Introduction
Lee Sun-bin (born Lee Jin-kyung on January 7, 1994) is a South Korean actress and singer. She is known for starring in Squad 38, Missing 9 and Criminal Minds. She joined girl group JQT following Minsun's departure in September 2011, until the group's disbandment in 2012.
Career
2011–2015: Beginnings, modelling and overseas activities
In October 2011, GP Entertainment revealed that Lee would be joining their new girl group JQT, under her birth name Jin-kyung, upon departure of one of the members, Minsun. Lee participated in JQT's activities as a vocalist until their disbandment in February 2012. She took on a modelling gig alongside Teen Top for uniforms in November 2012, and was said to be debuting again in another girl group in December 2012, but plans did not follow through. She then left GP Entertainment and joined Wellmade Yedang as an acting trainee. Before officially beginning her acting career, Lee was a CF model and made several music video appearances.
In 2014, Lee received her first acting role in the Chinese historical drama Saint Wang Xizhi. Lee also participated as a contestant in CCTV's singing show Finding Liu San Jie, and the New Year Gala.
2016–present: Rising popularity
In January 2016, Lee took on a supporting role in the JTBC drama Madame Antoine: The Love Therapist, followed by several cameo appearances in dramas and films. Her breakthrough role came in June 2016, where she portrayed a gold digger in OCN's hit drama Squad 38 alongside Seo In-guk and Ma Dong-seok. She went on to participate in several variety shows where she received praise for her singing and dancing.
In January 2017, Lee co-starred in MBC's disaster drama Missing 9. In July, she starred in tvN's remake of the American blockbuster television series Criminal Minds, where she played the Korean version of JJ's character. In September, she began filming for Kim Sung-hoon's action zombie film Rampant alongside Jang Dong-gun and Hyun Bin.
In 2018, Lee was cast in her first leading role in JTBC's action drama Sketch. The same year she was cast in tvN's drama special The Dramatization Has Already Begun.
In 2019, Lee was cast in action comedy film Okay! Madam and political drama The Great Show. The same year, she was cast in action spy film Mission Possible.
In 2020, Lee was cast in the crime detective drama Team Bulldog: Off-Duty Investigation.
Personal life
Lee has been dating actor Lee Kwang-soo since July 2018.
Discography
Singles
| Title | Year | Peak chart position | Sales (DL) |
Album |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KOR | ||||
| Collaborations | ||||
| "One Love" (with RGP) | 2017 | — | N/A | Non-album single |
| Soundtrack appearances | ||||
| "Sad Night" (아픈 밤) | 2019 | — | N/A | The Great Show (위대한 쇼) OST Part 2 |
| "Savage Killer" | 2020 | — | N/A | Team Bulldog: Off-Duty Investigation OST Part 5 |
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that region. | ||||
Awards and nominations
| Year | Award | Category | Nominated work | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | MBC Drama Awards | Best New Actress | Missing 9 | Won | |
| 2018 | 6th APAN Star Awards | Best New Actress | Sketch | Nominated |