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Lee Byung-hun Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated September 29, 2026 • 6 min read

Quick Info

Date of birth12 July 1970

Age53 Years

BirthplaceSeoul, South Korea

ProfessionActor

NationalitySouth Korean

Marital statusMarried

SpouseLee Min-jung

FamilySon - Lee Joon-hoo; Parents - Lee Jong-kun and Lee Eun-hee; Sister - Lee Eun-hee

Net worthUS$20 million (as of 2022)

Lee Byung-hun Biography

Lee Byung-hun is a South Korean actor with a career spanning domestic television and film as well as international projects. Born in Seoul in 1970, he has赢

Early life and background

Lee Byung-hun was born on July 12, 1970, in Seoul, South Korea. He grew up in his hometown and later attended Joongdong High School in Seoul. For higher education he studied French literature at Hanyang University and continued graduate studies in theatre and cinematography at the Graduate School of Chung-Ang University. His listed physical profile includes a height of about 175 cm (5'9") and a weight near 70 kg (154 lbs); he has black hair and black eyes.

Career

Lee began his acting career on Korean television in 1991, making his debut in the KBS2 drama Asphalt My Hometown as the character Jinwoo. He moved into film in 1995 with the Korean movie Who Drives Me Crazy, and later appeared in his first English-language film, I Come with the Rain, in 2009.

Through the late 1990s and 2000s Lee established himself as one of South Korea’s leading actors. Notable early roles include performances in TV series such as The Fragrance of Love (1994), White Nights 3.98 (1998), Happy Together (1999), and Beautiful Days (2001). On the big screen he earned recognition for films including Kill the Love (1996), The Harmonium in My Memory (1999) and the breakthrough performance in the 2000 action thriller Joint Security Area, in which he played Lee Soo-hyuk.

His career continued to expand with acclaimed performances in films like A Bittersweet Life and in television projects such as Iris (2009). Lee has worked in both South Korean cinema and Hollywood productions; among his international credits are the American films G.I. Joe: Retaliation and RED 2.

Awards and honours

Lee Byung-hun’s work has been recognized with multiple awards across film and television. Early in his career he earned a Best New Actor prize at the KBS Drama Awards and later received Best Actor awards from critics’ and industry bodies for performances such as Joint Security Area and A Bittersweet Life. He has been honored with high-profile prizes in Asia and abroad, including recognition at the Blue Dragon Film Awards, New York Asian Film Festival, APAN Star Awards and Baeksang Arts Awards. In 2011 he received a Presidential Commendation from the South Korean government.

Forbes has repeatedly listed him among Korea’s most powerful celebrities in various years, reflecting his visibility and influence in the entertainment industry.

Public profile

Lee is married to actress Lee Min-jung; the couple wed on August 10, 2013, and they have a son, Lee Joon-hoo. His family background includes his parents, Lee Jong-kun and Lee Eun-hee, and a sister, Lee Eun-hee, who has worked as a model and actress.

His public life has included some legal and personal controversies that received media attention. In 2009 an ex-girlfriend filed civil claims alleging deception and other harms; prosecutors later found no evidence supporting illegal gambling accusations, and the civil claim was subsequently dropped. In 2014 Lee was the target of a high-profile blackmail attempt; the perpetrators were arrested and later received suspended sentences following legal proceedings in which Lee sought leniency. In 2023 a special tax audit resulted in a fine of 100 million won (about US$102,000) after the National Tax Service reviewed payments involving Lee and his management agency. His agency explained the audit findings as related to accounting treatment of certain payments rather than intentional tax evasion.

Outside of controversy, Lee’s public profile includes musical contributions to soundtracks and a reported history of modelling early in his career. He has also been publicly connected with philanthropic and personal relationships, and in media profiles he has discussed coping with financial and emotional challenges earlier in life.

Latest updates

Recent reports indicate Lee remains active in film and television and continues to receive industry recognition. His long-running presence in both Korean and international projects has kept him prominent on lists that track celebrity influence and power. As of the latest available information, he is married, a father, and continues to work across domestic and international productions.
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Recent Work

I Come with the Rain

English-language film in which Lee played the character Su Dongpo (2009)

2009
G.I. Joe: Retaliation and RED 2

American films that contributed to his international recognition

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Career Highlights

  1. Television debut in Asphalt My Hometown (1991)
  2. Breakthrough film role in Joint Security Area (2000)
  3. Worked in both South Korean cinema and Hollywood productions
  4. Multiple Best Actor awards and a Presidential Commendation (2011)
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Net Worth

US$20 million (as of 2022)

Figures are editorial estimates based on publicly available reporting and may change as new information emerges.

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Frequently Asked Questions

When was Lee Byung-hun born?

12 July 1970

What is Lee Byung-hun known for?

Actor

What is Lee Byung-hun’s marital status?

Married

Who is Lee Byung-hun married to?

Lee Min-jung

What is Lee Byung-hun’s net worth?

US$20 million (as of 2022)