2006–2010: Beginnings When Lee Je-hoon realized that he wanted to go into acting, he dropped out of Biotechnology major at
Korea University and transferred to the School of Drama at
Korea National University of Arts. From 2006 to 2010, Lee appeared in more than 18 student
shorts and
indie films, notably the
queer coming-of-age romance
Just Friends?. He also appeared as an
extra in a number of commercial films like erotic thriller
The Servant and romantic comedy
Finding Mr. Destiny.
2011–2012: Breakthrough Lee had his breakthrough in 2011. He received rave reviews for his performances as a manipulative alpha-male in the haunting
indie film Bleak Night, and as a
morphine-addicted squad leader in big-budget war film
The Front Line. He gained mainstream popularity as a shy college student pining for his first love in the box-office hit
Architecture 101, and though the television series
Fashion King was poorly received, his role as a struggling young
chaebol heir in Korea's fashion industry further showcased his versatility. He then starred in
Ghost Sweepers, dubbed the character
Jack Frost for the Korean release of 3D animated film
Rise of the Guardians, and featured in the crime thriller
An Ethics Lesson.
2012–present: Enlistment and return to acting For his comeback project after enlistment, Lee chose
Secret Door, a
period drama about
Crown Prince Sado who was controversially executed through death by starvation by his father
King Yeongjo; the series reunited him with Han Suk-kyu. This was followed by the
Jo Sung-hee-directed film
Phantom Detective, a modern retelling of the eponymous folk hero
Hong Gil-dong as a private detective in the 1990s. In 2016, Lee starred in
tvN's fantasy crime drama
Signal together with
Cho Jin-woong and
Kim Hye-soo, which was critically and commercially successful. In 2017, Lee starred in the fantasy romance drama
Tomorrow, With You opposite
Shin Min-a, portraying a CEO of a real estate company who has the ability to travel through time. He then starred in the
biographical period drama film Anarchist from Colony directed by
Lee Joon-ik, playing the character of
Park Yeol, a self-proclaimed anarchist and revolutionary activist during the Colonial Era of Japan. The same year Lee starred in the film
I Can Speak as a civil servant who also tutors English. In 2018, Lee starred in the airport-themed melodrama
Where Stars Land alongside
Chae Soo-bin. Lee and co-star
Chae Soo-bin were appointed as honorary ambassadors of Incheon International Airport. In 2019, Lee filmed the
travel reality programme
Traveller along with
Ryu Jun-yeol where the two stars enjoy a backpacking holiday in Cuba. In 2020, Lee starred in the dystopian action thriller film
Time to Hunt which earned him a nomination for
Best Actor at the
56th Baeksang Arts Awards. He also starred in the caper story film
Collectors. In 2021, Lee joined the SBS drama
Taxi Driver, In October, he made a special appearance in the SBS drama
One Dollar Lawyer. He expressed interest in starring in a Filipino drama or film: "If there are good projects here in the Philippines, I am willing to join the project and I will take the opportunity." ==Personal life==