Lee Je-hoon

When Lee Je-hoon realized that he wanted to go into acting, he dropped out of the Biotechnology major at Korea University and transferred to the School of Drama at Korea National University of Arts.[1] From 2006 to 2010, Lee appeared in more than 18 student shorts and indie films,[2] notably the queer coming-of-age romance Just Friends?.[3][4] He also appeared as an extra in a number of commercial films, including erotic thriller The Servant and romantic comedy Finding Mr. Destiny.[5][6]

Then Lee had his breakthrough in 2011. He received critical raves for his performances as a manipulative alpha-male in the haunting indie Bleak Night,[7][8][9] and as a morphine-addicted squad leader in big-budget war film The Front Line.[10][11][12] He gained mainstream popularity as a shy college student pining for his first love in box-office hit Architecture 101,[13][14] 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.[15][13]

Lee next starred opposite acclaimed veteran actor, Han Suk-kyu in the comedy-drama My Paparotti, which focuses on the special relationship between a high school gang member who dreams of becoming a singer like the late tenor Luciano Pavarotti, and the music teacher who helps him pursue his dream.[16][17] He next starred in Ghost Sweepers,[18] dubbed the character Jack Frost for the Korean release of 3D animated film Rise of the Guardians,[19] and featured in the crime thriller An Ethics Lesson.[20]

Lee enlisted on October 25, 2012 for his mandatory military service as a member of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency riot police.[21][22] He was discharged on July 24, 2014.[23][24]

Lee in 2016

For his comeback project, 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.[25][26] 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.[27]

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.[28][29]

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.[30][31] 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.[32][33] The same year Lee starred in the film I Can Speak as a civil servant who also tutors English.[34]

In 2018, Lee was cast in the film Time to Hunt directed by Yoon Sung-hyun.[35] The same year, he starred in the airport-themed melodrama Where Stars Land alongside Chae Soo-bin.[36] Lee and co-star Chae Soo-bin were appointed as honorary ambassadors of Incheon International Airport.[37]

In 2019, Lee filmed the travel reality programme Traveller along with Ryu Jun-yeol where the two stars enjoy a backpacking holiday in Cuba.[38] The same year, he was cast in the film Tomb Robbery.[39]

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.[40][41] He also starred in the caper story film Collectors.[42]