Lee Hyun-woo (actor)

Lee Hyun-woo (born March 23, 1993) is a South Korean actor and singer. He started as a child actor and appeared in television series The Return of Iljimae (2009) and Queen Seondeok (2009). He later featured in Master of Study (2010) and To the Beautiful You (2012). Lee gained acclaim with his role as a North Korean spy in the 2013 film Secretly, Greatly as well as a genius hacker in 2014's The Con Artists. In 2016, he landed his first leading role in KBS2's Moorim School.

2005-2011: Beginnings

Lee began his career as a child actor, building up his resume by playing roles in a number of large-scale productions, such as The Legend, King Sejong the Great, The Return of Iljimae, and Queen Seondeok.

He rose to fame for his role in Master of Study, a Korean screen adaptation of Japanese manga Dragon Zakura. The same year, Lee took to the stage for the 2010 musical production of Footloose, where he played the leading role of Ren.

In 2011 he and K-pop singer Yoon Doo-joon (from B2ST) began hosting the music program Music on Top for cable channel jTBC. He was then featured in IU's music video for the song "You and I". Lee further expanded his acting scope in historical drama Gyebaek, revenge thriller Man from the Equator, and made a guest appearance in medical drama Brain.

2012-present: Rising popularity

In November 2013

In 2012, Lee was cast as the second male lead in To the Beautiful You, the Korean television adaptation of Japanese manga Hana-Kimi, with his role based on the character Shuichi Nakatsu. As a member of celebrity football team FC Avengers, Lee performed his soccer scenes without the use of a stunt double. Despite low ratings during its domestic run, To the Beautiful You led to increased Korean Wave exposure for Lee in countries such as Singapore, Malaysia, Taiwan and China. He and co-star Hwang Kwang-hee were later designated as the new hosts of live music show Inkigayo.

His breakthrough continued when he landed a major role in 2013 box office hit Secretly, Greatly, an action-comedy film in which he played a North Korean undercover spy disguised as a high school boy. Lee also sang "Ode to Youth" for the film's soundtrack.

In 2014, he and real-life best friend Park Ji-bin (both were child actors and belong to the same agency) appeared in the travel/reality show Real Mate in Saipan. Lee next played a hacker in the heist movie The Con Artists.

He then starred in Northern Limit Line, a 2015 naval thriller about the Second Battle of Yeonpyeong. The film sold 6,024,894 tickets (grossing US$38,945,231), making it the most-watched Korean film in 2015.

In 2016, he starred in the fantasy youth drama Moorim School. Initially slated for 20 episodes, the drama was reduced to 16 episodes instead due to low ratings. He was then cast in the Chinese web drama The Most Beautiful First Meeting.

In January 2017, it was confirmed that Lee will star in the drama The Liar and His Lover, the Korean remake of the Japanese manga Kanojo wa Uso o Aishisugiteru alongside Red Velvet's Joy.

Television drama

In January 2015

Film

In April 2014

Music video appearances

Hosting

Variety show

In August 2013

Singles

As featured artist

As collaborating artist

Soundtracks