Lee Sung-min (actor)

He began his theater journey by becoming a part of the theater company Audience and Stage (객석과 무대) in Daegu. During this period, he had the opportunity to collaborate with esteemed colleagues, including directors Choi Joo-hwan and Jeong Cheol-won, both of whom had previously held positions as directors at the Daegu Municipal Theater Company. Reflecting on those days, Lee remarked, "Each troupe at the time pursued distinct directions, identities, and showcased different works."[7]

While engaging in theater activities in Daegu, he swiftly gained recognition for his talent. Whenever he participated in various theater festivals, he effortlessly swept away awards. At the age of 24, Lee received the New Actor award at the Daegu Theater Festival. Additionally, achieved the highest honor among actors in the Daegu region by also winning the Best Actor award at the same festival.[7][8]

Lee crossed paths with his future wife in the play Bieonso; she was the choreographer.[9] In 2001, he joined Pig Hunt, a satirical play produced by theater group Yeoninmudae (연인무대의). The play won the top prize (Presidential Award) at the 19th National Theater Festival; the prize was worth 20 million won and the crew was invited to the Seoul Performing Arts Festival held in October. The director of this work, Han Jeon-gi, and Lee Sung-min, the lead actor, received the Best Director and Best Acting awards, respectively.[10]

In 2002, despite being in his mid-thirties, Lee made the though decision to leave his wife and daughter in Daegu and venture alone to Seoul. Determined to pursue a career as an actor, he yearned to test and validate his skills in Daehangno, the heart of the Korean theater industry. Encouragement from those around him further pushed him to embark on the journey. At that time, Lee made a promise to his family, saying, "I will give it a try for three years, and if things don't work out, I will return."[9]

However, Lee faced financial hardships in Seoul. To make ends meet, he would make weekly trips to Daegu and rely on a modest allowance of 100,000 won provided by his wife. After deducting expenses for transportation, card charges, and cigarettes, there was barely anything left. In order to save on transportation costs, Lee would undertake a two-hour walk from Dongdaegu Station to his home in Shiji-dong. He carried taxi and chauffeur service phone numbers in his pocket, always prepared to quickly earn money in case of unemployment.[9]

In Daehangno, Lee joined theater group Chaimu. As a member of the group, he appeared in plays such as Bieonso, Pig Hunt and The Weir. In 2003, Pig Hunt was performed from the 19th to the 26th of October at the small theater of Dongsoong Art Center.[11]

Lee also ventured into the film industry. He started with minor roles, and in 2004, he made an appearance as Loan Shark Gangster 1 in the film Father And Son: The Story Of Mencius, which led to a growing recognition of his talent. During his time working on the project alongside Son Hyun-joo, he was recommended for a role in a television series. Actor Ahn Jae-wook, who was the lead in the 2004 series Oh Feel Young, even adjusted his schedule to accommodate Lee's theater commitments.[9]

The promised three years with his family swiftly passed, yet Lee had not been able to shake off his unknown status. After much contemplation, he made the bold decision to remain in Seoul, determined to set a precedent and prove that actors hailing from provincial backgrounds like himself could achieve nationwide recognition for their acting prowess. His family also relocated to Seoul. However, despite their collective efforts, financial hardships persisted. Lee vividly recalls how, during that time, he could only afford to buy cheap pork belly priced at around 1,000 won, which left his daughter disappointed. These challenging memories from the past continue to resonate with him to this day.[9]

Lee made appearances in several films, including Marathon in 2005, but a considerable portion of his scenes were edited out. In 2006, he took on the role of Seong-cheol, a humane gangster, in the film Silk Shoes, which was collaboratively produced by actors from his theater group Chaimu. Although it garnered attention in the film industry, it didn't achieve widespread recognition among the general public due to the limitations of being a low-budget film.[12]

Regardless, Lee continued to work, portraying characters such a pop columnist in Go Go 70s (2008), and a chief prosecutor in The Unjust (2010).[13]

In 2009, he seized the opportunity to appear in director Park Chan-wook's film Thirst. Song Kang-ho, with whom he had previously worked in Secret Sunshine (2007), personally recommended him.[14] However, during the audition, when asked if he was close to Song Kang-ho, Lee honestly replied, "We're not close." He didn't pass the audition, possibly due to his response. Later, when Song Kang-ho asked him, "Why didn't you say we were close?" Lee reportedly responded, "To be honest, we weren't really close."[15]

Lee gradually began to leave a lasting impression on viewers, starting with his portrayal of restaurant manager Seol Joon-seok in the MBC romantic comedy Pasta (2010). Despite his character's unlikeable traits, Lee delivered a captivating performance.

Following that, he continued to appear in projects such as the television series Gloria (2010–2011) and Listen to My Heart (2011), and the play A Story of Old Thieves.[9] Also in 2011, he took on the role of Go Jae-hak, a doctor consumed by ambition, in the KBS2 medical drama Brain; in the MBC romantic comedy My Princess, he portrayed Lee Young-chan, the country's president who pretends to be just and righteous while focusing on his own interests.[9]

Lee, who had often taken on villain roles, successfully underwent an image transformation in the MBC series The King 2 Hearts (2012). At that time, he received praise for his portrayal of Lee Jae-kang, the elder brother of the protagonist (Lee Seung-gi) and the former South Korean king.[9]

A few months later, in the MBC medical drama Golden Time (2012), he took on the role of trauma specialist Choi In-hyuk. In terms of significance, he was on par with the lead role. It was reported that Lee lost 7kg in order to showcase a different style from his previous role in Brain, where he also played a doctor. Furthermore, there is a famous anecdote that during filming, he dragged around worn-out sneakers to capture the essence of an emergency room doctor. The series brought Lee numerous accolades, including his first Best Actor for Television nomination at the 49th Baeksang Arts Awards; Lee was finally recognized by the public.[9]

In the courtroom film The Attorney, released at the end of 2013, he played the role of Lee Yoon-taek, a high school classmate of protagonist Song Woo-seok (played by Song Kang-ho). Although it was a supporting role, he had a considerable presence. In the MBC series Miss Korea (2013–2014), he portrayed Jung Sun-saeng, a former gangster who is chasing lead character Kim Hyung-jun (played by Lee Sun-kyun) because of debt.[9]

Lee reached a peak in his acting career after appearing in the tvN workplace drama Misaeng: Incomplete Life (2014). Guided by director Kim Won-seok and writer Jung Yoon-jung, this 20-episode series was an adaptation of Yoon Tae-ho's manhwa of the same title.[16][17][18][19] The title itself, translated from go terminology, conveys the idea of "an incomplete life," capturing the essence of not yet being fully alive. Notably, Misaeng made history as the first Korean drama to be filmed on location in Jordan, with actors Im Si-wan and Lee Sung-min shooting the series's prologue in Amman, Petra, and Wadi Rum.[20] The series became a cultural phenomenon, achieving remarkable viewership ratings for a cable network program in South Korea.[21][22][23][24][25] Lee received comendations from viewers for his authentic portrayal of the working professional Oh Sang-sik. His exceptional interpretation earned him the Best Actor for Television at the 52nd Baeksang Arts Awards.[9]

Notable appearances in the films Kundo: Age of the Rampant (2014) and The Piper (2015) brought Lee further accolades; he was a Best Supporting Actor nominee at the 35th Blue Dragon Film Awards and 24th Buil Film Awards, respectively.

In early 2016, Lee made his debut as a lead actor in the film Sori: Voice From the Heart; he portrayed the character Hae-gwan, a robot who possesses the ability to remember every sound in the world. The storyline revolves around his relentless search for his daughter, whom he lost in Daegu in 2003. Joining the cast as Hae-gwan's wife is a fellow member of Chaimu, Jeon Hye-jin.[26] Lee's performance in the film was praised by The Hollywood Reporter. They commended his portrayal, stating, "Sori is at its strongest when it focuses on Hae-Kwan and the surprising onion-layer style discoveries he makes about the daughter he was sure he knew. Lee balances regret and disbelief effortlessly, and makes the man's sadness real without tipping into histrionics."[27]

Two years later, he made his first appearance on the red carpet at the Cannes Film Festival with the espionage film The Spy Gone North (2018). Lee's acting gained critical acclaim and he received multiple Best Actor wins and nominations, including at the 55th Baeksang Arts Awards (film category), 39th Blue Dragon Film Awards, 27th Buil Film Awards, 24th Chunsa Film Art Awards, 55th Grand Bell Awards, 38th Korean Association of Film Critics Awards, and 18th Director's Cut Awards.[9]

In 2020, his performance in the political film The Man Standing Next once again gathered high praise, as well as a Best Supporting Actor win at the 25th Chunsa Film Art Awards and nominations from the 41st Blue Dragon Film Awards and 20th Director's Cut Awards. Taking on the role of former President Park Jung-hee, Lee defied initial skepticism with his masterful portrayal that incorporated a distinct Gyeongsang dialect.[9]

In 2022, his role as Kang Won-jung in the Netflix series Juvenile Justice showcased his versatility and garnered acclaim for his ability to depict a complex character who is torn between his harshness towards his family and the guilt he feels towards his son while simultaneously investigating his own potential downfall.[9]

At the end of 2022, Lee performance as Jin Yang-chul in the JTBC revenge drama Reborn Rich received widespread praise.[28] He flawlessly embodied the role of a first-generation chaebol who tenaciously clings to his position in the company, creating a profound emotional impact on viewers. By skillfully incorporating his Gyeongsang dialect and adopting a raspy voice that suits older people, he brought vibrancy to the character. Lee Sung-min's commanding presence in the drama sparked discussions among viewers about the noticeable decrease in immersion after Jin Yang-chul's departure. In 2023, he received the Best Actor for Television at the 59th Baeksang Arts Awards.[29]