Lee Dong-gun
Lee Dong-gun in October 2019.
Born (1980-07-26) 26 July 1980
Gangnam District, Seoul, South Korea
Occupations
  • Actor
  • singer
Years active1998–present
AgentFNC Entertainment
Spouse
​
​
(m. 2017; div. 2020)​
Children1
Korean name
Hangul
Hanja
Revised RomanizationI Dong-geon
McCune–ReischauerI Tongkŏn
WebsiteOfficial website

Lee Dong-gun (Korean: 이동건, Korean pronunciation: [i.doŋɡʌn]; 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.[1][2]

Lee took a break from acting in 2005, claiming he felt overwhelmed with his workload in both television and film.[3] 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.[4][5]

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.[6][7] 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.[8]

Lee released a 14-track album titled My Biography in 2008, his first full-length album in a decade.[9] It included 6 Korean songs, 6 Japanese songs and 2 instrumentals. It was first released in Japan before becoming available in Korea.[10] The same year, he starred in the television series Night After Night alongside Kim Sun-ah,[11] and starred alongside an ensemble cast in the romance film Love Now.[12]

In December 2011, three months prior to the completion of his mandatory military service, Lee signed with talent agency Mask Entertainment.[13][14] After the termination of his contract with Mask Entertainment,[15][16] Lee signed with FNC Entertainment in November 2012.[17][18]

In 2013, Lee was cast in the lead role for the time-travel romance Marry Him If You Dare.[19] 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.[20][21] In 2016, Lee starred in the family drama The Gentlemen of Wolgyesu Tailor Shop.[22] He also starred in his first Chinese drama, Hello Mr. Right alongside actress Guan Xiaotong.[23]

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.[24] He then starred in action drama Sketch, playing a member of a special operations command who seeks revenge for the death of his wife;[25][26] and slice-of-life drama Where Stars Land.[27]

In 2019, Lee was cast in the fantasy romance drama Angel's Last Mission: Love.[28]

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.[29] The victim's friend, 22-year-old Song Jung-ho, was critically injured but survived.[30] 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.[31]

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.[32] He served at the Defense Media Agency of the Ministry of National Defense and was appointed Honorary Ambassador of Military.[33] 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.[34]

Relationship and marriage

On 28 February 2017, Lee Dong-gun was confirmed to be dating Jo Yoon-hee, his co-star in The Gentlemen of Wolgyesu Tailor Shop.[35] On 2 May, Lee announced that they have registered their marriage and are expecting their first child.[36][37] The couple held a private wedding ceremony on 29 September[38] and welcomed a baby girl on 14 December 2017.[39] On May 29, 2020, they divorced due to irreconcilable differences.[40]

Discography

Albums

Title Album details Peak chart
positions		 Sales
KOR
[41]		 JPN
[42]
Korean
Time to Fly
  • Released: 8 November 1998
  • Label: NULE Entertainment
  • Format: CD, cassette
 — — —
Much More
  • Released: 1 June 2000
  • Label: NULE Entertainment
  • Format: CD, cassette
 42 —
Japanese
Beautiful Beginning (美しいはじまり)
  • Released: 29 April 2005
  • Label: VAP
  • Format: CD
 — — —
My Biography (マイ・バイオグラフィ) — 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

Filmography

Television series

Year Title Role Network Notes
1999Ad MadnessKBS2
2002FriendsPark Kyung-jooMBC
Ruler of Your Own WorldHan Dong-jin
2003Sang Doo! Let's Go to SchoolKang Min-sukKBS2
A Problem at My Younger Brother's HousePark Sang-guSBS
2004Sweet 18Kwon Hyuk-joonKBS2
Lovers in ParisYoon Soo-hyukSBS
Stained GlassHan Dong-joo/Yuichi Yamamoto
2006Smile AgainBan Ha-jin
If in Love... Like ThemJeong-taeMnet
2008Night After NightKim Bum-sangMBC
Star's LoverHyun-joonSBSCameo
2013Marry Him If You DareKim ShinKBS2
2015Super Daddy YeolHan YultvN
2016 The Gentlemen of Wolgyesu Tailor ShopLee Dong-jinKBS2
2017Queen for Seven DaysYeonsangun
2018SketchKim Do-jinJTBC
Where Stars LandSeo In-wooSBS
2019Angel's Last Mission: LoveJi Kang-wooKBS2
Leverage Lee Tae-joon TV Chosun

Web series

Year Title Role Platform Notes Ref.
2016 Hello Mr. Right Zhou Yuteng iQiyi Chinese drama
2022 Kiss Sixth Sense Hong Sung-joon Disney+ Cameo (Ep. 1, 10-12)
2023 Celebrity Jin Tae-jeon Netflix [44]

Film

Year Title Role Notes
2002FamilyHa Yong-cheol
2005My Boyfriend Is Type BYoung-bin
2007Love NowPark Yong-jun

Television shows

Year Title Role Notes
English Korean
2023My Little Old Boy미운 우리 새끼Cast member

Music video

  • Eun Hyul – "Tardy Love"
  • Position – "A Day"
  • Big Bang – "Last Farewell"
  • Lee Hyori – "Don't Love Her"
  • Yoon Eun-hye feat. Lee Dong-gun – "Salad Song"
  • 4Tomorrow – "Tomorrow"

Musical theatre

  • 1998: Wandering Stars (방황하는 별들)

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Nominated work Result Ref.
2004 2nd Andre Kim Best Star Awards Best Star Award — Won [45]
KBS Drama AwardsExcellence Award, ActorSweet 18Nominated
SBS Drama AwardsTop Excellence Award, ActorLovers in Paris, Stained GlassNominated
Excellence Award, Actor in a Special Planning DramaLovers in ParisWon
Top 10 StarsLovers in Paris, Stained GlassWon
Dong-a TV Fashion Beauty Awards Best Dressed — Won
2005 41st Baeksang Arts Awards Most Popular Actor (Film) My Boyfriend Is Type B Won
42nd Grand Bell Awards Best New Actor Nominated
2008 45th Baeksang Arts Awards Most Popular Actor (TV) Night After Night Nominated
Seoul Hallyu Festival Plaque of Appreciation — Won
25th Korea Best Dresser Swan Awards Best Dressed Actor — Won
45th Grand Bell Awards Best New Actor Love Now Nominated
MBC Drama Awards Excellence Award, actor Night After Night Won
2013 KBS Drama Awards Best Couple Award with Yoon Eun-hye Marry Him If You Dare Nominated
Excellence Award, Actor in Miniseries Nominated
2015 4th APAN Star Awards Hallyu Star Award — Won [46]
2016 KBS Drama Awards Excellence Award, Actor in a Serial Drama The Gentlemen of Wolgyesu Tailor Shop Won [47]
2017 KBS Drama Awards Excellence Award, Actor in a Mid-length Drama Queen for Seven Days Won [48]
2018 SBS Drama Awards Excellence Award, Actor in a Monday-Tuesday Drama Where Stars Land Nominated
2023 SBS Entertainment Awards Hot Issue Award My Little Old Boy Won [49]

References

  1. ↑ Kim, Sun-woo (9 August 2004). "Lovers in Paris Hits Highest Viewing Rate of 51.5 Percent". The Dong-a Ilbo. Retrieved 9 July 2015.
  2. ↑ Suh, Jung-bo (15 November 2004). "Lee Dong-gun at the Japan Location Shoot of Yuriwha". The Dong-a Ilbo. Retrieved 9 July 2015.
  3. ↑ "Lee Dong-geon to Suspend His Acting for the Year". KBS Global. 26 January 2005. Retrieved 6 May 2014.
  4. ↑ "Lee Dong-gun enraptures Japanese fans at hallyu star meeting". KBS Global. 6 December 2005. Retrieved 6 May 2014.
  5. ↑ "The comic perils of dating a type-B". Korea JoongAng Daily. 2 February 2005.
  6. ↑ Lee, Min-a (8 February 2007). "Waves of teenage screams sweep across Jeju island as hallyu celebrates". Korea JoongAng Daily. Retrieved 6 May 2014.
  7. ↑ Cho, Chung-un (29 November 2006). "First Korean Wave Expo kicks off in Jeju". The Korea Herald via Hancinema. Retrieved 6 May 2014.
  8. ↑ "Korean Stars To Visit Japan in August". KBS Global. 25 July 2007. Retrieved 6 May 2014.
  9. ↑ "Lee Dong-gun Releases First Album in Korea in 10 Years". KBS Global. 20 August 2008. Retrieved 6 May 2014.
  10. ↑ "Lee Dong-geon's new album, My Biography". 15 August 2008. Retrieved 6 May 2014.
  11. ↑ "Lee Dong-gun, Kim Sun-ah "When It's at Night" – Enters filming this month". Hancinema. 17 April 2008.
  12. ↑ "Glam affairs need dose of agony". Korea JoongAng Daily. 18 April 2008.
  13. ↑ Hong, Lucia (5 December 2011). "Lee Dong-gun signs with new talenthouse". 10Asia. Retrieved 4 April 2013.
  14. ↑ Lee, In-kyung (5 December 2011). "Lee Dong Gun Announces He Has Entered a New Agency". enewsWorld. Archived from the original on 15 October 2014. Retrieved 4 April 2013.
  15. ↑ Oh, Esther (9 October 2012). "Lee Dong Gun to Terminate Contract with His Agency". enewsWorld. Retrieved 4 April 2013.
  16. ↑ Oh, Esther (9 October 2012). "MASK Entertainment Denies Reports that Lee Dong Gun is Terminating His Contract". enewsWorld. Retrieved 4 April 2013.
  17. ↑ Lee, Tae-ho (27 November 2012). "Actor Lee Dong-gun Inks Exclusive Contract with FTIsland, CNBLUE's Agency". 10Asia. Retrieved 5 February 2013.
  18. ↑ Hong, Grace Danbi (28 November 2012). "Lee Dong Gun Becomes Family with CN Blue, FT Island, Juniel, and More". enewsWorld. Retrieved 4 April 2013.
  19. ↑ Jeon, Su-mi (27 August 2013). "CN Blue's Jung Yong Hwa, Yun Eun Hye and Lee Dong Gun Confirmed for Drama The Choice of the Future". enewsWorld. Archived from the original on 11 July 2015. Retrieved 9 July 2015.
  20. ↑ Ahn, Sung-mi (11 March 2015). "Forget the villain: Lee returns as doting mom in new rom-com". The Korea Herald. Retrieved 9 July 2015.
  21. ↑ Kim, Ji-min (13 March 2015). "Super Daddy draws on heartbreaking storyline". Korea JoongAng Daily. Retrieved 9 July 2015.
  22. ↑ "Lee, Jo sign on for KBS2 drama 'Gentleman'". Korea JoongAng Daily. 24 June 2016.
  23. ↑ "Lee Dong Gun To Be A Popular Actor in China". BNT News. 15 July 2015.
  24. ↑ "Lee Dong-gun shines as tyrant of Joseon era". Kpop Herald. 7 July 2017.
  25. ↑ "Rain, Lee Dong-gun cast for cop series 'Sketch'". Yonhap News Agency. 6 March 2018.
  26. ↑ "Lee Dong-gun, Rain to star as investigators in 'Sketch'". Kpop Herald. 6 March 2018.
  27. ↑ "[단독]이동건, '여우각시별' 출연..이제훈X채수빈과 만남". Star News (in Korean). 30 July 2018.
  28. ↑ 이동건, '단 하나의 사랑' 발레단 예술감독 役 출연 확정..신혜선·엘과 호흡 [공식입장]. Osen (in Korean). 17 January 2019.
  29. ↑ "City stab victim brother a film star". The Daily Telegraph. 22 March 2008. Retrieved 9 July 2015.
  30. ↑ Gee, Steve (27 March 2008). "TV star mourns brother killed in Hungry Jacks brawl". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 9 July 2015.
  31. ↑ Chung, Ah-young (30 March 2008). "Stars Join in Mourning for Death of Actors Brother". The Korea Times. Retrieved 9 July 2015.
  32. ↑ Ko, Jae-wan (15 June 2010). "Lee Dong-gun enters military Korean military". 10Asia. Retrieved 4 April 2013.
  33. ↑ "Lee Dong-gun appointed celebrity military officer". 10Asia. 23 July 2010. Retrieved 9 July 2015.
  34. ↑ "Lee Dong-gun Completes Military Service". The Chosun Ilbo. 29 March 2012. Retrieved 30 March 2012.
  35. ↑ "Actor Lee Dong-gun dating fellow drama star Cho Youn-hee". Yonhap News Agency. 28 February 2017.
  36. ↑ "Actor Lee Dong-gun weds drama co-star Cho Youn-hee". The Korea Herald. 2 May 2017. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
  37. ↑ "Actor Lee Dong-gun weds drama co-star Cho Youn-hee". Yonhap. 2 May 2017.
  38. ↑ "Lee, Jo hold private wedding reception". Korea JoongAng Daily. 30 September 2017.
  39. ↑ "Actress Jo Yoon-hee Gives Birth". The Chosun Ilbo. 18 December 2017.
  40. ↑ "배우 이동건-조윤희 3년 만에 이혼". 28 May 2020.
  41. ↑ "K-pop Album Sales Volume". Recording Industry Association of Korea (in Korean). Archived from the original on 10 August 2015. Retrieved 15 July 2018.
  42. ↑ "Lee Dong-gun Album Sales Ranking". Oricon (in Japanese). Retrieved 15 July 2018.
  43. ↑ "June 2000 K-pop Album Sales Volume". Recording Industry Association of Korea (in Korean). Retrieved 15 July 2018.
  44. ↑ Moon Ji-yeon (26 May 2022). "[공식] '셀러브리티' 박규영·강민혁·이청아 캐스팅..넷플릭스 확정" [[Official] 'Celebrity' Park Gyu-young, Kang Min-hyuk, Lee Cheong-ah Casting... Netflix Confirmed] (in Korean). Sports Chosun. Retrieved 26 May 2022 – via Naver.
  45. ↑ "Fashion Designer Andre Kim Gives Out Best Star Awards". The Korea Times. 16 November 2004.
  46. ↑ "Kim Soo-hyun wins grand prize at APAN Star Awards". Kpop Herald. 29 November 2015.
  47. ↑ "Winners of the 2016 KBS Drama Awards". Asia Pacific Daily. 3 January 2017.
  48. ↑ "KBS Drama Awards 2017: Kim Young Chul, Chun Ho Jin share grand prize; complete winners list". International Business Times. 1 January 2018.
  49. ↑ "Winners Of The 2023 SBS Entertainment Awards". Soompi. 30 December 2023. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
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