Born on July 12, 1970, in Seongnam, Lee Byung-hun is considered one of the greatest South Korean actors of all time. A graduate of Hanyang University, he made his television debut in the early 1990s before establishing himself in film with Joint Security Area by Park Chan-wook. This success marked the beginning of an exceptional career, punctuated by collaborations with Korea’s leading directors.
Over the years, he has delivered performances that have become must-sees in A Bittersweet Life, The Good, the Bad, and the Crazy, I Met the Devil, Masquerade, Inside Men or even Concrete Utopia. His ability to portray both tragic heroes and ambiguous characters has earned him numerous awards, including several Baeksang Arts Awards and Blue Dragon Film Awards, making him a leading figure in Korean cinema.
At the same time, Lee Byung-hun has enjoyed a brilliant international career. He became one of the first Korean actors to make a name for himself in Hollywood thanks to G.I. Joe, Red 2, Terminator Genisys and The Magnificent Seven. He is also returning to television with acclaimed series such as Iris, Mr. Sunshine, Our Blues and above all Squid Game, where his portrayal of the mysterious Front Man contributed to the series' global phenomenon. He reprised the role through the third and final season, which aired in 2025.
In 2025, he also starred in the following films The Match, No other choice by Park Chan-wook and provides the voice for the character Gwi-Ma in the animated film K-Pop Demon Hunters. Projects such as Nambeol and the The Koreans are also among his upcoming announced productions.
With a career spanning more than thirty years, marked by iconic roles both in Korea and internationally, Lee Byung-hun remains one of the most respected and influential actors in South Korean film and television.
