Ma Dong-seok bio, height, age, wife, best roles, career path, young pictures 2025

Biography of Ma Dong-seok

Ma Dong-seok is a distinguished Korean-American actor and mixed martial arts trainer. He's earned acclaim in the Korean film industry, made his mark in Hollywood, and achieved global recognition through his roles in "Train to Busan" and "Eternals".

Early Years

Also known by his birth name, Lee Dong-seok, and his American alias, Don Lee, Ma Dong-seok was born on March 1, 1971, in the capital city of South Korea, Seoul. He spent his entire childhood in his homeland. In high school, he started boxing. Soon he was training less experienced boxers himself.

At 19, his parents decided to move to the United States, hoping to secure American citizenship and give their son a brighter future.

After finishing school, Ma enrolled at Ohio State University in Columbus, where he majored in "Healthcare and Physical Education".

Ma first gained attention as a martial arts trainer. Among his famed trainees were professional fighters Mark Coleman and Kevin Randleman.

Acting Career

Alongside his athletic pursuits, Don Lee developed a passion for acting, took roles in musicals, and considered a career in films. To realize this dream, he returned to his homeland.

His film debut was a minor role in the South Korean melodrama "Dance with the Wind" released in 2004. He wasn't even credited. However, he gained significant attention in the 2005 comedic action film about time travelers, "Heaven's Soldiers," directed by Min Joon-ki.

His next roles included appearances in the 2007 comedy "My Love," 2008's "The Good, The Bad, The Weird," and the comedic drama "The Worst Guy Ever." While he often played supporting roles, his characters were notably memorable to audiences.

The Good The Bad The Weird (2008) - Chase scene

In 2011, he was cast in the comedic action film "Quick," followed by a role in "Nameless Gangster," portraying one of the main characters. "Nameless Gangster" was based on events from the 1990s, when South Korea saw the rise of gangster culture and police corruption.

Nameless Gangster – Trailer

In 2012, Don portrayed Ahn Hyo-mo, a former swindler and loan shark, in the South Korean film "The Neighbors." His performance earned him the Baeksang Arts Award for Best Supporting Actor and a nomination for the Blue Dragon Award in the same category.

After the success of "Neighbors," film offers came pouring in for Lee back home, with movies featuring him being released at an impressive rate. In 2013 alone, he starred in 10 projects. Among them were the apocalyptic drama "The Flu," the action-packed "Rough Play," and the thriller "Murderer" in which the actor played the lead role.

The 2014 film "One on One" was another success, garnering the Best Film accolade from the Federation of European and Mediterranean Film Critics at the Cannes Film Festival.

Another milestone in his career was his portrayal of gangster Park Woong-chul in the series "Bad Guys." The story follows serial killers and gangsters who team up to catch a maniac. This criminal thriller ran for four seasons and earned rave reviews.

Ma Dong-seok in the TV series 'Bad Guys'

In 2016, Lee starred in the zombie apocalypse film "Train to Busan," playing Sang Hwa, a man traveling with his pregnant wife when passengers start turning into zombies. The movie received critical acclaim and attracted an international audience. The performance earned him the KOFRA Film Award for Best Supporting Actor.

Subsequent roles included leading parts in films such as "Derailed," "The Bros." In 2017, he starred in the South Korean action film "The Outlaws," playing Ma Seok-do, a police officer who has just 10 days to navigate gang wars in the Garibong district. This performance earned him the "Golden Egg" award for Best Actor, as well as the Chunsa Film Art Award and a nomination for the Baeksang Arts Award in the same category.

In 2018, Don Lee played an ex-gangster turned fish vendor who's forced to return to his violent past in the crime drama "Seongnan hwangso."

In the 2019 action film "The Gangster, The Cop, The Devil," the story follows an unlikely partnership between a notorious gangster and a cop. Directed and written by Lee Won-tae, Ma portrays this hardened criminal.

Ma Dong-seok in 'The Gangster, The Cop, The Devil'

He also starred in "Bad Guys: Reign of Chaos'," a continuation of the popular series. Kim Sang-joong, Ma Dong-seok, Park Hyo-joon, and others reprised their roles.

Ma Dong-seok in 'Bad Guys: Reign of Chaos'

In 2021, the film "Eternals," a part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, was released. Don Lee shared the screen with Hollywood stars like Angelina Jolie, Salma Hayek, Kit Harington, and others. Ma took on the role of the superhero Gilgamesh, marking his Hollywood debut.

Gilgamesh – Eternals

"Gilgamesh is the original version of the strongman seen throughout human history across all cultures," shared the film's director Chloe Zhao, adding, "I first noticed Ma Dong-seok in 'Train to Busan,' and was captivated not just by his performance but also his sense of humor and charisma."

Personal Life of Ma Dong-seok

Details about Ma's personal relationships have been kept relatively private. In 2016, media reports surfaced linking Dong-seok romantically to TV presenter and fitness trainer Ye Chong-hwa, which he later confirmed.

In 2019, Ma Dong-seok hinted at an upcoming wedding. But fans were left wondering if they'd actually tied the knot until October 2022. During his acceptance speech at the Beautiful Arts Awards, the actor finally revealed their marriage status, saying, "...Thank you to my colleagues from The Roundup and my beloved wife Ye Chong-hwa."

Ma Dong-seok Now

In 2022 and 2023, new installments of the thriller "Crime City" were released, where Ma Dong-seok reprised his role as the incorruptible police officer Ma Sok Do. The fourth installment is set to drop in 2024, with a fifth film already in the works, though no release date has been announced yet.

In 2022, Ma Dong-seok surprised audiences by diving into comedy territory with his lead role in "Men of Plastic." He plays an ambitious businessman who jumps into the plastic surgery world despite knowing absolutely nothing about it.