How IU Transformed into Actress Lee Ji-eun in the Drama 'My Mister'

The tvN drama 'My Mister' continues to be cherished as a 'life drama' by many viewers, even eight years after its initial broadcast. It is particularly recognized as the pivotal work that established singer IU as a respected actress, Lee Ji-eun. In the drama, she portrayed Lee Ji-an, a 21-year-old temporary worker, delicately depicting a character silently enduring the weight of life. Despite initial concerns about the title and casting before its airing, the drama captivated audiences after its first episode, achieving a peak viewership rating of 7.35%.

'My Mister' is a human drama about three middle-aged brothers, each carrying their own burdens, and the fiercely independent Lee Ji-an, who find healing and comfort through each other. Lee Ji-an, burdened by debt and caring for her disabled grandmother, had closed her heart off from the world. She begins wiretapping Park Dong-hoon (Lee Sun-kyun) to find his weaknesses. However, through listening to his life, she discovers that he too is a warm person silently enduring a difficult life, leading to unexpected comfort and solidarity. Lee Ji-eun conveyed Lee Ji-an's inner world through her gaze and quiet acting rather than overt emotional outbursts, resonating deeply with viewers.

Bloggers unanimously state that despite the initial dark and stifling atmosphere of the drama, the story completely transforms if one perseveres through that period. They emphasize that viewers become deeply engrossed in the drama from the moment they start seeing 'Lee Ji-an' as a character, rather than just 'IU.' This work is praised not as a typical romance, but as a 'salvation narrative' where two wounded individuals heal each other's deficiencies, remembered as a masterpiece that offers warm comfort and human solidarity amidst life's hardships.