Biography of Lee Joon-gi
South Korean actor, singer, dancer, and model Lee Joon-gi rose to fame in his foremost leading role as a clown in the critically acclaimed 2005 film, ‘The King and the Clown’ and romantic comedy, ‘My Girl’.
His notable works include, ‘Flower of Evil’, ‘Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo’, ‘Arang and the Magistrate’, ‘Iljimae’, and ‘Lawless Lawyer’.
Early Life and Education
Lee Joon-gi was born on 17 April 1982 in Busan, South Korea. He grew up with his parents and spent his childhood with his younger sister. He completed his schooling years, in nearby Changwon and graduated from Seoul Arts College. He went against his parent’s wish and moved to Seoul to seek a career in the entertainment industry. He worked at different part-time jobs while auditioning for roles.
Career
Lee Joon-gi debuted his 0career in the entertainment industry as a print and commercial model in 2001. He played minor K-drama roles and modelling before playing the role of Gong-Gil in the 2005 South Korean historical drama film, ‘The King and the Clown’, starring Kam Woo-sung and Jung Jin-young. The film was both a critical and commercial success, which drove him to become an Asian star. Joon-gi was cast in his first K-drama role in the 2005 South Korean television series ‘My Girl’, co-starring Lee Da-hae, Lee Dong-wook and Park Si-yeon. It became a hit in its run domestically and internationally, propelling him into Korean Wave stardom.
In 2006, he appeared in a South Korean drama film, ‘Fly, Daddy, Fly’, based on a novel of the same name directed by Choi Jong-tae. He co-acted in this film alongside Lee Moon-sik and Kim So-eun, and it garnered much attention and media coverage among Chinese viewers.
Next year, he was cast as a Korean exchange student, in a joint Korea-Japan movie ‘Virgin Snow’ with Japanese actress Aoi Miyazaki. It was a successful film and placed 9th on the box office chart and he received awards at the 27th Hawaii International Film Festival. In the same year, he participated in the film, ‘May 18’ and achieved box office success.
Joon-gi took his first leading role in the 2007 action drama, ‘Time Between Dog and Wolf’, starring Nam Sang-mi and Jung Kyung-ho. He played the role of a vengeful NIS agent with a violent streak and won awards.
In 2008, he played the titular role in the South Korean period-action television series, ‘Iljimae’, based on Chinese folklore and received awards.
He appeared as a passionate reporter in the 2009 South Korean action-comedy television series, ‘Hero’, co-acting with Yoon So-yi, Um Ki-joon and Baek Yoon-sik.
In 2012, he co-acted with Shin Min-a in a successful period horror-romance drama, ‘Arang and the Magistrate’, which became an expensive drama. Later he was recognised at the Seoul International Drama Awards and won awards.
In 2013, he appeared in the action thriller television series, ‘Two Weeks’ in the role of a struggling father on a mission to save his daughter fighting with leukaemia. He received awards for his excellent acting skills.
Next year, he starred in the 2014 period drama, ‘Gunman in Joseon’, co-starring Nam Sang-mi, Jeon Hye-bin, Han Joo-wan, and Yu Oh-seong. He won critical acclaim for his acting and action scenes in this drama.
In 2015, he acted in the K-drama, ‘The Scholar Who Walks the Night’, with Lee Yu-bi, Shim Chang-min, Lee Soo-hyuk, and Kim So-eun. In the same year, he was cast in a Chinese film, ‘Never Said Goodbye’.
After one year, he was cast in a lead role in a Korean remake of the Chinese series, ‘Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo’ in the role of Wang So-in.
Lee Joon-gi made his Hollywood debut with the sixth and final instalment of the Resident Evil series, ‘Resident Evil: The Final Chapter’, released in January 2017. In the same year, his extraordinary performance as a criminal profiler garnered him applause from critics and viewers in the crime procedural drama, ‘Criminal Minds’ based on the American series of the same name.
In 2018, he came back to the television series, ‘Lawless Lawyer’, in which he was portrayed in the role of a lawyer, starring Seo Yea-ji, Lee Hye-young, and Choi Min-soo.
In 2020, he was cast in the television thriller melodrama, ‘Flower of Evil‘ with Moon Chae-won. Both actors received appreciation for their chemistry in this drama portraying a married couple.
After two years, he returned to the small screen with the SBS drama, ‘Again My Life’ with Lee Geung-young, Kim Ji-eun and Jung Sang-hoon.
The second season of the television historical fantasy drama, ‘Arthdal Chronicles’ with Shin Se-kyung, is the latest work of Lee Joon-gi, as of 2023.
Achievements
South Korean actor, singer, dancer, and model Lee Joon-gi who began his career in 2005 has achieved a lot in his career. Here are some of his notable achievements.
- Lee Joon-gi won the Best Actor Award at the Max Movie Awards, apart from winning numerous Best Newcomer recognition at the Korean Film Awards, Grand Bell Awards and Baeksang Art Awards.
- Joon-gi won the Excellence Award at the 2007 MBC Drama Awards for his performance in ‘Time Between Dog and Wolf’, drama.
- Joon-gi was appointed as the promotional ambassador of the Korea Tourism Organization On 5 August 2009.
Military Life
Lee Joon-gi enlisted in the Republic of Korea Army for his mandatory military service on 3 May 2010. Initially, he underwent five weeks of basic training at the Nonsan military training camp and earned high scores in marksmanship later drafted into active duty. He was discharged from the Defense Media Agency at Yongsan-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul on 16 February 2012 after serving actively for 21 months.
Personal Life
Although Lee Joon-gi was in a romantic relationship with South Korean actress and singer Jeon Hye-bin in early 2016, the couple called it quits in August 2017.
Net Worth and Lifestyle
One of the popular South Korean actors Lee Joon-gi has an estimated net worth of around 50 Million US Dollars at the age of 37 years old, as of 2023. The majority of his income comes from his acting. As an excellent South Korean star, Joon-gi is known for being good at his crafts, may it be singing, modelling or acting. His net worth began to increase in proportion to his high-end dramas packed with mystery, action and suspense.
Awards
- SBS Drama Awards 2022
Top Excellence Award, Actor in a Miniseries Genre/Fantasy Drama – ‘Again My Life’ (2022)
- Asia Artist Awards 2020
Asia Celebrity – ‘Flower of Evil’ (2020)
- Asia Artist Awards 2020
Best Artist Award – ‘Flower of Evil’ (2020) - Soompi Annual Awards 2018
Actor Of The Year – ‘Criminal Minds’ (2018) - StarHub’s Night of Stars Awards 2018
Best Male Asian Star – ‘Lawless Lawyer’ (2018)
- Asia Artist Awards 2017
Fabulous Award – ‘Criminal Minds’ (2017) - Taiwan’s KKTV Awards 2016
Actor of The Year – ‘Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo’ (2016)
- SBS Drama Awards 2016
Hallyu Star Award – ‘Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo’ (2016)
- SBS Drama Awards 2016
Top 10 Stars Award – ‘Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo’ (2016) - SBS Drama Awards 2016
Best Couple Award with Lee Ji-eun – ‘Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo’ (2016) - MBC Drama Awards 2015
Top 10 Stars Award – ‘Scholar Who Walks the Night’ (2015) - Seoul International Drama Awards 2015
Outstanding Korean Actor – ‘Gunman in Joseon’ (2015)
- KBS Drama Awards 2014
Excellence Award – Excellence Award – ‘Gunman in Joseon’ (2014)
- KBS Drama Awards 2014
Best Couple Award with Nam Sang-mi – ‘Gunman in Joseon’ (2014) - APAN Star Awards 2013
Top Excellence Award – ‘Two Weeks’ (2013)
- Seoul International Drama Awards 2013
Outstanding Korean Actor – ‘Arang and the Magistrate’ (2013)
- MBC Drama Awards 2012
Best Couple Award with Shin Min-a – ‘Arang and the Magistrate’ (2012) - Skapa Awards 2012
Grand Prize, Korean Wave category – ‘Lee Joon-gi’s JG Style’ (2012) - Korean Martial Arts Federation 2009
Martial Arts Actor Award – ‘Time Between Dog and Wolf, Iljimae’ (2009) - MBC Drama Awards 2009Popularity Award- ‘Hero’ (2009)
- Tourism Authority of Thailand 2009
Special Plaque of Appreciation (2009)
- SBS Drama Awards 2008
Top Excellence Award – ‘Iljimae’ (2008)
- SBS Drama Awards 2008
Top 10 Stars – ‘Iljimae’ (2008) - Seoul International Drama Awards 2008
Most Popular Actor – ‘Time Between Dog and Wolf’ (2008) - Andre Kim Best Star Awards 2007
New and Superior Star Award (2007)
- Baeksang Arts Awards 2007
Most Popular Actor – ‘Fly, Daddy, Fly’ (2007)
- China Fashion Awards 2007
South Korean Artist of the Year (2007)
- Hawaii International Film Festival 2007
Rising Star Award (2007) - MBC Drama Awards 2007
Excellence Award – ‘Time Between Dog and Wolf’ (2007)
- Shanghai International Film Festival 2007
Overseas Star Award (2007)
- Baeksang Arts Awards 2006Best New Actor – Film – ‘King and the Clown’ (2006)
- Baeksang Arts Awards 2006
InStyle Fashionista Award (2006)
- Blue Dragon Film Awards 2006
Popular Star Award – ‘King and the Clown’ (2006)
- Blue Dragon Film Awards 2006
Best On-Screen Couple Award with Kam Woo-sung – King and the Clown (2006) - Golden Cinema Film Festival 2006
Best New Actor – ‘King and the Clown’ (2006) - Grand Bell Awards 2006
Popularity Award – ‘King and the Clown’ (2006)
- Grand Bell Awards 2006
Korean Wave Popularity Award – ‘King and the Clown’ (2006) - Korean Film Awards 2006
Best New Actor – ‘King and the Clown’ (2006) - Korea Youth Film Festival 2006
Best New Actor (2006) - Max Movie Awards 2006
Best Actor – ‘King and the Clown’ (2006) - Mnet KM Music Festival 2006
Best Actor in a Music Video – Grace by Lee Soo-young - Seoul International Drama Awards 2013
Outstanding Korean Actor – ‘Arang and the Magistrate’ (2013) - APAN Star Awards 2013
Top Excellence Award – ‘Two Weeks’ (2013) - Seoul International Drama Awards 2013
Outstanding Korean Actor – ‘Arang and the Magistrate’ (2013)
- MBC Drama Awards 2012
Best Couple Award with Shin Min-a – ‘Arang and the Magistrate’ (2012)
- Skapa Awards 2012
Grand Prize, Korean wave category – ‘Lee Joon-gi’s JG Style’ (2012)
Credit: Pinterest
Interesting Facts about Lee Joon-gi
- Lee Joon- gi started his entertainment career as a model.
- Joon-gi is known as the king of historical dramas.
- Lee Joon-gi seldom needs a stunt double.
- Joon-gi is a successful singer.
- Lee Joon- made his Hollywood debut in the sixth instalment of the Resident Evil series, ‘Resident Evil: The Final Chapter’.
- Joon-gi has two dogs.
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