Lee Soo-geun
Lee Soo-geun (Korean: 이수근; born February 10, 1975) is a South Korean comedian[1] who has worked on a number of comedy shows on South Korean television. He began his career as a comedian on KBS Gag Concert, and is under the management of SM Culture & Contents agency.
Lee Soo-geun | |
---|---|
Birth name | Lee Soo-geun |
Born | Yangpyeong County, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea | February 10, 1975
Medium | Stand-up comedy, television, master of ceremonies |
Nationality | South Korea |
Years active | 1996–2013 2015–Present |
Genres | Comedy |
Spouse | Park Ji-yeon |
Notable works and roles | |
Korean name | |
Hangul | |
Hanja | |
Revised Romanization | I Su-geun |
McCune–Reischauer | I Sugŭn |
Career
Before entering the entertainment industry, Lee worked as a recreational instructor,[2] and entered a singing contest on MBC's River Music Festival (강변가요제). He was also an aerobics instructor. In October 2006, he began his own online internet shopping mall, selling clothes. In May 2008, he became an ambassador for the Pork Management Committee (양돈 자조금 관리위원회 홍보대사)
Lee has appeared on many reality-variety shows. He made a breakthrough in his career after appearing on KBS' Happy Sunday: 1 Night 2 Days. He was seen as the most hardworking member of the cast and was in charge of driving in the show, as he had a commercial coach license. After appearing on the show, he earned more recognition and was offered MC roles on other shows, such as season 2 of Sang Sang Plus, his first TV appearance in the role of an MC. His marriage was broadcast on national television on 1 Night 2 Days.
Up until 2012, he was signed under Castle J Entertainment, and on September 19, it was announced that he had signed exclusive contracts with SM C&C, a subsidiary of SM Entertainment, along with Kim Byung-man, immediately after fellow national MC Kang Ho-dong and Shin Dong-yup joined.[3][4]
In December 2015, he reunited with Kang Ho-dong as a cast member for JTBC's new variety show, Knowing Bros.[5][6]
In 2017, Lee Soo-geun appeared in more than ten programs over the course of a year and showed his unique charm in various programs.[7]
Personal life
Lee married Park Ji-yeon in 2008. They have 2 sons from their marriage, Lee Tae-joon and Lee Tae-seo.[8] Lee's mother is a shaman.[9]
Controversies
In 2013, Lee was under the investigation for suspicion of online illegal gambling along with Tony An, Tak Jae-hoon, Andy Lee & Boom. Lee was involved in an illegal sports gambling scandal, in which he placed bets on the results of top division football teams in the United Kingdom by using an illegal online gambling website and cell phone text messages. Lee has claimed to have bet billions of Korean won on online sports betting websites. As a result of researching his gambling activities, Lee Soo-geun was found to have gambled using US$370.000 from December 2008 to June 2011. In the first public trial on the morning of December 6, 2013, Judge Shin Myung-hee of the Seoul Central Prosecutor's Office charged Lee Soo Geun with eight months in prison and two years of probation. Lee Soo Geun, who appeared in the first public trial with his lawyer, repeatedly acknowledged his crime and begged for mercy.[10] After two years of self-restraint time at home, he returned with billiards competition show "Juk-bang Legend". Before filming the first episode of the show, Lee said "I will restart as if it is my first time."[11]
Discography
- 2020: "SWAG" (ft. Chin Chilla and Jiselle) - Show Me The Play 2 Final
- 2019: "White Winter" (with. Kim Hee-chul) - STATION X 4 LOVEs for Winter Part.3
- 2010: "Huk" (ft. Eun Jiwon)
- 2009: "Happy Song" (ft. Ez-Life)
- 2009: "Let's Keep Going Until the End" (ft. Eun Jiwon)
Filmography
Year | Title | Network |
---|---|---|
2015–present | Knowing Bros | JTBC |
2018–present | Lee Soo Geun's Channel | DIA TV |
2019–present | Ask Us Anything Fortune Teller | KBS Joy |
2020–present | The Fishermen and the City: Season 2 | Channel A |
There is No House in Seoul | JTBC | |
2021 | Wild Wild Quiz | NQQ |
The Girls Who Hit Goals | SBS TV |
Awards
Year | Award Show | Award |
---|---|---|
2006 | KBS Entertainment Awards | Excellent Corner Award for Comedy Division |
2007 | KBS Entertainment Awards | Best Entertainer's Award (Men Division) |
2008 | KBS Entertainment Awards | New Male MC Award (Variety Show Division) |
15th Korea Entertainment Awards | Comedian Award | |
2009 | KBS Entertainment Awards | Male MC Award (Variety Show Division) |
2010 | Mnet 20's Choice Awards | Mnet 20's Choice 20th Most influential star |
The 11th Korea Visual Arts Competition | Portfolio Award | |
KBS Entertainment Awards | Excellence Award (Variety Show Division) | |
2011 | Baeksang Arts Awards | Best Male Variety Performer |
23rd Korea PD Awards | Comedian Award | |
The 38th Korea Broadcasting Awards | Personal Comedy Division | |
KBS Entertainment Awards | Top Excellence Award | |
KBS Entertainment Awards | Entertainment Daesang - 1N2D team members | |
2012 | 3rd Korea Popular Culture and Arts Awards | Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism citation |
2016 | The 10th Cable TV Broadcasting | Popular Star - as MC of Juk-bang Legend (죽방전설) |
2019 | Brand Of The Year Awards | Male Variety Star |
References
- Jeong-hyun, Ryu (10 December 2010). "Celebrities say age-gap makes no difference in planning marriage". Korea Herald. Retrieved 11 May 2011.
- "Knowing Brother: Episode 84". Kshow123. Retrieved October 16, 2017.
- Ho, Stewart (September 19, 2012). "Lee Su Geun, Kim Byung Man Join Kang Ho Dong at SM C&C". Mwave. Retrieved October 16, 2017.
- "Jang Dong Gun, Kim Ha Neul, Han Ji Min, Lee Soo Geun, Kim Byung Man, and more become part of SM Entertainment's SM C&C". Allkpop. September 19, 2012. Retrieved October 16, 2017.
- Yoon, Dong Won. "'아는 형님' 강호동 이수근 민경훈 출연확정…12월을 수놓는 8인의 별들!". Retrieved 2016-05-15.
- Chae, Sun Ah. "강호동 '아는형님' 출연확정, 이수근도 끌고 간다…어떤 예능일까?". Retrieved 2016-05-15.
- "SM Entertainment". www.smentertainment.com (in Korean). 2 January 2018. Retrieved 24 August 2018.
- "GET TO KNOW COMEDIAN AND ENTERTAINER, LEE SOO-GEUN: PROFILE, FAMILY, REALITY AND VARIETY SHOW APPEARANCES". channel-korea.com. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
- "Lee Soo Geun sheds tears opening up about his mother". allkpop.com. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
- Son, Angela (December 7, 2013). "Lee Soo Geun, Taek Jae Hoon, Tony Ahn Charged With 1 Year In Prison". KDramaStars. Retrieved October 16, 2017.
- "Lee Soo-geun's return show". 15 June 2015.
External links
- 이수근 (Lee So Geun) on Cyworld (in Korean)
Awards and achievements | ||
---|---|---|
Preceded by Shin Bong-sun |
KBS Entertainment Awards for Best Male MC 2009 2010 |
Succeeded by - |
Preceded by Han Seok-joon |
KBS Entertainment Awards for Best Newcomer MC 2008 |
Succeeded by Jeon Hyun-moo |
Preceded by Kim Jong-min |
KBS Entertainment Awards for Best Entertainer 2007 |
Succeeded by Kim Sung-min Kim Tae-won Lee Ha-neul |