Lee Jong-suk facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Lee Jong-suk
Lee in July 2024
Born	(1989-09-14) 14 September 1989 (age 35) Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, South Korea
Education	Yangjae High School Konkuk University
Occupation	Actor model
Years active	2005–present
Agent	Ace Factory
Height	186 cm (6 ft 1 in)
Korean name
Hangul	이종석
Hanja	李鐘奭
Revised Romanization	I Jongseok
McCune–Reischauer	I Chongsŏk
Signature

Lee Jong-suk (Hangul: 이종석, born September 14, 1989) is a famous South Korean actor and model. He started his career in 2005 as a runway model. He was the youngest male model to ever walk in Seoul Fashion Week.

Lee became very well-known for his role in the TV show School 2013 (2012). He is also famous for many other dramas. These include I Can Hear Your Voice (2013), Doctor Stranger (2014), Pinocchio (2014), W (2016), While You Were Sleeping (2017), and Big Mouth (2022).

Education and Learning

Lee Jong-suk studied Professional Motion Pictures and Art. He attended Konkuk University and finished his studies there in 2016.

Lee Jong-suk's Career Journey

Early Career: From Model to Actor (2005–2010)

Lee began modeling when he was just 15 years old. He walked the runway at the Seoul Collection in 2005. This made him the youngest male model to ever debut at Seoul Fashion Week. Since then, he has been in many fashion shows.

Before acting, Lee trained to be part of an idol music group. He signed with an agency, but they did not keep their promise to let him debut as an actor. So, he left the agency. He then tried out for acting roles at the SBS TV station when he was in middle school.

In 2010, Lee officially started his acting career. He appeared in the South Korean TV series Prosecutor Princess. He also made his first movie appearance in the horror film Ghost.

Becoming a Star: Popular Roles (2011–2013)

Lee started to get more attention after a supporting role in the popular drama Secret Garden. In this show, he played a talented young composer.

In 2011, he appeared in the sitcom High Kick Season 3. This role helped him become even more popular. Lee also acted in the film R2B: Return to Base in 2012. This movie was like a new version of the famous 1986 film Top Gun.

Lee Jong-suk at Vogue Fashion's Night Out in 2013

Lee's big breakthrough role was in the teen drama School 2013. He played a high school student. For this role, he won his first acting award. It was the Best New Actor award at the 2012 KBS Drama Awards. A survey called 'Actors Who Lit Up 2013' ranked him as the fifth most popular actor.

After School 2013 was a success, Lee starred in the drama series I Can Hear Your Voice. He acted alongside Lee Bo-young. He played Park Soo-ha, a smart young man who could read minds. The show was so popular that it was extended by two episodes. Lee won the Excellence Award for his performance in this drama. After that, he starred in the sports film No Breathing. He also had a supporting role in the hit movie The Face Reader.

Global Recognition: Big Hits (2014–present)

Lee then starred in the medical drama Doctor Stranger. He played a North Korean defector who became a doctor in South Korea. This drama was very popular in China, with 400 million views.

Next, Lee starred in Pinocchio with actress Park Shin-hye. He played Choi Dal-po, a new reporter who cared deeply about justice and truth. Pinocchio was another big hit. It earned a lot of money from broadcasting rights in just one year.

Lee's acting in Doctor Stranger and Pinocchio earned him many awards. He won the Male Top Excellence Award at the 8th Korea Drama Awards. He also became the youngest actor to win the Best Actor award at the 27th Grimae Awards. This award is chosen by television camera operators.

Lee then went on an Asia fan-meeting tour. He also released a photobook with pictures from his meetings with fans. He was cast in his first Chinese drama, Jade Lovers. This fantasy romance series was set in the 1930s. Because of his popularity in China, a wax figure of him was made for Hong Kong's Madame Tussauds. Lee himself helped to show off the figure.

In December 2015, Lee left his old agency. He then signed a new contract with YG Entertainment in May 2016.

Lee Jong-suk at the W press conference in August 2016

In July 2016, Lee returned to Korean TV with the fantasy thriller W. He starred alongside Han Hyo-joo. This drama was very popular in Korea. Lee won the Daesang (Grand Prize) at the MBC Drama Awards that year. He also appeared in the web drama 7 First Kisses.

In 2017, Lee starred in the crime film VIP. This was his first main role as a villain. Later, in September, Lee starred in the drama While You Were Sleeping with Bae Suzy.

In July 2017, Lee was chosen as a Goodwill Ambassador for Korean tourism. The Korea Tourism Organization released videos with him. These videos showed tourist spots in different regions of Korea.

In 2018, Lee acted in the drama The Hymn of Death. This was a new version of an old film. Lee signed with a new agency, YNK Entertainment, but left them five months later. He then started his own agency called "A-man Project".

In 2019, he starred in his first romantic comedy drama, Romance Is a Bonus Book. He acted with Lee Na-young.

In 2021, after finishing his military service, he made a special appearance in The Witch : Part 2. The Other One. Lee later confirmed he would be in the film Decibel. This movie would be his second time playing a villain. In September 2021, Lee confirmed his role in the MBC drama Big Mouth with Im Yoon-ah. This was his first drama in three years after his military service. It aired in 2022.

In 2022, Lee held a fan meeting called 'RE, JONG SUK' in Seoul.

Personal Life

Lee is very good friends with fellow model and actor Kim Woo-bin. They met during their modeling days and also starred together in School 2013.

He used to own a dining cafe called 89Mansion. The cafe closed for good on September 14, 2020. This was due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Relationships

On December 31, 2022, Lee's agency confirmed his relationship with singer and actress IU. IU's agency also confirmed their relationship.

Military Service

Lee began his mandatory military service on March 8, 2019. He was not able to serve as an active duty soldier. This was because he had a car accident when he was 16. The accident caused an injury to his knee. So, he worked as a public service officer instead. He was discharged from his service on January 2, 2021.

Helping Others

On March 7, 2022, Lee donated 100 million won (a large sum of money). He gave it to the Hope Bridge Disaster Relief Association. This money helped victims of a huge wildfire. The fire started in Uljin and spread to Samcheok.

Filmography

Discography

Soundtrack appearances

Awards and Nominations

State Honors

Listicles

See also

In Spanish: Lee Jong-suk para niños