Lee Hee-joon | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | (1979-06-29)June 29, 1979 (age 45) |
| Other names | Lee Hee-jun |
| Education | Yeungnam University (Chemical Engineering) Korea National University of Arts (Theater)[2] |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1998–present |
| Agent | BH Entertainment |
| Spouse | |
| Korean name | |
| Hangul | 이희준 |
| Revised Romanization | I Hui-jun |
| McCune–Reischauer | I Hŭi-chun |
Lee Hee-joon (born June 29, 1979) is a South Korean actor.[3] He first gained recognition portraying a minor character in the television seriesMy Husband Got a Family (2012). Lee is best known for the films1987: When the Day Comes (2017),Miss Baek (2018),The Man Standing Next (2020), andHandsome Guys (2024), as well as the television seriesThe Queen of Office (2013),Steal Heart (2014),Mouse (2021), andA Killer Paradox (2024).
Lee was born on June 29, 1979 in Songhyeon-dong,Dalseo-gu,Daegu, South Korea.[1] After completing high school without knowing what he wanted to do, he entered the Department ofChemical Engineering atYeungnam University.[4]
The turning point in his life came a week before his military enlistment, when he had a farewell party and got into a car accident that required major surgery. As a result, he was exempted from military service. Despite being exempt, he lost interest in his studies and wandered for a while, spending his days playing guitar, singing, and drinking. During this time, he happened to see a poster for a children's theatre company in Daegu and out of curiosity, he visited the theatre company.[5] Lee worked as the youngest member of the Daegu theatre company "Onnuri" for approximately 2 years and 6 months. Instead of being an actor, his role within the troupe involved tasks such as cleaning, cooking, and putting up posters. Lee independently studied and followedStanislavsky's bookActor's Class.[6]
Lee debuted on in 1999 with the playTourist Zone.[7] He discovered a passion for acting while performing in children's plays such asThe Jungle Book andCinderella. Later on, he developed a strong desire to receive formal acting training, which led him to drop out of the chemical engineering department at Yeungnam University.[6][4]
In 2002, Lee, who dropped out of Yeungnam University, met Lee Yun-taek and joined the Yeonheedan street troupe and lived at Miryang Theater Village for a year. He also appeared as King Oedipus in the opening production of the 2nd Miryang Theater Festival,Oedipus.[8]
Afterwards, Lee moved to Chaimu Theater Company and played the lead role, making a name for himself in Daehakro.[9]
Afterwards, he wanted to take acting lessons in a more systematic way, so he applied toKorea National University of Arts, but was rejected. In the end, he took the exam again and proudly entered school at the age of 24 (Class of 2003).[6] The university is famous for its rigorous, practical-oriented curriculum. When he was an engineering student, he was tired of theory classes, so life at a practical-oriented Korean art school was like heaven. To paraphrase his own words, "I loved school." So good was he that he attended on scholarship for all eight semesters, three of which he even received full scholarships.[4]
In 2005, he further showcased his talent by appearing in the musicalLee. He continued to hone his acting skills through various projects, including notable works likeThe King and the Clown and the 2007 playByun. In 2009, he further enriched his repertoire with performances inMelodrama andThere in Chuncheon.[7]
Lee showcased the acting experience he accumulated through his involvement in musicals and theater productions, transitioning to the screen and television. He made a notable appearance in the 2007 filmSecret Sunshine, portraying a minor character that garnered attention due to his captivating presence. Subsequently, he actively pursued supporting roles, featuring in films such asThe Predators (2009),Unfair Trade (2010),The Yellow Sea (2010),Heartbeat (2011),Special Edition (2012), andDetective Cha (2012).[7]
Lee also appeared on TV as a member of the Chaimu Troupe. When he appeared in the playB Unso in 2010, he was noticed byKBS drama special producer and began to make a name for himself by appearing in several one-act plays.[10] Lee gained recognition through theKBS2 drama specialTexas Hits in 2010, where he portrayed a gangster running a gambling site and impressed viewers with his acting. At the time, he was called a "star of one-act plays".[7]
After that, he appeared in drama serial seriesPerfect Spy. At the press conference, actorSon Hyun-joo praised Lee, saying, "He will become a star like Song Sae-byeok."[7]
AfterPerfect Spy, Lee Hee-jun appeared inCupid Factory where he portrayed the character of So-jun, a composer who struggled to write a song due to a lack of dating experience. Despite the absurd premise of purchasing a machine atCupid Factory to make oneself fall in love, Lee portrayed the character effortlessly, creating an engaging story that was well received by viewers. He emerged as a promising actor discovered by the KBS drama department.[7]
In 2012, Lee then appeared in the KBS hit dramaMy Husband Got a Family, where he portrayed Cheon Jae-yong, a charming and innocent man.[11] His presence in the drama played a significant role in shaping his career, contributing to his success, and gaining public awareness and popularity.[7] He won the Best New Actor Award in the TV category at theBaeksang Arts Awards in 2013.
Lee joined the theater company "Ganda Performance Delivery Service" as an early member. The company was formed by friends who collaborated on creative projects while attending Korea National University of Arts, with CEO Min Jun-ho at the forefront.Jin Seon-kyu, was also part of the company in its early stages.[6]
Lee later appeared in several works includingJeon Woo-chi,God of the Workplace,Yuna's Street,Mistress, and the moviesSea Fog,1987,Miss Baek, andNamsan Managers. In each of these works, he showcased a high level of character immersion, transcending both the small and big screens. As a result, he was reborn as a 'trustworthy actor'.[11]
Lee Hee-joon and model Lee Hye-jung confirmed their relationship in August 2015. They registered their marriage prior to the ceremony and had their private wedding ceremony in a wedding hall inYongsan, Seoul on April 23, 2016.[12]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | A State of Distrust | Short film | ||
| 2004 | Who is Coming For Me | |||
| 2005 | Roadless | |||
| The Happy Ending, with Fear | ||||
| 2006 | Save Me | |||
| The Theory & Practice of Graduation | ||||
| Red Butterfly | ||||
| Waiting for Passion | ||||
| 2007 | Secret Sunshine | |||
| Resurrection of the Butterfly | ||||
| Room of Goldfish | Short film | |||
| Bolex Lorelei | ||||
| Ko Pil-deok | ||||
| 2008 | Zero-Sum | |||
| 2009 | The Pit and the Pendulum | Seong-ik | ||
| A Worse Crime | Short film | |||
| I'm in Trouble! | Si-hyeong | |||
| Being a Traveler | Short film | |||
| 2010 | The Unjust | Detective Nam | ||
| The Yellow Sea | Bo-eun policeman | |||
| 2011 | Heartbeat | Pharmacist | ||
| Moby Dick | Hyeon-deok | |||
| Quick | Head of Dae-mang department | |||
| S.I.U. | Geun-soo | |||
| Communique | Short film | |||
| 2012 | Nameless Gangster: Rules of the Time | College student 1 | ||
| Helpless | No Seung-joo | |||
| Runway Cop | Kyeong-seok | |||
| 2013 | Dear Dolphin | Kim Hyeok-geun | ||
| The Flu | Byeong-gi | |||
| Marriage Blue | Dae-bok | [13] | ||
| 2014 | Haemoo | Chang-wook | [14] | |
| 2015 | SORI: Voice from the Heart | Jin-ho | [15] | |
| 2016 | A Melody to Remember | Hook | ||
| Worst Woman | Woon-cheol | Special appearance | ||
| Misbehavior | Pyo Sang-woo | |||
| 2017 | A Special Lady | Choi Dae-sik | [16] | |
| 1987: When the Day Comes | Yoon Sang-sam | [17] | ||
| 2018 | Miss Baek | Jang-sub | [18] | |
| The Drug King | Choi Jin-pil | |||
| 2019 | Another Child | Park Seo-bang | ||
| 2020 | The Man Standing Next | Cha Ji-chul | [19] | |
| 2021 | Somewhat High Humidity | [20] | ||
| 2022 | Bystanders | Kim Nak-su | Short film | [21] |
| 2024 | Badland Hunters | Yang Gi-su | Netflix film | [22][23] |
| Handsome Guys | Park Sang-goo | [24] | ||
| Bogota: City of the Lost | Soo-young | [25][26] |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Que Sera, Sera | Bit part; Ep. 4 | ||
| 2008 | Crime 2 | |||
| 2010 | KBS Drama Special - "An Awful Lot of Coincidences" | Number 1 | ||
| KBS Drama Special - "Texas Hit" | Min-seok | |||
| 2011 | Drama Special Series - "Perfect Spy" | Lee Sang-joon | ||
| KBS Drama Special - "Cupid Factory" | Yoo So-joon | |||
| KBS Drama Special - "Identical Criminals" | Jeong Jong-doo | |||
| The Princess' Man | Gong Chil-goo | |||
| 2012 | KBS Drama Special - "Swamp Ecology Report" | |||
| Wild Romance | Go Jae-hyo | |||
| My Husband Got a Family | Cheon Jae-yong | |||
| Jeon Woo-chi | Kang Rim | |||
| 2013 | The Queen of Office | Moo Jeong-han | ||
| 2014 | Steal Heart | Kim Chang-man | [27] | |
| 2016 | The Legend of the Blue Sea | Jo Nam-doo | [28] | |
| 2017 | The Last Blossom | In-cheol | ||
| 2018 | Drama Stage - Not Played | Jo Seong-wook | ||
| Mistress | Sung-joon | [29] | ||
| 2021 | Vincenzo | Unnamed robber #2 | Cameo | [30] |
| Mouse | Go Moo-chi | [31] | ||
| Chimera | Lee Joong-yeob | [32] | ||
| 2022 | Behind Every Star | Himself | Cameo (Episode 2) | [33] |
| 2024 | A Killer Paradox | Song Chon | [34] | |
| Blood Free | Seonu Jae | [35] | ||
| 2025 | Love Scout | Peter Kwon | Cameo (Episode 1) | [36] |
| Karma | [37] | |||
| TBA | When the Day Breaks | [38] |
| Year | Title | Role | Ref. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| English | Korean | |||
| 2004 | Knife | 칼 | ||
| 2005 | Gangbyeonbuk-ro | 강변북로 | ||
| Year | Title | Role | Ref. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| English | Korean | |||
| 2001 | Animal Farm | 동물농장 | ||
| 2006 | Yi | 이 (爾) | [39] | |
| 2007 | Jargon | 변 | ||
| 2008; 2012 | The Mirror Princes Pyeonggang Story | 거울공주 평강이야기 | Soldier 1 | [40][41] |
| 2009 | Bachelor's Vegetable Store | 총각네 야채가게 | [42] | |
| 2009 | Puberty | 사춘기 | [43] | |
| Year | Title | Role | Ref. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| English | Korean | |||
| 1999–2000 | Tourist station | 관광지대 | [7] | |
| 2002 | Oedipus | 오이디푸스 | Oedipus | [45] |
| 2005 | Come and See Me | 날 보러 와요 | [46] | |
| How are you all | 모두 안녕하십니까? | |||
| 2006 | Silence | 고요 | [47] | |
| 2007 | Byeonsangdo Team | 변상도팀 | [48] | |
| Hongdongji nori | 홍동지 놀이 | |||
| Melodrama | 멜로드라마 | Kim Chan-il | [49][50] | |
| 2008 | Let's go! Third, "Annapurna in My Heart" | 우르르~간다! 세 번째 "내 마음의 안나푸르나" | Son-in-law | [51] |
| Naeon Theater Opening Commemoration Parade: End Room | 나온씨어터 개관기념 퍼레이드 : 끝방 | Father | [52] | |
| Let's go to karaoke... Shall we talk? | 우리 노래방 가서... 얘기 좀 할까? | Father | ||
| 2009 | Karaoke owner | |||
| Chuncheon | 춘천거기 | Jihwan | [53] | |
| 2010 | B Word | B언소 (蜚言所) | [54] | |
| 2011–2012 | The Tale of an Old Thief | 늘근도둑 이야기 | Younger thief | [55] |
| 2012 | Wedding Scandal | 웨딩 스캔들 | [56] | |
| 2014–2019 | Me and Grandpa | 나와 할아버지 | Jun-hee | [57][58][59][6][60][61] |
| 2014 | The Cosmonaut's Last Message to the Woman He Once Loved in the Former Soviet Union | 한때 사랑했던 여자에게 보내는 구소련 우주비행사의 마지막 메시지 | Erick/ Hyland Bar owner | [62] |
| 2022 | Even Then Today | 그때도 오늘 | Man 1 | [63][64][65][66] |
| 2024 | Flower, Stars Passing By | 꽃, 별이 지나 | Hee-min | [67] |
