Lee Jong-suk has confirmed starring in SBS’ upcoming two-part series “In Praise of Death,” according to the broadcaster Monday.

The actor has decided to star in the program without a guaranteed fee in order to show his support for short dramas and the series’ program director Park Su-jin, according to SBS. Lee and Park worked together on last year‘s “While You Were Sleeping.”

The title of the drama comes from that of a song released by Korea’s first famed soprano, Yun Sim-deok, in 1926. The story of her varied life, which ended when she, together with her lover, jumped from a ship crossing the Korea Strait, has inspired musicals and films, including a 1991 movie of the same title. The upcoming SBS series will follow the tragic love story between Yun and playwright Kim
Woo-jin, played by Lee, and shed more light on Kim’s story, which hasn’t been revealed much to the public.

Park also commented on Lee’s decision, saying, “I know that Lee will portray two sides of Kim Woo-jin as both an intellectual in anguish and a young man in love. I’m sincerely thankful to him for starring in the drama, as well as not receiving a guaranteed fee for his role.”

(lotus@heraldcorp.com)