Lim Dong-hyun (; born April 11, 1995), known professionally as Lee Do-hyun (), is a South Korean actor. He first gained recognition for his supporting role in Hotel del Luna (2019), and went on to star in the television series 18 Again (2020), Sweet Home (2020–2024), Youth of May (2021), The Glory (2022–2023), and The Good Bad Mother (2023), as well as the film Exhuma (2024).
Early life and education Lee Do-hyun was born in Seoul, South Korea on April 11, 1995. Lee is the eldest son and has a younger brother, Lim Dong-hyuk, who has an intellectual disability. Lee graduated from the Department of Film and Theater at Chung-Ang University.
Career 2017–2018: Career beginnings Lee made his acting debut in the 2017 black comedy Prison Playbook, in which he portrayed the young version of Jung Kyung-ho's character.
In 2018, Lee was cast in the romantic television series Still 17 in a supporting role as a member of the high school's rowing club. For his performance, he was nominated in the "Character of the Year" category at the 2018 SBS Drama Awards alongside Ahn Hyo-seop and Jo Hyun-sik. The same year, Lee also appeared in Clean with Passion for Now, playing the female lead's younger brother and a promising Taekwondo athlete.
2019: Rising popularity
In 2019, Lee joined the cast of the dark fantasy television series Hotel del Luna which became one of the highest-rated Korean dramas in cable television. He also made a special appearance in tvN's The Great Show. Lee starred in Scouting Report, the fifth drama of KBS Drama Special'''s tenth season, for which he won the "Best Actor in a One-Act/Special/Short Drama Award" at the 33rd KBS Drama Awards.
2020–present: Transition to lead roles
In 2020, Lee had his first lead role in the romantic comedy 18 Again, based on the 2009 American film 17 Again. His performance in the drama earned him the Best New Actor award in television at the 57th Baeksang Arts Awards and Best New Actor award at the 7th APAN Star Awards. Later that year, he had a starring role in Netflix's Sweet Home, adapted from the webtoon of the same name. He received a good response for portraying a cool-headed and cynical character.
In 2021, Lee appeared in Beyond Evil, directed by Shim Na-yeon, where he played younger self of Shin Ha-kyun's character. He also starred in KBS2's Youth of May, a drama set in 1980 during the Gwangju uprising, earned him a "Next Generation Melo-king" title for his spectacular performance in a melodrama genre. Later in July 2021, Lee was confirmed to join the tvN drama Melancholia with Im Soo-jung, airing in the second half of 2021. At the end of 2021, Lee became the MC of the 2021 KBS Drama Awards with Sung Si-kyung and Kim So-hyun.
In 2022, Lee starred in the web series Reincarnation Romance, a short web series advertising motion sickness pills. This is the third reunion with Go Min-si. In December, Lee returned to the small screen with the Netflix drama written by writer Kim Eun-sook titled The Glory, with Song Hye-kyo. In 2023, Lee chose Death's Game as his last project before joining the military because of the bond he made with director Ha Byung-hoon, which he worked with in 18 Again.
Personal life Military service On February 2, 2023, it was reported that Lee would enlist in the military for the first half of the year. Later the agency confirmed that no decision has been made and that if the date of the mandatory military service is received, it would be told for sure. On August 3, 2023, Yuehua Entertainment announced that Lee would enlist at the Air Force military band on August 14. On May 13, 2025, Lee was discharged after serving 21 months in the military.
Relationship On April 1, 2023, Yuehua Entertainment confirmed that Lee is dating actress Lim Ji-yeon, whom he met while filming The Glory''.
Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 2017 Summer Night Lim Seo-jin Bit part (Short film) 2024 Exhuma Yoon Bong-gil
Television series Year Title Role Notes 2017–2018 Prison Playbook young Lee Joon-ho Cameo (Episodes 1, 6, 9) 2018 Still 17 Dong Hae-beom 2018–2019 Clean with Passion for Now Gil Oh-dol 2019 Hotel del Luna Go Cheong-myeong The Great Show young Wi Dae-han Cameo (Episodes 1–3) KBS Drama Special – "Scouting Report" Kwak Jae-won Season 10, episode 5 2020 18 Again young Hong Dae-young / Go Woo-young 2020–2024 Sweet Home Lee Eun-hyuk Main role (Season 1 & 3) / Cameo (Season 2) 2021 Beyond Evil young Lee Dong-sik Cameo (Episodes 1–2, 5, 11) Youth of May Hwang Hee-tae Melancholia Baek Seung-yoo / Baek Min-jae 2022–2023 The Glory Joo Yeo-jeong 2023 The Good Bad Mother Choi Kang-ho 2023–2024 Death's Game Jang Geon-woo Cameo (Episodes 4 and 6)
Hosting Year Title Notes 2021 2021 KBS Drama Awards with Sung Si-kyung and Kim So-hyun
Music video Year Title Artist Album 2025 착하다는 말이 제일 싫어 (Being a Good Girl Hurts) Choi Ye-na Blooming Wings
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 2021 Best New Actor 18 Again Asia Artist Awards 2020 Popularity Award (Actor) Lee Do-hyun 2021 Rookie of the Year Award Youth of May Asian Academy Creative Awards 2021 Best Actor in Supporting Role (National Winners – Korea) Sweet Home Asian Film Awards 2025 Best Newcomer Exhuma Baeksang Arts Awards 2021 Best New Actor – Television 18 Again 2024 Best New Actor – Film Exhuma Blue Dragon Film Awards 2024 Best New Actor Blue Dragon Series Awards 2022 Best New Actor Youth of May Brand Customer Loyalty Awards 2023 Best Actor – OTT The Glory Brand of the Year Awards 2021 Rising Star Actor Lee Do-hyun 2023 Male Actor of the Year (OTT) Buil Film Awards 2024 Best New Actor Exhuma Director's Cut Awards 2025 Best New Actor (Film) Global Film & Television Huading Awards 2023 Best Global Teleplay Leading Actor The Glory KBS Drama Awards 2019 Best Actor in a One-Act/Special/Short Drama Drama Special – Scouting Report 2021 Top Excellence Award, actor Youth of May Excellence Award, Actor in a Miniseries Best Couple Award Lee Do-hyun Youth of May Kinolights Awards 2021 Actor of the Year (Domestic) Sweet HomeYouth of May Korea First Brand Awards 2021 Best New Actor 18 Again SBS Drama Awards 2018 Character of the Year Still 17 Seoul International Drama Awards 2021 Outstanding Korean Actor Sweet Home
Honors + Name of country or organization, year given, and name of honor or award Country or Organization Year Honor or Award Newsis K-Expo Cultural Awards 2023 National Assembly Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee Award
Listicles + Name of publisher, year listed, name of listicle, and placement Publisher Year Listicle Placement Cine 21 2020 New Actor to Watch in 2021 1st 2023 Top 5 New Actor to Watch in 2023 2nd 2024 Korean Film Next 50 – Actors Placed Forbes 2022 Korea Power Celebrity Rising Star Placed
Notes
References
External links Lee Do-hyun at Yuehua Entertainment