Lee Jin-wook

Lee Jin-wook

Lee Jin-wook in December 2023

Born September 16, 1981 (age 42)

Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province,

South Korea

Other names Lee Jin-uk

Occupation Actor

Years active 2000–present

Agent BH Entertainment[1]

Korean name

Hangul 이진욱

Hanja 李陣郁
 Revised Romanization I Jin-uk

McCune–Reischauer I Chinuk

Lee Jin-wook (Korean: 이진욱; born September 16, 1981) is a South Korean actor. He
is best known for his leading role in the romance series Glass Castle (2008–2009), the
time-traveling series Nine (2013), romance series I Need Romance 2012 and The Time
We Were Not in Love (2015), crime thriller series Voice (seasons 2–3), Netflix
apocalyptic horror series Sweet Home and a supporting role in the comedy film Miss
Granny (2014).
Career[edit]
2000–2009: Education and career beginnings[edit]
Lee Jin-wook studied Environmental Engineering at Cheongju University and made a
switch for acting. He began his career in the entertainment industry modelling in
commercials. His first minor acting roles consist of General Hospital The Movie : A
Thousand Days and the 2004 South Korean film Once Upon a Time in High
School starring Kwon Sang-woo, Ahn Nae-sang, Joo Jin-mo, and Seo Dong-won.[2][3] Lee
landed his first television acting role in the TV Movie, Bad Girl, in 2004 and later scored
other roles in the television dramas Alone in Love,[4] Someday,[5] Smile Again,
[6]
and Resurrection starring Uhm Tae-woong.[7] In 2006, Lee starred in the South Korean
film A Dirty Carnival.
Lee achieved commercial success and Hallyu star status after his portrayal as the
second male lead in the television series Air City[8] where he went on to date his co-
star Choi Ji-woo for three years. Lee continued to land lead roles playing the president's
son in Formidable Rivals,[9] a plastic surgeon in the series Before and After,[10] and a
newly married chaebol in Glass Castle.[11] He also made a cameo in The Road Home.
2009–2016: Military enlistment and further success[edit]
Lee then served his two-year mandatory military service from May 6, 2009, to March 7,
2011, at the Defense Media Agency of the Ministry of National Defense.[12][13][14]
After his military discharge in 2011, Lee starred in his comeback project, Myung-wol the
Spy where he played a North Korean agent.[15][16] He then went on to star in the romantic
comedy drama I Need Romance 2012[17] alongside Jung Yu-mi. Lee then landed his
most high-profile role yet as a TV anchor named Park Sun-woo in the time-traveling
romance Nine[18][19] alongside Jo Yoon-hee.
After receiving positive reception from his role in Nine, Lee starred in a cinematic film for
the first time in 7 years in the 2014 comedy Miss Granny.[20] He then proceeded to land
his first major big-screen role in the 2014 action film The Target, a remake of the 2010
French action movie Point Blank.[21] After that, Lee then reunited with the writer and
director of Nine in the television series The Three Musketeers, a period drama set
during the Joseon era where he played Crown Prince Sohyeon.[22][23] He continued to star
in big-screen films, fantasy romantic comedy The Beauty Inside[24] and the time-travel
romance crime Time Renegade.[25] Lee's appearance in The Beauty Inside as Woo-jin
garnered headline attention in South Korea at the time of its cinematic release as the
scene unveiling him as one of Woo-jin's reincarnations left all female audience
members in the theatre exclaiming in awe of his appearance. In South Korean pop
culture, it is considered one of the top legendary character unveilings in South Korean
cinema.[26] He then returned to the small screen with the South Korean remake of
the Taiwanese drama In Time with You, The Time We Were Not in Love alongside Ha
Ji-won.[27] In 2016, Lee starred in the crime drama, Goodbye Mr. Black, based on the
manga of the same name.[28]
2017–present: Transition in leading roles and reinvention[edit]
In 2017, Lee was cast in three films; indie films A Tiger in Winter and Road to Utah;[29][30]
[31]
and romance thriller High Society.[32]
In 2018, Lee returned to the small screen with successful crime dramas Return,
[33]
and Voice season 2.[34][35][36] The premiere of the second season of Voice set the record
for the highest premiere viewership rating for an OCN original drama series.[37] The
second season of Voice continued on from the success of the first season, even
exceeding first season ratings despite its shorter run.[38] Due to its major success, Voice
was picked up for a third season with Lee reprising his role as Do Kang-woo. The third
season of Voice continued to be just as successful as the second season.
In 2019, Lee signed an exclusive contract with BH Entertainment which houses many
other top high-profile South Korean actors.[39]
In 2020, Lee starred in Netflix original series Sweet Home,[40] a webtoon-based drama
about a secluded teen who lives cooped up in his room, scarred from memories of
school violence, and experiences creepy events after moving to an apartment following
the loss of his family. It premiered on Netflix Korea on December 18, 2020.[41]
On March 17, 2021, tvN released the full main cast for the drama, Bulgasal: Immortal
Souls, [42] a fantasy drama that revolves around two characters. The first is a woman who
has gone through several reincarnations over the course of 600 years and remembers
all of her past lives, and the second is a man who has lived for over 600 years as a
bulgasal—a mythical creature that feeds off human blood and is cursed with immortality.
Lee starred as Dan Hwal, who used to be human 600 years ago, but turns into a
bulgasal during the Joseon dynasty while working as a military official and completing a
mission to erase the remnants of the previous dynasty.[43] This drama aired from
December 18, 2021, to February 6, 2022, on tvN[44] and was also available for streaming
on Netflix.[45]
On April 22, 2021, CJ E&M and TVING revealed the full star-studded cast for the film, A
Year-End Medley.[46] The film centers around various people who come to Hotel Emrose,
each with stories of their own, building new relationships.[47] A Year-End Medley is
directed by Kwak Jae-yong with notable works such as My Sassy Girl and The
Classic, and produced by Hive Media Corp. of Inside Men, The Man Standing Next,
and Deliver Us from Evil. Lee starred as Lee Jin-Ho,[48] a plastic surgeon who appears at
the hotel’s lounge every Saturday night awaiting his fateful love. Filming began on April
19, 2021, and the film was released in theaters and through TVING on December 29,
2021.[49]
On December 8, 2021, it was revealed that Lee would take on the role of Seo Joon-
hyung in the KakaoTV original web drama, 'Welcome to Wedding Hell', alongside Lee
Yeon-hee.[50][51] 'Welcome to Wedding Hell' explores a couple in their thirties preparing for
marriage who come to terms with the true realities of marriage during the preparations
for their wedding. Lee's character, Joon-hyung, is described as a pure-hearted, idealistic
groom-to-be, which causes concerns in his soon-to-be wife, Kim Na-eun (played by Lee
Yeon-hee), who is a described as a realist.[52] This marks Lee's first role in a romantic
comedy since 2015 in 'The Time We Were Not in Love'. The web drama aired from May
23 to June 15, 2022, on streaming services, KakaoTV and Netflix.
On June 15, 2022, Netflix confirmed that Lee would reprise his role as Sang Wook in
seasons 2 and 3 of 'Sweet Home'.[53]
On October 18, 2022, OSEN News reports that Lee will make a special appearance on
upcoming Netflix Original, Doona! alongside Bae Suzy and Yang Se-jong.[54]
On June 29, 2023, OSEN News reports that Lee has been cast on Squid Game season
2.[55] He will reunite back with director Hwang Dong-hyuk of Miss Granny.
On February 14, 2024, Seoul Economic Star's coverage reports that Lee returns to the
screen with the movie 'Dark Nuns' alongside Song Hye-kyo, Jeon Yeo-been, Huh Joon-
ho and Moon Woo-jin.[56][57] ‘Dark Nuns’ is the second story of the movie The Priests
(film), which exceeded 5 million viewers in 2015. It will be directed by Kwon Hyuk-jae.
Lee will ast as Father Paul,a psychiatrist who believes that the boy can be treated with
medicine.[58] It is scheduled to crack in on the February 22, 2024.
Personal life[edit]
Relationships[edit]
After starring together in the 2007 South Korean television series, Air City, Lee went on
to date his co-star Choi Ji-woo for three years from 2009 to 2011. The pair cited
excessive public and media attention as one of the reasons for their split.[59]
In May 2014, Lee was spotted out several times with actress Gong Hyo-jin and it was
later confirmed by both their agencies that the pair were dating.[60][61] However, three
months after the confirmation of their dating news, it was revealed that the pair had
broken-up.[62]
Filmography[edit]
Film[edit]

Year Title Role Ref.

General Hospital The Movie: A Thousand

2000 Choi Yoon-seok
Days
Year Title Role Ref.

My New Boyfriend (short film) Boyfriend

2004
Once Upon a Time in High School Jiksae's friend 2

2006 A Dirty Carnival Ray

Miss Granny Han Seung-woo

2014
The Target Lee Tae-joon

The Beauty Inside Kim Woo-jin

2015
Time Renegade Gun-woo

A Tiger in Winter Gyeong-yu

2018 High Society Shin Ji-ho

Road to Utah K

2021 A Year-End Medley Lee Jin-ho

TBA Dark Nuns Father Paul [63]

Television series[edit]
 Year Title Role Notes Ref.

2004 MBC Best Theater "Bad Girl"

 Year Title Role Notes Ref.

2005 Resurrection The real Steven Lee Bit part, ep. 23

Alone in Love Min Hyun-joong

2006 Smile Again Yoon Jae-myung

Someday Im Seok-man

2007 Air City Kang Ha-joon

Before and After: Plastic Surgery

Han Geon-soo
Clinic
2008

Powerful Opponents Kang Soo-ho

2008–
Glass Castle Kim Joon-sung
2009

Cameo (ep. 21–

2009 The Road Home Lee Jin-wook [64]

22)

2011 Spy Myung-wol Choi Ryu

2012 I Need Romance 2012 Yoon Seok-hyun

2013 Nine Park Sun-woo

2014 The Three Musketeers Crown Prince Sohyeon

 Year Title Role Notes Ref.

2015 The Time We Were Not in Love Choi Won

2016 Goodbye Mr. Black Cha Ji-won

2018 Return Dokgo Young

2018–
Voice Do Kang-woo Seasons 2–3
2019

2021–
Bulgasal: Immortal Souls Dan Hwal [65][66]

2022

Web series[edit]

Year Title Role Notes Ref.

2020–
Sweet Home Pyeon Sang-wook Seasons 1–3 [67]

present

Welcome to Wedding
2022 Seo Jun-hyung [68]

Hell

2023 Doona! Park In-wook Special appearance [69]

2024 Squid Game Season 2 [70]

Variety shows[edit]
 Note
Year Title Ref.
s

2007 I ♡ Broadway [71]

2008 My Style Road

2020 Running Man

The Game
Caterers
2021

DoReMi Market

2023 Salon Drip 2 [72]

Music videos[edit]

Year Song title Artist Ref.

2002 "In Case of My Love" Jung Jae-hyung

"Misty Moon" Lim Hyung-joo

2004
"Grabber" Kim Dong-ryool and Lee So-eun

2005 "Doo roo roo" Ahn Jae-wook

2009 "My Love" Shin Seung-hun

2023 "Lips" Heize [73]

Awards and nominations[edit]
Year presented, name of the award ceremony, category, nominated work and the result of the
nomination

Year Award Category Nominated work Result

Alone in Love, Smile

2006 SBS Drama Awards[74] New Star Award Won
Again

2nd Korea Drama

Netizen Popularity Award Nominated
Awards
2008 Glass Castle
Excellence Award, Actor in a
SBS Drama Awards Nominated
Serial Drama

7th Mnet 20's Choice

20's Drama Star - Male Won
Awards[75]

Grand Prize (Daesang) Nominated

6th Korea Drama
2013 Nine
Awards
Best Couple Award with Jo Yoon- Nominated
hee

2nd APAN Star

Excellence Award, Actor Nominated
Awards

Best Couple Award (with Ha Ji-won) Nominated

Netizen Popularity Award The Time We Were Nominated

2015 SBS Drama Awards
Not in Love

Top Excellence Award, Actor in a

Nominated
Miniseries
 Year presented, name of the award ceremony, category, nominated work and the result of the
nomination

Year Award Category Nominated work Result

Korea Film Actors

2016 Grand Prize Time Renegades Won
Association Awards[76]

Top Excellence Award, Actor in a

2018 SBS Drama Awards[77] Return Nominated
Wednesday-Thursday Drama