# Lee Sang-yi (actor)

Lee Sang-yi (Korean: 이상이; born November 27, 1991) is a South Korean actor, musical actor and singer. Debuting in the musical Grease in 2014, Lee established himself on the musical and theatrical stage with works like Runway Beat, Bare: The Musical, Infinite Power, Carbonated Boy, Thrill Me, In the Heights, and The Guardsman of Taj Mahal.
Lee's career in television began in 2017. Appearing in Prison Playbook (2017) and When the Camellia Blooms (2019) he solidified his position as scene-stealer through diverse acting transformations in each work. Taking on the role of the free-spirited dentist Yoon Jae-seok in Once Again (2020), Lee showcased a chemistry with Lee Cho-hee and earned the nickname of "Sadon Couple" (in-law couple). He continued to impress with roles in Youth of May (2021), Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha (2021) and Bloodhounds (2023).
As a singer, he is best known for being a member of the vocal group MSG Wannabe, known for their performances in Hangout with Yoo and concerts in Jeonju and Seoul in 2023.

## Early life and education

Lee was born in 1991 in Ansan, Gyeonggi Province. He developed an interest in acting during his participation in an English play, "The Sound of Music," in 6th grade at Jeongji Elementary School.
When Lee entered Wonil Middle School, his father suggested he attend an acting academy located near their store. At that time he began learning tap dancing, acting, and took on supporting roles at the acting academy. Then, before entering high school, he told his parents that he would go to an arts high school and continue to study acting. He enrolled in the Department of Theater and Film at Anyang Art High School [ko]
During his time at Anyang Arts High School, he served as the student council president, a role he pursued due to his desire to interact with students from different departments. He won the election for this position after actively engaging with his peers by arriving at school 30 minutes early to perform songs on the guitar. Additionally, he established a Cyworld club to connect with potential classmates and exchange contact information. Encouraged by his peers' recognition of his proactive approach, he continued to take on leadership responsibilities.
In 2008, Lee, still in high school, demonstrated his dance talent by winning first place in the J-Tune Company UCC contest. He impressed the audience with his rendition of Rain's dance in "Rainism," which he shared on platforms like Daum TV Pod, Pikicast, and YouTube. At that time, Lee's dreams changed frequently. He was unsure about his future and considered various paths, including becoming a guitarist, a professional gamer, and a stage designer. Ultimately, he discovered that acting combined all his interests and chose to pursue it as his career.
In 2010, Lee enrolled in the School of Drama at Korea National University of Arts. He was part of the Class of 2010 in the Department of Acting, alongside classmates such as Kim Go-eun, Park So-dam, Lee Yoo-young, Ahn Eun-jin, Kim Sung-cheol, Cha Seo-won, and Lee Hwi-jong. During his college years, he was the head of the acting department's class. Lee is also close with alumni from the Class of 2009, Byun Yo-han, Suho, Lim Ji-yeon and Park Jeong-min.

## Career
### Early career

During his mandatory military enlistment, Lee Sang-yi served as a duty police officer at the National Police Agency. After being discharged, he made his debut in 2014 with the musical Grease. Over the years, he has appeared in various musicals such as Runway Beat, and Legendary Little Basketball Team.
In 2015, Lee acted in Bare: The Musical, portraying the role of Peter. That same year, Lee also auditioned for and was cast in the musical Infinite Power, which was the directorial debut of actor Park Hee-soon. Lee was selected to play the character of Jang Seon-jae. Actor Park Hee-soon, a former member of the theater company Mokhwa, directed the musical with a unique approach that emphasized the individuality of each actor. Lee remarked, "Having been an actor himself, the director understands the actor's mindset better than anyone else."
In 2016, Lee and Kang Young-seok were both cast as Nathan Leopold in the Korean production of Stephen Dolginoff's musical "Thrill Me." Lee, a newcomer to the production, aimed to portray Nathan as a mild-mannered, soft-spoken character with exceptional logic and quick thinking. Directed by Park Ji-he, the musical ran from February 19 to June 12, 2016. Lee garnered attention for his compelling portrayal of Nathan, showcasing intense emotional acting. In the same year, he expanded his acting range with roles like Benny in 'In the Heights' and Baek-seok in 'Me, Natasha, and the White Donkey.'
In 2017, Lee took part in Mongni Music Drama Concert 2017 [Grown Up]. It was performed at KT&G Sangsang Art Hall from February 16 to 26. Lee dedicated five weeks to rehearsing and honing his dance skills with Park Ji-eun to master the choreography from the popular film La La Land. Their dance cover performance was posted on YouTube in March 2017 and quickly gained widespread attention and popularity. In April, Lee performed onstage in play Crazy Kiss. The play Guards At The Taj! which was premiering in Korea, opened in August. Later that year, he made his television debut by joining the cast of the drama Manhole as Oh Dal-soo. In November, he appeared in the Prison Playbook series as Oh Dong-hwan. Despite his TV roles, he remained devoted to the stage.
In 2018, Lee starred in a supporting role in the television musical rom-com To. Jenny, alongside Kim Sung-cheol and Jung Chae-yeon. In 2018, he appeared on stage as Brown in the musical Red Book and costarred in the musical Today's Show - Moving Day.
In 2019, Lee appeared on stage as Elvis impersonator Casey with Park Eun-seok and Kang Young-seok in the musical The Legend of Georgia McBride. It was written by American playwright Matthew Lopez and premiered in the United States in 2014.
In the same year, Lee appeared on television as a villain in Special Labor Inspector and as baseball coach Yang Seung-yeop in When the Camellia Blooms.

### Career breakthrough

In 2020, Lee starred in 100 episodes weekend drama Once Again, where he played the role of Yoon Jae-seok, a dentist and the younger brother of one of the show's leads, Yoon Gyu-jin, portrayed by Lee Sang-yeob. Lee's romantic storyline with Lee Cho-hee's character became a fan favorite, and their on-screen couple, known as the Sadon Couple, was lovingly referred to as the "national in-law". At the end of the year they won the Best Couple Award at the 2020 KBS Drama Awards. Lee also won Best New Actor Award at the same event. The drama's success helped him gain tremendous popularity.
After a two-year hiatus from musical theater, Lee returned to perform in A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder. He played the role of Monty Navarro, a man who aims to become a count by eliminating eight heirs of the D'Ysquith family. Lee's performance won over the hearts of the audience with his unique 'nerd beauty' and solid acting skills, as he comically searched for the members of the D'Ysquith family one by one. He received positive feedback for his talent as an actor.
Lee remained busy in 2021. In May, he joined the cast of the KBS2 Monday-Tuesday drama Youth of May as Lee Soo-chan, a determined individual balancing family responsibilities and running a business in 1980s Gwangju. Despite challenges, he remained resilient, supported by his affection for nurse Kim Myung-hee, portrayed by Go Min-si. Lee Sang Yi's authentic portrayal received praise, exploring themes of love, family, and ambition.
in the same year, in May 2021, Lee appeared on the variety show program Hangout with Yoo and debuted as a member of MSG Wannabe as part of the sub-unit JSDK.
In June 2021, he was confirmed to star in the tvN drama Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha alongside Kim Seon-ho and Shin Min-a. He portrayed Ji Sung-hyun, a workaholic variety show director who has a bright personality. In the drama, Lee covered a song titled "Love is Forgotten" by Love from the artist Hareem [ko]. He also contributed to the OST by singing a song called "I Hope You're Happy," which was released as a single on October 17, 2021.
On November 24, 2021, Lee reprised his role as Ji Sung-hyun and became a virtual guide for Gongjin VR tour which build on the popularity of Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha and was were released through LG U+ XR platform U+DIVe. Studio Dragon utilized its premium intellectual property to present virtual reality (VR) contents in partnership with Korea Tourism Organization and LG U+. The project aimed to promote Korea's beautiful tourist destinations using drama content as a medium.
In November 2021, Lee reprised his role as Monty Navarro in the musical A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder.
Also in November 2021, Lee confirmed his appearance in the Netflix Original Series Bloodhounds. It depicts a story about three young people who set foot in the world of private loans in pursuit of money and get caught up in a huge force.
At the end of 2021, Lee became an MC for the 2021 MBC Entertainment Awards with Jun Hyun-moo and Kim Se-jeong.
In 2023, Lee took part in Kim Dong-yeon's play Shakespeare in Love, adapted from the 1998 film of the same name. He shared the role of William Shakespeare with Jung Moon-sung and Kim Sung-cheol in a triple cast.The play received favorable reviews and Lee's performance was praised by the critics and the audience.
In 2024, Lee returned to the small screen in the romantic comedy No Gain No Love in a supporting role as the main character's boss, CEO Bok Gyu-heon. The chaebol businessman posts negative comments about a romance novelist, portrayed by Han Ji-hyeon, but later falls in love with her. The couple was such a hit that the creators added a two-episode spin-off, this one starring Lee and Han as a couple trapped in a romance novel.

## Filmography
### Film

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2014 | Taxi Driver | Ji Hoon | Short film |
| 2014 | Slow Video | Police radio | |
| 2016 | Call Me When You Eat. | Repayment | Korea National University of Arts (graduation work) |
| 2016 | Aend | Man | Korea National University of Arts (graduation work) |
| 2016 | Coward | Pumice stone | Short film |
| 2019 | Battle of Noryang | Huijung | Short film |
| 2020 | Hitman: Agent Jun | NIS agent | |
| 2023 | Single in Seoul | Byeong-su | |

### Television series

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2017 | Manhole | Oh Dal-soo | |
| 2017 | Andante | Moon Sung-Jun | |
| 2017 | Prison Playbook | Oh Dong-hwan | |
| 2017 | Oh, the Mysterious | Economics Lee | |
| 2018 | Suits | Park Chul-soon | Cameo (Episode 1–3) |
| 2018 | To. Jenny | Yeom Dae-seong | |
| 2018 | Voice 2 | Wang Ko | Cameo (Episode 6–7) |
| 2018 | The Third Charm | Hyeon sang-hyeon | |
| 2018 | Quiz of God 5: Reboot | Park Jae-seung | Cameo (Episode 1–2) |
| 2019 | Special Labor Inspector | Yang Tae-soo | |
| 2019 | Nokdu Flower | Merchant | Cameo |
| 2019 | When the Camellia Blooms | Yang Seung-yeop | |
| 2020 | Once Again | Yoon Jae-seok | |
| 2021 | Youth of May | Lee Soo-chan | |
| 2021 | Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha | Ji Seong-hyun | |
| 2021 | Yumi's Cells | Ji U-gi | Cameo (Episode 1,7) |
| 2022 | Poong, the Joseon Psychiatrist | Kim Yun-gyeom | Cameo (Episode 2) |
| 2023 | Crash Course in Romance | YouTuber Hack Insa Man | Cameo (Episode 9) |
| 2023 | Han River Police | Ko Ki-seok | |
| 2023 | My Demon | Joo Seok-hoon | |
| 2023– | Bloodhounds | Hong Woo-jin | |
| 2024 | No Gain No Love | Bok Gyu-heon | |
| 2024 | Spice Up Our Love | Kang Ha-joon | Spin-off of No Gain No Love |
| 2024 | Good Boy | Kim Jong-hyun | |

### Television show

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2020 | Law of the Jungle in Ulleungdo & Dokdo | Cast Member | Episode 430–431 |
| 2021 | Hangout with Yoo | Cast Member | Part (MSG Wannabe); Episodes 90–101 |
| 2022 | Besties in Wonderland | Cast Member | |

### Hosting

| Year | Event/ Show | Notes | Ref. |
| 2021 | 2021 MBC Entertainment Awards | with Jun Hyun-moo and Kim Se-jeong | |

### Music video appearances

| Year | Song title | Artist |
| 2018 | "I Forgot" (잊고 지냈었다) | Ji Ji-jin |
| 2016 | "Signal of 1 billion light years" (10억광년의 신호) | Lee Seung-hwan |
| 2022 | "Do You Want to Hear" (듣고 싶을까) | MSG Wannabe MOM |

## Stage
### Concert

Concert performances :
| Year | Title | Title | Role | Theater | Date | Ref. |
| Year | English | Korean | Role | Theater | Date | Ref. |
| 2014 | Musical Public Housewarming Concert | Musical Public 집들이 콘서트 | Singer | #1 Rising Star Project | July 7, 2014 | |
| 2015 | Big Star Concert Embracing the Moon | 달을 품은 큰 별 콘서트 | Singer | | September 23, 2015 | |
| 2016 | 2016 Legendary Concert | 2016 전설의 콘써트 | Singer | TIOEM 1st Theater | January 7 – 10, 2016 | |
| 2016 | Carbonated Boys | 탄산소년단 | Singer | Hana Tour V-Hall | March 14, 2016 | |
| 2017 | Monni Concert | 몽니 콘서트 | Singer | KT&G 상상마당 대치아트홀 | February 16 – 26, 2017 | |
| 2017 | 2017 Seoul Starlight Musical Festival | 2017 서울 스타라이트 뮤지컬 페스티벌 | Singer | Olympic Park 88 Jandimadang | September 2 – 3, 2017 | |
| 2018 | Today's Show - Moving Day | 오늘의 쇼 - 이사하는 날 | Singer | Baegam Art Hall | April 29, 2018 | |
| 2022 | Davinci Motel | 다빈치모텔 | Singer | Hyundai Card Itaewon Space | October 14, 2022 – October 16, 2022 | |
| 2023 | MOM Tour Concert 〈MSG Wannabe〉 in Jeonju | MOM 투어 콘서트 〈MSG워너비〉 in 전주 | Singer | Jeonbuk National University Samsung Cultural Centre | April 15, 2023 | |
| 2023 | MOM Tour Concert 〈MSG Wannabe〉 in Seoul | MOM 투어 콘서트 〈MSG워너비〉 in 서울 | Singer | KBS Arena | April 22, 2023 | |

### Musical

Musical play performances :
| Year | Title | Title | Role | Theater | Date | Ref. |
| Year | English | Korean | Role | Theater | Date | Ref. |
| 2013 | How to Make a Star | 별을 만나는 방법 | Minseop | | | |
| 2013 | X-Wedding | | Boyfriend | | | |
| 2014 | Sarah's House | 세라의 집 | Nasa | | | |
| 2014 | Grease | 그리스 | Doody | | | |
| 2015 | Runway Beat | 런웨이 비트 | Peter | Arko Art Theater, Main Theater | January 31, 2015 – February 8, 2015 | |
| 2015 | Bear the Musical | 베어 더 뮤지컬 | Peter | Doosan Art Center, Yeongang Hall | June 17, 2015 – August 23, 2015 | |
| 2015–2016 | Infinite Power | 무한동력 | Jang Sun-jae | TIOEM 1st Theater | September 4, 2015 – January 3, 2016 | |
| 2016 | Thrill Me | 쓰릴미 | Me | Yes24 Stage 2nd Theater | February 19, 2016 – June 12, 2016 | |
| 2016 | Thrill Me | 쓰릴미 | Me | Mokpo Culture & Arts Center, Main Theater | July 9, 2016 – July 10, 2016 | |
| 2016 | Experimental Boy | 익스페리멘탈 보이 | Kevin | CJ Azit Daehakro | October 4, 2016 – October 5, 2016 | |
| 2016 | Me and Natasha and the White Donkey | 나와 나타샤와 흰 당나귀 | Baekseok | Daehakro Dream Art Center 2nd Theater | November 5, 2016 – January 22, 2017 | |
| 2016 | In the Heights | 인 더 하이츠 | Benny | Seoul Arts Center CJ Towol Theater | December 20, 2016 – February 12, 2017 | |
| 2018 | Red Book | 레드북 | Brown | Sejong Cultural Center M Theater | February 6, 2018 – March 30, 2018 | |
| 2018 | Il Tenore | 일 테노레 | Lee Su-han | Wooran Cultural Foundation | December 3, 2018 | |
| 2020–2021 | A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder | 젠틀맨스 가이드 | Monty Navarro | Hongik University Daehakro Art Center Main Theater | November 20, 2020 – March 1, 2021 | |
| 2021–2022 | A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder | 젠틀맨스 가이드 | Monty Navarro | Kwanglim Arts Center BBCH Hall | November 13, 2021 – February 20, 2022 | |

### Theater

Theater play performances :
| Year | Title | Title | Role | Theater | Date | Ref. |
| Year | English | Korean | Role | Theater | Date | Ref. |
| 2016 | Real Solution | 레알솔루트 | Yoo Min-jun | | | |
| 2017 | Crazy Kiss | 미친키스 | Jang Jung | TIOEM 1st Theater | April 11, 2017 – May 14, 2017 | |
| 2017 | Guard of Taj Mahal | 타지마할의 근위병 | Babur | Yes24 Stage 2nd Theater | August 1, 2017 – October 15, 2017 | |
| 2019 | The Legend of Georgia McBride | 조지아 맥브라이드의 전설 | Casey | Uniplex 2nd Theater | November 27, 2019 – February 23, 2020 | |
| 2019 | Theatre Centre's repertoire 'Us' | 연극원 래퍼토리 '우리' | | Graduation performance of Korea National University of Arts | | |
| 2023 | Shakespeare in Love | 셰익스피어 인 러브 | William Shakespeare | Seoul Arts Center CJ Towol Theater | January 28, 2023 – March 26, 2023 | |
| 2023 | Shakespeare in Love | 셰익스피어 인 러브 | William Shakespeare | Sejong Center for the Performing Arts | April 8, 2023 – April 9, 2023 | |
| 2023 | Shakespeare in Love | 셰익스피어 인 러브 | William Shakespeare | Icheon Art Hall, Grand Theater | April 15, 2023 – April 16, 2023 | |

## Discography
### Soundtrack appearances

| Title | Year | Album |
| "Grab Me" (Choi Nakta cover) (Kim Sung-cheol featuring Lee Sang-yi) | 2018 | To. Jenny OST Part 1 |
| "Why Am I Like This" (내가 왜 이렇게) | 2020 | Once Again OST Part 5 |
| "Hope for Happiness" (행복했으면 좋겠어) | 2021 | Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha OST |
| "A World For Us" (둘만의 세상) | 2024 | Spice Up Our Love OST |

### With MSG Wannabe

| Title | Year | Album |
| "Journey To Atlantis" (상상더하기) (with MSG Wannabe) | 2021 | MSG Wannabe Top 8 Performance Songs |
| "Resignation" (체념) (with Kim Jung-min, Simon Dominic, Lee Sang-yi) | 2021 | MSG Wannabe Top 8 Performance Songs |
| "Only You" (나를 아는 사람) (with Kim Jung-min, Simon Dominic, Lee Sang-yi) | 2021 | MSG Wannabe 1st Album |
| "I Love You" (난 너를 사랑해) (with MSG Wannabe) | 2021 | MSG Wannabe 1st Album |

## 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 |
| APAN Star Awards | 2021 | Excellence Award, Actor in a Serial Drama | Once Again | Won |
| Asia Model Awards | 2021 | Popular Star Award | Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha, Youth of May | Won |
| Brand of the Year Awards | 2021 | Rising Star Actor | Lee Sang-yi | Nominated |
| KBS Drama Awards | 2020 | Best New Actor | Once Again | Won |
| KBS Drama Awards | 2020 | Netizen Award, Actor | Once Again | Nominated |
| KBS Drama Awards | 2020 | Best Couple Award | Lee Sang-yi with Lee Cho-hee Once Again | Won |
| KBS Drama Awards | 2021 | Best Supporting Actor | Youth of May | Nominated |
| Korea Drama Awards | 2023 | Excellence Award, Actor | Bloodhounds | Won |
| Korea Musical Awards | 2017 | Best New Actor | Me and Natasha and the White Donkey | Nominated |
| MBC Entertainment Awards | 2021 | Best Teamwork Award | Hangout with Yoo | Won |
| Yegreen Musical Awards [ko] | 2016 | Best New Actor | Infinite power | Nominated |