Lee Min-ki (born January 16, 1985) is a South Korean actor, singer, and model. Lee's first leading role in television was in the 2005 sports drama Taereung National Village. He has gone on to star in many television series, including Love Truly (2006), Dal-ja's Spring (2007), Because This Is My First Life (2017), The Beauty Inside (2018), My Liberation Notes (2022) and Behind Your Touch (2023). Lee has also starred in feature films, most notably in the box office hits Tidal Wave (2009), Quick (2011), Spellbound (2011) and Very Ordinary Couple (2013).

Lee Min-ki
Lee in November 2024
Born (1985-01-16) January 16, 1985 (age 39)
Alma materKonkuk University - Film Arts[1] Daekyeung University - Modeling [2]
Occupations
  • Actor
  • singer
  • model
Years active2004–present
AgentSangyoung ENT
Height1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)[1]
Korean name
Hangul
이민기
Hanja
Revised RomanizationI Min-gi
McCune–ReischauerI Mingi

Career

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Acting

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After honing his acting in one-act dramas, Lee Min-ki first gained popularity on television in romantic comedies Love Truly (2006) and Dal-ja's Spring (2007).[3][4] He then starred in the quirky low-rated cult series Evasive Inquiry Agency (2007)[5] and alternated mainstream films with indies such as Oishii Man (2009).[6][7] He gained favorable notices for his supporting roles in the thriller A Million as a hot-tempered Marine-turned-janitor who finds himself involved in a survival reality show,[8] and the disaster film Tidal Wave, in which he plays a lifeguard who makes a heartbreaking sacrifice when a tsunami hits the Korean beach town of Haeundae.[9][10][11] Lee then solidified his bona fide movie star status with his leading roles in the action film Quick and romantic comedy Spellbound.[12][13][14]

Lee starred alongside Kim Min-hee in the relationship drama Very Ordinary Couple (2013), a critically-acclaimed a box-office hit.[15][16] He followed with leading roles in thriller Monster (2014),[17][18] action noir For the Emperor (2014),[19] and drama film Shoot Me in the Heart (2015), based on the bestselling novel of the same name by Jeong Yu-jeong.[20][21]

In 2017, Lee starred in the romantic-comedy drama Because This Is My First Life opposite Jung So-min, which had been his first television leading role in 10 years.[22] This was followed with the fantasy melodrama The Beauty Inside (2018), based on the 2015 romantic comedy film of the same name. He played a man who suffers from prosopagnosia.[23]

In 2019, Lee returned to the small screen opposite Lee Yoo-young in the crime detective drama The Lies Within as detective Jo Tae-sik.[24] On January 13, 2020, it was announced that Lee would star in the occult thriller film Three Days alongside Park Shin-yang and Lee Re.[25]

In 2021, Lee starred alongside Nana in the MBC romantic comedy Oh My Ladylord.[26] After the contract with his former agency expired in September 2021, Lee signed a contract with Yeongsang ENT.[27] The same year, he joined the JTBC television series My Liberation Notes which premiered in April 2022. He played the role of Yeom Chang-hee, the second of three siblings with no proper goal in life.[28]

Singing

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After performing a stylized version of "My Way" at the 2008 Mnet KM Music Festival, Lee lent his vocals to a track with Korean electronica/pop singer Sheean in a collaboration with Japanese electronica/Shibuya-kei artist FreeTEMPO. The song, titled "Power of Love," was released as a digital single, and Lee also appeared in the music video.[29] On August 11, 2009, he unveiled his musical debut No Kidding, a six track EP with a very indie-electro rock sound.[30] The album's title song "Eternal Summer" was the first and only single released.[31] In 2013, he released two singles titled "Those Days I Had with You" and "Everything" in collaboration with Gold Coast.[32]

Personal life

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Lee enlisted for his mandatory military service on August 7, 2014, and was assigned as a public service worker.[33][34] He was discharged in August 2016.[35]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2006 Riverbank Legends High school student #7 Special appearance
2007 A Good Day to Have an Affair College student [36]
2008 Humming Oh Chun-jae Special appearance [37]
Romantic Island Lee Jung-hwan [38]
2009 Oishii Man Kim Hyun-seok [6]
Tidal Wave Choi Hyeong-sik [39]
A Million Park Cheol-hee [8]
2011 Quick Han Ki-su [12]
Spellbound Ma Jo-goo [14]
2013 Very Ordinary Couple Lee Dong-hee [15]
2014 Monster Tae-soo [18]
For the Emperor Lee Hwan [19]
2015 Shoot Me in the Heart Ryu Seung-min [21]
2018 Detective K: Secret of the Living Dead Jeon In-kyul Special appearance [40]
2022 Decibel Captain Hwang Special appearance [41]
TBA Three Days Priest Van [25]

Television series

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Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2004 My Older Brother Kang Min-ki Drama City
2005 Oh! Sarah Kim Dong-kang
Be Strong, Geum-soon! Noh Tae-hwan [42]
Booyong of Mt. Kyeryong Hyeong-soo Drama City [43]
Taereung National Village Hong Min-ki [44]
Rainbow Romance Lee Min-ki [45]
2006 Love Truly Nam Bong-ki [4]
2007 Dal-ja's Spring Kang Tae-bong [3]
Evasive Inquiry Agency Park Mu-yeol [5]
2012 Flower Band Joo Byung-hee Guest, Episodes 1-2 [46]
2017 Because This Is My First Life Nam Se-hee [22]
2018 What's Wrong with Secretary Kim young Mi-so's father Cameo, Episode 10 [47]
The Beauty Inside Seo Do-jae [23]
2019 The Lies Within Jo Tae-sik [48]
2021 Oh My Ladylord Han Bi-soo [26]
2022 My Liberation Notes Yeom Chang-hee [49]
2023 Behind Your Touch Moon Jang-yeol [50]
2024 Crash Cha Yeon-ho [51]
Face Me Cha Jung-woo [52]

Music video appearances

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Year Song title Artist Ref.
2004 "Hit'm" Nina
2005 "Only One for Me" Soul Star
2007 "After... The Break-up" The Name feat. Choi Jin-yi [53]
2008 "My Girl" The One
2012 "The Day Before" Nell [54]
2013 "I'm Sorry" Han So-hyeon [55]

Discography

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Albums

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Album information Track listing
Power of Love
  • Single
  • Artist: FreeTEMPO feat. Sheean and Lee Min-ki
  • Released: September 26, 2008
  • Label:
Track listing
  1. Power of Love
Power of Love Part 2
  • Single
  • Artist: FreeTEMPO feat. Lee Min-ki
  • Released: November 14, 2008
  • Label:
Track listing
  1. Power of Love (3rd Coast Remix)
We Can't Forget the Reason
  • Single
  • Artist: Lee Min-ki feat. Weekenders
  • Released: December 10, 2008
  • Label:
Track listing
  1. We Can't Forget the Reason
  2. We Can't Forget the Reason (Inst.)
No Kidding
  • EP
  • Artist: Lee Min-ki
  • Released: August 11, 2009
  • Label: Locksmith by Shyoshyo Type/CJ E&M
Track listing
  1. 영원한 여름 (Eternal Summer)
  2. Dreaming
  3. Joujou (Let me see the love)
  4. Play My Way
  5. Tonite, Tonite
  6. Joujou (♥Minki Remix)
Those Days I Had with You
  • Single
  • Artist: Lee Min-ki feat. 3rd Coast
  • Released: March 14, 2013
  • Label: Go_od/CJ E&M
Track listing
  1. 지난날 (Those Days I Had with You)
  2. 지난날 (Those Days I Had with You) (Inst.)
Everything
  • Single
  • Artist: Lee Min-ki feat. 3rd Coast
  • Released: April 11, 2013
  • Label: Go_od/CJ E&M
Track listing
  1. Everything
  2. Everything (Inst.)

Soundtrack

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Year Song title Notes
2006 "Like Candy 2" Track from Love Truly OST
"Before Sadness Comes" Track from Rainbow Romance OST[56]
2009 "Frozen Mountain"
"Neanderthal Man II"
"Disappears Like That"
"A Match for You"
Tracks from Oishii Man OST[57]
2012 "Not in Love"
"jaywalking"
Track from Flower Band OST[58]

Awards and nominations

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Year Award Category Nominated work Result Ref.
2004 KBS Drama Awards Best Actor in a Special/One-Act Drama My Older Brother Nominated
2005 KBS Drama Awards Best Actor in a Special/One-Act Drama Oh! Sarah, Booyong of Mt. Kyeryong Nominated
MBC Drama Awards Best New Actor Be Strong, Geum-soon! Won [59]
2007 43rd Baeksang Arts Awards Best New Actor (TV) Love Truly Nominated
28th Blue Dragon Film Awards Best New Actor A Good Day to Have an Affair Nominated
KBS Drama Awards Excellence Award, Actor in a Miniseries Dal-ja's Spring, Evasive Inquiry Agency Nominated
Popularity Award, Actor Nominated
2009 2nd Style Icon Awards New Movie Icon Won [60]
30th Blue Dragon Film Awards Best Supporting Actor Haeundae Nominated
2010 46th Baeksang Arts Awards Best New Actor (Film) Won [61]
2014 50th Baeksang Arts Awards Most Popular Actor (Film) Monster Nominated
2018 13th Soompi Awards Actor of the Year Because This Is My First Life Nominated
Best Couple Award with Jung So-min Nominated
2019 14th Soompi Awards Best Couple Award with Seo Hyun-jin The Beauty Inside Nominated
2021 MBC Drama Awards Best Couple Award with Nana Oh My Ladylord Nominated
2023 Global Film & Television Huading Awards Best Global Teleplay Leading Actor My Liberation Notes Pending [62]

References

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  1. ^ a b c 이민기 탤런트, 영화배우. Naver Profiles (in Korean). Retrieved August 7, 2011.
  2. ^ 이민기 탤런트, 영화배우. Naver Profiles (in Korean). Retrieved October 28, 2022.
  3. ^ a b "'Dalja's Spring' Off to Good Start". KBS Global. April 1, 2007.
  4. ^ a b "< Love Truly > Makes a Good Start~!". MBC Global Media. February 14, 2008.
  5. ^ a b 재미있고 웃기는 <얼렁뚱땅 흥신소> '저주받은 걸작' 되나. Sisain (in Korean). November 26, 2007.
  6. ^ a b Lee, Hyo-won (February 19, 2009). "Oishii Man: Magic of Love, Youth". The Korea Times.
  7. ^ Shin, Hae-in (February 11, 2009). "Being a bit of both proves difficult in Oishi man". Yonhap News Agency.
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  9. ^ Ki, Sun-min (August 6, 2009). "Lee Min-ki revels in the art of acting". Korea JoongAng Daily.
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  12. ^ a b "Lee Min-ki tapped to play lead in new Yoon Je-kyun pic". 10Asia. April 29, 2010.
  13. ^ "Quick promises fastest Korean blockbuster ever". The Korea Times. June 21, 2011.
  14. ^ a b "Son Ye-jin, Lee Min-ki finish shooting new romance flick". 10Asia. April 12, 2011.
  15. ^ a b "Kim Min-hee, Lee Min-ki Wraps Up Shooting Romance Pic". 10Asia. October 29, 2012.
  16. ^ "Unusual Love Stories". Korean Film Biz Zone. March 8, 2013.
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  18. ^ a b "Press Conference Held for MONSTER". Korean Film Biz Zone. February 24, 2014.
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  49. ^ Kim Yoo-jin (July 9, 2021). "나의 해방일지' 이민기·김지원·손석구·이엘 캐스팅 확정 [공식입장]" [My Liberation Journal' casts Lee Min-ki, Kim Ji-won, Son Seok-gu, and EL confirmed [Official position]] (in Korean). X-ports News. Retrieved July 9, 2021 – via Naver.
  50. ^ Lee, Seung-gil (November 8, 2022). "이보영·조승우·한지민·이준호·임윤아…JTBC, 초호화 2023년 드라마 라인업 전격공개" [Lee Bo-Young - Cho Seung-Woo - Han Ji-Min - Lee Joon-Ho - Im Yoon-A...JTBC unveils ultra-luxury 2023 drama line-up] (in Korean). My Daily. Retrieved September 12, 2023 – via Naver.
  51. ^ "[단독]이민기·곽선영·허성태, 코믹 수사극 '크래시' 주인공" [[Exclusive] Lee Min-ki, Kwak Sun-young, and Heo Seong-tae, main characters in the comical investigative drama ‘Crash’]. 스타뉴스 (in Korean). December 21, 2023 – via Naver.
  52. ^ Ha Kyung-heon (February 22, 2023). "이민기-한지현, 'K-성형' 드라마 '룩앳미' 캐스팅[공식]" [Lee Min-ki and Han Ji-hyun cast in 'K-Plastic Surgery' drama 'Look at Me' [Official]] (in Korean). Sports Kyunghyang. Retrieved February 22, 2023 – via Naver.
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