Lee enrolled in the Department of Theater at Chung-ang University in Seoul in 1988.[2] He made his acting debut in the 1990 film Kurae, Kakkumun Hanulul Boja (Yes, Let’s Look Up At the Sky Now and Again).[3] Following his debut, he appeared in films including The Ginkgo Bed, City of the Rising Sun, The Anarchists, Jungle Juice and Wet Dreams, but it was the 2003 film Singles that made him rise to stardom.[3] The Korean press has dubbed him "The Little Giant of Chungmuro" (Korean equivalent of Hollywood). He received a 2011 Seoul Art & Culture Award for best TV drama actor for his role in Giant.[4]
Personal life
Relationships
In 2003, Lee married a college classmate, but got divorced after 5 months of marriage. It was reported that the reason for divorce was familial conflict, financial disputes, and differences in personality. However, it is said that the two did not register their marriage, so there were no issues to their family register.[5]
In May 2010, he married a former news anchor and English interpreter, Lee Yoon-jin, 14 years his junior.[3] Shortly after the May wedding ceremony, they announced that they were expecting their first child. Their daughter, Lee So-eul, was born on March 1, 2011.[6][7] On February 21, 2014, their son, Lee Da-eul was born.[8]
On March 16, 2024, after 14 years of marriage, Lee's agency Y1 Entertainment confirmed reports of him and his wife's separation and that the couple were in the process of negotiating their divorce.[9] They are currently involved in a divorce dispute, with his wife taking to social media to accuse the actor of being unfaithful and uncooperative with divorce proceedings. She also alleged that he is preventing her from seeing their son. Their son currently resides with Lee in Seoul, while their daughter resides with his wife in Bali. Through a statement released by his agency, Lee denied his estranged wife's claims.[10][11][12][13]
^"이범수, 알고보니 재혼, 초혼 5개월 만에 이혼한 사연은 뭐?" [Lee Beom-soo, what is the reason for his remarriage and divorce after 5 months of his first marriage?] (in Korean). Busan Daily. December 23, 2018. Archived from the original on August 9, 2024. Retrieved August 9, 2024 – via Naver.
^Kim, Mi-ri (February 21, 2014). "이범수, 오늘(21일) 득남 "산모와 아들 모두 건강"" [Lee Beom-soo, Birth of a Son Today (21st) "Both mother and son are healthy"]. MyDaily (in Korean). Archived from the original on August 9, 2024. Retrieved August 9, 2024.
^Shin, Young-eun (March 16, 2024). "이범수, 이윤진과 결혼 14년만에 파경 "이혼 조정 중" [공식]" [Lee Beom-soo and Lee Yoon-jin end their marriage after 14 years, “Divorce mediation in progress” [Official]] (in Korean). Daily Economy. Archived from the original on August 9, 2024. Retrieved August 9, 2024 – via Naver.
^Lee, Sang-gyu (April 19, 2024). ""그 입 다물라"…'이혼소송' 이윤진, 남편 이범수 재차 저격" [“Shut your mouth”… Lee Yoon-jin in ‘Divorce Suit’ takes aim at her husband Lee Beom-soo again]. Maeil Business Newspaper (in Korean). Archived from the original on August 9, 2024. Retrieved August 9, 2024.
^Park, Ha-na (July 16, 2024). "이윤진, 이범수와 이혼 후 딸과 발리 생활…"도피 아닌 도전"" [Lee Yoon-jin, living in Bali with daughter after divorce from Lee Beom-soo… “Not an escape, but a challenge”]. News1 (in Korean). Archived from the original on September 14, 2024. Retrieved August 9, 2024.
^Kim Bo-ra (November 18, 2022). "마동석 '범죄도시4' 오늘 크랭크인…김무열·이동휘·이주빈 합류[공식]" [Ma Dong-seok 'Crime City 4' crank-in today... Kim Moo-yeol, Lee Dong-hwi, and Lee Ju-bin joined [Official]] (in Korean). Osen. Archived from the original on July 24, 2018. Retrieved November 18, 2022 – via Naver.
^Jo Ji-young (July 25, 2022). "[공식] "윤계상→손석구 이어 3대 빌런 이준혁"…마동석 '범죄도시3' 20일 첫 삽 떴다" [[Official] "Yoon Kye-sang → 3rd villain after Son Seok-gu, Lee Jun-hyeok"... Ma Dong-seok's 'Crime City 3' first shovel appeared on the 20th] (in Korean). Sports Chosun. Archived from the original on July 25, 2022. Retrieved July 25, 2022 – via Naver.
^Kim Na-yeon (October 19, 2022). "20세기 소녀' 김유정 "한효주와 세번째 인연, 신기해..너무 고맙고 아낀다" [20th Century Girl' Kim Yoo-jung "The third relationship with Han Hyo-joo is amazing. Thank you so much and I love you] (in Korean). Osen. Archived from the original on October 19, 2022. Retrieved October 19, 2022 – via Naver.
^Kang Hyo-jin (June 30, 2021). "송새벽X라미란X이범수 '컴백홈', 크랭크업…후반 작업 돌입". SPOTV News (in Korean). Archived from the original on March 24, 2023. Retrieved June 30, 2021 – via naver.
^Lee Se-bin (August 10, 2022). "송새벽·라미란·이범수, 극장 웃음 사냥 나선다…'컴백홈' 9월 개봉 확정" [Song Sae-byeok, Ra Mi-ran, and Lee Beom-soo go on a theater laughter hunt... 'Comeback Home' to be released in September] (in Korean). Ilgan Sports. Archived from the original on August 13, 2023. Retrieved August 10, 2022 – via Naver.
^Kim Seung-hyun (June 10, 2022). "유지태·곽도원·이범수·이민정, 티빙 오리지널 '빌런즈' 출연 확정" [Yoo Ji-tae, Kwak Do-won, Lee Beom-su, and Lee Min-jung confirmed to appear in Teabing's original 'Villains'] (in Korean). YTN. Archived from the original on June 10, 2022. Retrieved June 10, 2022 – via Naver.
^Kang Seo-jeong (October 27, 2023). "'광장' 가상캐스팅 1순위 소지섭 출연 확정..차승원→이준혁까지 시상식급 라인업[공식]" ['Mercy For None' virtual casting No. 1 So Ji-sub confirmed to appear...Awards-level lineup from Cha Seung-won to Lee Jun-hyuk [Official]] (in Korean). OSEN. Archived from the original on October 27, 2023. Retrieved October 27, 2023 – via Naver.
