Lee Jin-wook (Korean: 이진욱; born September 16, 1981) is a South Korean actor. He rose to fame with leading roles in the romance seriesGlass Castle (2008–2009) andI Need Romance 2012 (2012), before gaining wider recognition with his role in the time-traveling romance seriesNine (2013). He then went on to star in the television seriesThe Time We Were Not in Love (2015), crime thriller seriesVoice (2018–2019),Netflix apocalyptic horror seriesSweet Home (2020–2024), andSquid Game (2024–2025). His notable film roles include the comedyMiss Granny (2014) and romantic comedyThe Beauty Inside (2015).
Lee Jin-wook studied Environmental Engineering atCheongju 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 thetelevision dramas,Resurrection, in 2005 and later scored other roles in the television dramasAlone in Love,[2]Someday,[3]Smile Again.[4][5]Lee achieved commercial success andHallyu star status after his portrayal as the second male lead in the television seriesAir City,[6] where he went on to date his co-starChoi Ji-woo for three years. Lee continued to land lead roles playing the president's son inFormidable Rivals,[7] a plastic surgeon in the seriesBefore and After,[8] and a newly marriedchaebol inGlass Castle.[9] He also made a cameo inThe Road Home.
2009–2016: Military enlistment and further success
After his military discharge in 2011, Lee starred in his comeback project,Myung-wol the Spy where he played a North Korean agent.[13][14] He then went on to star in the romantic comedy dramaI Need Romance 2012 alongsideJung Yu-mi.[15] Lee then landed his most high-profile role yet as a TV anchor named Park Sun-woo in the time-traveling romanceNine alongsideJo Yoon-hee.[16][17]
After positive reception from his role inNine, Lee starred in a cinematic film for the first time in 7 years in the 2014 comedyMiss Granny.[18] He then proceeded to land his first major big screen role in the 2014 action filmThe Target, aremake of the 2010 French action moviePoint Blank.[19] After that, Lee reunited with the writer and director ofNine in the television seriesThe Three Musketeers, aperiod drama set during theJoseon era where he playedCrown Prince Sohyeon.[20][21] He continued to star in big screen films, fantasy romantic comedyThe Beauty Inside[22] and the time-travel crime romanceTime Renegades.[23] Lee's appearance inThe 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.[24] He then returned to the small screen with the South Korean remake of theTaiwanese dramaIn Time with You,The Time We Were Not in Love alongsideHa Ji-won.[25]In 2016, Lee starred in the crime drama,Goodbye Mr. Black, based on the manga of the same name.[26]
2017–present: Transition in leading roles and reinvention
In 2018, Lee returned to the small screen with successful crime dramasReturn,[31] andVoice season 2.[32][33][34] The premiere of the second season ofVoice set the record for thehighest premiere viewership rating for anOCN original drama series.[35] The second season ofVoice continued on from the success of the first season, even exceeding first season ratings despite its shorter run.[36] 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 ofVoice continued to be just as successful as the second season.
In 2019, Lee signed an exclusive contract withBH Entertainment, which houses many other top high-profile South Korean actors.[37]
In 2020, Lee starred in Netflix original seriesSweet Home,[38] 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.[39]
On March 17, 2021,tvN released the full main cast for the drama,Bulgasal: Immortal Souls,[40] 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.[41][unreliable source?] The drama aired December 18, 2021, to February 6, 2022, ontvN[42] and was also available for streaming onNetflix.[43]
On April 22, 2021,CJ E&M andTVING revealed the full star-studded cast for the film,A Year-End Medley.[44] The film centers around various people who come to Hotel Emrose, each with stories of their own, building new relationships.[45][unreliable source?]A Year-End Medley is directed byKwak Jae-yong with notable works such asMy Sassy Girl andThe Classic. Lee starred as Lee Jin-Ho, a plastic surgeon who appears at the hotel's lounge every Saturday night awaiting his fateful love.[46] Filming began on April 19, 2021, and the film was released in theaters and throughTVING on December 29, 2021.[47]
On December 8, 2021, it was revealed that Lee would star in theKakaoTV original web drama,Welcome to Wedding Hell, alongsideLee Yeon-hee.[48][49] 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 byLee Yeon-hee), who is described as a realist.[50] This marked Lee's first role in a romantic comedy since 2015 inThe Time We Were Not in Love. The web drama aired from May 23 to June 15, 2022, on streaming services,KakaoTV andNetflix.
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 ofSweet Home.[51] The second season premiered December 1, 2023, onNetflix.[52] Season 3 was released on Netflix July 19, 2024.[53]
On October 18, 2022, it was reported that Lee would be making a special appearance in the upcomingNetflix original dramaDoona! starringBae Suzy andYang Se-jong.[54]
On February 14, 2024, it was confirmed that Lee would be returning to the big screen with the filmDark Nuns alongsideSong Hye-kyo,Jeon Yeo-been,Huh Joon-ho, andMoon Woo-jin.[57][58]Dark Nuns is a spin-off of the 2015 hit filmThe 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.[59] The film is slated for release on January 24, 2025.[60]
On April 29, 2024,ENA confirmed that Lee would be starring in their upcoming romance dramaDear Hyeri alongsideShin Hye-sun.[61] Lee will take on the role of Jung Hyun-oh, star announcer and ex-boyfriend of Joo Eun-ho (played byShin Hye-sun).[62] The show premiered on September 23, 2024.[63]
After starring together in the 2007 South Korean television series,Air City, Lee went on to date his co-starChoi Ji-woo for three years from 2009 to 2011.[65] The pair cited excessive public and media attention as one of the reasons for their split.[66]
In May 2014, Lee was spotted out several times with actressGong Hyo-jin and it was later confirmed by both their agencies that the pair were dating.[67][68] However, three months after the confirmation of their dating news, it was revealed that the pair had broken-up.[69]
^Jung, Kyung-hee (September 2, 2009).[애프터 스토리] 캐스팅 디렉터 정치인씨 [[After Story] Casting Director Jung Jin-shik].Sports Chosun (in Korean).Archived from the original on October 7, 2024. RetrievedOctober 6, 2024.
^Kim, Hyun-jung (April 29, 2024).고현정·백종원·전현무, 야심찬 라인업…ENA 20주년 "톱7 목표" (종합)[엑's 현장] [Go Hyun-jung·Baek Jong-won·Jun Hyun-moo, An Ambitions Lineup...ENA 20th Anniversary "Top 7 Goals" (Comprehensive) [X's site]] (in Korean). Xports News.Archived from the original on October 7, 2024. RetrievedAugust 6, 2024 – viaNaver.
^Kang, Hyo-jin (June 11, 2024).신혜선X이진욱, 지니TV '나의 해리에게' 출연 확정 "하반기 편성"[공식] [Shin Hye-sun X Lee Jin-woo, Confirmed to Appear on GenieTV's 'To My Hae-ri'"Second Half of the Year" [Official]] (in Korean). SpoTV News.Archived from the original on August 6, 2024. RetrievedAugust 6, 2024 – viaNaver.
^Kim, Kyung-hee (January 13, 2025).금새록, 수지X유지태X이진욱과 함께 영화 '실연당한 사람들을 위한 일곱 시 조찬모임' 출연 [Geum Sae-rok, Suzy X Yoo Ji-tae X Lee Jin-wook to Appear in Movie '7 O'Clock Breakfast Meeting for the Heartbroken'].iMBC (in Korean).Archived from the original on January 13, 2025. RetrievedJanuary 13, 2025.
^Shin So-won (March 17, 2021).불가살' 이진욱X권나라X이준, 캐스팅 확정 [공식].ten Asia (in Korean).Archived from the original on October 29, 2021. RetrievedMarch 17, 2021.
^Lee Min-ji (April 4, 2022).결혼백서' 이진욱X이연희, 결혼 앞둔 30대 예비부부 된다[공식] ['Marriage White Paper' Lee Jin-wook X Lee Yeon-hee to become a married couple in their 30s before marriage [Official]] (in Korean). Newsen.Archived from the original on April 4, 2022. RetrievedApril 4, 2022 – viaNaver.
^Ji Min-kyung (October 18, 2022).[단독] 이진욱, '이두나!' 특별 출연..특급 시너지 예고 [[Exclusive] Jinwook Lee, special appearance on 'Lee Doona!'..Exclusive Synergy Notice] (in Korean).OSEN.Archived from the original on October 21, 2022. RetrievedOctober 18, 2022 – viaNaver.
^Kang, Nae-ri (August 7, 2024).신혜선·이진욱의 행복 재생 로맨스 '나의 해리에게', 9월 23일 지니TV 첫 방송 [Shin Hye-sun and Lee Jin-wook's happy regeneration romance 'To My Harry', first broadcast on Genie TV on September 23] (in Korean).YTN.Archived from the original on August 28, 2024. RetrievedAugust 16, 2024 – viaNaver.
^Jung, Hee-yeon (June 29, 2023)."前 빅뱅 탑→박규영-조유리-원지안 '오징어 게임2' 캐스팅 [공식]" [Former BigBang Top→Park Gyu-young - Jo Yu-Ri - Won Ji-an 'Squid Game 2' Casting [Official]] (in Korean). Sports Donga.Archived from the original on June 29, 2023. RetrievedJune 29, 2023 – viaNaver.
^Hwang, Soo-yeon (June 24, 2025).이진욱, '일잘러' 변호사로 돌아온다 (에스콰이어) [Lee Jin-wook returns as a 'hard worker' lawyer (Esquire)] (in Korean). Xports News. RetrievedJune 29, 2025 – viaNaver.
^Kim, Soo-hyung (January 1, 2019).베스트커플→대상" 감우성♥김선아, 노련美로 완성한 '무진커플'의 위력 [2018 SBS 연기대상] [Best Couple → Daesang" Gam Woo-sung ♥ Kim Seon-ah, the power of 'Mujin Couple' completed with expert beauty [2018 SBS Drama Awards]] (in Korean).OSEN.Archived from the original on September 8, 2022. RetrievedSeptember 8, 2022 – viaNaver.
