Lee Joon-gi (이준기; 李準基) is a South Korean actor, singer, and model born on April 17, 1982, in Busan. After leaving his hometown for Seoul with the dream of becoming an actor, he went through more than fifty auditions before landing his first roles. His perseverance finally paid off in 2005 when he was cast as Gong-gil in the film The King and the Clown, a massive box-office hit that made him a true breakout star and established him as one of the new faces of Korean cinema.
He quickly established himself thanks to his films Fly, Daddy, Fly, May 18 and Virgin Snow, before taking the small screen by storm with dramas My Girl, Time Between Dog and Wolf and Iljimae, which have earned him immense popularity in Asia. After completing his military service (2010–2012), he went on to play leading roles in Arang and the Magistrate, Two Weeks, Gunman in Joseon, The Scholar Who Walks the Night and Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo, which has become a cult favorite among K-drama fans.
In 2017, he made his Hollywood debut in Resident Evil: The Final Chapter. He then continued his career with Criminal Minds, Lawless Lawyer, Flower of Evil, considered one of his best performances, Again, My Life and the second season of’Arthdal Chronicles, in which he plays the twins Eun-seom and Saya.
Lee Joon-gi, who remains very active, is expected to appear in TV series in 2026 Kidnap Game and Gyeongbokgung Detective Agency, two projects that mark his return to the spotlight after several years away.
Known for his dramatic intensity, his impressive action scenes—often performed without a stunt double—and his charisma, Lee Joon-gi remains one of the most iconic and respected actors in the South Korean entertainment industry.
