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Lee Jae Wook's early drama appearances are drawing renewed attention as he continues to establish himself as a prominent leading actor. His role as the unknown actor Seol Ji-hwan in 'Search: WWW' (also known as 'WWW') is particularly highlighted, as it uncannily mirrored Lee Jae Wook's own rookie status at the time, creating an interesting synergy between actor and character.
In 'Search: WWW', Lee Jae Wook played Seol Ji-hwan, an actor portraying a villain named Choo Min in a melodramatic series. Seol Ji-hwan was initially unknown, remembered more for his villainous role than his face, but he gradually gained a fanbase through his romance with Cha Hyun, played by Lee Da-hee. Lee Jae Wook debuted in 'Memories of the Alhambra' in 2018, then appeared in 'WWW', and later that year showcased a completely different side as the prickly Baek Kyung in 'Extraordinary You', expanding his acting range.
Bloggers note that while 'Search: WWW' did not achieve high ratings during its initial broadcast, it is now considered a 'masterpiece ahead of its time' for featuring the fresh faces of now-leading actors like Lee Jae Wook, Jang Ki-yong, and Byeon Woo-seok. Lee Jae Wook's portrayal of Seol Ji-hwan, combined with his pure and somewhat naive real-life persona and the fan-star romance with Cha Hyun, earned the couple the nickname 'sub-couple hotspot' and significantly helped establish Lee Jae Wook's name among the public.
