Lee Joon-gi (Korean: 이준기; born 17 April 1982)[3][unreliable source?] is a South Korean actor, singer, also a writer, dancer, and model. He rose to fame on his first leading role playing a clown in the critically acclaimed film The King and the Clown (2005) and gained further recognition in the romantic comedy My Girl (2005−06). Since then, he has diversified into other genres such as historical dramas (sageuk) and action thrillers. He is also known for his roles in Iljimae (2008), Arang and the Magistrate (2012), Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo (2016), Lawless Lawyer (2018), and Flower of Evil (2020).
The popularity of his work overseas, especially in Asia, have established him as a top Hallyu star.[4][5][6]
Early life
Lee Joon-gi was born in Daeyeon-dong, Nam-gu, Busan, South Korea[1] but spent his schooling years in nearby Changwon.[7] He first became interested in the performing arts as a high school student after watching a performance of Hamlet. After finishing high school, he went against his parents' wishes for him to enter university and moved to Seoul to pursue a career in the entertainment industry.[7] For the next several years, Lee worked at various part-time jobs such as waiting tables while auditioning for roles and also debuted as a print and commercial model in 2001.[8][9] He was accepted into the Seoul Arts College on a scholarship[10][11] and graduated in 2007.[12]
Career
2005: King and the Clown and rising fame
After bit-part roles in several dramas and films, Lee had his first major acting role in the 2005 film The King and the Clown, in which he played the historical figure Gong-gil, an effeminate clown in the Joseon period.[13] The film, which achieved both critical and commercial success, propelled the then-unknown actor into Asia-wide stardom.[14][15] Apart from winning numerous Best Newcomer recognition at the Korean Film Awards, Grand Bell Awards and Baeksang Art Awards,[16][17][18] Lee also won the Best Actor Award at the Max Movie Awards.
Producer Lee Joon-ik revealed the story of how he chose Lee for The King and the Clown, despite being an unknown and relatively new actor, by just seeing him do handstands, saying, "Just because of handstands, Lee Joon-gi became the person he is today."[19] After the film, Lee became "an icon" of the South Korean "pretty boy" trend.[20][21][22][23] Lee has since tried to downplay this kkonminam image, saying that his character Gong-gil in the film felt like being in foot-irons so he wanted to escape from the image: "After my performance in The King and the Clown, I found myself at the forefront of this 'pretty boy' trend, whether or not that was my intention. Suddenly, people were interested in me, and there was all this praise and criticism all at the same time. Everything was just so overwhelming. I felt like I was floating on air."[24]
Lee was against the halving of screen quotas in South Korea that allows foreign films to be shown in theaters on certain days, while domestic films are allotted another number of days. He believed that without the screen quotas, The King and the Clown would not have been as successful in competing against foreign films.[25][26]
Lee was then cast as the second lead character in SBS's My Girl alongside Lee Da-hae and Lee Dong-wook. With an average viewership rating of 20%, the romance comedy series became a hit during its run both domestically and across Asia, further catapulting Lee into Korean Wave stardom.[27][28] Due to the drama's popularity, the 'Lee Joon-gi Syndrome' occurred, establishing himself as a cultural icon of his time.[29]
For his follow-up film Fly, Daddy, Fly, directed by Choi Jong-tae and produced by Dyne Film-Guardtec, he was reportedly paid ₩100 million, relatively low given his rising popularity following King and the Clown. This is because the contract was signed in early December before the film's release when Lee was an unknown actor.[30][31]
The film garnered much attention and media coverage among Chinese viewers.[32]
In 2007, Lee filmed a joint Korea-Japan movie entitled Virgin Snow with Japanese actress Aoi Miyazaki, in which he plays a Korean exchange student.[33]Virgin Snow was successful as it placed 9th at the box office chart and set a new ticket admissions record for a Korean film released in Japan.[34] Lee later received the Rising Star Award at the 27th Hawaii International Film Festival.[35] The same year, he participated in the film May 18, which is based on the events surrounding the Gwangju Massacre of 1980. 18 May achieved excellent box office results, and was later awarded the Gold Orchid Best Feature Film for the year of 2007.[35] However, there was criticism that both of these productions, along with Fly, Daddy, Fly, had "either fallen short of expectations at the box office or cast Lee in minor roles."[24]
Lee also took on his first drama leading role in MBC action drama, Time Between Dog and Wolf, as in which his character portrays a vengeful NIS agent with a violent streak, planning to infiltrate a drug gang to avenge the death of his mother.[36][37] Prior from his previous work, the actor portrays variety of complexive emotions, successfully dispelling the 'pretty boy image' by showing off a manly short haircut in preparation for his role.[38] With Lee Joon-Gi's notable performance, he successfully won the Excellence Award at the 2007 MBC Drama Awards. Director Kim Jin-min opined some years later that it was a turning point for Lee as the role enabled him to shed his "pretty boy" image and also highlight his martial arts background.[39][40]
2008–2009: Tourism ambassadorship and contractual dispute
Lee at the Japan FM press conference in 2009
From April to July 2008, Lee played the titular role in SBS's Iljimae, a period-action drama based on Chinese folklore from the Ming dynasty about a masked Robin Hood-esque character during the Joseon era.[41][42] The final episode achieved a rating of 31.4% viewership, and Lee later received the Top Excellence Award at the 2008 SBS Drama Awards. The drama was also aired in Japan on the channel TV Tokyo.[24]
On 29 July 2008, Lee was chosen as the Ambassador for the 2008 Seoul Hallyu Festival. He was also appointed the first Honorary Legal System Officer since the constitution of the Government Legislation Agency to commemorate their 60th anniversary.[43]
In September 2008, Lee had a contractual dispute with his agency Mentor Entertainment, whom he was signed to since March 2004 in an exclusive contract for five years. Lee was being sued for ₩500 million for breach of contract and for supposedly hiding ₩1 billion in an attempt to "established his own agency in association with his manager". Lee countered that he "underwent significant financial damage as the company was poor in dealing with tax affairs and profit distribution" and he is said to have notified them of contract cancellation in February.[44]
On 5 August 2009, Lee was appointed promotional ambassador of the Korea Tourism Organization.[45][46] The same year, he starred in the comedic-action drama Hero, playing a reporter.[47][48]
2010–2012: Military service
In February 2010, upon the expiration of Lee's contract with Mentor Entertainment, he signed with a newly established independent agency, JG Company.[49]
On 3 May 2010, Lee enlisted in the Republic of Korea Army to serve his mandatory military service. He first underwent five weeks of basic training at Nonsan military training camp, earning top scores in marksmanship,[50] and was later drafted into active duty.[51][52] He was assigned to the public relations department of the Ministry of National Defense[53][54] He had initially applied for a postponement because he was in the midst of shooting Grand Prix with actress Kim Tae-hee, and was cast to star in television drama Faith. He was also chosen to represent Korea as a goodwill ambassador at the 2010 Shanghai Expo.[55] However, Military Manpower Administration declined and sent a final notice for enlistment, leading him to pull out of both projects.[56]
In August, Lee co-starred with fellow actor Ju Ji-hoon in military musical, Voyage of Life to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Korean War.[57] The musical was also co-produced by the Ministry of National Defense and Korea Musical Theatre Association, and was shown from 21 to 29 August in the National Theater of Korea.[58][59] After serving 21 months of active duty, Lee was discharged on 16 February 2012 from the Defense Media Agency at Yongsan-dong, Yongsan District, Seoul.[60][61] On the day when he was discharged, Lee held a fan meeting, "Reunion JG" at Sangmyung Art Center, Seoul.[62] This was followed by fan event tour of Japan, titled Coming Back in Nagoya, Yokohama and Osaka from 16 to 19 March.[63]
2012–2013: Comeback
In May 2012, Lee co-starred with Shin Min-a in MBC's period horror-romance Arang and the Magistrate, his first project after being discharged.[64][65] The series was a success and became the most expensive drama to be sold to Japan by MBC.[66] Lee was later recognized at the Seoul International Drama Awards, winning the Outstanding Korean Drama Actor award.[67]
On 27 September 2012, Lee Joon Gi's JG Style was shown on Mnet Japan, documenting Lee's comeback to the entertainment industry. The series was later awarded the Grand Prize in the Korean wave category at the Skapa Award 2012 in Japan.[68][69]
In 2013, Lee starred in the action thriller Two Weeks, playing a father struggling to save his daughter from leukemia while fighting a murder charge.[70][71] He received Top Excellence Award in the male category at the 2nd APAN Star Awards.[72]
2014–present: Historical dramas and action roles
Lee signed with a new management agency, Namoo Actors.[73] He then starred in the period drama Gunman in Joseon (2014) and won critical acclaim for his acting and action scenes, winning the Outstanding Korean Drama Actor for a second time at the Seoul International Drama Awards.[74][75][76] The drama topped the ratings for its time slot and also garnered attention overseas, especially in China where it surpassed 200 million views in a month on Tencent QQ's video-viewing platform.[77][78] This was followed by the vampire romance series Scholar Who Walks the Night in 2015,[79][80] which earned Lee a "Top Ten Stars" award at the MBC Drama Awards. The same year, he was cast in his first Chinese movie, Never Said Goodbye.[81][82]
In January 2016, Lee was cast in the lead role of 4th prince, Wang So, in Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo, a Korean remake of the Chinese television series, Scarlet Heart.[83][84] The 20-episode drama, budgeted at US$13 million, premiered on 29 August 2016.[85] The production was not well received domestically,[86] but averaged 100 million cumulative views per episode during its simulcast on the Chinese video hosting site Youku and led to a rise in popularity for Lee in China.[87][88][89] In preparation for his role as Wang So, the actor lost about 15 kg. During an interview with Chinese media outlet Sina, Lee Goon-gi explained in an interview, "The director wanted me to have a sharp vibe like an injured animal . So I went on a diet for 5-6 months and lost 15kg (~33lbs).[90][unreliable source?] On 1 November, Lee hosted a free fan meeting titled "My Love Lee Joon-gi" where fans were able to watch the final episode of Moon Lovers with him in attendance.[91]
In October 2016, Lee signed as a new model for Lotte Duty-Free Shop. He also co-starred in a promotional web drama titled 7 First Kisses for the company.[92] Lee made his expansion to Hollywood, when he made his debut with a small appearance in the sixth and final installment of the Resident Evil series titled, Resident Evil: The Final Chapter which was released worldwide in January 2017.[93][94] The filming was originally conducted in secret, but the casting news was announced on 17 October 2015, when the film's lead actress Milla Jovovich posted a photo with Lee Joon-gi on her SNS. Director Paul W.S. Anderson screened Lee Joon-gi's drama and action scenes and offered him a special appearance via email. Lee Joon-gi revealed that he is a fan of the Resident Evil series, saying, "Rather than making a full-fledged Hollywood debut, I am doing my best to film as a fan of the series, focusing on the meaning of the appearance itself."[95][96]
Lee Joon-gi poses for a photo with Milla Jovovich, who visited Korea to promote "Resident Evil: The Final Chapter" on 13 January 2017.
In 2017, Lee starred in tvN's crime procedural drama Criminal Minds, based on the American series of the same name.[97] His convincing acting performance as a criminal profiler garnered him plaudits from critics and viewers.[98][99]
In 2020, Lee was cast in the tvN thriller melodrama The Flower of Evil, reuniting him with Criminal Minds co-star Moon Chae-won.[103] He was praised for his chemistry with Moon portraying a married couple.[104][105] Lee's name was the most searched keyword on domestic search engines for three consecutive weeks, based on data compiled by Good Data Corporation.[106] In an interview with magazines GQ and Allure, the actor revealed that unlike his previous acting style, he showed his acting ability by going back and forth between melodrama and thriller, with acting that was more subtle and contained emotions.[107] For his performance, Lee was nominated for Best Actor – Television at 57th Baeksang Arts Awards.[108]
In 2022, Lee made a comeback to the small screen with SBS drama Again My Life, his return to terrestrial television in six years since 2016.[109]
In 2023, Lee starred in the second season of the tvN historical fantasy drama Arthdal Chronicles, where he portrayed a set of twins.
Public image and acting style
As an actor, Lee Goon-gi he has a unique mask and is also well-received for his acting. His most notable feature is his refined and feminine appearance, but his actual personality is far from it.[110] When he appeared in "The King and the Clown," where he played a clown man with a feminine personality, he once said, "It was so different from my original personality that it was difficult to act."[24]
Lee Joon Gi's acting is characterized by his effective use of facial expressions and body language to convey the essence of each character he portrays.[111] He is often praised for his versatile acting skills, which allow him to flawlessly transition between charismatic and tender portrayals, as well as his commitment to physically demanding roles.[112][unreliable source?]
Personal life
Lee enjoys learning and practicing different types of martial arts during his spare time.[113] His father had signed him up for martial arts lessons as a child to keep him out of trouble and he continued practicing into adulthood, mostly to prepare for specific roles. Due to his proficiency in taekwondo and several other forms of martial arts, he rarely uses a stunt double for fight scenes[114][115] and is recognized within the industry as one of the country's top action stars.[116][102][40][117]
^이준기, "이효리 주선으로 보아와 소개팅" [Lee Hyo Lee arranged a blind date with Lee Joon-gi and Boa]. The Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). 30 April 2009. Archived from the original on 18 November 2009. Retrieved 16 November 2009.
^'마이걸', 한국형 로맨틱 드라마 가능성 보였다. Star News (in Korean). 3 February 2006. Archived from the original on 10 September 2021. Retrieved 13 July 2018.
^Kang, Hee-soo (3 March 2006). 문화 아이콘, 이준기를 통하였느냐 [Was it through cultural icon Lee Joon-gi?]. OSEN [ko] (in Korean). Retrieved 20 June 2024 – via Daum.
^반 발 앞선 장르의 즐거움, 개늑시 [The pleasure of a genre that is half a step ahead of you, Dog Wolf Poetry]. OSEN [ko] (in Korean). 7 September 2007. Archived from the original on 20 June 2024. Retrieved 20 June 2024 – via Naver.
^"NIGHT IS TENDER, 이준기". Allure Korea (in Korean). 22 November 2020. Archived from the original on 7 December 2023. Retrieved 4 July 2024.
^ abKim Jin-seok and Jo Yeon-kyung (12 April 2021). 57회 백상예술대상, TV·영화·연극 부문 최종 후보 공개. isplus.joins (in Korean). Archived from the original on 12 April 2021. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
^Oh Yoon-joo (4 April 2022). 이준기, '일지매'·'달의 연인'→'어겐마' 믿고 보는 필모그래피 [Lee Joon-gi, 'Iljimae' · 'Moon Lovers' → 'Agenma' believe and watch filmography] (in Korean). My Daily. Archived from the original on 4 April 2022. Retrieved 4 April 2022 – via Naver.
^Moon, Ji-yeon (29 November 2020). '2020 AAA' 이정재·김수현→임영웅·방탄소년단 올해의 대상 [2020 AAA Lee Jung-jae, Kim Soo-hyun → Lim Young-woong, BTS' Grand Prize of the Year]. The Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). Archived from the original on 8 December 2020. Retrieved 29 November 2020.
^Park, Se-yeon (31 December 2022). "[SBS 연기대상]이준기, 미니시리즈 판타지드라마 최우수연기상 "대상 아니지만 너무 즐겁다"" [[SBS Drama Awards] Lee Joon-gi, Top Excellence Actor in a Miniseries Fantasy Drama "It's not a grand prize, but it's so much fun"] (in Korean). Maeil Business. Archived from the original on 31 December 2022. Retrieved 31 December 2022 – via Naver.
^Oh, Yoon-joo (30 December 2022). "'SBS 연기대상' 대상 후보 5人...영광의 주인공 누구?" [5 candidates for the 'SBS Drama Awards'...Who is the hero of glory?] (in Korean). My Daily. Archived from the original on 12 November 2020. Retrieved 2 January 2023 – via Naver.
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