[Dispatch=Jung Tae-yoon] Cho Hun-hyun reached the peak of baduk. That's why they call him Kuksu — the national master. If acting had a national title, Lee Byung-hun would be a strong contender.

This time, he steps into the role of Cho Hun-hyun himself. With the slightest twitch of a muscle or the subtle shift of a joint, he brings the character to life. In one of the most static sports, he delivers one of the most emotionally charged dramas.

When praised for his acting, Lee simply smiled and said,

"I'm just janchi guksu (party noodles),"

adding,

"Baduk and acting are alike. There's no formula for doing it well. If I knew what it was, I'd probably just keep doing that one thing over and over."

"There are so many brilliant actors out there. These days, I often find myself watching performances and thinking, 'Could I even do that?'"

Just like in baduk, where a single misstep can ruin even the most well-played game, acting too is about the fine line between mastery and misfire. Despite years of praise, Lee continues to reflect, question, and evolve.

Dispatch recently sat down with Lee Byung-hun to talk about his deep dive into the world of baduk — and acting without formulas.

◆ The God of Baduk

The film The Match (directed by Kim Hyung-joo) tells the legendary story of baduk master Cho Hun-hyun and his protégé Lee Chang-ho. After suffering a crushing defeat to his student, Cho makes one final bid to reclaim the top spot.

Lee immersed himself in the role, bringing Cho Hun-hyun to life onscreen. With a wealth of material available — from newspaper archives to documentaries — he studied extensively. He even met with Cho in person to hear firsthand accounts of key moments.

"I tried to absorb his habits, his posture, and the way he thinks," Lee shared.

The keyword he landed on for portraying Cho was manner. Interestingly, Cho wasn't exactly the textbook image of etiquette in the baduk world. He would sometimes lie down or cross his legs while playing.

"When Cho thought he was about to win, he'd start shaking his leg or humming. Sometimes he'd even lie down," Lee explained. "That psychological warfare was one of the most fun elements to bring to life."

He added,

"One thing Cho emphasized was to place the baduk stone with the form of a true professional. So I bought a board right away and practiced whenever I had time."

"Cho plays his stones like they're attached to double-sided tape," Lee said with a laugh. "Recreating that particular hand movement — and the weight it carries — was my biggest challenge."

◆ The God of Acting

The result? Lee turned one of the most motionless sports into one of the most emotionally dynamic performances. Every tiny tremor, every small flicker of expression was intentional and controlled.

"He lost to the student who had lived, eaten, and breathed alongside him. And yet, he had to keep challenging him," Lee said. "I think that kind of emotional state is more extreme than most sports competitions."

"On the outside, it looks calm — just placing a stone on the board. But inside, it's stormy. And if I don't show that to the audience, it doesn't mean anything. That's what made it difficult."

There was one scene that stuck with him — where Cho, sensing his loss to Lee Chang-ho, crushes a cigarette pack outside.

"That scene had layers of emotion, and I just couldn't shake it off. I kept asking the director, 'Can we shoot it again?' I was obsessed with getting it just right."

But there were also moments he was proud of.

"Director Park Chan-wook reached out after watching the film. He liked the part where Cho mutters to himself, 'Hmm… guess it's over,' after realizing defeat. I was happy with that one too," he said with a smile.

◆ When the Student Surpasses the Master

The once-invincible master Cho Hun-hyun meets his match in his quiet, calculating student Lee Chang-ho. It's the clash of sword versus shield — with Yoo Ah-in portraying the legendary protégé.

Lee Chang-ho was known for his calm and persistent playing style, and Yoo embodied this with the stillness of someone twice his age. On set, he remained deeply in character.

"Despite his age, he felt incredibly quiet and mature," Lee recalled. "Later in the shoot, I realized he was working hard to stay inside his character."

In many ways, The Match is about a teacher being overtaken by his student. Just as Cho once recognized Lee Chang-ho's talent, we asked if Lee Byung-hun had ever had such moments with junior actors.

"When younger actors ask me questions, I often feel like I don't have answers," he said.

"There's no one thing I can point to and say, 'Do this, and your acting will improve.' Honestly, I still don't know the answers myself."

"There are so many brilliant actors out there. More and more, I find myself wondering if I could even pull off what they do. These days, it's not about who's better — everyone shines in their own unique way."

◆ "What stands out is the unexpected humor"

What surprised audiences most about The Match wasn't just the intensity — but its unexpected humor. Watching a master quietly (and not-so-quietly) compete with his student brings more than a few chuckles.

"I didn't think it was funny while shooting it," Lee said. "I took every scene seriously. But during the screening, the audience burst into laughter — and it caught me off guard."

"It reminded me of Bungee Jumping of Their Own. I thought it was a deeply emotional film, but during one of the most serious scenes, people laughed. I honestly thought something went wrong. I hid in the bathroom until the film ended."

But post-screening feedback was glowing. "They found it fun," he said. "Once you're immersed in the story and characters, even subtle moments can feel funny. The Match works the same way."

Currently promoting the film solo, we asked if that felt lonely. With a grin, he replied using a line from the film:

"That's what a match is."

He added,

"This movie is full of powerful lines — real words from people who've fought hard matches in life. That's why they're impactful. Honestly, it made me realize how lightly we throw around such words sometimes. Even if you know nothing about baduk, you'll enjoy this film."

[Photo Credit: BY4M]