Lee Jung Jae

Korean actor Lee Jung Jae became a household name worldwide in 2021 when he starred as Seong Gi-hun in Netflix’s Squid Game, the survival drama that became the most-watched series in the platform’s history. But by then, Lee was already one of South Korea’s most established leading men, with a career spanning three decades.

Lee first entered the world of entertainment as a model before transitioning into acting in the 1990s. His breakout role came with Sandglass (1995), one of Korea’s highest-rated dramas, which propelled him to national recognition. He went on to build a versatile film career with acclaimed performances in Il Mare (2000), The Housemaid (2010), The Thieves (2012), and Assassination (2015), demonstrating his ability to move seamlessly between romance, thriller and action.

Lee’s star turn in Squid Game took his career to new heights, earning him the Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series in 2022—he became the first non-English actor ever to win the category. Since then, he has continued to expand his international profile, starring in the Disney+ series Star Wars: The Acolyte (2024) and working on projects that bridge Korean and global cinema.

In addition to acting, Lee has also stepped behind the camera. He made his directorial debut with Hunt (2022), a political action thriller that premiered at Cannes and showcased his growing influence as a filmmaker.

Lee was honoured with the Chaplin Award at the Tatler Ball Asia in 2025.