Lee Hyun-woo



  • Lee began his career as a child actor, building up his resume by playing roles in a number of large-scale productions, such as The Legend, King Sejong the Great, The Return of Iljimae, and Queen Seondeok. He rose to fame for his role in Master of Study, a Korean screen adaptation of Japanese manga Dragon Zakura. The same year, Lee took to the stage for the 2010 musical production of Footloose, where he played the leading role of Ren. In 2011, he and K-pop singer Yoon Doo-joon (from B2ST) began hosting the music program Music on Top for cable channel jTBC. He was then featured in IU's music video for the song "You and I". Lee further expanded his acting scope in historical drama Gyebaek, revenge thriller Man from the Equator, and made a guest appearance in medical drama Brain.


    In 2012, Lee co-starred in To the Beautiful You, the Korean television adaptation of Japanese manga Hana-Kimi, with his role based on the character Shuichi Nakatsu. Despite low ratings during its domestic run, To the Beautiful You led to increased Korean Wave exposure for Lee in countries such as Singapore, Malaysia, Taiwan and China. He and co-star Hwang Kwang-hee were later announced as the new hosts of live music show Inkigayo. His breakthrough continued when he landed a major role in 2013 box office hit Secretly, Greatly, an action-comedy film in which he played a North Korean undercover spy disguised as a high school boy. Lee also sang "Ode to Youth" for the film's soundtrack. He became the first male celebrity to be appointed ambassador of the Puchon International Film Festival.


    In 2014, he and real-life best friend Park Ji-bin (both were child actors and belong to the same agency) appeared in the travel/reality show Real Mate in Saipan. Lee next played a hacker in the heist movie The Con Artists. He then starred in Northern Limit Line, a 2015 naval thriller about the Second Battle of Yeonpyeong. The film sold 6,024,894 tickets (grossing US$38,945,231), making it the most-watched Korean film in 2015.


    In 2016, he starred in the fantasy youth drama Moorim School. Initially slated for 20 episodes, the drama was reduced to 16 episodes instead due to low ratings.


    In 2017, Lee starred in the drama The Liar and His Lover, the Korean remake of the Japanese manga Kanojo wa Uso o Aishisugiteru alongside Red Velvet's Joy.


    In 2018, Lee released a digital single titled "Twenty-Six", prior to joining the army.


    On February 19, 2018, Lee began his mandatory military service as an active duty soldier. He completed his military service and was discharged on October 19, 2019.


    FILM


    Year Title Role
    2005 Baribari Jjang
    2006 Holiday
    A Dirty Carnival young Min-ho
    2007 Hwang Jin Yi young Nomi
    2010 The Loneliness of Butcher Boy Tae-shik
    2011 GLove Kim Jin-man
    2013 Secretly, Greatly Rhee Hae-jin


    TELEVISION SERIES


    Year Title Role
    2004 Oolla Boolla Blue-jjang
    2005 Spring Day
    2006 Hwarang Fighter Maru Seo Da-ham
    2007 The Legend young Cheoro
    Lobbyist young Harry
    2008 The Great King, Sejong Prince Choong-nyeong
    Four Colours of Love Lee Jung-wook
    2009 The Return of Iljimae Cha Dol-yi
    Queen Seondeok young Kim Yushin
    What's for Dinner? Tommy
    2010 Master of Study Hong Chan-doo
    2011 Gyebaek young Gyebaek


    MUSIC VIDEO APPEARANCES


    Year Title Artist
    2005 "Jump" Haha
    2011 "You and I" IU
    2012 "First Love's Melody" Acoustic Collabo
    2013 "I Love You” Akdong Musician
    2016 "Ordinary Love" KCM
    2019 "Above the Time" IU


    HOSTING

    Year Title Network
    December 8, 2011 – March 14, 2012 Music on Top jTBC
    December 16, 2012 – January 26, 2014 Inkigayo SBS


    REALITY SHOW

    Year Title Network Notes
    2012 Invincible Youth Season 2 KBS2 Ep. 26
    Strong Heart SBS Ep. 142, 143
    2013 Running Man Ep. 147, 225
    Hwasin – Controller of the Heart Ep. 22
    2014 Real Mate in Saipan QTV with Park Ji-bin
    Running Man SBS Ep. 225
    2015 Happy Together 3 KBS2 Ep. 401
    2016 Hello Counselor Ep. 257


    THEATRE

    Year Title Role
    2010 Footloose Ren McCormack


    AWARD AND NOMINATIONS

    Year Award Category Nominated work Result
    2008 KBS Drama Awards Best Young Actor King Sejong the Great Won
    2012 Best New Actor Man from the Equator Nominated
    SBS Drama Awards New Star Award To the Beautiful You Won
    2013 22nd Buil Film Awards Best New Actor Secretly, Greatly Nominated
    34th Blue Dragon Film Awards Nominated
    SBS Entertainment Awards Best Newcomer Award Inkigayo Nominated
    2014 9th Asia Model Festival Awards New Star Award Secretly, Greatly Won
    16th Seoul International Youth Film Festival Best Young Actor Nominated
    2015 52nd Grand Bell Awards Best New Actor Northern Limit Line Nominated
    30th Korea Best Dresser Swan Awards Rising Star Award Won
    2016 49th WorldFest-Houston International Film Festival Best Supporting Actor Award Won

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