Lee Dong-gun

Lee Dong-gun (; born 26 July 1980) is a South Korean actor and singer.

Career Lee Dong-gun made his debut in the entertainment industry in 1998 as a singer, but he would later gain fame as an actor, starring in television dramas such as Sweet 18, Lovers in Paris, and Stained Glass.

Lee took a break from acting in 2005, claiming he felt overwhelmed with his workload in both television and film. He resumed his work in 2006, with Smile Again.

During a fan meeting event in Japan held on 5 December 2005, Lee announced the release of his first photobook which also included a making-of DVD, poster and postcard. The success of Lovers in Paris along with promotions for his new film My Boyfriend Is Type B helped to increase his popularity in Japan.

Lee participated in the Hallyu Expo in Asia on Jeju Island which commenced on 28 November 2006 and spanned a total of 100 days. This large-scale event was intended to promote Korean culture across Asia and expected to bring in 150,000 tourists to stimulate the local economy. He also attended the sequel to the Hallyu Expo which was held in Japan titled FACE in Japan Premium Event. This two-day event from 14 to 15 August 2007, featured Korean celebrities with large fanbases and was intended as a cultural exchange program between Korea and Japan.

Lee released a 14-track album titled My Biography in 2008, his first full-length album in a decade. It included 6 Korean songs, 6 Japanese songs and 2 instrumentals. It was first released in Japan before becoming available in Korea. The same year, he starred in the television series Night After Night alongside Kim Sun-ah, and starred alongside an ensemble cast in the romance film Love Now.

In December 2011, three months prior to the completion of his mandatory military service, Lee signed with talent agency Mask Entertainment. After the termination of his contract with Mask Entertainment, Lee signed with FNC Entertainment in November 2012.

In 2013, Lee was cast in the lead role for the time-travel romance Marry Him If You Dare. This was followed in 2015 by the titular role in cable series Super Daddy Yeol, which was based on the webtoon of the same name. In 2016, Lee starred in the family drama The Gentlemen of Wolgyesu Tailor Shop. He also starred in his first Chinese drama, Hello Mr. Right alongside actress Guan Xiaotong.

In the historical drama Queen for Seven Days, Lee impressed viewers with his a wide range of emotions and acting performance with his role as the tyrannical Joseon ruler Yeonsangun. He then starred in action drama Sketch, playing a member of a special operations command who seeks revenge for the death of his wife; and slice-of-life drama Where Stars Land.

In 2019, Lee was cast in the fantasy romance drama Angel's Last Mission: Love.

Personal life On 20 March 2008, Lee's 19-year-old brother Lee Joon-yub, a student at the University of Sydney, was fatally stabbed during a brawl with two Chinese teenage gang members at Hungry Jack's in World Square, Sydney. The victim's friend, 22-year-old Song Jung-ho, was critically injured but survived. Lee flew to Sydney to identify his brother's body and attend a requiem mass at the Chapel of St. John's College; after cremation, his family brought back Lee Joon-yub's ashes to Seoul.

Military service Lee enlisted for his mandatory military service on 15 June 2010 at the 102 Reserves in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province for four weeks of basic training followed by 21 months of active duty. He served at the Defense Media Agency of the Ministry of National Defense and was appointed Honorary Ambassador of Military. He was discharged on 28 March 2012, and on the same day, he was appointed promotional ambassador for the 2012 Korean Formula One Grand Prix held at the Korea International Circuit in October.

Marriage On 28 February 2017, Lee was confirmed to be dating Jo Yoon-hee, his co-star in The Gentlemen of Wolgyesu Tailor Shop. On 2 May, Lee announced that they have registered their marriage and are expecting their first child. The couple held a private wedding ceremony on 29 September and welcomed a baby girl on 14 December 2017. On May 29, 2020, they divorced due to irreconcilable differences.

Discography Albums

TitleAlbum detailsPeak chartpositionsSales KOR JPN Korean Time to FlyReleased: 8 November 1998 Label: NULE Entertainment Format: CD, cassette — — Much MoreReleased: 1 June 2000 Label: NULE Entertainment Format: CD, cassette 42 —KOR: 10,853+ Japanese Beautiful Beginning (美しいはじまり)Released: 29 April 2005 Label: VAP

Label: Sony Music Japan Format: CD — 108 The Key to Myself (ザ・キー・トゥ・マイセルフ)Released: 4 March 2009 Label: Sony Music Japan Format: CD — 262"—" denotes album did not chart or was not released in that region.

Singles As featured artist + List of singles, with year, and album Title Year Album "Salad Song" 2008 Salad Anniversary

Filmography

Film Year Title Role Notes 2002 Family Ha Yong-cheol 2005 My Boyfriend Is Type B Young-bin 2007 Love Now Park Yong-jun

Television series Year Title Role Notes 1999 Ad Madness 2002 Friends Park Kyung-joo Ruler of Your Own World Han Dong-jin 2003 Sang Doo! Let's Go to School Kang Min-suk A Problem at My Younger Brother's House Park Sang-gu 2004 Sweet 18 Kwon Hyuk-joon Lovers in Paris Yoon Soo-hyuk Stained Glass Han Dong-joo/Yuichi Yamamoto 2006 Smile Again Ban Ha-jin If in Love... Like Them Jeong-tae 2008 Night After Night Kim Bum-sang Star's Lover Hyun-joon Cameo 2013 Marry Him If You Dare Kim Shin 2015 Super Daddy Yeol Han Yul 2016 The Gentlemen of Wolgyesu Tailor Shop Lee Dong-jin 2017 Queen for Seven Days Yeonsangun 2018 Sketch Kim Do-jin Where Stars Land Seo In-woo 2019 Angel's Last Mission: Love Ji Kang-woo Leverage Lee Tae-joon

Web series

Television shows Year Title Role Notes 2023–present My Little Old Boy Cast member

Music video appearances Year Title Artist 2004 "Tardy Love" Eun Hyul 2007 "A Day" Position "Last Farewell" Big Bang "Don't Love Her" Lee Hyori 2008 "Salad Song" Yoon Eun-hye (feat. Lee Dong-gun) 2009 "Tomorrow" 4Tomorrow

Musical theatre 1998: Wandering Stars (방황하는 별들)

Awards and nominations + Name of the award ceremony, year presented, category, nominee of the award, and the result of the nomination Award ceremony Year Category Nominee / Work Result Andre Kim Best Star Awards 2004 Best Star Award Lee Dong-gun APAN Star Awards 2015 Hallyu Star Award Lee Dong-gun Baeksang Arts Awards 2005 Most Popular Actor – Film My Boyfriend Is Type B 2009 Most Popular Actor – Television Night After Night Dong-a TV Fashion Beauty Awards 2004 Best Dressed Lee Dong-gun Grand Bell Awards 2005 Best New Actor My Boyfriend Is Type B 2008 Best New Actor Love Now KBS Drama Awards 2004 Excellence Award, Actor Sweet 18 2013 Best Couple Award Lee Dong-gun Marry Him If You Dare Excellence Award, Actor in Miniseries Marry Him If You Dare 2016 Excellence Award, Actor in a Serial Drama The Gentlemen of Wolgyesu Tailor Shop 2017 Excellence Award, Actor in a Mid-length Drama Queen for Seven Days Korea Best Dresser Swan Awards 2008 Best Dressed Actor Lee Dong-gun MBC Drama Awards 2008 Excellence Award, Actor Night After Night SBS Drama Awards 2004 Excellence Award, Actor in a Special Planning Drama Lovers in Paris Top 10 Stars Lovers in Paris / Stained Glass Top Excellence Award, Actor 2018 Excellence Award, Actor in a Monday-Tuesday Drama Where Stars Land SBS Entertainment Awards 2023 Hot Issue Award My Little Old Boy 2024 Good Partner Award My Little Old Boy Seoul Hallyu Festival 2008 Plaque of Appreciation Lee Dong-gun