Lee Jong-suk stands as one of South Korea's most versatile and sought-after actors, having transitioned from a successful runway modeling career to become a leading man in some of the most beloved Korean dramas of the 2010s and 2020s. Born on September 14, 1989, he made his debut in the entertainment industry at the remarkably young age of 15, walking the runways for Seoul Fashion Week. This early start in modeling gave him a distinctive, tall frame and a commanding presence that would later serve him well in front of the camera. However, his true passion lay in acting, and he began taking acting classes while still in high school, a decision that would set the stage for his explosive rise to fame.
Lee Jong-suk's acting career began with minor roles in television and film, but his breakout moment arrived when he was cast in the hit school drama School 2013. In this series, he played a troubled high school student, delivering a raw and emotionally charged performance that earned him critical acclaim and a Best New Actor award at the Baeksang Arts Awards. This role not only proved his dramatic range but also forged a memorable on-screen partnership with Kim Woo-bin, a friendship that has endured in the public eye. The following year, he cemented his status as a rising star with the fantasy-romance drama I Can Hear Your Voice, where he played a young man with the supernatural ability to hear people's thoughts. The drama was a massive ratings success and won him widespread recognition for his charismatic and nuanced portrayal.
Following this breakthrough, Lee Jong-suk became one of the most in-demand actors in the industry, headlining a string of commercially and critically successful dramas. He starred in the medical thriller Doctor Stranger and the family mystery romance Pinocchio, the latter of which saw him reunite with Park Shin-hye and earned him the Top Excellence Award at the Korea Drama Awards. His career reached new heights with the meta-fictional thriller W, where he played the protagonist of a webtoon who crosses into the real world. The series was a global phenomenon, and his performance earned him the Grand Prize (Daesang) at the MBC Drama Awards, solidifying his reputation as a top-tier actor capable of carrying complex, high-concept narratives. He continued this streak with the romantic fantasy While You Were Sleeping, starring opposite Bae Suzy, and the courtroom drama Big Mouth, where he took on the challenging dual role of a hapless lawyer and his cunning alter ego.
Beyond his television work, Lee Jong-suk has also appeared in films such as Hot Young Bloods and The Pirates: The Last Royal Treasure, though his primary impact remains on the small screen. His career is also notable for his military service, which he completed in early 2021, returning to the industry with renewed vigor. As of the mid-2020s, Lee Jong-suk continues to be a dominant force in Korean entertainment, known for his expressive eyes, his ability to convey deep emotion with subtlety, and his careful selection of projects that challenge both himself and his audience. With a career spanning over a decade, he has evolved from a teenage runaway model into a respected actor whose work resonates with millions of fans worldwide, ensuring his place as a defining figure of the Korean drama renaissance.