Lee Jae-yoon (, born December 15, 1984) is a South Korean-Canadian actor and model. He is best known for his roles in the television dramas My Love By My Side (2011), Heartless City (2013), Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-joo (2015–2016) and Mother (2018).
Early life and education Lee was born to Lee Hwan-mook and Oh Young-hee in Seoul, South Korea on December 15, 1984, and raised in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. He attended the St. Elizabeth Catholic High School in Thornhill, Ontario for his secondary education. Lee was completing a degree in sports at the University of Toronto when he was scouted by a South Korean talent agency in an audition, and thus introduced into Korean show business.
Moving back to South Korea and starting his career as an actor, Lee enrolled in and would eventually complete a theater studies degree from Dongguk University, where he would later on be appointed as university ambassador.
Career beginnings In an interview, Lee disclosed that his beginnings as an actor in South Korea came with some challenges and difficulties. Besides the very competitive auditions for roles, there were also the suggestions and offers for him to do cosmetic surgery; to trim his nose, soften his jawline, and straighten his teeth. But Lee said he decided not to do any of the procedures because he felt he was doing away with what his parents have naturally given him in terms of appearance, and that he hated the thought of getting any aesthetic enhancements.
He also tried losing weight as a new actor, because it was required for him to do so. There was one project where he had to lose 10 kilograms, and he did. But Lee said it did not really open new doors for him. So, upon getting more acting experience, he decided to keep his weight and strengthen his physique instead. Now, projects and producers look for him, "because there aren't many like me. They want that masculine look, the jawline and everything. They are finally looking for that now."
Personal life
Lee is a brown belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu and had competed in tournaments, before his foray into acting and modeling. He still goes to the gym, swims, and does jiu-jitsu three or four times a week to keep his physique.
Lee has revealed his father has played a major influence on his healthy and athletic lifestyle. He says he has always been the athletic type, joining marathons in school, because his father encouraged him so. In high school, he was the fastest track and field athlete, that even his peers expected him to eventually make it to the Olympics. Lee further disclosed that aside from this parents, Bruce Lee was always an inspiration for him growing up.
As an adult, Lee maintains he is a committed fitness enthusiast; besides doing the usual rounds at the gym and jiu-jitsu, Lee is also into judo, muay thai, and deep-water diving. This healthy and athletic lifestyle even influences his choice of an ideal partner. Lee has revealed in an interview that he would be pleased to find a romantic partner in the future who is also into sports and the active lifestyle, one with whom he can swim, run, or dive.
As an athlete, Lee has been working closely with the sportswear and sports gear brand Puma, both as an endorser and ambassador. He regularly joins the Puma Run events in Singapore and Malaysia.
Relationship On October 5, 2022, it was confirmed that Lee will hold a wedding ceremony with his girlfriend in November 2022.
Filmography Television series Year Title Role 2004 Nonstop 5 2006 Wolf 2008 I Am Happy 2009 Heading to the Ground Shin Poong-chul 2010 A Man Called God Park Chul Stormy Lovers Lee Hyung-chul 2011 My Love By My Side Lee So-ryong Just Like Today Jang Ji-wan 2012 Phantom Jo Jae-min 2013 King of Ambition Joo Yang-heon Heartless City Ji Hyung-min Golden Rainbow Kim Man-won 2014 A Witch's Love Ban Ji-yeon's blind date (cameo, episode 4) Drama Festival : The Diary of Heong Yeong-dang Lee Chul-joo 2015 Heart to Heart Jang Doo-soo I Have a Lover Min Kyu-suk Glamorous Temptation Hong Myung-ho 2016 Another Miss Oh Han Tae-jin Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-joo Jung Jae-yi 2017 Revolutionary Love Byun Woo-sung 2018 Mother Jin-hong The Beauty InsideHimself (Cameo, ep 1)Less Than Evil Kang Woo-Jun2019Joseon Survival PeriodJeong Ga-ikWatcher Kim Kang-wook (Cameo)2020Alice Kim Dong-ho 2021 Let Me Be Your Knight judo master (Cameo)
Film Year Title Role Notes2009 K&J destiny 2012 A Company Man Shin Ip-nam, sales First Love Archive Hyun Woo Short film 2013 Weird Business segment: "The First Love Keeper" 2014 Venus Talk Hwang Hyun-seung You Are My Vampire Lee Joo-hyung 2015 Escape Kim Kyung-wi Short film 2019 The Bad Guys: Reign of Chaos Skull tattoo 2023 12.12: The Day Lim Hak-ju
Web series Year Title Role Website 2005 Yap DMB Drama
Variety shows Year Title Notes/ 2004 Park Chul's Entertainment Road Show VJ 2005 Good Sunday - Banjun Drama 2006 Happy Sunday - Choi Hong-man and Strong Friends Happy Sunday - Heroine 6 Guest 2009 Star Secret Life 2014 The Friends in Cebu 2014 Law of the Jungle in Solomon Islands Cast member (Episodes 131–136) 2015 Cool Kiz on The Block 2017 Law of the Jungle in New Zealand Cast member (Episodes 268–270) (after Sumatra trip) 2024 Physical: 100 Season 2 – Underground
Music video appearances Year Song title Artist 2005 "Prayer to Overcome Sadness" Boohwal 2006 "Crescent Moon" Wheesung "Much Laugh" MayBee 2009 "Sunflower" Kim Jong-wook 2010 "Sick Enough to Die" MC Mong 2012 "Day by Day" T-ara 2014 "Hesitating Lips" Yoo Seung-woo
Awards and nominations Year Award Category Nominated work Result 2011 SBS Drama Awards Excellence Award, Actor in a Weekend/Daily Drama My Love By My Side New Star Award 2015 KBS Entertainment Awards Best Newcomer Award Cool Kiz On The Block
References
External links