Lee Jin Wook
Info
🙂 Native Name: 이진욱
🌏 Nationality: South Korean
♂️ Gender: Male
🎂 Born: September 16, 1981
🏠 Birth Place: heongju, North Chungcheong Province, South Korea
🌌 Zodiac Sign: Virgo
📏 Height: 185 cm
💍 Spouse: None
👶 Children: None
Biography
Lee Jin-wook, born on September 16, 1981, in Cheongju, South Korea, initially pursued Environmental Engineering at Cheongju University. However, his passion for the arts led him to transition into modeling, which eventually opened doors to acting. He began his acting career with roles in television dramas such as Resurrection (2005) and Alone in Love (2006), gradually building his presence in the entertainment industry.
His breakthrough came with the romance series Glass Castle (2008–2009) and I Need Romance 2012 (2012), where he captivated audiences with his performances. In 2013, he gained wider recognition with the time-travel romance series Nine: Nine Time Travels, solidifying his status as a leading actor in South Korea.
Lee continued to showcase his versatility with roles in various genres. He starred in the romantic drama The Time We Were Not in Love (2015) and took on a more intense role in the crime thriller series Voice (2018–2019). His portrayal of complex characters demonstrated his range and depth as an actor.
In recent years, Lee expanded his international presence through Netflix productions. He played significant roles in the apocalyptic horror series Sweet Home (2020–2024) and appeared in Squid Game (2024), further cementing his global appeal. His performances have been praised for their intensity and authenticity, contributing to the success of these series.
Hobbies
Cycling – Lee Jin Wook is known to be an avid cyclist. He often enjoys long-distance rides and finds it both mentally refreshing and physically challenging.
Watching Documentaries – He has a keen interest in documentaries, especially those related to space, nature, and science, which reflect his curious personality.
Cooking – While not a professional chef, he enjoys experimenting with new recipes and often cooks for himself as a form of relaxation.
Photography – He likes capturing everyday moments and landscapes, especially when traveling. He considers photography a form of storytelling.
Playing Video Games – Like many actors of his generation, he enjoys unwinding by playing console or PC games, especially action and strategy genres.
Interests
Science and Space – Lee Jin Wook has expressed his fascination with space exploration and astronomy in several interviews.
Minimalist Living – He prefers a clean, minimalist lifestyle and applies that to both his fashion sense and home decor.
Fitness and Wellness – Beyond cycling, he regularly works out to stay in shape, especially when preparing for action or thriller roles.
Role Transformation – He enjoys challenging himself with dark or layered roles, and often studies body language and psychology for more realism.
Traveling Solo – Lee prefers solo travel for self-reflection and inspiration, often choosing quiet destinations that help him reset mentally.
Facts
Engineering Background – He studied Environmental Engineering at Cheongju University before pursuing a career in entertainment.
Started as a Model – Before his acting debut, Lee worked as a fashion model, which helped him transition into television.
Military Service Completed – He completed his mandatory military service, which he believes added discipline to his professional life.
Famous for Time-Travel Role – His performance in Nine: Nine Time Travels (2013) is considered a turning point in his career.
Appeared in Both K-Dramas and Netflix Originals – From The Time We Were Not in Love to Sweet Home and Squid Game, his roles span diverse platforms and audiences.
Secrets
Has a Reserved Personality – Despite his confident on-screen persona, he’s known to be quite shy and introverted in real life.
Doesn’t Rewatch His Dramas – He has admitted to feeling uncomfortable watching himself act and rarely rewatches his own performances.
Keeps His Love Life Private – After high-profile relationships with Choi Ji Woo and Gong Hyo Jin, he has kept all romantic matters out of the public eye.
Was Initially Insecure About Acting – In early interviews, he confessed feeling unsure of his talent and nearly quit acting after his first few roles.
Has Never Released a Music Project – Unlike many Korean actors, he has not ventured into singing or OST recording, staying purely focused on acting.
Funny Things
Awkward in Variety Shows – He often gives hilariously blunt or awkward answers on variety shows, which has become part of his charm.
Has a “Poker Face” Reputation – Co-stars often joke that it’s hard to tell what he’s thinking because his facial expression rarely changes off-screen.
Confused Fans With His Look-Alikes – He is frequently mistaken for actors like Kim Jae Wook or Lee Soo Hyuk due to similar features and modeling backgrounds.
Accidentally Called a Co-Star by Her Character Name – During a press conference, he mistakenly addressed a colleague by her fictional name, causing laughter all around.
Clumsy with Tech – He has admitted to struggling with technology, once saying he needed help just to install basic apps on his phone.
Fears
Losing His Passion for Acting – He fears becoming too comfortable in his roles and losing the drive that brought him into the industry.
Being Typecast – Known for mysterious or emotionally intense roles, he worries that he may be seen only within that range.
Public Misunderstanding – As a reserved person, he sometimes fears his silence is misinterpreted as arrogance or disinterest.
Injury on Set – Especially after taking on action-heavy roles like in Voice or Sweet Home, he’s cautious about physical injury during stunts.
Sudden Fame Fade – Despite his success, he remains humble and admits to quietly fearing the unpredictability of the entertainment industry.
News
🎬 1. Lee Jin Wook Stars in The Black Nuns
In February 2024, Lee Jin Wook was confirmed to star as Father Paolo in the film The Black Nuns, a spin-off of the 2015 hit The Priests. The movie, directed by Kwon Hyuk-jae, is slated for release on January 24, 2025.
📺 2. Leading Role in Dear Hyeri
Lee Jin Wook took on the role of Jung Hyun-oh in the psychological romance drama Dear Hyeri, which aired from September 23 to October 29, 2024, on ENA. The series delves into themes of dissociative identity disorder and emotional healing.
🎥 3. Appearance in Squid Game Season 2
Lee Jin Wook joined the cast of Netflix’s Squid Game Season 2, portraying the character Gyeong-seok (Player 246). The season was released on December 26, 2024.
🎞️ 4. Upcoming Film with Suzy: 7 O’Clock Luncheon for the Brokenhearted
In April 2025, it was announced that Lee Jin Wook would co-star with Suzy in the film 7 O’Clock Luncheon for the Brokenhearted, an adaptation of Baek Young Ok’s 2012 novel. The story follows two individuals who join a morning support group to cope with personal losses.
⚖️ 5. Offered Lead Role in Legal Drama Esquire
In March 2025, Lee Jin Wook was offered a starring role in the upcoming legal drama Esquire. The series focuses on the lives of lawyers handling real-life cases.
TV Drama
Movies
Music / OST
🎵 Lee Jin Wook’s Music Career: Focused Actor, Not a Singer
Though widely celebrated as a versatile and intense actor in South Korea, Lee Jin Wook does not have a professional music career. Unlike some of his peers in the Korean entertainment industry who have pursued dual paths in acting and singing, Lee has remained almost entirely dedicated to film and television acting. There are no official albums, singles, or soundtrack (OST) recordings credited to him as a singer.
🎭 Performance Roots in Acting, Not Music
Lee Jin Wook began his career as a fashion model before transitioning into acting in the early 2000s. His early work focused heavily on dramatic roles in series such as Resurrection (2005) and Alone in Love (2006). As his popularity grew through hit dramas like Nine: Nine Time Travels, Voice, and Sweet Home, he became known for his reserved demeanor, intense screen presence, and emotional delivery — not for any singing talents.
Despite the musical themes present in some of the dramas he starred in, including romantic and fantasy series with successful OSTs (The Time We Were Not in Love, Bulgasal, Sweet Home), Lee did not participate in any of their soundtrack recordings.
🎙️ No OST or Variety Show Singing Credits
While Lee has appeared on variety programs or drama press conferences, there is no publicly available footage or credit showing him performing musically in any official or informal capacity. He is not known for appearing on music-related shows like Immortal Songs, I Can See Your Voice, or King of Masked Singer.
In interviews, he has also not expressed a desire to pursue music, instead emphasizing his commitment to storytelling through acting and taking on increasingly complex or unconventional roles in television and cinema.
🔍 Summary: Voice for Drama, Not for Song
To date, Lee Jin Wook has no music discography, and there is no indication that he plans to explore singing professionally. However, fans often praise the tone and timbre of his speaking voice, which adds depth to his characters and would make him a good candidate for narration or voice acting in future projects — though not in a musical sense.
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