Lee Seo-jin (; born January 30, 1971) is a South Korean actor. He is best known for the reality shows Three Meals a Day and Grandpa Over Flowers. As an actor, he came to prominence with his leading roles in the television series Damo (2003), Phoenix (2004), Lovers (2006), Yi San (2007) and Marriage Contract (2016).
Career Lee Seo-jin made his acting debut in 1999 in the television series House Above the Waves. After several supporting roles on TV, he rose to fame in the 2003 hit period drama Damo, followed by another popular contemporary drama Phoenix in 2004. Lee then landed his first big screen leading role in the 2005 action blockbuster Shadowless Sword.
Lee played a vampire in the cable series Freeze (2006), a gangster in Lovers (2006), and a criminal profiler in Soul (2009). He expanded his new audience when he portrayed Korean historical characters King Jeongjo of Joseon in Yi San (2007), and General Gyebaek of Baekje in Gyebaek (2011).
Other activities Lee comes from a family with strong ties to the financial sector, and was believed to be involved in the banking, transportation and tourism industries, among others. He has a Business Management degree from the New York University Stern School of Business. In 2011, Lee joined the company Ask Veritas Assets Management, which specializes in intellectual property and real estate investment. He was appointed managing director for the firm's second global contents division.
A regular volunteer of Habitat for Humanity since 2006, he was appointed its Goodwill Ambassador for Korea in 2008. Together with the Nippon Foundation and South Korean food franchise Genesis, Lee established the "Let's Tree Fund" in 2010 to conduct reforestation activities. In 2011, Lee joined relief efforts for victims of the Japanese earthquake and tsunami. Like many celebrities, Lee also publicly protested the forced repatriation of North Korean defectors.
Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 2000 Ghost Taxi Gil-nam 2001 I Love You Jin-sung 2005 Shadowless Sword Dae Jeong-hyun, the last prince of Balhae 2006FreezeMale 2009HonShin-ryu 2015 Love Forecast Lee Dong-jin The Shameless 2018 Intimate Strangers Joon-mo 2019 Trap: Director's Cut Kang Woo-hyun
Television series + Year Title Role Notes 1999 House Above the Waves Wang Cho (The Boss) 2001 Her House Lee Joon-hee New Nonstop guest Sunday Best "A Good Man, Lee Young-woo" one act-drama 2002 Since We Met Kang Min-suk 2002–2003 Shoot for the Stars Do-hyun 2003 Damo Commander Hwangbo Yoon 2004 Phoenix Jang Sae-hoon 2006 Freeze Baek Joong-won 2006–2007 Lovers Ha Kang-jae 2007–2008 Lee San, Wind of the Palace Yi San (King Jeongjo) 2008 On Air Himself cameo, ep 9 2009 Soul Shin Ryu 2011 Gyebaek Gyebaek 2014 Wonderful Days Kang Dong-seok 2016 Marriage Contract Han Ji-hoon 2019 Trap Kang Woo-hyun 2021 Times Lee Jin-woo 2022 Behind Every Star Matthew / Tae-oh
Web series + Year Title Role 2014 The Best Future Choi Kang-ja 2022 Dr. Park's Clinic Park Won-jung 2024High School Return of a GangsterKim Deuk-pal
Television show Year Title Role 2013–2015 Grandpas Over Flowers Cast member 2014–2015 Three Meals a Day 2016 Talents for Sale Three Meals a Day: Fishing Village 3 2017–2018 Youn's Kitchen 2017 Three Meals a Day: Sea Ranch 2018 Grandpas Over Flowers Returns 2019 Little Forest 2020 Friday Joy Package 2021 Youn's Stay Cast member and vice-CEO 2022 Unexpected Journey Cast member 2023–2024 Jinny's Kitchen Cast member and owner of the restaurant 2023 Jinny's Kitchen: Team Building Cast member 2025 My Grumpy Secretary Season 1 2026 Ready or Not: Texas My Genie Secretary Season 2 (또는 무엇이든 해드립니다) Just a Friend (그냥 사람 친구)
Music video appearances + Year Title Artist 1999"Forever"Sky2000"Lieblich"Boohwal2001"Goodbye"Jung Jae-wook2004"Where Are You?"Yim Jae-beom for Ditto 3 compilation album
Stage Musical +Musical's performanceYearTitleRoleTheaterDate English Korean 2000 Shakespeare's Love Method 세익스피어식 사랑메소드 Hamlet Hoam Art Hall May 12–14 2001 Daehakro Performing Arts Center Grand Theater November 17–25
Theater +Theater performanceYearTitleRoleTheaterDate English Korean 2026 Uncle Vanya 바냐 삼촌 Vanya LG Signature Hall, LG Arts Center May 7–31
Accolades Awards and nominations + Name of the award ceremony, year presented, category, nominee of the award, and the result of the nomination Award ceremony Year Category Nominee / Work Result APAN Star Awards 2014 Top Excellence Award, Actor in a Serial DramaWonderful Days Baeksang Arts Awards 2008 Best Actor – TelevisionYi San 2026 Best Male Variety Performer Lee Seo-jin KBS Drama Awards2014 Excellence Award, Actor in a Serial DramaWonderful Days Netizen Award, Actor Best Couple Award with Kim Hee-sun MBC Drama Awards 2001 Best New Actor Her House 2003 Excellence Award, ActorDamo Popularity Award, Actor Best Couple Award with Ha Ji-won 2004 Top Excellence Award, ActorPhoenix Popularity Award, Actor Best Couple Award with Lee Eun-ju 2007 Top Excellence Award, ActorYi San Popularity Award, Actor Best Couple Award with Han Ji-min 2016 Grand Prize (Daesang)Marriage Contract Top Excellence Award, Actor in a Special Project Drama Best Couple Award with Uee SBS Drama Awards2006 Netizen Popularity Award, ActorLovers Top 10 Star SBS Entertainment Awards 2025 Top Excellence Award (Show/Variety) My Grumpy Secretary Style Icon Awards 2013 Style Icon Lee Seo-jin tvN10 Awards2016 Grand Prize (Daesang), Variety Performer Three Meals a Day: Jeongseon Village, Grandpas Over Flowers Variety Icon Three Meals a Day: Jeongseon Village
State honors + Name of country, year given, and name of honor Country or Organization Year Honor or Award National Tax Service 2019 Presidential Commendation
Listicles + Name of publisher, year listed, name of listicle, and placement Publisher Year Listicle Placement Forbes 2015 Korea Power Celebrity 40 Korean Film Council 2021 Korean Actors 200
Notes
References
External links
Lee Seo-jin official Korean website Lee Seo-jin official Japanese website