[INTERVIEW] Lee Sang-yoon falls in love with acting through 'Death of a Salesman'

By KTimes

Actor Lee Sang-yoon delivers a powerful performance in "Death of a Salesman," drawing on years of experience to bring depth to his role. Playing Biff Loman, a man who once held great promise but struggles to find his place, Lee immerses himself in the character’s emotional complexities.

The play, which runs until March 3, is a celebrated masterpiece that has won the Pulitzer Prize, Tony Award and New York Drama Critics’ Circle Award. It explores the harsh realities of the American dream through the story of Willy Loman, a father losing both his job and family amid the economic turmoil of the Great Depression.

Having built a steady career in theater with productions like "Freud's Last Session" and "Closer," Lee sees this role as another step in his artistic growth. Speaking backstage, he reflected on his experience with the production and his journey as an actor in an interview.

The appeal of theater

For Lee, theater is a place of constant self-discovery. “I feel like I keep breaking and rebuilding myself every time I step on stage,” he said. “What I love most about theater is the long preparation period. Performing is great, but I find the rehearsal process even more rewarding because it allows me to assess my strengths and weaknesses as an actor.”

The collaborative nature of theater has also been a source of learning. “When another actor plays the same role, I can learn from their interpretation. I also get valuable insight from my seniors and juniors, which helps me see the character and the play from different perspectives.”

He added that the stage continuously challenges him. “It forces me to stay immersed, take responsibility, and push myself to grow.”

Bringing Biff Loman to life

Biff’s struggles resonated with Lee, making the role particularly compelling.

“He’s a character that many men can relate to,” he explained. “His emotions are layered, and his journey unfolds in a way that feels real. He goes through moments of hiding and revealing things, and his psychology is expressed through those shifts.”

As an actor, playing Biff has been a longtime goal for Lee. “They say that when you’re young, you see yourself in the son, and as you get older, you start wanting to play the father. Someday, I might want to take on Willy Loman’s role, but after watching my senior actors perform it, I’m not sure I could do it justice just yet.”

Lee shares the stage with veteran actors Park Geun-hyung and Son Byeong-ho, who alternate in the role of Willy Loman. Their performances, he said, bring distinct nuances to the character.

“Park Geun-hyung has a strong presence, but he’s not scary at all. Some might find him intimidating because he speaks bluntly, but everything he says is right. He speaks out of care and wants to guide those he sees potential in,” Lee said.

Son Byeong-ho, on the other hand, brings a different energy. “He’s much more dynamic and has a youthful presence. Both actors portray Willy as a father who struggles to communicate, but Park’s version feels like a man whose heart has hardened over time, while Son’s Willy seems like someone desperately trying to deny reality. The contrast between them is fascinating to watch.”

Fresh approach to a classic

Before being cast, Lee was only familiar with the title "Death of a Salesman" but had never seen a full production.

“In a way, that worked to my advantage because I didn’t have any preconceptions,” he said. “But once I took on the role, I became curious about how others had played Biff. I asked my senior actors, studied different interpretations and started making comparisons.”

He had always wanted to perform in a classic, so getting the opportunity earlier than expected felt like a gift.

Lee found himself drawing from his own experiences while portraying Biff’s complex relationship with his father.

“From the moment I read the script, I kept thinking about my own father. I think most men experience a point in their lives where they struggle to communicate with their dads,” he said. “That tension usually peaks in their 30s and 40s, but as they get older, they begin to understand them. I’m still in that middle stage, where communication isn’t always smooth and can be frustrating.”

He continued with a laugh, “Men often unconsciously compete with their fathers. That just seems to be the way it is. At home, I’m not the most expressive son, so when I play affectionate roles, my mother feels betrayed.”

Power of masterpiece

For Lee, the brilliance of "Death of a Salesman" lies in its writing. “This play has won major awards for a reason. The original script is outstanding, and I kept thinking about how to highlight its brilliance,” he said. “Masterpieces flow naturally when performed correctly. Even without forcing emotions, the structure and dialogue evoke something profound.”

To prepare, he spent a great deal of time analyzing the lines. “I tried to understand the true psychology behind each word. It was about digging into the ‘why’ behind the dialogue and following it to its core.”

These days, acting is all-consuming for Lee, and he wishes he had felt this passion earlier.

“Right now, acting is the most enjoyable thing in my life,” he said. “Even when I’m not working on a project, I constantly think about what I can do next and what roles I want to play.”

While he has always been dedicated to his craft, he admitted there were times he felt lost.

“I’ve never been someone with a wide range of talents, but I do have strong focus. That’s why I studied hard in school, and that’s how I’ve approached acting. But for a long time, I felt frustrated because I was performing without fully understanding my own methods. There were moments I felt disappointed in myself and limited in my ability.”

To overcome that, he sought out new life experiences. “I even tried stepping away to gain a broader perspective. But ultimately, theater gave me the breakthrough I needed.”

Lee credits "Freud's Last Session" as a turning point that reshaped his approach to acting.

“I’ve lived a fairly rigid life, and I wonder how my acting career would have been different if I had questioned things more. Fortunately, "Freud's Last Session" gave me the chance to break free, and that opened up new opportunities,” he said.

Applying what he learned from the stage to screen acting also made a difference. “When I incorporated those experiences, my performances felt richer and more fulfilling. When people started noticing the change, I thought, ‘This is it.’”

Now, his focus is on finishing "Death of a Salesman" strong and carrying its energy into future projects.

“I hope this play concludes successfully, and that I can channel its momentum into my next work. That’s my biggest wish right now.”

This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.