Lee Jin-wook

Career

2000–2009: Education and career beginnings

Lee Jin-wook studied Environmental Engineering at Cheongju University, but made a switch for acting. He began his career in the entertainment industry modelling in commercials. Lee landed his first television acting role in the television dramas, Resurrection, in 2005 and later scored other roles in the television dramas Alone in Love, Someday, Smile Again. Lee achieved commercial success and Hallyu star status after his portrayal as the second male lead in the television series Air City, 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, a plastic surgeon in the series Before and After, and a newly married chaebol in Glass Castle. He also made a cameo in The Road Home.

2009–2016: Military enlistment and further success

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.

After his military discharge in 2011, Lee starred in his comeback project, Myung-wol the Spy where he played a North Korean agent. He then went on to star in the romantic comedy drama I Need Romance 2012 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 alongside Jo Yoon-hee.

After 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. 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. After that, Lee 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. He continued to star in big screen films, fantasy romantic comedy The Beauty Inside and the time-travel crime romance Time Renegades. 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. 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. In 2016, Lee starred in the crime drama, Goodbye Mr. Black, based on the manga of the same name.

2017–present: Transition in leading roles and reinvention

In 2017, Lee was cast in three films – indie films A Tiger in Winter and Road to Utah, and romance thriller High Society.

In 2018, Lee returned to the small screen with successful crime dramas Return, and Voice season 2. The premiere of the second season of Voice set the record for the highest premiere viewership rating for an OCN original drama series. The second season of Voice continued on from the success of the first season, even exceeding first season ratings despite its shorter run. 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.

In 2020, Lee starred in Netflix original series Sweet Home, 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.

On March 17, 2021, tvN released the full main cast for the drama, Bulgasal: Immortal Souls, with Lee set to star as Dan Hwal, a bulgasal (mythical creature that cannot die or age) who used to be human 600 years ago. The drama aired December 18, 2021, to February 6, 2022, on tvN and was also available for streaming on Netflix.

On April 22, 2021, CJ E&M and TVING revealed the full star-studded cast for the film, A Year-End Medley. The film centers around various people who come to Hotel Emrose, each with stories of their own, building new relationships. A Year-End Medley is directed by Kwak Jae-yong with notable works such as My Sassy Girl and The Classic. Lee starred as Lee Jin-Ho, 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.

On December 8, 2021, it was revealed that Lee would star in the KakaoTV original web drama, Welcome to Wedding Hell, alongside Lee Yeon-hee. Lee played Seo Joon-hyung, a pure-hearted, idealistic groom-to-be, whose nature causes concerns for his soon-to-be wife, Kim Na-eun (played by Lee Yeon-hee), who is described as a realist. This marked 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 season 1 but as Jung Ui-myeong aka Nam Sang-won in seasons 2 and 3 of Sweet Home. The second season premiered December 1, 2023, on Netflix. Season 3 was released on Netflix July 19, 2024.

On October 18, 2022, it was reported that Lee would be making a special appearance in the upcoming Netflix original drama Doona! starring Bae Suzy and Yang Se-jong.

On June 29, 2023, it was reported that Lee had been cast in the second season of Squid Game alongside, Yim Si-wan, T.O.P, Kang Ha-neul, Jo Yu-ri, Park Sung-hoon and Yang Dong-Geun.. This project marked a reunion between him and director Hwang Dong-hyuk of Miss Granny. The second season was released on Netflix on December 26, 2024.

On February 14, 2024, it was confirmed that Lee would be returning to the big screen with the film Dark Nuns alongside Song Hye-kyo, Jeon Yeo-been, Huh Joon-ho, and Moon Woo-jin. Dark Nuns is a spin-off of the 2015 hit film The Priests and will be directed by Kwon Hyuk-jae. Lee is set to star as Father Paolo, a priest and psychiatrist who believes that medicine can cure a young boy possessed by a powerful evil spirit. Filming began on February 22, 2024. The film is slated for release on January 24, 2025.

On April 29, 2024, ENA confirmed that Lee would be starring in their upcoming romance drama Dear Hyeri alongside Shin Hye-sun. Lee will take on the role of Jung Hyun-oh, star announcer and ex-boyfriend of Joo Eun-ho (played by Shin Hye-sun). The show premiered on September 23, 2024.

Personal life

Ancestry

During a 2014 interview of Lee's role in The Three Musketeers, he confirmed he was descended of Jeonju Yi clan, through the lineage of Prince Milseong, who was the 12th son of King Sejong, and a younger half-brother of King Sejo.

Relationships

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.

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. However, three months after the confirmation of their dating news, it was revealed that the pair had broken-up.

Legal issues

In July 2016, a woman in her 30s accused Lee of sexual assault, alleging that he forced her to have sex at her apartment. Lee denied the claim, stating that the encounter was consensual, and later filed a countersuit for false accusation. During the police investigation, Lee's DNA was found on clothing submitted by the accuser. After reviewing the evidence, police concluded that there was insufficient proof to support the sexual assault claim and cleared Lee of charges. The accuser was then sent to prosecutors on suspicion of making a false accusation.

In June 2017, the Seoul Central District Court acquitted the accuser of false accusation charges during the first trial, ruling that prosecutors had failed to prove that the claim was intentionally false. The court noted that it was difficult to determine whether clear consent had been given. The case continued after prosecutors appealed the ruling. In February 2018, the Seoul High Court overturned the earlier decision and found the woman guilty of false accusation. She was sentenced to eight months in prison with a two year suspension.

Filmography

Film

Television series

Television shows

Music video appearances

Awards and nominations

References

References

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8. (December 6, 2007). "Lee Jin-wook and So Yi-hyun cast in MBC series "Before and After: Plastic Surgery Clinic"". [[HanCinema]].
9. (August 13, 2008). "SBS드라마 '유리의성' 이진욱 "여복 많아도 키스신 난생처음"".
10. (May 7, 2009). "Farewell, my darling, I'm off to serve my country". [[Korea JoongAng Daily]].
11. Hong, Lucia. (March 3, 2011). "Lee Jae-won, Lee Jin-wook to be discharged from the military next week".
12. (March 8, 2011). "Lee Jin-wook Completes Military Service". [[The Chosun Ilbo]].
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17. Jin, Eun-soo. (June 12, 2013). "10 hottest celebrities in South Korea". [[The Korea Herald]].
18. (December 20, 2013). "Age meets youth with comedy 'Miss Granny'". [[Korea JoongAng Daily]].
19. Tae, Sang-joon. (November 7, 2013). "Korean POINT BLANK Remake Goes Into Production". [[Korean Film Council]].
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21. (August 13, 2014). "tvN's New Drama 'The Three Musketeers' Is About To Come".
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72. (July 24, 2016). "이진욱, 고소인 여성 속옷 DNA 일치 "강제성 입증과 상관 無"".
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74. The Korea Times. (June 15, 2017). "'Actor Lee might have raped his friend': court".
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76. (February 7, 2018). "이진욱 '성폭행 고소 무고' 여성 1심 무죄→2심 유죄…판결 뒤집힌 이유는?".
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