Lee Min-ho facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Lee Min-ho
Lee in 2022
Born	(1987-06-22) June 22, 1987 (age 38) Seoul, South Korea
Alma mater	Konkuk University
Occupation	Actor singer
Years active	2002–present
Agent	MYM Entertainment
Height	187 cm (6 ft 2 in)
Korean name
Hangul	이민호
Hanja	李敏鎬
RR	I Minho
MR	I Minho
Signature

Lee Min-ho (Hangul: 이민호, born June 22, 1987) is a South Korean actor and singer. He became very famous for his role as Gu Jun-pyo in the TV show Boys Over Flowers (2009). This role also won him a big award for new actors.

He is also known for other popular TV shows like City Hunter (2011), The Heirs (2013), The Legend of the Blue Sea (2016), and The King: Eternal Monarch (2020). He also starred in the action movie Gangnam Blues (2015). In 2022, he appeared in the drama Pachinko on Apple TV+, which was based on a popular book.

Lee Min-ho's successful TV career made him a top hallyu star. This means he is very popular across Asia and beyond. He was the first Korean celebrity to have a wax figure at Madame Tussauds. His figures were shown in Shanghai in 2013 and Hong Kong in 2014.

About Lee Min-ho's Early Life and School

Lee Min-ho was born on June 22, 1987, in Seoul, South Korea. He grew up with his parents and an older sister. When he was a child, Lee dreamed of becoming a professional football player. He even joined a junior football class. However, an injury when he was in fifth grade stopped him from pursuing this dream.

In elementary school, other students sometimes called him kkamdungi because of his tan skin. Later, in middle school, he was called 'skeleton' because he was very thin. In high school, his playful personality earned him the nickname 'demon'.

By his first year of high school, Lee became interested in acting and modeling. He started posing for magazines. He then met the future head of Starhaus Entertainment by chance. This meeting led to his professional acting career, and he signed with the agency in 2005. In 2006, Lee started studying Film Arts at Konkuk University. He has since earned his bachelor's degree. He is now working on his master's degree in Film.

Lee Min-ho's Acting Career

Starting Out (2002–2008)

Lee began his career by auditioning for small roles in TV shows. Some of these included Romance (2002) and Nonstop (2000–2006). His first main role was in the EBS series Secret Campus (2006). Early on, he used the stage name Lee Min. But he found it hard for people to find him online because "Lee Min" sounded like the Korean word for "immigration." So, he went back to using his real name.

Lee at the Boys Over Flowers press conference in 2008

In 2006, his acting career paused for a year after a serious car accident. He was riding in a car with fellow actor Jung Il-woo. Lee was badly hurt and had to stay in bed for several months. After he recovered, he got his first main role in the high school drama Mackerel Run (2007). However, this show only had eight episodes because not many people watched it.

In 2008, he appeared in TV dramas like Get Up and I Am Sam. He also acted in movies such as Public Enemy Returns and Our School's E.T.. While filming Our School's E.T., he became good friends with actor Kim Su-ro. Kim later praised him, saying he knew Lee Min-ho would become a top actor.

Becoming Famous (2009–2010)

Lee became widely famous in 2009 with his lead role as Gu Jun-pyo in Boys Over Flowers. This show was a Korean version of a popular Japanese comic book. Many actors wanted this role, and Lee only found out he got it from newspaper articles. The show was very popular in South Korea. Lee's new fame led to many endorsement deals. Boys Over Flowers also helped spread the Korean Wave across Asia, making Lee a hallyu star.

Lee in 2010

In 2010, Lee starred in the romantic comedy Personal Taste with Son Ye-jin. He played a young architect who pretends to be gay to live with a young woman, which leads to funny romantic problems. He said he chose this role because it was bright and cheerful, allowing for both laughter and tears.

Global Popularity (2011–2013)

In 2011, Lee played the main character in the action drama City Hunter. This show was based on a popular Japanese comic. It was very successful and made Lee even more popular, especially in Japan, the Philippines, China, and France. He even appeared on the popular Chinese TV show Happy Camp in December 2011.

In 2012, Lee starred in the historical drama Faith with Kim Hee-sun. In April 2013, a wax figure of Lee was shown at Madame Tussauds Shanghai. He then released his first music album, "My Everything," in May 2013. Lee also announced his return to TV with a new show called The Heirs. This was a teen drama written by Kim Eun-sook. He said he wanted to play a more upbeat character before he turned 30. The Heirs became very popular both in Korea and internationally. It had over one billion views on the Chinese streaming service IQIYI. Lee's global popularity grew even more because of his character, Kim Tan.

Continued Success and Movies (2014–2017)

In January 2014, another wax figure of Lee was shown at Madame Tussauds Hong Kong. On January 30, Lee became the first Korean celebrity to perform at China's CCTV New Year's Gala. He sang a song with Harlem Yu, who sang the original theme song for Meteor Garden. Lee also received an award from the Prime Minister for helping spread the Korean Wave.

Lee released his second music album, "Song for You," in October 2014. He said he made these songs for his fans and did not plan to become a full-time singer. He then took on his first main role in a movie, Gangnam Blues (2015). This action film was set in the 1970s during a real estate boom in the Gangnam area.

Lee in 2016

In 2016, Lee appeared in the action comedy film Bounty Hunters. This movie was a big hit, earning US$31 million in China. Later that year, Lee returned to TV in the fantasy romance The Legend of the Blue Sea with actress Jun Ji-hyun. This show was also very successful. Lee began his mandatory military service on May 12, 2017. He finished his service on April 25, 2019, as a public service officer.

After Military Service and Hollywood Debut (2019–Present)

In 2019, Lee was cast in the fantasy romance The King: Eternal Monarch. This show was broadcast by SBS and available on Netflix. It was one of the most anticipated shows of early 2020, marking Lee's return after his military service. The series set a record for SBS's highest premiere ratings in 2020. It also stayed at No.1 on the weekly Wavve drama chart for eight weeks. The King: Eternal Monarch was listed as the most popular Korean drama on Netflix in several countries, including India, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Singapore.

In October 2020, Lee Min-ho started his YouTube channel called "leeminho film." He works as the executive producer and creative director for his videos. In 2022, Lee made his Hollywood debut in a main role in the TV series Pachinko. This show was based on a novel by Min Jin Lee. The series received very good reviews. Lee's acting, especially in episode 7, was highly praised by critics from Rolling Stone, The New York Times, and Collider. In August 2023, Hugo Boss featured Lee in a new campaign for their collection.

Other Activities

Being an Ambassador

In January 2012, Lee was named an honorary prosecutor by the Supreme Prosecutors' Office. This was to recognize his role in building public trust.

Helping Others (Philanthropy)

In 2014, Lee created the PROMIZ website. This platform helps raise money and awareness for social and humanitarian causes. Money from PROMIZ merchandise sales goes to partners who run charity projects. For example, the site donated $50,000 to help build wells in Malawi. This money was collected by Lee and his fans. PROMIZ has also raised funds for other causes, such as World Water Day and campaigns to help people in winter. In 2016, PROMIZ won an award for being a good brand in Korea.

In 2015, Lee donated ₩100 million (about $75,000 USD) to UNICEF to help victims of an earthquake in Nepal. In 2016, the Ministry of Health and Welfare recognized Lee for his contributions to society.

To celebrate 10 years since his debut, Lee's fans took part in many charity events. His Chinese fans planted 510 trees in Inner Mongolia. His Mexican fans sold plastic bottle caps for recycling and gave the money to children with cancer. Fans in Taiwan and Hong Kong donated to World Vision and UNICEF. In earlier years, his Chilean fan club donated to a humanitarian group and helped with other charity causes.

Lee Min-ho's Personal Life

Lee has an older sister, Yun-jeong. She is a co-founder and CEO of his current agency, MYM Entertainment.

Car Accidents and Injuries

In 2006, Lee's acting career was put on hold for a year after a serious car accident. He was riding in a car with fellow actor Jung Il-woo and two friends. The car was hit head-on by another car. Lee was badly injured and was in a coma for a month. He then spent several months recovering in bed. His injuries included broken ribs, a broken thigh and ankle, and a torn knee. A metal pin was put in his thigh as part of his treatment. He also had another car accident in 2011 while filming City Hunter.

Military Service

Lee Min-ho began his mandatory military service on May 12, 2017. He served as a public service officer at the Suseo Social Welfare Centre. Because of his past injuries, Lee was not able to serve as an active duty soldier. On March 15, 2018, Lee started his military training for four weeks. After that, he returned to his public service duty. He finished his service on April 25, 2019.

Filmography

Movies

Television Shows

Web Series

Music Videos

Music Albums

• My Everything (2013, Korean)
• My Everything (2013, Japanese)
• Song for You (2014)

Awards and Nominations

See also

In Spanish: Lee Min-ho (actor) para niños