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Lee Kwang-soo facts for kids

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Lee Kwang-soo
Lee Kwang-soo wearing dark green shirt and smiling in 2014
Lee at Blue Dragon Film Awards 2021
Born (1985-07-14) July 14, 1985 (age 39)
Namyangju, Gyeonggi Province, South Korea
Education Dong-ah Institute of Media and Arts (Broadcasting)
Occupation
  • Actor
  • entertainer
  • model
Years active 2007–present
Agent King Kong by Starship
Korean name
Hangul
이광수
Hanja
Revised Romanization I Gwang-su
McCune–Reischauer I Kwangsu

Lee Kwang-soo (Hangul: 이광수, born July 14, 1985) is a famous South Korean actor, entertainer, and model. He is well-known for his funny personality and tall height. He first started acting in a TV show called Here He Comes in 2008.

Lee Kwang-soo became very popular as a regular cast member on the South Korean variety show Running Man. He was on the show from June 2010 until May 2021. His last episode aired on June 13, 2021. He also gained recognition for his roles in dramas like It's Okay, That's Love (2014) and Live (2018). He also starred in films such as Collective Invention (2015) and Inseparable Bros (2019).

About His Early Life

Lee Kwang-soo was born on July 14, 1985. His hometown is Namyangju, which is in Gyeonggi Province, South Korea.

His Career Journey

Lee Kwang-soo began his career as a model in 2007. He then started acting in TV shows. His first acting role was in the 2008 sitcom Here He Comes. After that, he appeared in High Kick Through the Roof.

Becoming the "Prince of Asia"

Lee Kwang-soo's fame grew a lot when he joined the variety show Running Man on SBS. He became known as the "Prince of Asia" because he had so many fans all over the world. For his work on Running Man, he won awards like "New Star Award" in 2010 and "Best Newcomer in Variety" in 2011 at the SBS Entertainment Awards.

Acting Roles in Films and TV

In 2012, Lee Kwang-soo took on supporting roles in several movies. These included romantic comedies like Wonderful Radio and All About My Wife. He also appeared in the thriller The Scent. Later that year, he worked with his friend and former Running Man co-star Song Joong-ki in the TV drama The Innocent Man.

In 2013, Lee Kwang-soo lent his voice to the main character, Marco, in the animated movie Maritime Police Marco. He worked alongside another Running Man star, Song Ji-hyo, who voiced the character Lulu. He also played a villain, Prince Imhae, in the historical drama Goddess of Fire.

Lee Kwang-Soo at Malaysia for Running Man Fan Meeting Asian Tour 2014 - 2
Lee Kwang-soo meeting fans in Malaysia in November 2014

In 2014, Lee Kwang-soo got his first big movie role in Confession. This film was about three friends whose friendship falls apart because of a murder. He then returned to TV in the drama It's Okay, That's Love. In this show, he played a character with Tourette syndrome, which is a condition that causes sudden, repeated movements or sounds. He also starred in the movie A Dynamite Family, which was about five brothers who argue a lot.

In 2015, Lee Kwang-soo played the main character in Collective Invention. His character's condition was caused by a new drug. This movie was shown at the 2015 Toronto International Film Festival. He also acted in a two-episode drama called Puck!, where he played a loan shark who joins a college ice hockey team. He was also chosen as an ambassador for the "2015 Korea Brand & Entertainment Expo" for helping to spread Korean culture.

In 2016, Lee Kwang-soo starred in the TV show Entourage, which was a Korean version of an American show. He also starred in the KBS sitcom The Sound of Your Heart, based on a popular webtoon. This show was very successful in both South Korea and China.

In 2017, it was announced that Lee Kwang-soo would be a regular cast member on Netflix's variety show Busted!.

In 2018, he starred in the drama Live, playing a police officer who tries to do the right thing every day. He received great reviews for his acting in this drama. He also played a very smart character in the comedy movie The Accidental Detective 2: In Action.

In 2019, Lee Kwang-soo starred in the comedy film Inseparable Bros. He won his first Baeksang Arts Awards award for Best Supporting Actor for his role as Park Dong-goo, a character with intellectual disabilities. Critics praised his performance, comparing it to Dustin Hoffman's role in Rain Man.

In February 2020, Lee Kwang-soo was in a car accident. This caused him to pause his activities while he recovered from an ankle injury. In June, it was confirmed that he would star in The Pirates: The Last Royal Treasure, which was released in January 2022.

In 2021, he returned for Season 3 of the Netflix show Busted!. He also confirmed his role in the film A Year-End Medley, released that same year. On April 27, 2021, his agency announced that he would leave Running Man to focus on his recovery from the accident. His last recording for the show was on May 24, 2021. In 2022, Lee Kwang-soo returned to TV in the drama The Killer's Shopping List. He also appeared in the films Sinkhole and A Year-End Medley.

His Personal Life

On December 31, 2018, it was announced that Lee Kwang-soo was dating actress Lee Sun-bin. His agency, King Kong by Starship, stated that they had been dating for five months before the news was made public.

Filmography

Here are some of the films and TV shows Lee Kwang-soo has been in:

Film

Year Title Role
2011 Battlefield Heroes Moon-di
2012 Wonderful Radio Cha Dae-geun
The Scent Gi-poong
All About My Wife PD Choi
2013 A Wonderful Moment Kim Jung-il
Maritime Police Marco Marco
Walking with Dinosaurs 3D Patchi
2014 Confession Min-soo
A Dynamite Family Constable Park
2015 Collective Invention Park Goo
2018 The Accidental Detective 2: In Action Yeo Chi
2019 Inseparable Bros Park Dong-goo
Tazza: One Eyed Jack Jo Kka-chi
2021 Sinkhole Kim Seung-hyun
A Year-End Medley Sang-hoon
2022 The Pirates: The Last Royal Treasure Mak-yi

Television series

Year Title Role Notes
2008 The Scale of Providence Oh Kwang-chul
2008–2009 Here He Comes Oh Man-soo
2009–2010 High Kick Through the Roof Lee Kwang-soo
2010 Dong Yi Park Young-dal
2011 City Hunter Go Ki-joon
2011–2012 Bachelor's Vegetable Store Nam Yoo-bong
2012 The Innocent Man Park Jae-gil
2013 Dating Agency: Cyrano Choi Dal-in Cameo (episode 6–8)
Goddess of Fire Prince Imhae
Potato Star 2013QR3 Bo-young's first love Cameo (episode 18)
2014 Secret Love Lee Tae-yang Episode 7–8: "A Seven Day Summer"
It's Okay, That's Love Park Soo-kwang
2015 A Girl Who Sees Smells Himself Cameo (episode 1) with Running Man members
2016 Puck! Jo Joon-man
Descendants of the Sun Toy gun range shooting shop worker Cameo (episode 1)
Dear My Friends Yoo Min-ho Cameo
Entourage Cha Joon
2016–2017 The Sound of Your Heart Jo Suk
Hwarang: The Poet Warrior Youth Mak-moon Cameo (episode 1–3)
2017 Hit the Top Yoon-ki Cameo (episode 2)
2018 Live Yeom Sang-soo
2022 The Killer's Shopping List Ahn Dae-sung

Web series

Year Title Role Notes
2022 X of Crisis The man Special appearance
2024 No Way Out: The Roulette Yoon Chang-jae
TBA Karma

Television show

Year Title Role Notes
2010–2021 Running Man Cast member Episode 1–559
2015 Perhaps Love with Lynn Hung
2021 House on Wheels: For Rent with The Pirates: The Last Royal Treasure actors
2023 GBRB Reap What You Sow

Web show

Year Title Role Notes
2018–2021 Busted! Cast member Season 1 and 3
2022–2023 The Zone: Survival Mission Season 1–2
2022 Korea No. 1 with Yoo Jae-suk and Kim Yeon-koung

Music video appearances

Year Song Title Artist
2011 "격산타우 (Kyuksantawoo)" LeeSsang
2012 "Oh Fresh Men"
(The Bachelor's Vegetable Store OST)
VF6DOLE (with Ji Chang-wook, Kim Young-kwang, Shin Won-ho and Sung Ha)
"Busan Vacance" Skull and HaHa
2013 "You Are the Best" teaser Byul
"Runaway" KARA
2015 "Again" Turbo
2016 "MOMOMO" Cosmic Girls
2021 "GAP" HaHa

Discography

Lee Kwang-soo has also participated in some songs:

Title Year Album
"Oh-Sing-Sing-Men Oh Sing Sing Men"
(with Ji Chang-wook ,Lee Kwang-soo, Kim Young-kwang, Shin Won-ho, Sung-je, and Ji-hyuk)
2011 Bachelor's Vegetable Store OST - Japanese release
"Pink Nose Light (핑코빛)"
(with Lee Kwang-soo, Ji Suk-jin and Apink)
2019 Running Man Fan Meeting: Project Running 9
"I Like It"
(with Running Man cast members)

Ambassadorship

  • Korea-Mekong Ambassador (2021)

Awards and Nominations

Lee Kwang-soo has won many awards for his acting and entertainment work. Here are some of them:

Awards and nominations Lee Kwang-soo has received
Award ceremony Year Category Nominee / Work Result
APAN Star Awards 2014 Popular Star Award, Actor It's Okay, That's Love Won
Asia Artist Awards 2019 Scene Stealer Award Lee Kwang-soo Won
Best K-Culture (Actor) Won
Asia Contents Awards & Global OTT Awards 2024 Best Supporting Actor Nominated
Asia Model Awards 2009 CF Model Award Won
Baeksang Arts Awards 2012 Best New Actor – Film Wonderful Radio Nominated
2020 Best Supporting Actor – Film Inseparable Bros Won
Blue Dragon Film Awards 2012 Best New Actor All About My Wife Nominated
2019 Best Supporting Actor Inseparable Bros Nominated
Popular Star Award Won
2021 Best Supporting Actor Sinkhole Nominated
Blue Dragon Series Awards 2023 Best Male Entertainer The Zone: Survival Mission Nominated
TIRTIR Popularity Award Won
Fashionista Awards 2015 Best Male Fashionista Lee Kwang-soo Won
Golden Cinema Film Festival 2021 Best Supporting Actor Inseparable Bros Won
Hong Kong's YouTube Ads Leaderboard 2015 2015 Season One Best Commercial Award Nestle's Fruitips Ad Won
Jumei Awards Ceremony 2016 Variety Influence Lee Kwang-soo Won
KBS Drama Awards 2012 Best Supporting Actor The Innocent Man Nominated
KBS Entertainment Awards 2016 Hot Issue Variety Award The Sound of Your Heart Won
Best Couple Award Lee Kwang-soo (with Jung So-min)
The Sound of Your Heart
Won
Korea Best Star Awards 2018 Best Popular Star Award The Accidental Detective 2: In Action Won
Korea Drama Awards 2014 Excellence Award, Actor It's Okay, That's Love Won
Korea Film Actors Association Awards 2017 Top Entertainer Award Lee Kwang-soo Won
MBC Entertainment Awards 2008 Best Newcomer in Comedy / Sitcom Here He Comes Nominated
Mnet 20's Choice Awards 2008 Hot CF Star Lee Kwang-soo Won
SBS Drama Awards 2014 Special Award, Actor in a Miniseries It's Okay, That's Love Won
SBS Entertainment Awards 2010 New Star Award Running Man Won
2011 Best Newcomer in Variety Won
Netizen Popularity Award Nominated
2013 Friendship Award Won
Viewer's Most Popular Award With Running Man members Won
Best Couple Award Lee Kwang-soo (with Ji Suk-jin)
Running Man
Nominated
2014 Excellence Award in Variety Running Man Won
2016 Top Excellence Award in Variety Show Won
Annoying Guy Award Won
2017 Best Couple Award Lee Kwang-soo (with Jeon So-min)
Running Man
Won
Global Star Award With Running Man members Won
2018 Popularity Award Running Man Won
Best Couple Award Lee Kwang-soo (with Jeon So-min)
Running Man
Nominated
2019 SNS Star Award Running Man Won
2020 Golden Content Award With Running Man members Won
Sina Weibo Night Awards 2016 Asia Popularity Award Lee Kwang-soo Won

State Honors

Lee Kwang-soo has also received special recognition from his country:

Honors received by Lee Kwang-soo
Country Or Organization Year Honor Or Award
South Korea 2016 Prime Minister Award

Listicles

Lee Kwang-soo has been recognized in popular lists:

Lists featuring Lee Kwang-soo
Publisher Year Listicle Placement
Forbes 2013 Korea Power Celebrity 40 39th
2016 30th

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Lee Kwang-soo para niños

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