Lee Joo-seung wins ENA's Directors Arena, eyes Jeon Hyun-moo for comedy short drama lead

Lee Joo-seung took first place in Directors Arena, ENA's survival program where contestants from various fields plan and direct short dramas in competition. His debut as a director came with 살인마 윗집 그녀 (The Woman Upstairs from the Murderer), a thriller about a writer in a slump who makes dangerous choices after stumbling into an unexpected incident. He also played the lead role of thriller writer Lee Jung-woo.

The competition included actors Choi Gwi-hwa and Lee Yu-jin, alongside directors Han Sang-il and Han Su-ji. "I didn't expect to win because already famous directors participated and thriller is still an unfamiliar genre in short dramas," Lee said. That made the victory feel more meaningful.

When asked about his next project, Lee picked comedy. He wants to explore friendship stories or "men bickering with each other" rather than straight romance. (His words.) For the lead, he has someone specific in mind: broadcaster Jeon Hyun-moo. "He's really funny and entertaining, but he seems to have loneliness inside — I want to incorporate that aspect into the work." Lee thinks Jeon would be perfect for a comedy centered on elderly people living alone.