# Lee Hee-joon

Lee Hee-joon (born June 29, 1979) is a South Korean actor. He first gained recognition portraying a minor character in the television series My Husband Got a Family (2012). Lee is best known for the films 1987: When the Day Comes (2017), Miss Baek (2018), The Man Standing Next (2020), and Handsome Guys (2024), as well as the television series The Queen of Office (2013), Steal Heart (2014), Mouse (2021), and A Killer Paradox (2024).

## Early life and education

Lee was born on June 29, 1979 in Songhyeon-dong, Dalseo-gu, Daegu, South Korea. After completing high school without knowing what he wanted to do, he entered the Department of Chemical Engineering at Yeungnam University.
The turning point in his life came a week before his military enlistment, when he had a farewell party and got into a car accident that required major surgery. As a result, he was exempted from military service. Despite being exempt, he lost interest in his studies and wandered for a while, spending his days playing guitar, singing, and drinking. During this time, he happened to see a poster for a children's theatre company in Daegu and out of curiosity, he visited the theatre company. Lee worked as the youngest member of the Daegu theatre company "Onnuri" for approximately 2 years and 6 months. Instead of being an actor, his role within the troupe involved tasks such as cleaning, cooking, and putting up posters. Lee independently studied and followed Stanislavsky's book Actor's Class.
Lee debuted on in 1999 with the play Tourist Zone. He discovered a passion for acting while performing in children's plays such as The Jungle Book and Cinderella. Later on, he developed a strong desire to receive formal acting training, which led him to drop out of the chemical engineering department at Yeungnam University.

## Career

In 2002, Lee, who dropped out of Yeungnam University, met Lee Yun-taek and joined the Yeonheedan street troupe and lived at Miryang Theater Village for a year. He also appeared as King Oedipus in the opening production of the 2nd Miryang Theater Festival, Oedipus.
Afterwards, Lee moved to Chaimu Theater Company and played the lead role, making a name for himself in Daehakro.
Afterwards, he wanted to take acting lessons in a more systematic way, so he applied to Korea National University of Arts, but was rejected. In the end, he took the exam again and proudly entered school at the age of 24 (Class of 2003). The university is famous for its rigorous, practical-oriented curriculum. When he was an engineering student, he was tired of theory classes, so life at a practical-oriented Korean art school was like heaven. To paraphrase his own words, "I loved school." So good was he that he attended on scholarship for all eight semesters, three of which he even received full scholarships.
In 2005, he further showcased his talent by appearing in the musical Lee. He continued to hone his acting skills through various projects, including notable works like The King and the Clown and the 2007 play Byun. In 2009, he further enriched his repertoire with performances in Melodrama and There in Chuncheon.
Lee showcased the acting experience he accumulated through his involvement in musicals and theater productions, transitioning to the screen and television. He made a notable appearance in the 2007 film Secret Sunshine, portraying a minor character that garnered attention due to his captivating presence. Subsequently, he actively pursued supporting roles, featuring in films such as The Predators (2009), Unfair Trade (2010), The Yellow Sea (2010), Heartbeat (2011), Special Edition (2012), and Detective Cha (2012).
Lee also appeared on TV as a member of the Chaimu Troupe. When he appeared in the play B Unso in 2010, he was noticed by KBS drama special producer and began to make a name for himself by appearing in several one-act plays. Lee gained recognition through the KBS2 drama special Texas Hits in 2010, where he portrayed a gangster running a gambling site and impressed viewers with his acting. At the time, he was called a "star of one-act plays".
After that, he appeared in drama serial series Perfect Spy. At the press conference, actor Son Hyun-joo praised Lee, saying, "He will become a star like Song Sae-byeok."
After Perfect Spy, Lee Hee-jun appeared in Cupid Factory where he portrayed the character of So-jun, a composer who struggled to write a song due to a lack of dating experience. Despite the absurd premise of purchasing a machine at Cupid Factory to make oneself fall in love, Lee portrayed the character effortlessly, creating an engaging story that was well received by viewers. He emerged as a promising actor discovered by the KBS drama department.
In 2012, Lee then appeared in the KBS hit drama My Husband Got a Family, where he portrayed Cheon Jae-yong, a charming and innocent man. His presence in the drama played a significant role in shaping his career, contributing to his success, and gaining public awareness and popularity. He won the Best New Actor Award in the TV category at the Baeksang Arts Awards in 2013.
Lee joined the theater company "Ganda Performance Delivery Service" as an early member. The company was formed by friends who collaborated on creative projects while attending Korea National University of Arts, with CEO Min Jun-ho at the forefront. Jin Seon-kyu, was also part of the company in its early stages.
Lee later appeared in several works including Jeon Woo-chi, God of the Workplace, Yuna's Street, Mistress, and the movies Sea Fog, 1987, Miss Baek, and Namsan Managers. In each of these works, he showcased a high level of character immersion, transcending both the small and big screens. As a result, he was reborn as a 'trustworthy actor'.

## Personal life

Lee Hee-joon and model Lee Hye-jung confirmed their relationship in August 2015. They registered their marriage prior to the ceremony and had their private wedding ceremony in a wedding hall in Yongsan, Seoul on April 23, 2016.

## Filmography
### Film

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2003 | A State of Distrust | | Short film |
| 2004 | Who is Coming For Me | | Short film |
| 2005 | Roadless | | Short film |
| 2005 | The Happy Ending, with Fear | | Short film |
| 2006 | Save Me | | Short film |
| 2006 | The Theory & Practice of Graduation | | Short film |
| 2006 | Red Butterfly | | Short film |
| 2006 | Waiting for Passion | | Short film |
| 2007 | Secret Sunshine | | |
| 2007 | Resurrection of the Butterfly | | |
| 2007 | Room of Goldfish | | Short film |
| 2007 | Bolex Lorelei | | Short film |
| 2007 | Ko Pil-deok | | Short film |
| 2008 | Zero-Sum | | Short film |
| 2009 | The Pit and the Pendulum | Seong-ik | |
| 2009 | A Worse Crime | | Short film |
| 2009 | I'm in Trouble! | Si-hyeong | |
| 2009 | Being a Traveler | | Short film |
| 2010 | The Unjust | Detective Nam | |
| 2010 | The Yellow Sea | Bo-eun policeman | |
| 2011 | Heartbeat | Pharmacist | |
| 2011 | Moby Dick | Hyeon-deok | |
| 2011 | Quick | Head of Dae-mang department | |
| 2011 | S.I.U. | Geun-soo | |
| 2011 | Communique | | Short film |
| 2012 | Nameless Gangster: Rules of the Time | College student 1 | |
| 2012 | Helpless | No Seung-joo | |
| 2012 | Runway Cop | Kyeong-seok | |
| 2013 | Dear Dolphin | Kim Hyeok-geun | |
| 2013 | The Flu | Byeong-gi | |
| 2013 | Marriage Blue | Dae-bok | |
| 2014 | Haemoo | Chang-wook | |
| 2015 | SORI: Voice from the Heart | Jin-ho | |
| 2016 | A Melody to Remember | Hook | |
| 2016 | Worst Woman | Woon-cheol | Special appearance |
| 2016 | Misbehavior | Pyo Sang-woo | |
| 2017 | A Special Lady | Choi Dae-sik | |
| 2017 | 1987: When the Day Comes | Yoon Sang-sam | |
| 2018 | Miss Baek | Jang-sub | |
| 2018 | The Drug King | Choi Jin-pil | |
| 2019 | Another Child | Park Seo-bang | |
| 2020 | The Man Standing Next | Cha Ji-chul | |
| 2021 | Somewhat High Humidity | | |
| 2022 | Bystanders | Kim Nak-su | Short film |
| 2024 | Badland Hunters | Yang Gi-su | Netflix film |
| 2024 | Handsome Guys | Park Sang-goo | |
| 2024 | Bogota: City of the Lost | Soo-young | |

### Television series

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2007 | Que Sera, Sera | Bit part; Ep. 4 | |
| 2008 | Crime 2 | | |
| 2010 | KBS Drama Special - "An Awful Lot of Coincidences" | Number 1 | |
| 2010 | KBS Drama Special - "Texas Hit" | Min-seok | |
| 2011 | Drama Special Series - "Perfect Spy" | Lee Sang-joon | |
| 2011 | KBS Drama Special - "Cupid Factory" | Yoo So-joon | |
| 2011 | KBS Drama Special - "Identical Criminals" | Jeong Jong-doo | |
| 2011 | The Princess' Man | Gong Chil-goo | |
| 2012 | KBS Drama Special - "Swamp Ecology Report" | | |
| 2012 | Wild Romance | Go Jae-hyo | |
| 2012 | My Husband Got a Family | Cheon Jae-yong | |
| 2012 | Jeon Woo-chi | Kang Rim | |
| 2013 | The Queen of Office | Moo Jeong-han | |
| 2014 | Steal Heart | Kim Chang-man | |
| 2016 | The Legend of the Blue Sea | Jo Nam-doo | |
| 2017 | The Last Blossom | In-cheol | |
| 2018 | Drama Stage - Not Played | Jo Seong-wook | |
| 2018 | Mistress | Sung-joon | |
| 2021 | Vincenzo | Unnamed robber #2 | Cameo |
| 2021 | Mouse | Go Moo-chi | |
| 2021 | Chimera | Lee Joong-yeob | |
| 2022 | Behind Every Star | Himself | Cameo (Episode 2) |
| 2024 | A Killer Paradox | Song Chon | |
| 2024 | Blood Free | Seonu Jae | |
| 2025 | Love Scout | Peter Kwon | Cameo (Episode 1) |
| 2025 | Karma | | |
| TBA | When the Day Breaks | | |

## Stage
### Dance

Dance performances :
| Year | Title | Title | Role | Ref. |
| Year | English | Korean | Role | Ref. |
| 2004 | Knife | 칼 | | |
| 2005 | Gangbyeonbuk-ro | 강변북로 | | |

### Musical

Musical performances :
| Year | Title | Title | Role | Ref. |
| Year | English | Korean | Role | Ref. |
| 2001 | Animal Farm | 동물농장 | | |
| 2006 | Yi | 이 (爾) | | |
| 2007 | Jargon | 변 | | |
| 2008; 2012 | The Mirror Princes Pyeonggang Story | 거울공주 평강이야기 | Soldier 1 | |
| 2009 | Bachelor's Vegetable Store | 총각네 야채가게 | | |
| 2009 | Puberty | 사춘기 | | |

### Theatre

List of Stage Play(s) :
| Year | Title | Title | Role | Ref. |
| Year | English | Korean | Role | Ref. |
| 1999–2000 | Tourist station | 관광지대 | | |
| 2002 | Oedipus | 오이디푸스 | Oedipus | |
| 2005 | Come and See Me | 날 보러 와요 | | |
| 2005 | How are you all | 모두 안녕하십니까? | | |
| 2006 | Silence | 고요 | | |
| 2007 | Byeonsangdo Team | 변상도팀 | | |
| 2007 | Hongdongji nori | 홍동지 놀이 | | |
| 2007 | Melodrama | 멜로드라마 | Kim Chan-il | |
| 2008 | Let's go! Third, "Annapurna in My Heart" | 우르르~간다! 세 번째 "내 마음의 안나푸르나" | Son-in-law | |
| 2008 | Naeon Theater Opening Commemoration Parade: End Room | 나온씨어터 개관기념 퍼레이드 : 끝방 | Father | |
| 2008 | Let's go to karaoke... Shall we talk? | 우리 노래방 가서... 얘기 좀 할까? | Father | |
| 2009 | Let's go to karaoke... Shall we talk? | 우리 노래방 가서... 얘기 좀 할까? | Karaoke owner | |
| 2009 | Chuncheon | 춘천거기 | Jihwan | |
| 2010 | B Word | B언소 (蜚言所) | | |
| 2011–2012 | The Tale of an Old Thief | 늘근도둑 이야기 | Younger thief | |
| 2012 | Wedding Scandal | 웨딩 스캔들 | | |
| 2014–2019 | Me and Grandpa | 나와 할아버지 | Jun-hee | |
| 2014 | The Cosmonaut's Last Message to the Woman He Once Loved in the Former Soviet Union | 한때 사랑했던 여자에게 보내는 구소련 우주비행사의 마지막 메시지 | Erick/ Hyland Bar owner | |
| 2022 | Even Then Today | 그때도 오늘 | Man 1 | |
| 2024 | Flower, Stars Passing By | 꽃, 별이 지나 | Hee-min | |

## Awards and nominations

Name of the award ceremony, year presented, category, nominee of the award, and the result of the nomination :
| Award ceremony | Year | Category | Nominee / Work | Result |
| Asia Contents Awards & Global OTT Awards | 2024 | Best Supporting Actor | A Killer Paradox | Nominated |
| Baeksang Arts Awards | 2013 | Best New Actor – Television | My Husband Got a Family | Won |
| Baeksang Arts Awards | 2020 | Best Supporting Actor – Film | The Man Standing Next | Nominated |
| Baeksang Arts Awards | 2021 | Best Supporting Actor – Television | Mouse | Nominated |
| Baeksang Arts Awards | 2024 | Best Supporting Actor – Television | A Killer Paradox | Nominated |
| Baeksang Arts Awards | 2024 | Most Popular Actor | Lee Hee-joon | Nominated |
| Blue Dragon Film Awards | 2021 | Best Supporting Actor | The Man Standing Next | Nominated |
| Blue Dragon Series Awards | 2024 | Best Supporting Actor | A Killer Paradox | Nominated |
| Buil Film Awards | 2020 | Best Supporting Actor | The Man Standing Next | Won |
| Chunsa Film Art Awards | 2020 | Best Supporting Actor | The Man Standing Next | Nominated |
| Director's Cut Awards | 2022 | Best New Actor in Film | The Man Standing Next | Nominated |
| Gwangju International Film Festival | 2013 | New Star Award | Lee Hee-joon | Won |
| KBS Drama Awards | 2011 | Best Actor in a One-Act Drama/Special | Perfect Spy, Cupid Factory, Identical Criminals | Won |
| KBS Drama Awards | 2012 | Best Couple Award | Lee Hee-joon (with Jo Yoon-hee) My Husband Got a Family | Won |
| KBS Drama Awards | 2012 | Best New Actor | My Husband Got a Family | Won |
| KBS Drama Awards | 2013 | Best Supporting Actor | Queen of the Office | Nominated |
| Korea Drama Awards | 2012 | Excellence Award, Actor | My Husband Got a Family | Won |
| Korea Drama Awards | 2012 | Special Jury Prize | My Husband Got a Family | Won |
| SBS Drama Awards | 2016 | Excellence Award, Actor in a Fantasy Drama | The Legend of the Blue Sea | Nominated |
| Wildflower Film Awards | 2017 | Best Supporting Actor/Actress | Worst Woman | Nominated |