Lee Byung-hun Age, Girlfriend, Wife, Children, Family, Biography & More

Some Lesser Known Facts About Lee Byung-hun

• Lee Byung-hun is a South Korean actor, who is known for working in both South Korean and Hollywood films. In 2023, it was revealed that he would be part of the second season of the popular Netflix South Korean survival drama series ‘Squid Game.’

• In childhood, he used to watch many Hollywood films with his father as his father was a huge movie buff.
  

  A childhood image of Lee Byung-hun

• After his father’s death, Lee Byung-hun had to deal with financial challenges and clear his debts, which took a toll on his mental well-being. He fell into a state of depression and started experiencing panic disorders, making it difficult for him to attend award ceremonies. ^[24]Soompi

• Reportedly, in 1995, he was adopted by Kim Woo-joong, the chairman of Daewoo Group, and his wife, which formed a special bond between them. Former Daewoo Group chairman Kim Woo-joong and his wife, Jung Hee-ja, had three sons and one daughter. Their eldest son and heir to the Daewoo Group, Kim Seon-jae, passed away in a car accident at the age of 24. Four years after the loss of her son, Jung Hee-ja saw a rookie actor named Lee Byung-hun on TV, who resembled her late son.
  

  Lee Byung-hun (right) and Kim Seon-jae (left)

  She asked Yoo In-chon, a former model of Daewoo Electronics commercials, to arrange a meeting with Lee Byung-hun. During the meeting, Jung Hee-ja made an unexpected proposal to adopt Lee Byung-hun as her son. At first, he was surprised by the idea, but eventually, he agreed to the suggestion. Lee Byung-hun also modelled for Daewoo Motors Tico. Despite facing a scandal in 2014 involving blackmail, he flew to the US to apologize to Kim Woo-joong and his wife for causing trouble. Lee Byung-hun continues to maintain a close bond with the Kim family and pays regular visits to the mortuary of former chairman Kim Woo-joong, who passed away in 2019. ^[25]KBIZoom

• In 1999, he released his debut album titled ‘Lee Byung Hun – To Me.’ Later, in 2008, he released a single soundtrack called ‘Itsuka’ (Someday). He also contributed his voice to two original soundtracks, ‘Stay’ and ‘Endless Road,’ for the South Korean TV series ‘Iris’ in 2009.

• In 1999, Lee Byung-hun portrayed the character of Seo Tae-poong, a baseball player, in the SBS TV series ‘Happy Together.’ The story revolved around his character’s search for his missing brother and three sisters.

• In 2000, he gained significant recognition after he played the role of Lee Soo-hyuk, a South Korean soldier in the action thriller film ‘Joint Security Area.’
  

  Lee Byung-hun in a still from the 2000 South Korean film ‘Joint Security Area’

• He has appeared in many South Korean TV series such as ‘The Fragrance of Love’ (1994), ‘White Nights 3.98’ (1998), ‘Beautiful Days’ (2001), and ‘Iris’ (2009).

• He has acted in several South Korean films, including ‘Kill the Love’ (1996), ‘The Harmonium in My Memory’ (1999), and ‘Bungee Jumping of Their Own’ (2001).

• In 2008, Lee Byung-hun released a single soundtrack called ‘Itsuka’ (Someday). He also lent his voice to two original soundtracks, ‘Stay’ and ‘Endless Road,’ for the South Korean TV series ‘Iris.’

• In 2009, he entered Hollywood by portraying the character of Storm Shadow in the famous Sci-fi action film ‘G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra,’ which became a significant turning point in his career.
  

  Poster of the 2010 film ‘G. I. Joe – The Rise of Cobra’

• In 2010, Lee Byung-hun was chosen as California’s tourism promotion ambassador to Korea.

• Lee Byung-hun is a coffee lover. In 2010, he took a break from acting and pursued his passion by becoming a certified barista.

• In March 2011, Lee Byung-hun made a generous donation of 700 million won to the Korean Red Cross to provide assistance to the local residents affected by the earthquake and tsunami in Japan. ^[26]Naver

• In 2013, he reprised his role as Storm Shadow in the movie ‘G.I. Joe: Retaliation,’ where he acted alongside Dwayne Johnson, Bruce Willis, and Channing Tatum.

• In 2013, he also appeared in the American film ‘RED 2,’ which is a sequel to the action-comedy movie ‘RED’ from 2010. In ‘RED 2,’ he shared the screen with famous actors like Bruce Willis, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Helen Mirren, and John Malkovich. Additionally, he has worked in several other notable English films, including ‘Terminator Genisys’ (2015), ‘Misconduct’ (2016), and ‘The Magnificent Seven’ (2016).

• In 2013, Lee Byung-hun was selected as an honorary ambassador for the Association of Film Commissioners International annual meeting, which aims to support international co-productions in the film industry. He was also appointed as an honorary ambassador to promote the 50th Daejong Film Awards in the same year.

• He is the first South Korean actor to present an Oscar at the prestigious annual Academy Awards in Los Angeles in 2016. In the same year, he became a voting member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

• In November 2016, Lee Byung-hun contributed a voice donation to the Green Umbrella Children’s Foundation for the ‘Haru’ campaign, aimed at offering support to sick children in need. ^[27]Sports Seoul

• In 2017, Lee Byung-hun appeared in the music video of the song ‘I LUV IT’ by the renowned South Korean singer Psy.
  

• In April 2019, both Lee Byung-hun and his wife, Lee Min-jung, donated 100 million won to aid the victims who were impacted by the forest fires in Gangwon-do, South Korea. ^[28]MBN

• In February 2020, Lee Byung-hun donated 100 million won through the Fruit of Love campaign organized by the Community Chest of Korea. ^[29]Maeil

• In October 2020, Lee Byung-hun contributed a voice donation to a multi-media-type Braille sensory book developed by The National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage.

• On 30 December 2020, Lee Byung-hun donated 100 million won to the Green Umbrella Children’s Foundation to provide support for children from low-income families who were facing hardships due to the COVID-19 pandemic. ^[30]Daily Sports

• On 12 July 2021, on the occasion of his birthday, Lee Byung-hun made a donation of 100 million won to Asan Children’s Hospital in Seoul. ^[31]Dispatch

• In September 2021, he appeared as Hwang In-ho, the Front Man, in Netflix’s famous survival drama series ‘Squid Game.’ In 2023, he was announced to reprise his role as the Front Man in the second season of ‘Squid Game.’

• On 6 March 2022, Lee Byung-hun donated 100 million won to the Hope Bridge Disaster Relief Association to help residents affected by the Uljin and Samcheok wildfires. His generous contribution provided temporary shelter for the victims who had to evacuate their homes due to the destructive wildfires. ^[32]SPOTV News

• In 2022, Lee Byung-hun was cast in a lead role as Lee Dong-seok in the popular South Korean TV series ‘Our Blues,’ which aired on tvN.

• Lee Byung-hun owns a management company named BH Entertainment, which manages the professional careers of several actors, such as Han Hyo-joo, Go Soo, Jin Goo, Jinyoung, and Han Ji-min.

• He owns a shop called BHNC, which offers a variety of items for sale, including hats, scarves, and wallets, among other things.
  

  BHNC shop in Seoul

• He is well-known in the video game industry for providing his likeness to the main character, Wayne Holden, in the 2006 game Lost Planet: Extreme Condition, which is available on Xbox 360, PS3, and PC platforms. ^[33]IGN

• Lee has been part of several prominent Hollywood films; however, in his early days in Hollywood, he had to deal with racism. During a 2016 interview, he opened up about his experiences of facing racism in the industry and said,
  

  I can’t say who, but there are actors who wouldn’t even look me in the eyes because I was Asian. I tried to introduce myself and shake their hands, but they would ignore me and walked past me. I couldn’t shake their hands until we had finished filming the movie. Rather than feeling sad, I felt really enraged. To them, I could just be the ‘actor who couldn’t speak English. Still, to confront them, there would be cultural and linguistic barriers. I went to a coffee shop for a cup of coffee and the baristas asked me, ‘You’re a movie star, right?’ I thought, ‘Finally someone recognizes me,’ but then they said that they really enjoyed the movie ‘The Hangover.’ To them, all Asians look the same.” ^[34]Vulture

• He consumes alcohol occasionally.
  

  Lee Byung-hun consuming alcohol at an event