Lee Je-hoon

Lee Je-hoon (; born July 4, 1984) is a South Korean actor. Having found success in both film and television, Lee first gained recognition for his roles in the films Bleak Night and The Front Line (2011), receiving numerous awards for his performances. Notably, his role as Ki-tae in Bleak Night earned him Best New Actor at the Blue Dragon Film Awards and the Grand Bell Awards.

Lee gained mainstream popularity with the box-office hit Architecture 101 (2012) and found success in television with the critically and commercially successful Signal (2016). He would go on to achieve further acclaim with the action crime series Taxi Driver (2021–2026). His other notable works include films Anarchist from Colony (2017), I Can Speak (2017), and Escape (2024), as well as television series Move to Heaven (2021) and Chief Detective 1958 (2024).

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. 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.

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,

In October, he made a special appearance in the SBS drama One Dollar Lawyer. 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 Year Title Role Notes 2009 The Pit and the Pendulum Young Sang-tae 2010 The Influence Sunjong Internet film The Servant Hanbok maker Bit part Finding Mr. Destiny Woo-hyung Bit part Ghost Kim Se-young Segment: "Tarot 3. The Unseen" 2011 Bleak Night Ki-tae Independent film The Front Line Captain Shin Il-young 2012 Architecture 101 young Lee Seung-min Ghost Sweepers Suk-hyun Rise of the Guardians Jack Frost (voice) Korean dub 2013 An Ethics Lesson Kim Jung-hoon My Paparotti Lee Jang-ho 2016 Phantom Detective Hong Gil-dong 2017 Anarchist from Colony Park Yeol I Can Speak Park Min-jae 2020 Time to Hunt Joon-seok Collectors Kang Dong-goo 2023 Noryang: Deadly Sea young Gwang-hae Special appearance 2024 Escape Lim Gyu-nam 2025 Big Deal Choi In-beom

Short film Year Title Role 2007 They Live by Night Private Shin Placebo 2008 Ah Man Holy Vacation Kang Young-woon 2009 Just Friends? Seok-i Language Life Kyung-min When Winter Comes 2010 Maldives Express Eun-seok A Dog Came Into My Flash Son / Man in his 20s Miss Communication Male book designer

Filmmaking credits Year Title Director Writer Producer 2013 After Being Late...Love 2021 Unframed – Blue happiness

Television series Year Title Role Notes 2010 Three Sisters Kim Eun-gook 2012 Fashion King Jung Jae-hyuk 2014 Secret Door Yi Sun 2016-present Signal Park Hae-young Seasons 1–2 2017 Tomorrow, with You Yoo So-joon 2018 Where Stars Land Lee Soo-yeon 2020 Hot Stove League Lee Je-hoon Cameo (Ep. 16) 2021–2026 Taxi Driver Kim Do-gi Seasons 1–3 2021 Move to Heaven Jo Sang-goo 2022 One Dollar Lawyer Top Star Lee Je-hoon Cameo (Ep. 6) 2023 Big Bet 2 Jang-jun Cameo (Ep. 8) 2024 Chief Detective 1958 Park Young-han 2025 The Art of Negotiation Yoon Joo-no

Documentary Year Title Role 2018 Earth: One Amazing Day Narrator 2019 DMZ – Prologue 2022 Another Record: Lee Je-hoon Himself

Television show Year Title Role Notes 2019 Traveler Cast member with Ryu Jun-yeol 1919–2019, Memories Narrator Episode: 7 of Ahn Jung-geun 2021 SBS Special – Immortal Age Episode: Frozen Man Your Wish List, Change the Future of the Earth! Episode: October 2050, a letter from the future 2024–2025 Rented in Finland Cast member with Cha Eun-woo, Lee Dong-hwi, Kwak Dong-yeon

Hosting Year Title Notes 2018 2018 SBS Drama Awards with Shin Dong-yup and Shin Hye-sun 2024 45th Blue Dragon Film Awards with Han Ji-min 2025 46th Blue Dragon Film Awards with Han Ji-min

Music video appearances Year Title Artist 2012 "I Choose To Love You" Hyolyn 2015 "Home" Brown Eyed Soul 2019 "With You" Crush 2020 "Reconnect" Code Kunst, Simon Dominic, and Choi Jung-hoon of Jannabi 2021 "Only" LeeHi "I'll Never Know You" Urban Zakapa

Discography Title Year Album "Love Like This" 2012 Fashion King OST "The Person That Makes You Happy" 2013 My Paparotti OST

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. 2018 - now Honorary Ambassador of Incheon Airport Korea

Accolades 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 Amnesty International Awards 2017 Special Award I Can Speak APAN Star Awards 2022 Top Excellence Award, Actor in a Miniseries Taxi Driver 2023 Top Excellence Award, Actor in a Serial Drama Taxi Driver 2 Asia Contents Awards 2021 Best Actor Move to Heaven Asian Academy Creative Awards Best Actor in Leading Role Asian Film Awards 2012 Best Supporting Actor The Front Line Baeksang Arts Awards 2012 Best New Actor – Film Architecture 101 2020 Best Actor – Film Time to Hunt Blue Dragon Film Awards 2011 Best New Actor Bleak Night 2024 Best Actor Escape Blue Dragon Series Awards 2022 Best Leading Actor Move to Heaven Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival 2012 Fantasia Award Architecture 101 Buil Film Awards 2011 Best Dressed Lee Je-hoon Best New Actor The Front Line 2017 Best Actor Anarchist from Colony Busan International Film Festival with Marie Claire Asia Star Awards 2017 Asia Star Award Lee Je-hoon 2023 CGV Arthouse Opening Ceremony 2014 Plaque for Rising Star in Independent Film Bleak Night Cine Icon: KT&G Actor / Actress Event 2016 Icon of the Year Phantom Detective Cine21 Film Awards 2011 Best New Actor Bleak Night Elle Style Awards 2024 Elle Man of the Year EscapeChief Detective 1958 Golden Cinema Film Festival 2018 Male Popularity Award chosen by the cinematographer I Can Speak 2024 Escape Grand Bell Awards 2011 Best New Actor Bleak Night The Front Line 2017 Best Actor Anarchist from Colony Jecheon International Music & Film Festival 2014 Best Actor in a Music Film My Paparotti KAFA 10th Anniversary Award 2016 Actor Special Merit Award Bleak Night Kino Lights Awards 2021 Actor of the Year (Domestic) Taxi Driver and Move to Heaven KOFRA Film Awards 2012 Best New Actor Bleak Night Korea Art Film Association Awards 2025 Friends Award Lee Je-hoon Korea Film Actors Association 2016 Popular Star Award Phantom Detective Korea Youth Film Festival 2017 Grand Prize Anarchist from Colony Korean Association of Film Critics Awards 2011 Best New Actor The Front Line Korean Culture and Entertainment Awards Bleak Night MBC Drama Awards 2024 Top Excellence Award, Actor in a Miniseries Chief Detective 1958 Best Couple Award Lee Je-hoon Chief Detective 1958 Grand Prize (Daesang) Chief Detective 1958 Mnet 20's Choice Awards 2012 20's Male Movie Star Architecture 101 Resistance Film Festival in Korea 2018 Best Actor Anarchist from Colony, I Can Speak SBS Drama Awards 2014 Top 10 Star Secret Door Top Excellence Award, Actor in a Serial Drama 2018 Top Excellence Award, Actor in a Monday-Tuesday Drama Where Stars Land Best Couple Award Lee Je-hoon Where Stars Land 2021 Top Excellence Award, Actor in a Miniseries – Fantasy Taxi Driver Grand Prize (Daesang) 2023 Grand Prize (Daesang) Taxi Driver 2 Top Excellence Award, Actor in a Seasonal Drama 2025 Grand Prize (Daesang) Taxi Driver 3 Seoul International Drama Awards 2021 Outstanding Korean Actor Taxi Driver tvN10 Awards 2016 PD's Choice Award, Drama Signal Best Actor

State honors + Name of country, year given, and name of honor Country Organization Year Honor Or Award South Korea Korea Good Donor Awards 2023 Minister of Public Administration and Security Commendation Korean Popular Culture and Arts Awards 2021 Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Commendation 2024 Prime Minister Commendation National Tax Service 2019 Presidential Commendation Newsis K-Expo Cultural Awards 2023 Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Award

Listicles + Name of publisher, year listed, name of listicle, and placement Publisher Year Listicle Placement Forbes 2025 Korea Power Celebrity 40 Korean Film Council 2021 Korean Actors 200