This is Lee Hyun Wook's Role in the Korean Drama 'Shark: The Storm'

Lee Hyun Wook has again stolen the spotlight with his role as the main villain in TVING's latest drama 'Shark: The Storm'. The South Korean actor, who previously only appeared briefly in the film Shark: The Beginning (2021), has now moved up to become a central figure with a much more complex, cold, and dangerous character.

In the six-episode drama, Lee Hyun Wook plays Hyun Woo Yong, a martial arts association president who appears respectable on the outside but hides a dark side as a brutal crime boss. He is the mastermind behind a bloody and violent underground fight club where he plays other people's lives like pawns.

The released posters and stills clearly show Hyun Woo Yong's dark side. His gaze is sharp and calculating, showing a predatory attitude that calculates every step. In some scenes, he seems to be holding back sadistic joy like a child who finds a new toy that he is about to break.

This character becomes the main opponent for Cha Woo Sol (played by Kim Min Seok), an ex-convict who wants to improve his life by becoming a professional MMA fighter. However, his efforts are shaken again when Hyun Woo Yong makes him the next target of his sadistic game. For Lee Hyun Wook, this role was an unexpected new challenge. 

He expressed his joy at returning to the world of Shark: The Beginning and expanding its story universe. He cited the high tension and flashy action scenes as what made this filming experience so memorable. Hyun Woo Yong's character transformation is also proof of Lee Hyun Wook's acting power. 

From the outside he looks calm and dignified, but inside he hides a terrible madness. He enjoys violence, even as if he gets energy from the suffering of others. As the leader of an illegal fight club, he does not hesitate to shed blood for power and personal satisfaction. 

On stepping into the role, Lee Hyun Wook commented, “This is something I never expected. I am honored to return to the world of ‘Shark: The Beginning’ and continue to explore its world,” as quoted by Soompi on Saturday May 10, 2025.