Lee Jae-in on Man Noblesse January Issue: Concrete Market’s Two Versions and Her “Stepwise Growth” in Acting

Actress Lee Jae-in appears in Man Noblesse’s January issue with a pictorial that highlights a more restrained, mature presence. Beyond the visuals, she reflects on 13 years since debut, her bond with film sets, and how Concrete Market’s film and series releases shape her understanding of character and growth.

Debuting in second grade, Lee has spent much of her life on set. She describes filming locations as the place where she grew up and where most of her time has been recorded, grounding her continued commitment in a simple reason: a genuine love for film.

Lee outlines a clear rule for self-evaluation: success represents the best she could deliver at that moment, while shortcomings demand stricter review. She describes her evolution as “stepwise growth,” emphasizing stability at each stage before moving forward.

Concrete Market debuted as a film before expanding into a Wavve Original series. Lee notes that while the strong world-building drew her in, the core challenge lay in making her character Hwi-ro feel believable within that heightened setting.

She explains that the series format allows deeper exploration of emotional arcs and subplots, offering viewers a layered understanding when comparing both versions.

Lee also highlights her collaboration with Hong Kyung, praising his ability to maintain focus and rhythm under pressure—what she calls an actor’s “mental stamina.”

Beyond acting, Lee has explored directing through short films and upcoming festival submissions, gaining firsthand insight into the responsibility of shaping a world from start to finish.

Seen as a whole, this Man Noblesse feature functions as a checkpoint—placing a long on-set timeline alongside Concrete Market’s dual releases. Three keywords define her current phase: 13 years since debut, disciplined self-review, and credibility-first acting. Watching the film for texture and the series for emotional depth reveals what she means by stepwise growth: a steady accumulation over time.