only has he inspired millions of fans with his journey, but he is also a constant reminder that sincere, unstilted effort will never betray you. Lee SeungGi stepped into showbiz at the tender age of 17 after his mother’s favorite singer Lee SunHee scouted him at his high school band’s concert one night. Being one of his school’s highest-ranking students, Lee SeungGi initially turned down the offer but took it up again after his mother’s encouragement. The same year that Lee SeungGi made his debut with “Because You’re My Girl”, he was also cast in the popular sitcom “Nonstop 5”. It didn’t take him long to settle into the spotlight because he was a breakout star from the get-go with heavy-duty talent, shining visuals, and a charming temperament to back him up. In the next few years, while he was dropping albums, winning hearts, and sweeping awards left and right, he was also working on some of the greatest K-Drama hits of all time: “Brilliant Legacy”, “My Girlfriend Is A Gumiho”, “The King 2 Hearts”, “Gu Family Book” and more. Around this time, Lee SeungGi also made his debut on the silver screen with “Love Forecast”, followed by “The Princess and the Matchmaker”, both of which were huge successes. He was also active as a permanent cast member of “2 Days 1 Night”, and “New Journey to the West” besides his stint as an award-winning show host. Prior to his military enlistment, Lee SeungGi was already revered, both as a soloist and an actor, and his endless potential was beginning to bear fruit on a global scale. The trajectory of his career took the shape of a constant upward curve, and yet he never let his focus falter. Soon after he returned from the military, Lee SeungGi was dubbed a Hallyu top star with the success of “A Korean Odyssey” and “Vagabond”, which considerably expanded his range, earning him critical and commercial success worldwide. SeungGi also joined the cast of “Master in the House”, “Busted!”, and “Little Forest” before taking on the Netflix original show “Twogether” and later, “New World”. Meanwhile, he was the beloved host of “Produce 48”, “Loud”, “Hometown Flex”, “Sing Again” and “Circle House”. Most recently, Lee SeungGi appeared in the psychological thriller “Mouse”, followed by “The Law Cafe”, which received huge praise from viewers far and wide. After such a splendid run in the entertainment industry, Lee SeungGi took the natural next step forward and established his own production company named “Human Made” in 2021. Earlier this year, the company released the mini-documentary series “Human Table” with Lee SeungGi as its executive producer. If you thought this was impressive, wait till you hear about Lee SeungGi’s academic feats. He graduated from Dongguk University with a degree in International Trade and Commerce and a special achievement award, then went on to do a Double Masters in Marketing, Trade Theory and Finance and Cultural Contents. He even earned a Child Psychiatry Counselling Certificate during his time as a cast member of “Little Forest”! Clearly, Lee SeungGi takes researching for the role to a whole new level. Today, Lee SeungGi’s name is synonymous with versatility, power, charisma, talent, uniqueness, and invincibility. He is proudly representative of Hallyu’s glory and upholds its glamour in the most honorable way possible. When it comes to his real personality, it is even more golden than his art. As a matter of fact, his natural expression itself comes across as a portrait of love and light. He is playful and energetic like a golden retriever but also elegant and crafty like a cat. You never know which version you’ll get, but one thing is certain: you’re going to love it either way! His smile could outshine the stars, and the joy he brings to any room he walks into carries the passion of a thousand suns. He is a dear friend who would take a bullet for you but also a formidable enemy (in games, of course) who would sell your soul for a corn chip. SeungGi is intensely competitive, determined, unyielding, focused, and sharp, but he can also be a shy and soft sweetheart, depending on the situation. What makes this duality even more striking is the way he can switch from one to the other in the blink of an eye! While it is supremely entertaining to see SeungGi’s strategic side as he turns his charm on to plan his next move and schemes his opponent’s downfall, it is equally incredible to see his wholesome, caring, and considerate side. SeungGi’s kindness and gratitude truly know no bounds, just like his love language can never be limited to one or the other. SeungGi shows love in his own unique ways, and that is what makes him so special. He is always taking care of those around him, even if it is the first time he’s meeting them, is constantly attentive to his co-stars’ needs, is thoughtful towards his staff members, endlessly cooperative with his juniors, humble and gracious with his seniors, and simply a delight to be around. SeungGi knows exactly how to make someone comfortable and help them open up, which is why he’s such an expert at making friends with new people. Even SeungGi’s special force successor from the military revealed that he is just as kind as everyone saw on TV. So, you do actually get what you see, and that’s definitely a legend worth stanning. Most importantly, Lee SeungGi makes one want to trust and believe in him, in his stories, in his art, and that is truly the greatest quality an artist can have. To watch this personal duality of Lee SeungGi on full display, we highly recommend a variety show marathon because each one is better than the next!
Conjuring Galaxies With His Art: Lee SeungGi’s Screen Duality
If we lived in a world where we could only choose one actor’s work to watch for the rest of our lives, Lee SeungGi would be the perfect choice. After all, his acting style is one of the grandest visions to behold, and his range is absolutely impeccable. Not only is he technically brilliant but more importantly, he builds a connection with his character that is undeniably seamless. With each drama or movie you watch, you get a new version of Lee SeungGi that you’ve never seen before, and yet, you’ll be drawn to it as if they were familiar to you in another world. This is because rather than playing a character, he becomes them, feeling their emotions in his heart, rationalizing their decisions in his head. This man acts from a place of identity, where the character and the actor become one and the same. So, what you see is not simply a projection, it is wholly real, and that is what makes his screen duality all the more authentic. To analyze this duality even further, we’ll be breaking down three of Lee SeungGi’s most iconic characters of all time, starting with his latest, Kim JungHo from “The Law Cafe”. Hailed by many fans and Lee SeYoung as the closest to Lee SeungGi’s real personality, Kim JungHo is a genius through and through. Blessed with the gift of the gab, intimidatingly high intelligence, and dashing good looks, JungHo is incredibly easy to root for, especially when he is so good at what he does, just like Lee SeungGi. However, JungHo is also gentle, meek, doting, and affectionate. He is decisive and finds meaning in the smallest things, which eventually start to hold a large space in his heart. JungHo has joie de vivre but in a subtle, more muted sort of way and that is what makes him stand out. Next up, we have the character that quite literally defines duality, Jung BaReum from “Mouse”. For those who might not know, “Mouse” can very well be introduced as the most chilling thriller of recent years that I am certain will go down in K-Drama history for being inimitable. Similarly, Jung BaReum has to be one of the finest, most complex, and the most difficult yet well-written characters Lee SeungGi has ever brought to life. The actor revealed that he wanted to take him on because the binary shades of light and dark that framed Jung BaReum pulled him in. Needless to say, this attachment shone through with sheer intensity in “Mouse”. When BaReum struggles with his identity, so do we and when it all turns out to be a ruse, it is virtually impossible to steer our sentiments in the right direction. The initial discrepancy between BaReum’s real sadistic emotions and those he mirrors versus his post-surgery haze and misguided empathy will send chills down your spine. He does not just go from a naive civil servant with a staunch sense of justice to a psychopath killer. The nuances of BaReum’s psyche are much more layered, and the devil is definitely in the details. Finally, a character representing duality that is neither too overpowering nor too elusive is Son OhGong from “A Korean Odyssey”. Now, Son OhGong, inspired by the Monkey King from the Chinese novel “Journey to the West”, is deviously intelligent, arrogant, manipulative, and powerful. He is also a hopeless romantic and a fierce protector, even though both of these motivations come from a place of duress, to begin with. This is exactly why the slow yet sure change from play pretend to sincere reality is such a beautiful thing in this drama, and Lee SeungGi portrays this shift with the utmost conviction.
The Quadruple Threat - Lee SeungGi’s Aesthetic Duality
Nation’s Umchina, Nation’s Little Brother, Nation’s Son-in-Law, and Nation’s Heodang - Lee SeungGi has as many aesthetic moods as nicknames, and we’re head over heels for each one of them. His radiant personality and magnificent presence are perfectly in contrast to his playful mischievousness. Similarly, his dependable aura is diametrically opposed to his adorable klutzy nature. Perhaps this is why no one particular nickname can capture the quintessence of Lee SeungGi’s duality. This aesthetic duality also translates into Lee SeungGi’s fashion. After all, who else other than SeungGi can look as good in pajamas as in a three-piece suit? When his hair is ruffled effortlessly and left to rest on his forehead, we’re instantly reminded of his boyish innocence. However, once he slicks it back, we cannot help but swoon and sigh at his alluring machismo. In fact, the different looks that he adopts for each of his works are so distinctive and original that anyone would be able to guess the drama just from his aesthetic! If you’d like to indulge in even more of Lee SeungGi’s duality, his Instagram account (@leeseunggi.official) is the place to be. From selfies to behind-the-scenes, music, pictorials, and candid clicks, SeungGi’s feed is not only exceptionally cozy but also, the vibes are simply immaculate. If you aren’t already following the actor on Instagram, now is the time to join 4.2 million others on this journey of a lifetime. At the end of the day, if there’s one thing that will always remain singularly unchanged about Lee SeungGi, it is his glorious permanence. Without a shadow of a doubt, Lee SeungGi is one of the greatest artists of our generation and those to come. His glorious music career, unmatched acting skills, iconic variety show presence, and immensely endearing personality are nothing but a blessing for us, and we’re simply honored to be living in the same era as him. While we recover from the post-“Law Cafe” blues, let’s eagerly wait for the masterpieces that Lee SeungGi has in store for us next! What is your favorite thing about Lee SeungGi’s duality? Tell us in the comments section down below! If you’re looking for more content about Lee SeungGi on Kpopmap, here are some articles you might enjoy!
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