South Korean actor Lee Je Hoon says he never thought he would be able to play a romantic character until he took on the drama series, Tomorrow With You, where he plays a time-travelling billionaire who changes his selfish ways for a woman.

"I didn't think I could ever be this sweet. As the show went on, I learnt that I can portray someone quite romantic after all," says the 32- year-old actor, whose 2016 crime drama Signal was a critical and commercial hit.

He was speaking in Korean through a translator at an event here yesterday to promote Tomorrow With You.

In fact, he did something rather romantic during his student days. "When I was 20 years old and a freshman in school, I liked a girl who had a thing for coffee flavoured milk. So I bought 100 packets of the drink, gave them to her and confessed my love for her."

Did he succeed?

He grins and says: "Yes. But this was a long time ago."

In Tomorrow With You, which airs on Hub VV Drama (StarHub TV Channel 855) on Sundays at 10pm, his character foresees his future self living miserably, so he marries a sunny photographer in the hope of changing his fate.

The female lead is played by Shin Min Ah, known for shows such as My Girlfriend Is A Nine-Tailed Fox (2010).

As soon as Shin's name is mentioned at the press conference, Lee cannot help but sing her praises.

"I was a big fan of hers before I got to work with her on this show. As I got to know her better, I felt comfortable cracking jokes with her. She's a friendly and warm person, and there is no awkwardness between us," he says.

"There are so many actresses I would love to work with in the future, but, for now, only Shin Min Ahis on my mind."

It is too bad then that he cannot foresee his future, the way his television character can.

"As much as I'd like to know about my future, I know I'll try all sorts of ways to fix something if I know of something that I don't like.

"It's better not to know these things and just live in the moment."