From doing independent cinema to securing leading roles in mainstream movies and TV shows, actor Lee Je-hoon is thriving in the Korean entertainment industry.
The K-celebrity made his acting debut in 2007 with the short indie film They Live by Night. Over the years, Lee Je-hoon has been part of numerous success stories. Standouts from his portfolio include hit movies and TV shows like Bleak Night (2011), Architecture 101 (2012), My Paparotti (2013), Signal (2016), I Can Speak (2017), Time to Hunt (2020), Collectors (2020), Move to Heaven (2021), Taxi Driver (2021) and Big Bet season 2 (2023).
Another feather in his cap is the second instalment of Taxi Driver, which premiered on Prime Video in 2023. According to Nielsen Korea, the final episode of Taxi Driver season 2 recorded an average nationwide viewership rating of 21.0 per cent, making it one of the best webtoon-based dramas of that year.
Lest we forget his latest release Chief Detective 1958, which makes for one of the best Disney Plus crime dramas of 2024. A prequel to the hit Korean series Chief Inspector from the 1970s, the first episode of Chief Detective 1958 debuted with an impressive 12.4 per cent rating, according to Nielsen Korea. The K-drama focuses on the journey of Detective Park Young-han (played by Lee), as he teams up with three unusual colleagues to combat corruption in 1950s South Korea.
Talking about his character in the show, Lee Je-hoon said in a 2024 interview with K-media outlet OSEN, “Park Young Han is a very innocent character whose passion and tenacity for catching the criminal is stronger than anyone else, and he is a young man with a passionate heart.”
These Lee Je-hoon movies and TV shows will keep you glued to your screens
Jump To / Table of Contents
Directed by: Lee Yong-ju
Other stars: Bae Suzy, Uhm Tae-woong, Han Ga-in
Approx. duration of movie: 1 hr 58 min
Synopsis: Lee Seung-min (Lee) and Yang Seo-yeon (Bae) meet in an architecture class and fall in love. However, misunderstandings lead them to part ways. Fifteen years later, old flames rekindle when Seo-yeon approaches Seung-min to help her build her dream house.
Signal (2016)
Directed by: Kim Won-suk
Other stars: Kim Hye-soo, Cho Jin-Woong
Episodes: 16
Approx. duration per episode: 1 hr 10 min
Synopsis: A time-transcending walkie-talkie connects criminal profiler Park Hae-yeong (Lee) in 2015 with detective Lee (Kim) in 1989. Soon, the duo start working together and try to solve the case of a young girl who was kidnapped on the way from school.
Trivia: The plot of Signal is inspired by the 2000 American sci-fi film Frequency and real-life criminal incidents in Korea, like the Hwaseong serial murders. The show won the Best Drama award at the 2016 Baeksang Arts Awards.
Collectors (2020)
Directed by: Park Jung-bae
Other stars: Jo Woo-jin, Shin Hye-sun, Im Won-hee
Approx. duration of movie: 1 hr 54 min
Synopsis: Kang Dong-goo (Lee) is a grave robber working with ancient tomb mural expert Dr. Jones (Jo) and shoveler Sabdari (Im). One day, he comes across curator Yoon (Shin), an expert in ancient art, and instantly forms a bond. But what happens when Yoon offers Dong-goo the most dangerous deal of his life?
Directed by: Kim Sung-ho
Other stars: Tang Joon-sang, Hong Seung-hee, Ji Jin-hee
Episodes: 10
Approx. duration per episode: 52 min
Synopsis: Young Geu-ru (Tang) suffers from Asperger syndrome but makes sure to help his father’s trauma cleaning business ‘Move To Heaven’. When his father passes away, Geu-ru is left under the supervision of his cold-hearted uncle Sang-Gu (Lee). Together, they navigate a journey of healing and self-discovery.
Trivia: It’s a Korean drama adaptation of the nonfiction essay Things Left Behind by professional trauma cleaner and Korean writer Kim Sae-byul.
Taxi Driver (2021)
Directed by: Lee Dan
Other stars: Kim Eui-sung, Pyo Ye-jin, Jang Hyuk-jin, Bae Yoo-ram
Episodes: 16
Approx. duration per episode: 1 hr 15 min
Synopsis: A team of taxi drivers called Rainbow Taxi, led by Kim Do-gi (Lee), secretly seeks revenge on criminals and delivers justice to the victims who are snubbed by the law in South Korea. However, with the police department declaring them most wanted, Rainbow Taxi is forced to rethink its ways of punishing the culprits.
Trivia: This K-drama is based on the webtoon The Deluxe Taxi by Carlos and Keukeu Jae-jin and will definitely remind you of shows like Gyeongseong Creature, starring Park Seo-hoon.
Directed by: Lee Dan
Other stars: Kim Eui-sung, Pyo Ye-jin
Episodes: 16
Approx. duration per episode: 1 hr 10 min
Synopsis: After Rainbow Taxi disbands, each member of the team attempts to live a regular life. However, they soon realise that office jobs don’t interest them anymore. With a desire to fight, they form the team once again and continue their battle against corruption.
Trivia: Lee Je-hoon received widespread fame after the release of the series and even won the Top Excellence Award for an Actor in a Miniseries (Fantasy Drama) at the 2023 SBS Drama Awards.
Directed by: Nam Ki-hoon
Other stars: Choi Min-sik, Son Su-kku, Lee Dong-hwi
Episodes: 8
Approx. duration per episode: 1 hr 20 min
Synopsis: A chain of unfortunate events leads casino mogul Cha Mu-sik (Choi) to make his last bet. This is in addition to dealing with the charges of three unknown murder cases and dodging the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI). However, he soon forms a strange bond with a man named Jang Jun (Lee), who agrees to help him.
Directed by: Kim Sung-hoon
Other stars: Lee Dong-hwi, Choi Woo-sung, Yoon Hyun-soo
Episodes: 10
Approx. duration per episode: 1 hr 10 min
Synopsis: Detective Park Young-han (Je-hoon) is proud of having the highest arrest rate. Soon, when fate teams him up with three other detectives, Sang-soon (Dong-hwi), Kyung-hwan (Choi) and Ho-jung (Yoon). Initially, Young-han finds it difficult to adjust. However, over time, he realises that his team will have to make efforts to know each other’s approach and work together to fight corruption.
Trivia: The K-drama is a prequel to the classic Korean TV series Chief Inspector, which aired for 18 years from 1971 to 1989.
(Hero and Featured image credit: Lee Je-hoon/Instagram)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
– What is Lee Je-hoon doing now?
Lee Je-hoon is still in the acting field and portrays Park Young-han in the 2024 Disney Plus drama Chief Detective 1958.
– Who is the most popular South Korean actor?
Some of the most popular South Korean actors are Ji Chang-wook, IU, Lee Min-ho, Lee Jong-suk, Lee Je-hoon, Park Hae-young, Hyun Bin, Kim Se-young, Song Joong-ki, Ma-rin, Jang ho, Kim Do-ki, Tang Jun-sang, Woo Hyung-bit, Kim Ji-won, Kim Soo-hyun, Park Seo-joon, Song Kang, Bae Suzy, Son Hye-kyo and Park Min-young.
Sushmita is a writer with a passion for crafting engaging and informative stories. An avid fan of K-pop and K-dramas, Sushmita mostly writes about Korean culture and entertainment. When not writing, you can find Sushmita dancing, reading, collecting books, learning about fashion, art, motion pictures, and appreciating BTS.
