2000–2009: Education and career beginnings Lee Jin-wook studied Environmental Engineering at
Cheongju University, but made a switch for acting. He began his career in the entertainment industry modelling in commercials. Lee landed his first television acting role in the
television dramas,
Resurrection, in 2005 and later scored other roles in the television dramas
Alone in Love,
Someday,
Smile Again. Lee achieved commercial success and
Hallyu star status after his portrayal as the second male lead in the television series
Air City, where he went on to date his co-star
Choi Ji-woo for three years. Lee continued to land lead roles playing the president's son in
Formidable Rivals, a plastic surgeon in the series
Before and After, and a newly married
chaebol in
Glass Castle. He also made a cameo in
The Road Home.
2009–2016: Military enlistment and further success Lee then served his two-year
mandatory military service from May 6, 2009, to March 7, 2011, at the Defense Media Agency of the
Ministry of National Defense. After his military discharge in 2011, Lee starred in his comeback project,
Myung-wol the Spy where he played a North Korean agent. He then went on to star in the romantic comedy drama
I Need Romance 2012 alongside
Jung Yu-mi. Lee then landed his most high-profile role yet as a TV anchor named Park Sun-woo in the time-traveling romance
Nine alongside
Jo Yoon-hee. After positive reception from his role in
Nine, Lee starred in a cinematic film for the first time in 7 years in the 2014 comedy
Miss Granny. He then proceeded to land his first major big screen role in the 2014 action film
The Target, a
remake of the 2010 French action movie
Point Blank. After that, Lee reunited with the writer and director of
Nine in the television series
The Three Musketeers, a
period drama set during the
Joseon era where he played
Crown Prince Sohyeon. He continued to star in big screen films, fantasy romantic comedy
The Beauty Inside and the time-travel crime romance
Time Renegades. Lee's appearance in
The Beauty Inside as Woo-jin garnered headline attention in South Korea at the time of its cinematic release as the scene unveiling him as one of Woo-jin's reincarnations left all female audience members in the theatre exclaiming in awe of his appearance. In South Korean pop culture, it is considered one of the top legendary character unveilings in South Korean cinema. He then returned to the small screen with the South Korean remake of the
Taiwanese drama In Time with You, The Time We Were Not in Love alongside
Ha Ji-won. In 2016, Lee starred in the crime drama,
Goodbye Mr. Black, based on the manga of the same name.
2017–present: Transition in leading roles and reinvention In 2017, Lee was cast in three films – indie films
A Tiger in Winter and
Road to Utah, and romance thriller
High Society. In 2018, Lee returned to the small screen with successful crime dramas
Return, and
Voice season 2. The premiere of the second season of
Voice set the record for the
highest premiere viewership rating for an
OCN original drama series. The second season of
Voice continued on from the success of the first season, even exceeding first season ratings despite its shorter run. Due to its major success,
Voice was picked up for a third season with Lee reprising his role as Do Kang-woo. The third season of
Voice continued to be just as successful as the second season. In 2019, Lee signed an exclusive contract with
BH Entertainment, which houses many other top high-profile South Korean actors. In 2020, Lee starred in Netflix original series
Sweet Home, a webtoon-based drama about a secluded teen who lives cooped up in his room, scarred from memories of school violence, and experiences creepy events after moving to an apartment following the loss of his family. It premiered on Netflix Korea on December 18, 2020. On March 17, 2021,
tvN released the full main cast for the drama,
Bulgasal: Immortal Souls, with Lee set to star as Dan Hwal, a bulgasal (mythical creature that cannot die or age) who used to be human 600 years ago. The drama aired December 18, 2021, to February 6, 2022, on
tvN and was also available for streaming on
Netflix. On April 22, 2021,
CJ E&M and
TVING revealed the full star-studded cast for the film,
A Year-End Medley. The film centers around various people who come to Hotel Emrose, each with stories of their own, building new relationships.
A Year-End Medley is directed by
Kwak Jae-yong with notable works such as
My Sassy Girl and
The Classic. Lee starred as Lee Jin-Ho, a plastic surgeon who appears at the hotel's lounge every Saturday night awaiting his fateful love. Filming began on April 19, 2021, and the film was released in theaters and through
TVING on December 29, 2021. On December 8, 2021, it was revealed that Lee would star in the
KakaoTV original web drama,
Welcome to Wedding Hell, alongside
Lee Yeon-hee. Lee played Seo Joon-hyung, a pure-hearted, idealistic groom-to-be, whose nature causes concerns for his soon-to-be wife, Kim Na-eun (played by
Lee Yeon-hee), who is described as a realist. This marked Lee's first role in a romantic comedy since 2015 in
The Time We Were Not in Love. The web drama aired from May 23 to June 15, 2022, on streaming services,
KakaoTV and
Netflix. On June 15, 2022,
Netflix confirmed that Lee would reprise his role as Sang Wook in season 1 but as Jung Ui-myeong aka Nam Sang-won in seasons 2 and 3 of
Sweet Home. The second season premiered December 1, 2023, on
Netflix. Season 3 was released on Netflix July 19, 2024. On October 18, 2022, it was reported that Lee would be making a special appearance in the upcoming
Netflix original drama
Doona! starring
Bae Suzy and
Yang Se-jong. On June 29, 2023, it was reported that Lee had been cast in the second season of
Squid Game alongside,
Yim Si-wan,
T.O.P,
Kang Ha-neul,
Jo Yu-ri,
Park Sung-hoon and
Yang Dong-Geun.. This project marked a reunion between him and director
Hwang Dong-hyuk of
Miss Granny. The second season was released on Netflix on December 26, 2024. On February 14, 2024, it was confirmed that Lee would be returning to the big screen with the film
Dark Nuns alongside
Song Hye-kyo,
Jeon Yeo-been,
Huh Joon-ho, and
Moon Woo-jin.
Dark Nuns is a spin-off of the 2015 hit film
The Priests and will be directed by Kwon Hyuk-jae. Lee is set to star as Father Paolo, a priest and psychiatrist who believes that medicine can cure a young boy possessed by a powerful evil spirit. Filming began on February 22, 2024. The film is slated for release on January 24, 2025. On April 29, 2024,
ENA confirmed that Lee would be starring in their upcoming romance drama
Dear Hyeri alongside
Shin Hye-sun. Lee will take on the role of Jung Hyun-oh, star announcer and ex-boyfriend of Joo Eun-ho (played by
Shin Hye-sun). The show premiered on September 23, 2024. ==Personal life==