Lee Dong-wook bio, relationships, height, young, girlfriend, age 2025

Biography of Lee Dong-wook

Lee Dong-wook is a popular South Korean actor and television host who began his career in the modeling industry. He shot to international stardom after appearing in hit K-dramas like "My Girl", "Hotel King", "Goblin", "Hell Is Other People", "Ban and Crazy", and "Tale of the Nine Tailed". Korean audiences absolutely love him as the host of "Strong Heart" and his own talk show "Because Lee Dong-wook Wants to Talk".

Childhood, Youth, Family

Lee Dong-wook was born in fall 1981 to a regular Seoul family. He has a younger sister, Sun-Hee Lee, and helped take care of her from an early age. His mother recalls that just hours before giving birth, she dozed off and dreamed of a big boar. Since pigs symbolize wealth and prosperity in Asian culture, the dream was seen as a sign the boy would find success.

Like many of his peers, Lee grew up loving swimming and basketball, ice skating, and playing hockey. His parents wanted to give their kids everything, but couldn't afford private school for both children, so Dong-wook got the private education while his sister attended public school.

The boy was in fifth grade when the family's house burned down in a fire. But his parents stayed strong and worked hard to keep life normal for their kids.

In high school, the good-looking teen—who got his striking features from his beautiful mother—started modeling part-time and earning his own money.

Before that, he'd dreamed of teaching and consistently ranked in the top five in Korean language classes, scoring 115 out of 120 on the CSAT language section [College Scholastic Ability Test]. After the house fire, he thought about becoming a firefighter, then dreamed of running his own hotel. In one interview, Lee confessed:

I could have been an office worker... I don't think I would have been a successful businessman. I don't have that kind of ambition. When I was in middle and high school, I wanted to be a hotelier. Perhaps I would have lived comfortably somewhere. I think if I hadn't become an actor, I would have been chubby. I love to eat. I stay in shape only because I'm an actor. It's my sense of duty.

After graduating, he enrolled in Sejong University's film arts program but dropped out because of his busy filming schedule. He later tried Chung-Ang University's television and media arts program but didn't finish that either—a starring TV role got in the way.

Acting Career

At the age of 18, Dong-wook made his debut in the dramas "Coaching" and "There's a World Outside of the Road".

LEE DONG WOOK at age 19, SECRET (2000)

The young, talented actor caught directors' attention in films like "School," "The Unstoppables," and "Honest Living," eventually landing the lead role in the prime-time series "My Girl." His character Seoul Gong Chan brought the rising actor his first taste of fame, leading to his casting in the feature-length thriller "Arang" as Detective Hen Gi. He starred alongside the captivating Son Yun-A.

Dong-wook landed another leading role in the drama "A Bittersweet Life" (2005), followed by the main character in the melodrama "The Perfect Couple" (2007). His next notable project was the drama "Heartbreak Library," where his character searches for his missing girlfriend with only a page number - 198 - as his clue.

Lee Dong-wook in the movie 'The Perfect Couple'

After this film, Lee enlisted in the army - in South Korea, military service is mandatory even for celebrities. He served two years in the Public Relations Service of the National Defense, occasionally getting leave for filming projects.

The Korean actor's career took a new turn with the touching drama "Scent of a Woman" (2011), where he starred alongside Kim Sun A. He secured another leading role in the melodrama "Hotel King," then proved his range beyond romantic leads by portraying three different characters in the drama "Goblin" (also translated as "Demon").

The character I played in 'Goblin' consisted of three types of characters - a king in the past, a Grim Reaper and a reincarnated character. In the end, this is related to my ability to quickly adapt. Dramas are not always filmed in the sequence of events that occur in them, otherwise I would have to play a grim reaper, and then suddenly dress up in historical clothes. The need to cope with such changes in character has been very useful for me.

When his career hit a lull, he accepted director Lee Chan-hee's offer for one of the leading roles in the mystical thriller "Hell Is Other People" (2019). Dong-wook took on the role of serial killer Seo Moon-jo, marking his first truly villainous character - a challenging departure for the actor.

Lee Dong-wook in the series 'Strangers from Hell'

I played, constantly reminding myself that this is wrong and that it's just a staging... I asked the director to make sure that my character's behavior was not justified. I tried not to give in to the emotions of my character, Dong-wook said.

Even so, the actor's friends noticed he'd changed – even his gaze had become different! When he found himself pondering the scene where he pulls out the victim's teeth, thinking about how to make it as painful as possible, he realized he needed to be more careful.

The Heartbreaking Story Of Lee Dong-wook

But the effort paid off: the drama "Hell Is Other People" immediately became a hit, and Lee Dong-wook got a role in the fantasy melodrama based on Asian mythology "Tale of the Nine Tailed" (2020). Here he plays a thousand-year-old spirit who punishes demons while searching for the reincarnation of his ancient love.

Lee Dong-wook in the series 'Tale of the Nine Tailed'

In 2021, Lee Dong-wook starred in the comedy thriller "Bad and Crazy", which also earned rave reviews from viewers worldwide. He transforms into a corrupt cop pursued by a mysterious man in a motorcycle helmet, and this encounter with the stranger turns his carefree life upside down.

Lee Dong-wook in the series 'Bad and Crazy'

Personal Life of Lee Dong-wook

The beloved Korean actor remains unmarried, though he certainly doesn't lack admirers. Dong-wook has been rumored to have relationships with colleagues, but only one has been officially confirmed - with actress and singer Bae Suzy (real name Bae Soo-ji). Their relationship began in 2018, but their age difference and demanding work schedules likely led to their breakup.

Many of his co-stars have also been linked to him romantically. For example, actress and DJ Yoo In-na has worked with him on two projects - "Goblin" and "Touch Your Heart". They played lovers so convincingly that rumors began swirling about a possible off-screen romance. This was especially fueled when the actress revealed in an interview that she'd never met an actor or person quite like Dong-wook.

Lee Dong-wook and Yoo In-na in the series 'Touch Your Heart'

Lee Da-hae also talked about her relationship with a "certain colleague" for a year, explaining that "the romance ended, but friendship remained". Everyone who watched "Hotel King" immediately suspected she meant Dong-wook - they had such incredible chemistry on screen.

Lee Dong-wook and Lee Da-hae in the series 'Hotel King'

Lee dedicates his love and time primarily to his parents, sister, and nephew. He remembers how hard his parents worked so he could attend the best schools and pursue his passion. His parents live in an apartment Dong-wook bought them as soon as he could afford it. He also took care of his sister, Son Hee, by paying for her education and then her wedding. The actor helped his brother-in-law open his veterinary clinic.

When discussing family and his future wife, Lee Dong-wook once confessed:

I'd like us to talk a lot. Even if we're both busy with work, a family is a family when we can rely on each other and say: 'I'm having a hard time'. I live with my parents now and try to talk to them more often. My mom always says: 'Even if you don't tell me anything, I still know everything about you'. She always worries about me and sympathizes with me. When I start filming, I may not be home for a month or two.

Now Lee lives on his own and says he's increasingly enjoying solitude. The actor loves retreating to Jeju Island with his fishing rod, has become a philanthropist, and donates generously to charity. One of his recent major donations - 50 million won - went to help victims of a devastating forest fire that started in Uljin and spread nationwide.

Lee Dong-wook Now

Lee's role as an uncle in the thriller "A Shop for Killers" (2024) offered a compelling new challenge. His character, Jin Man, single-handedly raises his niece, played by Kim Hye Jun. The uncle's sudden death reveals a shocking truth: he was running a deadly online marketplace.

Speaking about his character, Lee explained:

...when I played Jin Man, I hardly styled my hair or used cosmetics. But his hidden past emerges in a completely different form. Jin Man's goal is simply to protect his niece and ensure that she can live a safe life. Due to the plot development, there will inevitably be a division between good and evil, meaning he isn't just a "good" person. I wanted to express the human pain that arises from this. Even though he couldn't live a decent life, protecting his family becomes his destiny.

Also in 2024, the actor landed a role in the action film "Harbin" – a movie about Korean freedom fighters resisting Japanese occupation in the 1900s. Set in Harbin, the film follows their plan for a daring attack.

Lee Dong Wook in the TV series 'Shop for Killers'

Interesting Facts

In an interview, Lee Dong-wook revealed that if he'd actually managed a shopping center like he dreamed of as a child, he would have sold children's merchandise featuring WookDong, his own character:

I'd sell merchandise with WookDong, which is my official character and nickname. I want to release more products with his name. I need to send him to kindergarten and elementary school, and soon he'll need a school uniform too.
Dong-wook dreams of mastering scuba diving in his spare time, since he filmed many challenging underwater scenes for the drama "Guardian: The Lonely and Great God." That's when he realized diving skills could come in handy. The actor also hopes to try skydiving, since his colleague Jo Dal Hwan told him it's the most fun extreme sport. Lee's also interested in getting a motorcycle license (though his family is completely against it).

Dong-wook connects with actor friends and fascinating personalities from across Korea on his talk show "Because I Want to Talk," which launched in 2019 on SBS. Conversations happen both in the studio and beyond its walls. Early guests included entertainment stars like Gong Yoo, Park Bo Young, and Kim Soo Hyun.

A Blind Date with Lee Dong Wok and Gong Yoo [Because I Want to Talk Ep 2]

Lee admits he's comfortable with solitude but doesn't rule out marriage someday. His statement about doing housework himself earned even more fan admiration: Even if I get married, I'll take care of the house. I have my own cleaning method, and I feel uncomfortable when someone does it differently. This is my personal opinion. I think men should do household chores. They require strength, and it's better for men to handle the heavy work.