Lee Hyun-woo (actor, born 1993)

Lee began his career as a child actor, building up his resume by playing roles in a number of large-scale productions, such as The Legend, King Sejong the Great, The Return of Iljimae, and Queen Seondeok.[2][3]

He rose to fame for his role in Master of Study, a Korean screen adaptation of Japanese manga Dragon Zakura.[4][5] The same year, Lee took to the stage for the 2010 musical production of Footloose, where he played the leading role of Ren.[6]

In 2011, he and K-pop singer Yoon Doo-joon (from B2ST) began hosting the music program Music on Top for cable channel jTBC.[7] He was then featured in IU's music video for the song "You and I".[8] Lee further expanded his acting scope in historical drama Gyebaek,[9] revenge thriller Man from the Equator,[10][11] and made a guest appearance in medical drama Brain.[12]

In November 2013

In 2012, Lee co-starred in To the Beautiful You, the Korean television adaptation of Japanese manga Hana-Kimi, with his role based on the character Shuichi Nakatsu.[13][14] Despite low ratings during its domestic run, To the Beautiful You led to increased Korean Wave exposure for Lee in countries such as Singapore, Malaysia, Taiwan and China.[15][16][17] He and co-star Hwang Kwang-hee were later announced as the new hosts of live music show Inkigayo.[18]

His breakthrough continued when he landed a major role in 2013 box office hit Secretly, Greatly, an action-comedy film in which he played a North Korean undercover spy disguised as a high school boy.[19] Lee also sang "Ode to Youth" for the film's soundtrack.[20][21] He became the first male celebrity to be appointed ambassador of the Puchon International Film Festival.[22]

In 2014, he and real-life best friend Park Ji-bin (both were child actors and belong to the same agency) appeared in the travel/reality show Real Mate in Saipan.[23] Lee next played a hacker in the heist movie The Con Artists.[24][25]

He then starred in Northern Limit Line, a 2015 naval thriller about the Second Battle of Yeonpyeong.[26] The film sold 6,024,894 tickets (grossing US$38,945,231), making it the most-watched Korean film in 2015.[27]

In 2016, he starred in the fantasy youth drama Moorim School.[28] Initially slated for 20 episodes, the drama was reduced to 16 episodes instead due to low ratings.[29]

In 2017, Lee starred in the drama The Liar and His Lover, the Korean remake of the Japanese manga Kanojo wa Uso o Aishisugiteru alongside Red Velvet's Joy.[30]

In 2018, Lee released a digital single titled "Twenty-Six", prior to joining the army.[31]

On February 19, 2018, Lee began his mandatory military service as an active duty soldier.[32][33] He completed his military service and was discharged on October 19, 2019.[34]