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Lee Jung-jae

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Lee Jung-jae is a prominent South Korean actor, filmmaker, and businessman. He is widely recognized as one of the most successful actors in South Korea. His career spans many genres, including action, comedy, romance, and thrillers. Beyond acting, he has established himself in the business world. He founded several companies, such as the development firm Seorim C&D. He also launched a restaurant chain located in Seoul.

Lee, Jung-Jae
Lee, Jung-Jae

Lee's path to stardom began in a non-traditional way. He was discovered by a designer while working at a café in Apgujeong-dong. This discovery led him to work as a fashion model for several years. He made his acting debut in the 1993 television drama Dinosaur Teacher. Shortly after, he became a household name through the 1994 campus drama Feelings. His popularity grew significantly in 1995 with the drama Sandglass. In that series, he played a silent, devoted bodyguard. This role turned him into a national heartthrob.

Lee, Jung-Jae
Lee, Jung-Jae

To deepen his skills, Lee pursued formal education in the arts. He enrolled in the Department of Theatre & Film at Dongguk University. In August 2008, he earned a master's degree from the university's Graduate School of Cultural Arts. He also explored live performance through theater. In December 2008, he played the title role in the play Hamlet in Water. This production took place at the Lee Hae-rang Theater. His career experienced various stages of growth and fluctuation. After serving in the military in 1997, he returned to acting school to refine his craft.

Lee has successfully navigated many different types of film and television. He starred in the romantic film Il Mare in 2000. This film later became a minor classic among Korean cinema fans. In 2003, he starred in the comedy Oh! Brothers. This film was a massive success, reaching over three million admissions. He later appeared in the heist film The Thieves in 2012. This movie became the second highest-grossing film in Korean cinema history. He also played a police officer in the crime thriller New World in 2013.

In 2021, Lee achieved massive international fame through the Netflix series Squid Game. He portrayed the main character, Seong Gi-hun. The series creator chose Lee to help break his previous charismatic image. This role brought him historic recognition across the globe. He became the first male actor from Asia to receive individual nominations from the Golden Globes, the Critics' Choice Television Awards, the Primetime Emmy Awards, and the Screen Actors Guild Awards. He won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series in 2022. This made him the first person to win that specific award for a non-English-speaking role.

Lee is also expanding his influence as a creator and director. In 2022, he made his directorial debut with the spy action film Hunt. He also starred in this film alongside Jung Woo-sung. His work has reached even larger audiences through English-language projects. He was cast as a lead in the Star Wars series, The Acolyte, on Disney+. This role marked his first performance in the English language. He continues to take on diverse roles, including his return to the character of Gi-hun in subsequent seasons of Squid Game.

Lee, Jung-Jae
Lee, Jung-Jae

His contributions to the arts have earned him the highest honors in his country. In December 2022, he was awarded the Geumgwan Order of Cultural Merit. This is the first-class decoration for those who contribute to South Korean culture and arts. This honor was presented to him by President Yoon Suk Yeol.

ROK Order of Cultural Merit Geum-gwan (1st Class) ribbon
ROK Order of Cultural Merit Geum-gwan (1st Class) ribbon

Lee's career connects the worlds of traditional acting, modern global streaming, and international business. He remains a central figure in the global rise of South Korean entertainment.

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