Lee Min-ho

Lee Min-ho is a South Korean actor and singer who achieved widespread international fame as a prominent Korean Wave figure. He rose to prominence following his breakout performance in the 2009 television series Boys Over Flowers. Throughout his career, he has led numerous high-profile television dramas and films while also releasing music projects for his supporters and representing major brands globally.

Born on June 22, 1987, in Seoul's Dongjak District, Lee initially aspired to become a professional football player and trained under a former professional coach. However, a fifth-grade injury ended his athletic pursuits. During high school, he turned his focus to modeling and acting. After appearing in magazine shoots, he met a talent executive and signed with an agency in 2005. He later earned a degree in Film Arts from Konkuk University and pursued graduate studies at Kookmin University.

Lee began taking television roles in the early 2000s, officially debuting as a lead in the 2006 drama Secret Campus. His career was briefly interrupted that same year by a severe car accident that caused major injuries and required months of recovery. Returning to acting, he secured his first leading role in Mackerel Run in 2007, followed by roles in Get Up, I Am Sam, and the films Public Enemy Returns and Our School's E.T.

His major breakthrough came with his role as Gu Jun-pyo in Boys Over Flowers, which earned him a Baeksang Arts Award for Best New Actor and established his popularity across Asia. He subsequently starred in Personal Taste in 2010 and the action drama City Hunter in 2011. Following the 2012 medical drama Faith, Lee released his first album, My Everything, and starred in the popular teen series The Heirs in 2013.

Lee's global profile expanded further as he became the first Korean celebrity to have wax figures produced by Madame Tussauds in Shanghai and Hong Kong. In 2014, he performed on China's CCTV Lunar New Year Gala and received the Prime Minister's Commendation at the Korean Popular Culture and Arts Awards. He made his big-screen leading debut in the 2015 noir film Gangnam Blues, followed by the action-comedy Bounty Hunters and the fantasy drama The Legend of the Blue Sea, before fulfilling his mandatory public service from 2017 to 2019.

Upon completing his service, Lee returned to television in the 2020 series The King: Eternal Monarch and launched his creative YouTube channel. In 2022, he made his Hollywood debut playing Koh Hansu in the period series Pachinko, earning widespread critical praise. He also continues to represent high-profile international companies in luxury fashion, cosmetics, and lifestyle sectors.