2018: Career beginnings In December 2018, Lee started his acting career as a supporting character in the hit
tvN television series
Memories of the Alhambra as a hacker-programmer, starring
Hyun Bin, whose agency VAST Entertainment recruited him immediately. In 2020, his photoshoot for the magazine
The Masterpiece alongside actress Park Lee-hyun and fellow labelmate went viral. It was taken in the summer of 2018, before his official acting debut.
2019: Rise in popularity In June 2019, Lee joined the main cast of
tvN's
Search: WWW alongside
Lee Da-hee, which became a hot topic every episode. The sales of
Cine21s over-the-month issue of "2019 Rising Star" surged because of Lee, who gained popularity for his role in the drama. In September of the same year, he made a successful big screen debut in the war film
The Battle of Jangsari. In October of the same year, he played as the second male lead in
MBC's
Extraordinary You as the female lead's childhood friend-fiancé. The show's success earned Lee the title of Best New Actor at the
2019 MBC Drama Awards, and he was also nominated for
Best New Actor – Television at the
56th Baeksang Arts Awards.
2020–present: Transition to lead roles and breakthrough In February 2020, Lee was cast in a supporting role in the
JTBC television series
When The Weather Is Fine alongside
Yang Hye-ji. In May of the same year, he was cast as the main male lead in the
KBS2 television series
Do Do Sol Sol La La Sol as the male counterpart of the main protagonist, played by
Go Ara. He won the Excellence Award for Actor in a Miniseries for his outstanding performance in this drama at the
KBS Drama Awards. He was also awarded Rookie of the Year and Actor of the Year – Rookie at the
Asia Artist Awards and the 18th Brand of the Year Awards, respectively. Lee is recognized and commended for his serious and diverse acting range. Before the year ended, he appeared in a cameo role as his former drama character from
Extraordinary You in
tvN's
True Beauty alongside
Kim Hye-yoon. In April 2021, Lee signed with
C-JeS Entertainment, after his contract with the previous agency had expired. In May of the same year, he made a special appearance in the
Netflix series
Move to Heaven. In October, he was awarded the Global Excellence Award at the
Korea Drama Awards for his contribution globally to the
Hallyu wave. He was also honored with the Asia Special Award at the 17th Asia Model Awards. In December of the same year, he reprised his role as
Jang Uk in
Alchemy of Souls: Light and Shadow, alongside
Go Youn-jung. At the end of 2022, he then won the Best Actor Award at the
Asia Artist Awards. In 2025, Lee starred in Netflix's
mystery historical television series Dear Hongrang opposite
Jo Bo-ah. It is based on
Tangeum: Swallowing Gold by Jang Da-hye and was produced by Studio Dragon. ==Endorsements==