Lee Joon-gi

Lee Joon-gi is a South Korean actor, singer, and dancer who gained international fame through his prominent film and television roles, establishing himself as a top Hallyu star. He is recognized for his versatility across diverse genres, particularly historical dramas and action thrillers. Among his most widely known works are the hit film The King and the Clown, along with popular television series including My Girl, Iljimae, Two Weeks, Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo, Lawless Lawyer, and Flower of Evil.

Born in Busan, South Korea, Lee spent his school years in Changwon. His passion for the performing arts was sparked during high school after viewing a performance of Hamlet. Choosing to pursue an acting career against his parents' wishes, he moved to Seoul after finishing high school and worked various part-time jobs while attending auditions. He debuted as a print and commercial model in 2001 and later attended Seoul Arts College on a scholarship, graduating in 2007.

After taking on minor roles early in his career, Lee achieved his major breakthrough in the 2005 historical film The King and the Clown, playing the effeminate Joseon-era clown Gong-gil. The movie was a major critical and box-office success, catapulting him to stardom across Asia and earning him several newcomer awards as well as a best actor award at the Max Movie Awards. Later that year, he starred in the hit romantic comedy series My Girl. Over the next few years, Lee broadened his portfolio with films such as Fly, Daddy, Fly, the joint Korean-Japanese movie Virgin Snow, and May 18. He also sought to move beyond his early image by starring as a vengeful agent in the 2007 action drama Time Between Dog and Wolf, earning an MBC Drama Award.

In 2008, Lee played the lead role in the high-rating period action drama Iljimae, receiving a Top Excellence Award at the SBS Drama Awards. During this period, he served in public ambassadorship roles for the Seoul Hallyu Festival and the Korea Tourism Organization. Following a contract dispute with his management agency, Lee enlisted in the South Korean military in May 2010 for his mandatory service, during which he performed in the military musical Voyage of Life. Discharged in February 2012, he made a successful television return in the period series Arang and the Magistrate, followed by the action thriller Two Weeks in 2013.

Lee subsequently joined Namoo Actors and starred in several acclaimed period pieces, including Gunman in Joseon, Scholar Who Walks the Night, and the 2016 fantasy drama Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo, which drew a large international viewership. In 2016, he made his Hollywood debut in Resident Evil: The Final Chapter and starred in the Chinese film Never Said Goodbye. His subsequent projects included the procedural drama Criminal Minds, the legal series Lawless Lawyer, the acclaimed thriller Flower of Evil, the 2022 series Again My Life, and the second season of the historical fantasy Arthdal Chronicles in 2023.