Lee Byung-hun is a South Korean actor who has spent more than three decades turning quiet menace and deep feeling into something close to an art form. He was born on July 12, 1970 (56 years old), in Seoul, South Korea.
He first shook up Korean cinema with Joint Security Area (2000), and then went on to make a rare string of films that demonstrated his breadth of talent, including A Bittersweet Life (2005), I Saw the Devil (2010) and Masquerade (2012).
Global audiences later met him as Storm Shadow in the G.I. Joe films and as the masked Front Man in Netflix’s Squid Game. On television, he led major hits such as Iris (2009) and Mr. Sunshine (2018).
His performance in Inside Men (2015) earned him Best Actor at the Baeksang, Blue Dragon, and Grand Bell awards in the same year. In 2026, he received a Golden Globe nomination for No Other Choice.
Quick Facts of Lee Byung-hun
| Full Name | Lee Byung-hun |
| Profession | Actor, Singer and Model |
| Age | 56 years old |
| Date of Birth | July 12, 1970 |
| Nationality | South Korean |
| Zodiac/Sun Sign | Cancer |
| Birthplace | Seoul, South Korea |
| Current Address | Seoul, South Korea |
| Gender | Male |
Lee Byung-hun Early Life and Education
Lee Byung-hun was born in Seoul, South Korea. He grew up in a comfortable and well-established household, as his father was a successful businessman.
By his own admission, he was a playful and mischievous child. His love for movies took root early, partly because his father was a passionate film lover who often shared cinema with him.
Interestingly, acting was never his original dream. He drifted toward it only after a family friend suggested he audition, a small nudge that ended up shaping his entire life.
Education
Lee Byung-hun attended Joongdong High School in Seoul.
He then went to Hanyang University, where he earned his bachelor’s degree with a major in French Literature. During this time, he realized his real interest lay in performance rather than language.
Following that pull, he pursued a master’s degree in Theater and Cinematography at the Graduate School of Chung-Ang University, sharpening the craft that would define his career.
| School | Joongdong High School, Seoul |
| Alma Mater | Chung-Ang University |
| Highest Qualification | Master’s Degree (Theater and Cinematography) |
Lee Byung-hun Personal Life
Lee Byung-hun is known for keeping his private world close, yet his love story has played out in full public view over nearly two decades. His marriage to a fellow actress is one of the most talked-about relationships in Korean showbiz.
Wife
Lee Byung-hun is married to actress Lee Min-jung. Their first encounter was at the time of a modeling assignment shortly after 2006, but they lost touch because of career demands. They reconnected in 2012 and married on August 10, 2013, at the Grand Hyatt Seoul.
Lee Min-jung is a well-known South Korean actress. She began her career on stage in Jang Jin’s plays before moving to screen roles. Her breakthrough series was the popular Boys Over Flowers (2009) and Smith Family (2009). Her big breakthrough came with the romantic comedy Cyrano Agency (2010). Since then, she has built a firm place in Korean films and dramas, and she often shares warm glimpses of family life with her fans online.
Previous Relationship
Before his marriage, Lee Byung-hun was linked with actress Song Hye-kyo, his co-star in the 2003 drama All In. The relationship was kept very low profile and lasted around fifteen months before they parted ways in mid 2004.
Children
The couple has two children. Their first child, a son named Lee Joon-hoo, was born on March 31, 2015.
Their second child, a daughter, was born on December 21, 2023. The couple has not shared much about the kids, with just occasional snippets on social media.
Family
Lee Byung-hun grew up in a warm and well-settled home in Seoul, and his family shaped his early love for cinema.
His father was Lee Jong-kun, a successful businessman. He passed away in 2000, the same year Lee had his first big screen breakthrough, and his death later left the actor with heavy debts to clear.
His mother is Park Jae-soon. She has largely stayed out of the public eye, and further details about her are yet to be updated.
Siblings
Lee Byung-hun has one younger sister, Lee Eun-hee. She won the Miss Korea title in 1996 and went on to work as a model and actress.
| Relationship Status | Married |
| Wife | Lee Min-jung |
| Children | Son: Lee Joon-hoo (born 2015) Daughter: Name is yet to be updated (born 2023) |
| Parents | Father: Lee Jong-kun (Passed away) Mother: Park Jae-soon |
| Siblings | Sister: Lee Eun-hee |
Lee Byung-hun Career
Lee Byung-hun has built one of the most respected careers in Korean entertainment, moving from television heartthrob to serious film actor to a face known across Hollywood. His journey spans more than three decades and covers almost every genre.
Television Beginnings (1991 to 1999)
Lee Byung-hun entered the industry in 1991 after passing a public audition for the KBS network. He made his acting debut that year in the drama Asphalt My Hometown, playing a character named Jinwoo.
He grew popular through 1990s dramas such as Tomorrow Love (1992) and the action series Asphalt Man (1995). Toward the end of the decade, he moved into films with the romance The Harmonium in My Memory (1999), opposite Jeon Do-yeon.
Breakthrough with Joint Security Area (2000 to 2004)
The real turning point came in 2000 with Park Chan-wook’s Joint Security Area. Alongside Song Kang-ho, Lee Young-ae, Shin Ha-kyun, and Kim Tae-woo, Lee delivered a border guard role that made the film the highest-grossing Korean movie of its time.
In 2001, he starred in the emotional film Bungee Jumping of Their Own opposite Lee Eun-ju, and the popular melodrama series Beautiful Days with Choi Ji-woo, Ryu Si-won, and Lee Jung-hyun.
In 2003, he took the lead in the hit poker drama All In opposite Song Hye-kyo and Ji Sung. The role won him the Grand Prize at the SBS Drama Awards and pushed his fame across Asia, especially in Japan.
Rise as a Film Powerhouse (2005 to 2008)
From 2005, Lee focused heavily on films. He drew wide praise for Kim Jee-woon’s stylish action drama A Bittersweet Life (2005), playing a lonely enforcer alongside Kim Young-chul, Shin Min-a, and Hwang Jung-min.
He reunited with Kim Jee-woon for the western-style adventure The Good, the Bad, the Weird (2008), sharing the screen with Song Kang-ho and Jung Woo-sung. His villain role in the film boosted his global profile.
Hollywood Debut and Return to Television (2009)
In 2009, Lee made his Hollywood debut as Storm Shadow in G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra, starring Channing Tatum and Sienna Miller. The same year, he appeared in the international film I Come with the Rain with Josh Hartnett and Takuya Kimura.
He then returned to Korean television with the huge spy thriller Iris (2009), alongside Kim Tae-hee, Jung Joon-ho, Kim So-yeon, and Choi Seung-hyun. The role earned him the Grand Prize at the KBS Drama Awards.
Global Recognition (2010 to 2013)
In 2010, Lee starred in Kim Jee-woon’s brutal thriller I Saw the Devil opposite Choi Min-sik. His intense performance won him the Grand Prize at the Baeksang Arts Awards.
He then played dual roles in the period hit Masquerade (2012), alongside Ryu Seung-ryong, Han Hyo-joo, and Shim Eun-kyung. The film crossed ten million admissions and earned him Best Actor at the Grand Bell Awards.
In 2013, he reprised Storm Shadow in G.I. Joe: Retaliation with Dwayne Johnson, Channing Tatum, and Bruce Willis. He also joined Red 2 alongside Bruce Willis, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Helen Mirren, and John Malkovich.
Hollywood Run and Career Peak (2015 to 2016)
In 2015, Lee led the martial arts film Memories of the Sword opposite Jeon Do-yeon and Kim Go-eun. He also played the T-1000 in Terminator Genisys alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger, Emilia Clarke, and Jason Clarke.
The same year, he starred in the political crime thriller Inside Men with Cho Seung-woo and Baek Yoon-sik. It became the top-grossing R-rated Korean film and swept the year’s major Best Actor awards.
In 2016, he appeared in the American thriller Misconduct with Al Pacino, Anthony Hopkins, and Josh Duhamel. He also played gunslinger Billy Rocks in The Magnificent Seven alongside Denzel Washington, Chris Pratt, and Ethan Hawke.
Back home, he led the crime thriller Master (2016) with Gang Dong-won and Kim Woo-bin.
Return to Korean Cinema and Television (2017 to 2020)
In 2017, Lee starred in the mystery drama A Single Rider opposite Gong Hyo-jin and Ahn So-hee, and the historical epic The Fortress with Kim Yoon-seok, Park Hae-il, and Go Soo.
In 2018, he touched hearts in the comedy drama Keys to the Heart with Youn Yuh-jung and Park Jung-min. He then returned to television in the smash hit Mr. Sunshine, alongside Kim Tae-ri, Yoo Yeon-seok, Kim Min-jung, and Byun Yo-han.
In 2019, he led the action blockbuster Ashfall with Ha Jung-woo, Ma Dong-seok, Bae Suzy, and Jeon Hye-jin. In 2020, he starred in the political drama The Man Standing Next with Lee Sung-min, Kwak Do-won, and Lee Hee-joon.
Squid Game and Recent Work (2021 to 2025)
In 2021, Lee joined the disaster thriller Emergency Declaration with Song Kang-ho, Jeon Do-yeon, Kim Nam-gil, and Im Si-wan. That year, he also debuted as the masked Front Man in Netflix’s global sensation Squid Game, alongside Lee Jung-jae.
In 2022, he led the acclaimed tvN series Our Blues, sharing an ensemble with Shin Min-a, Cha Seung-won, Lee Jung-eun, Uhm Jung-hwa, Han Ji-min, and Kim Woo-bin. In 2023, he appeared in the disaster film Concrete Utopia with Park Bo-young and Park Seo-joon.
He returned as the Front Man in the second season of Squid Game (2024) and its third and final season (2025). In 2025, he also led Park Chan-wook’s dark comedy No Other Choice, opposite Son Ye-jin, Park Hee-soon, Lee Sung-min, Yeom Hye-ran, and Cha Seung-won, a role that earned him a Golden Globe nomination.
Upcoming Work
Lee Byung-hun has two major projects lined up. The first is the historical action film Nambeol (working title), which marks his return to the period genre. He plays Im Eok, a battle-hardened leader who guides a group of warriors to Tsushima Island to rescue Joseon captives taken by Japanese pirates.
His confirmed co-stars include Go Youn-jung as Ae Ryeong and Lee Do-hyun as Bo Gyeong. The film is in pre-production, with filming expected to begin in the second half of 2026.
His second project is the Disney+ spy series The Koreans, a Korean remake of the acclaimed FX drama The Americans. Set in 1990s South Korea, it follows a middle-class couple who are secretly elite North Korean spies working to bring down the South.
Lee plays Kim Myung-jun opposite Han Ji-min as his wife and fellow operative, with Lee Hee-joon as a counterintelligence agent closing in on them. The series is expected to stream on Disney+ globally and Hulu in the United States, with a release window around 2027.
Lee Byung-hun Filmography
Lee Byung-hun has built a body of work that moves easily between Korean cinema, television, and Hollywood. The tables below list his major films, series, and confirmed upcoming projects.
Lee Byung-hun Movies
| Year | Title | Role | IMDb |
| 1999 | The Harmonium in My Memory | Kang Soo-ha | 7.2 |
| 2000 | Joint Security Area | Lee Soo-hyeok | 7.7 |
| 2001 | Bungee Jumping of Their Own | Seo In-woo | 6.9 |
| 2004 | Three Extremes | Ryu Ji-ho | 6.9 |
| 2005 | A Bittersweet Life | Kim Sun-woo | 7.5 |
| 2006 | Once in a Summer | Yun Suk-young | 7.2 |
| 2008 | The Good, the Bad, the Weird | Park Chang-yi (The Bad) | 7.2 |
| 2009 | I Come with the Rain | Su Dongpo | 5.4 |
| 2009 | G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra | Storm Shadow | 5.7 |
| 2010 | I Saw the Devil | Kim Soo-hyeon | 7.8 |
| 2012 | Masquerade | King Gwanghae / Ha-sun | 7.8 |
| 2013 | G.I. Joe: Retaliation | Storm Shadow | 5.7 |
| 2013 | Red 2 | Han Cho-bai | 6.6 |
| 2015 | Memories of the Sword | Deok-gi / Song Yoo-baek | 6.4 |
| 2015 | Terminator Genisys | Cop / T-1000 | 6.3 |
| 2015 | Inside Men | Ahn Sang-goo | 7.0 |
| 2016 | Misconduct | The Accountant | 5.3 |
| 2016 | The Age of Shadows | Jeong Chae-san | 7.1 |
| 2016 | The Magnificent Seven | Billy Rocks | 6.9 |
| 2016 | Master | President Jin | 6.6 |
| 2017 | A Single Rider | Kang Jae-hoon | 6.6 |
| 2017 | The Fortress | Choi Myung-kil | 6.8 |
| 2018 | Keys to the Heart | Jo-ha | 7.4 |
| 2019 | Ashfall | Lee Joon-pyeong | 6.2 |
| 2020 | The Man Standing Next | Kim Kyoo-pyeong | 7.0 |
| 2021 | Emergency Declaration | Jae-hyuk | 6.8 |
| 2023 | Concrete Utopia | Kim Young-tak | 6.6 |
| 2025 | The Match | Cho Hun-hyun | 6.8 |
| 2025 | KPop Demon Hunters | Gwi-Ma (voice) | 7.4 |
| 2025 | No Other Choice | Yoo Man-soo | 7.5 |
Lee Byung-hun TV Shows
| Year | Title | Role | Platform | IMDb |
| 1991 | Asphalt My Hometown | Jinwoo | YouTube | 3.9 |
| 1992 | Tomorrow Love | Shin Bum-soo | KBS | 3.8 |
| 1995 | Asphalt Man | Kang Dong-joon | – | 8.3 |
| 2001 | Beautiful Days | Lee Min-chul | – | 7.6 |
| 2003 | All In | Kim In-ha | Prime Video | 7.7 |
| 2009 | Iris | Kim Hyeon-jun | Prime Video, Netflix | 7.7 |
| 2018 | Mr. Sunshine | Eugene Choi | Netflix | 8.7 |
| 2021 – 2025 | Squid Game | Hwang In-ho / Front Man | Netflix | 7.9 |
| 2022 | Our Blues | Lee Dong-seok | Netflix | 8.6 |
Lee Byung-hun Upcoming Projects
| Year | Title | Role |
| Late 2026 | Nambeol (working title) | Im Eok |
| 2027 | The Koreans (Disney+) | Kim Myung-jun |
Lee Byung-hun Awards and Achievements
Lee Byung-hun is one of the most decorated actors in Korean cinema, with honors spanning film, television, and international stages. His performance in Inside Men (2015) was so dominant that it swept Best Actor at the top three Korean film awards in a single year, a feat rarely matched.
His Major Wins
- Grand Bell Awards (1996): Won Best New Actor for Run Away.
- Baeksang Arts Awards (2003): Won Best Actor for the drama All In.
- Korean Association of Film Critics Awards (2005): Won Best Actor for A Bittersweet Life (2005).
- KBS Drama Awards (2009): Won the Grand Prize (Daesang) for Iris (2009).
- Baeksang Arts Awards (2010): Won the Grand Prize for I Saw the Devil (2010).
- Grand Bell Awards (2012): Won Best Actor for Masquerade (2012).
- Baeksang, Blue Dragon and Grand Bell Awards (2016): Won Best Actor at all three for Inside Men (2015).
- APAN Star Awards (2018): Won the Grand Prize for Mr. Sunshine (2018).
- Asian Film Awards (2021): Won the Asian Film Excellence Award, the first Korean actor to receive it.
- Blue Dragon and Grand Bell Awards (2023): Won Best Actor for Concrete Utopia (2023).
- Order of Cultural Merit (2025): Received the Precious Crown (Bogwan) Order of Cultural Merit, one of South Korea’s highest cultural honors.
His Key Nominations
- Blue Dragon Film Awards (2000): Nominated for Best Actor for Joint Security Area (2000).
- Blue Dragon Film Awards (2010): Nominated for Best Actor for I Saw the Devil (2010).
- Baeksang Arts Awards (2023): Nominated for Best Actor Television for Our Blues (2022).
- Blue Dragon Series Awards (2025): Nominated for Best Actor for Squid Game season 2.
- Gotham Awards (2025): Nominated for Outstanding Lead Performance for No Other Choice (2025).
- Golden Globe Awards (2026): Nominated for Best Actor in a Motion Picture Musical or Comedy for No Other Choice (2025).
Other Recognitions
- Named Gallup Korea’s Film Actor of the Year in 2012 and Television Actor of the Year in 2018.
- Became the first South Korean actor to present an award at the Academy Awards (2016) and later joined the Academy as a voting member.
- Along with Ahn Sung-ki, he was the first Korean actor to leave hand and foot prints at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre in Hollywood (2012).
Lee Byung-hun Controversies
Lee Byung-hun has enjoyed a long and respected career, but a few legal disputes and personal scandals have drawn heavy media attention over the years. Most were tied to his private life rather than his work.
Ex-girlfriend lawsuit and gambling claim (2009):
In December 2009, his former girlfriend Kwon Mi-yeon filed a civil suit claiming she was misled into a relationship on a promise of marriage, and also alleged he was a habitual gambler. Lee’s agency denied everything and called the suit retaliatory, and he countersued for defamation and extortion. He was cleared of the gambling allegation in 2010, and Kwon’s claim was later dropped.
Disturbance on the Iris set (2009):
Around the same time, TV host Kang Byung-kyu disrupted the shooting of Lee’s drama Iris, reportedly bringing in others over a dispute linked to the Kwon case. Kang was later indicted, and in 2013 he was sentenced to prison time with probation on fraud and assault charges.
Blackmail and sex chat scandal (2014):
In August 2014, Lee reported that singer Dahee of the group GLAM and model Lee Ji-yeon were trying to extort five billion won from him. They threatened to release a video of him making lewd remarks while drinking with them. Both women were arrested and later sentenced to prison, though Lee requested leniency for them afterward. The scandal was widely covered because his wife was pregnant at the time.
Lee Byung-hun Net Worth
Lee Byung-hun’s net worth has not been officially declared by him or his team, so the figures online are estimates. His wealth comes from decades of film and television work, Hollywood roles, and high-value brand endorsements.
His net worth is estimated in the range between $18 million and $25 million (approx. ₹173 crore to ₹240 crore).
His earnings vary by project, and he has long been one of the highest-paid actors in Korea. For the drama Iris (2009), he was reported to have earned over 100 million won per episode, one of the highest television fees in the country at the time.
| Net Worth in Dollars (Approx.) | $18 million and $25 million (approx. ₹173 crore to ₹240 crore) |
| Salary (Approx.) | Yet to be updated |
Lee Byung-hun Height, Weight and Physical Stats
| Height | In centimetres: 178 cm In meters: 1.78 m In feet & inches: 5 feet 10 inches |
| Weight | In kg: 72 kg In lbs: 158 lbs |
| Body Measurements | Yet to be updated |
| Hair Color | Dark Brown |
| Eye Color | Dark Brown |
Lee Byung-hun Social media
 @byunghun0712 |
Interesting Facts about Lee Byung-hun
- He is a rare bilingual voice actor: In the 2025 hit KPop Demon Hunters, Lee voiced the demon king Gwi-Ma. He was the only cast member to record both the English and Korean versions, and the English lines took him three full sessions to perfect.
- He speaks four languages: Besides his native Korean, Lee is fluent in English, French, and Mandarin Chinese, which has helped him move smoothly between Korean and international projects.
- He practices taekwondo: In his spare time, Lee trains in taekwondo, and his martial arts background has fed into many of his intense action roles.
- He runs his own talent agency: Lee founded BH Entertainment, which manages several top Korean actors, including Han Hyo-joo, Han Ji-min, Go Soo, and Jinyoung.
- He appeared in a video game: Lee served as the body model for the character Wayne Holden in the 2006 video game Lost Planet: Extreme Condition.
- He started out as a singer too: Early in his career, Lee released the album To Me (1999) and later recorded soundtrack songs, showing a musical side alongside acting.
- He is a longtime philanthropist: Over the years, Lee has quietly donated large sums to disaster relief efforts and children’s causes, often giving hundreds of millions of won at a time.
FAQs
How old is Lee Byung-hun?
He is 56 years old. He was born on July 12, 1970, in Seoul, South Korea.
What is Lee Byung-hun famous for?
He is known for films like Joint Security Area (2000), A Bittersweet Life (2005), I Saw the Devil (2010), and Inside Men (2015), plus the Netflix series Squid Game.
Who did Lee Byung-hun play in Squid Game?
He plays the masked Front Man, one of the most talked-about characters in the survival series.
Who did Lee Byung-hun voice in KPop Demon Hunters?
He voiced the demon king Gwi-Ma, performing the role in both the English and Korean versions of the 2025 film.
Who is the wife of Lee Byung-hun?
He is married to actress Lee Min-jung. The couple wed in 2013 and have two children.
How many children does Lee Byung-hun have?
He has two children, a son born in 2015 and a daughter born in 2023.
What are the upcoming projects of Lee Byung-hun?
He is set to star in the historical action film Nambeol and the Disney+ spy series The Koreans.
