LONDON , England ( CNN ) -- Lee Byung-hun 's arrival in the packed auditorium at a London screening of his latest film , `` The Good , The Bad , The Weird , '' causes a well-behaved sizzle of excitement to run through the largely female and Asian audience . Lee Byung-hun takes a walk on the dark side in `` The Good , . The Bad , The Weird . '' His name is whispered breathlessly between friends , but in a classic display of Asian politeness , the only indication there is a genuine heartthrob in the room are a couple of poorly contained shrieks . Tall , exquisitely chiseled and with the kind of smooth line-free skin that belies his 38 years , it 's not hard to see why Lee is also known as the `` James Dean of Asia . '' In his native South Korea he is best known for brooding , soulful performances in romantic films and TV dramas . He 's a hot star now , especially after his eye-catching performance in `` The Good , The Bad , The Weird , '' says Jean Noh , deputy Asia editor based in Korea for global film trade magazine Screen International . `` He has huge popularity , it seems , in Japan and amongst their diaspora as well , thanks to his TV and film roles , '' she says . And , now , he is starting to make a name for himself outside Asia . Lee is set to grace UK screens in January when Kim Jee-woon 's so-called Kimchi western , `` The Good , the Bad , the Weird , '' is released . Next year will see him co-star with Josh Hartnett in the crime thriller `` I Come with the Rain , '' directed by Vietnamese Tran Anh Hung who made his name on the global movie scene in 1993 with `` The Scent of Green Papaya . '' Lee has also wrapped up filming on the highly anticipated Hollywood action flick , `` G.I . Joe : Rise of Cobra . '' Lee is in London to promote `` The Good , the Bad , the Weird , '' and is polite and unassuming in person , taking time to reflect as he delivers his responses in English . `` People told me , 'Your eyes changed . You look so bad , ' '' Lee says of playing the film 's titular `` Bad , '' a sadistic killer who heads up a gang of bandits . `` I was so happy about that . '' From his black leather-clad hands to his wild , psychotic eyes , an air of cool , remorseless detachment envelops him . In a review , Variety described Lee 's eyes as `` commanding '' and having a `` Korean psycho-gangster mentality . '' It is an unsettling performance , and one of the film 's many highlights . After playing primarily romantic leads , Lee says playing a villain was a refreshing experience for him and something he 'd been thinking about for his entire acting career . `` Actors always want to play the villain role at least once in their life . I had a good time because I could finally realize a full range of expressions and emotions , '' he told CNN . Set in the 1930s , the film follows three Korean outlaws on a chase across the desert plains of Japan-occupied Manchuria on a hunt for a legendary treasure map . The movie hits on a trifecta : It stars three of South Korea 's leading actors ( Lee is joined on screen by Song Kang-ho and Jung Woo-sung ) , has a massive $ 17 million budget and is helmed by the award-winning Kim . With stunning wide shots of endless horizons filmed in China 's Gobi Desert and edge-of-your-seat action from start to finish , Kim 's homage to Sergio Leone 's 1966 classic `` The Good , the Bad , and the Ugly , '' with more than a hint of `` Indiana Jones '' delivers a steady stream of adrenaline . Have you seen `` The Good , The Bad , The Weird ? '' What did you think ? Lee says his character was perfected through several conversations , discussions and arguments with Kim , a close friend who also directed him in 2005 's `` A Bittersweet Life . '' Everybody has bad characters in their mind , even if it may be small or in their subconscious , Lee explains , referring to his preparation for the role . `` Of course , I have that kind of character inside of me , I think . So , I amplified my bad side . But the main thing is the mind , I think , which comes from the inside , '' he told CNN . Lee has always had star power , says Noh from Screen International . `` But he had to grow into his acting chops . He worked prolifically in TV and film , and seems serious about his career choices , '' she says . This role is the screen idol 's latest step in a slow break out from `` type , '' since his turn as an enforcer for an underworld boss in the film noir `` A Bittersweet Life . '' In South Korea , where celebrities are closely scrutinized by the public and Internet gossip is rampant , Lee , who is a target because of his film star status , says he tries his best to steer clear of online chatter . The spread of rumors over the Web is one of the biggest problems that exists in South Korea . The recent suicide of one of the nation 's leading actresses was blamed on online gossip . `` There has to be change , '' Lee said . `` I try not to read those kinds of things . I think it 's better to do that . '' This may have been easier for him recently , as he has been busy working on projects outside of South Korea , although , he says these too hold their challenges . Working in Hollywood was difficult , especially acting in English which , says Lee , made it harder for him to focus on his emotions and expressions . Lee plays Storm Shadow in the action movie `` G.I . Joe , '' which is due for release next summer . The movie , based on the popular comic and cartoon series , boasts a star-studded cast , including Sienna Miller and Dennis Quaid . `` Everything was so different . It was really hard , '' he said about filming `` G.I . Joe . '' `` But it was a very good experience for me . '' He 's now back in Korea working but is n't ruling out the possibility of returning to Hollywood . He says he could envision going back and forth between South Korea and the U.S. `` Of course , if they have good projects for me , then I would participate . ''
South Korean actor Lee Byung-hun is starting to connect with global audiences . The `` James Dean of Asia '' sizzles in Korean western `` The Good , the Bad , the Weird '' Lee is due to make his Hollywood debut in next summer 's blockbuster `` G.I . Joe ''