Director Ahn Pan Seok Teases Lee Je Hoon’s Bold Transformation in The Art of Negotiation
On Wednesday, director Ahn Pan Seok, known for his meticulous work in previous projects, gave fans a sneak peek at his upcoming JTBC drama, The Art of Negotiation (written by Lee Seung Young). He revealed key aspects of the show and the dramatic transformation of his lead actor, Lee Je Hoon.
Set in the high-stakes corporate mergers and acquisitions (M&A) world, The Art of Negotiation follows a legendary M&A expert and his team navigating intense business battles. The series has already generated a lot of buzz, thanks to Ahn Pan Seok’s reputation for delivering gripping, realistic portrayals on screen.
Ahn Pan Seok, who redefined the medical drama genre with Behind the White Tower, is now shifting gears to the office drama world. He shared, “Normally, I start from scratch with writers, brainstorming ideas together. But for ‘The Art of Negotiation,’ this is the first time I’ve chosen a project based on a completed script. The compelling story and intense conflicts immediately drew me in—this is a first for me in my career.”
“Unlike my recent works, this drama has a hard-edged, gritty feel. It’s more about high-stakes financial drama than soft, romantic plots, which is refreshing,” he added.
Ahn Pan Seok emphasized his commitment to realism, saying, “Every drama must be real. Viewers should never feel like they’re watching something fake.” Given his history of delivering lifelike portrayals, expectations for his portrayal of the cutthroat M&A world are sky-high.
The director also shared his excitement about the cast, saying, “The actors really bring their characters to life. Kim Dae Myung, as Oh Soon Young, strikes the perfect balance between gentleness and intensity. As expected, veterans like Sung Dong Il, Jang Hyun Sung, and Oh Man Seok deliver stellar performances. I’m also excited by the fresh, realistic portrayals from newcomers Ahn Hyun Ho and Cha Kang Yoon.”
The standout, however, is Lee Je Hoon’s transformation into Yoon Joo No. Ahn Pan Seok couldn’t hide his admiration for the actor, saying, “From the moment Lee Je Hoon steps onto the set, he becomes Yoon Joo No. He stays in character from start to finish.” He continued, “One of the key things to look out for in the drama is definitely Lee Je Hoon—his acting, presence, and complete embodiment of the character. We hope viewers will be just as excited about it as we are.”
The Art of Negotiation is set to premiere on March 8.