Lee Min-ho facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Lee Min-ho
Lee in 2022
Born	(1987-06-22) June 22, 1987 (age 37) 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
Revised Romanization	I Minho
McCune–Reischauer	I Minho
Signature

Lee Min-ho (Hangul: 이민호, born on June 22, 1987) is a famous South Korean actor and singer. He became widely known for his role as Gu Jun-pyo in the TV show Boys Over Flowers (2009). This role also helped him win the Best New Actor – Television award.

Some of his other popular TV shows include City Hunter (2011), The Heirs (2013), The Legend of the Blue Sea (2016), and The King: Eternal Monarch (2020). He also starred in movies like Gangnam Blues (2015) and Bounty Hunters (2016). In 2022, he appeared in the Apple TV+ drama Pachinko, which was based on a popular novel.

Lee's successful TV career made him a huge Hallyu star. Hallyu is a term for the growing popularity of South Korean culture around the world. He was also the first Korean celebrity to have a wax figure at Madame Tussauds, with figures in Shanghai (2013) and Hong Kong (2014).

Lee Min-ho's Early Life and School Days

Lee Min-ho was born in Seoul, South Korea, on June 22, 1987. 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 led by a famous former player, Cha Bum-kun. However, an injury in fifth grade stopped him from pursuing this dream.

By the time he was in high school, Lee became interested in acting and modeling. He started posing for magazines. Later, he 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 began 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 at Kookmin University.

Lee Min-ho's Acting Journey

Starting Out in Acting (2002–2008)

Lee began his acting career with small roles in TV shows like 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." However, because it sounded like the Korean word for "immigration," he found it hard for people to find him online. So, he went back to using his real name.

In 2006, Lee's acting career paused for about a year after he was in a serious car accident. He was severely injured and had to spend several months recovering. After he got better, Lee got his first main role in the high school drama Mackerel Run (2007).

Lee at the Boys Over Flowers press conference in 2008

In 2008, he appeared in TV dramas Get Up and I Am Sam. He also acted in the movies 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 Su-ro later praised Lee, saying he knew Lee would become a top actor.

Becoming Famous (2009–2010)

Lee became very 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 and created a lot of excitement. 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 actress Son Ye-jin. He played a young architect who pretends to be gay to live with a woman, which leads to funny romantic situations. He chose this role because he felt it was "bright" and "cheerful."

Global Recognition (2011–2013)

In 2011, Lee took on the main role in the action drama City Hunter. This show was based on a popular Japanese comic. It was a big success 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. After that, he went on a fan meeting tour across Asia.

Lee also announced his return to TV with a new show called The Heirs. This was a teen drama written by Kim Eun-sook, who also wrote The King: Eternal Monarch. Lee chose this role because he wanted to play a more cheerful 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. This show further increased Lee's global popularity.

Continued Success and Movies (2014–2017)

In January 2014, a second 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, the Taiwanese version of Boys Over Flowers.

Lee also released his second music album, "Song for You," in October 2014. He said he recorded these songs for his fans and did not plan to become a full-time singer. The album release happened at the same time as his "RE:MINHO" fan meeting tour in various Asian cities.

He then starred in the action movie Gangnam Blues (2015). This film was set in the 1970s during a big real estate boom in the Gangnam area. It was Lee's first main role in a movie.

Lee in 2016

In 2016, Lee appeared in the action comedy film Bounty Hunters. This movie was a big hit at the box office, 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 a success.

Lee began his mandatory military service on May 12, 2017.

Return from 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 distributed by Netflix. It was written by Kim Eun-sook, who also wrote The Heirs. This series was highly anticipated as Lee's first project after finishing his military service. It set a record for SBS's highest premiere ratings for a Friday-Saturday drama in 2020. The King: Eternal Monarch was also very popular on Netflix in many countries, including India, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and the U.S.

In October 2020, Lee Min-ho started his own YouTube channel called "leeminho film." On this channel, he works as an executive producer and creative director.

In 2022, Lee made his Hollywood debut in a main role as Koh Hansu in the TV series Pachinko. This show was based on a novel by Min Jin Lee. The series received excellent reviews. Lee's acting, especially in "Chapter 7," an episode focused on his character, was highly praised by critics. Magazines like Rolling Stone and The New York Times listed this episode among the best TV episodes of 2022.

In August 2023, the fashion brand Hugo Boss launched a new collection. Lee was featured in its campaign alongside other famous people like Patrick Mahomes and Naomi Campbell.

Other Activities

Being an Ambassador

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

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 carry out charity projects. For example, the site donated $50,000 to help build wells in Malawi. PROMIZ has also raised funds for other causes, like World Water Day and campaigns to help people in winter. In 2016, PROMIZ won an award at the Korea Good Brand Awards.

In 2015, Lee donated ₩100 million (about $85,000) to UNICEF to help victims of a big earthquake in Nepal. In 2016, the Ministry of Health and Welfare recognized Lee for his contributions to society.

To celebrate the 10th anniversary of his debut, Lee's fans also 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.

Lee Min-ho's Personal Life

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

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. Lee could not serve as an active duty soldier because of his past injuries from car accidents. He finished his service on April 25, 2019.

Lee Min-ho's Filmography

Movies

Television Series

Web Series

Music Videos

Lee Min-ho's Music

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

Awards and Nominations

Images for kids

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  Lee Min-ho at KCON 2016

See also

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