Lee Je-hoon

Career

2006–2010: Beginnings

When Lee Je-hoon realized that he wanted to go into acting, he dropped out of Biotechnology major at Korea University and transferred to the School of Drama at Korea National University of Arts. From 2006 to 2010, Lee appeared in more than 18 student shorts and indie films, notably the queer coming-of-age romance Just Friends?. He also appeared as an extra in a number of commercial films like erotic thriller The Servant and romantic comedy Finding Mr. Destiny.

2011–2012: Breakthrough

Lee had his breakthrough in 2011. He received rave reviews for his performances as a manipulative alpha-male in the haunting indie film Bleak Night, and as a morphine-addicted squad leader in big-budget war film The Front Line. He gained mainstream popularity as a shy college student pining for his first love in the box-office hit Architecture 101, and though the television series Fashion King was poorly received, his role as a struggling young chaebol heir in Korea's fashion industry further showcased his versatility.

Lee starred opposite acclaimed veteran actor Han Suk-kyu in the comedy-drama My Paparotti, which focuses on the special relationship between a high school gang member who dreams of becoming a singer like the late tenor Luciano Pavarotti, and the music teacher who helps him pursue his dream. He then starred in Ghost Sweepers, dubbed the character Jack Frost for the Korean release of 3D animated film Rise of the Guardians, and featured in the crime thriller An Ethics Lesson.

2012–present: Enlistment and return to acting

For his comeback project after enlistment, Lee chose Secret Door, a period drama about Crown Prince Sado who was controversially executed through death by starvation by his father King Yeongjo; the series reunited him with Han Suk-kyu. This was followed by the Jo Sung-hee-directed film Phantom Detective, a modern retelling of the eponymous folk hero Hong Gil-dong as a private detective in the 1990s.

In 2016, Lee starred in tvN's fantasy crime drama Signal together with Cho Jin-woong and Kim Hye-soo, which was critically and commercially successful.

In 2017, Lee starred in the fantasy romance drama Tomorrow, With You opposite Shin Min-a, portraying a CEO of a real estate company who has the ability to travel through time. He then starred in the biographical period drama film Anarchist from Colony directed by Lee Joon-ik, playing the character of Park Yeol, a self-proclaimed anarchist and revolutionary activist during the Colonial Era of Japan. The same year Lee starred in the film I Can Speak as a civil servant who also tutors English.

In 2018, Lee starred in the airport-themed melodrama Where Stars Land alongside Chae Soo-bin. Lee and co-star Chae Soo-bin were appointed as honorary ambassadors of Incheon International Airport.

In 2019, Lee filmed the travel reality programme Traveller along with Ryu Jun-yeol where the two stars enjoy a backpacking holiday in Cuba. The same year, he was cast in the film Tomb Robbery.

In 2020, Lee starred in the dystopian action thriller film Time to Hunt which earned him a nomination for Best Actor at the 56th Baeksang Arts Awards. He also starred in the caper story film Collectors.

In 2021, Lee joined the SBS drama Taxi Driver, his small screen comeback after making a special appearance in Hot Stove League last 2020. Later in May, Lee appeared in the Netflix series Move to Heaven. Lee founded "Company on" in June 2021, after the contract with his former agency expired.

In October, he made a special appearance in the SBS drama One Dollar Lawyer.

In 2023, Lee starred in the second season of SBS drama Taxi Driver. He expressed interest in starring in a Filipino drama or film: "If there are good projects here in the Philippines, I am willing to join the project and I will take the opportunity."

Personal life

Lee enlisted on October 25, 2012, for his mandatory military service as a member of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency riot police. He was discharged on July 24, 2014.

Philanthropy

In May 2015, Lee visited the Philippines to meet with the typhoon victims and helped in reconstruction of a mangrove project in Cebu.

On March 6, 2022, Lee donated 100 million won to the Hope Bridge Disaster Relief Association to help the victims of the massive wildfire that started in Uljin, Gyeongbuk and has spread to Samcheok, Gangwon.

In April 2023, Lee donated a total of 1 million won from the quiz on You Quiz on the Block to the Korea Film Academy (KAFA) Development Fund.

Filmography

Film

Feature film

Short film

Filmmaking credits

Television series

Documentary

Television show

Hosting

Music video appearances

Discography

Ambassadorship

• 2016 Honorary Ambassador of Korean Academy of Film Arts (KAFA) by Korean Film Council
• 2016 Honorary Ambassador of Korea National Police Agency's Human Rights
• 2016 Honorary Ambassador of Oxfam Korea
• 2017 Honorary Ambassador of Seoul Biennale of Architecture and Urbanism.

Accolades

Awards and nominations

State honors

Listicles

Notes

References

References

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