Lee Kwang-soo is a South Korean actor and model who rose to notoriety in 2010 after appearing on ‘The Running Man,’ a popular South Korean variety show. Lee began his career as a model in 2007 and had his first appearance on TV in 2008 with the sitcom ‘Here He Comes.’ He comes from a wealthy business family. It was quickly followed by a role in ‘High Kick Through the Roof,’ and his career was launched. In 2013, he took a risk by portraying a negative character in the drama ‘Goddess of Fire,’ for which he won critical acclaim. In 2014, he landed another unusual role in the neo-noir ‘Confession,’ and the following year, he walked the red carpet of the famous ‘Toronto International Film Festival’ with the film ‘Collective Invention.’ Lee has carved up a name for himself over the years by portraying a wide range of characters.
Childhood and Adolescence
Lee Kwang-soo was born in Namyangju, Gyeonggi Province, South Korea, on July 14, 1985, to a wealthy business family. He grew up in his hometown with his parents and a younger sister who was two years his junior. Lee was intrigued with painting as a child, especially creating cartoons and animated figures he watched on television. This early activity piqued his interest in art, which his parents encouraged, but when Lee grew up and expressed interest in pursuing a profession in the industry, they were less than enthusiastic. As a result, Lee relegated drawing to the status of a pastime for the rest of his life. He still paints, creates sketches, and sprays graffiti to keep his love alive.
In an interview, Kwang stated that he was an emotionally distant child who disliked the way he looked. He was heavy throughout elementary school and only began to lose weight after he entered middle school, and by high school, he had already developed a model-like body. He gained new confidence after losing all of his weight and looking better than most of his classmates, and he soon rose to the top of his boys’ group. Lee’s weight loss ambitions also piqued his interest in athletics, and among the several sports he participated in high school, he preferred basketball and spent countless hours on the court.
He also began doing part-time drama at the school, which he grew to adore. After graduating from high school, he enrolled in the Dong-ah Institute of Media and Arts to perfect his acting and other filmmaking abilities, and after graduating, he decided to do his necessary military training. Actors typically volunteer after joining the industry, but Lee’s service was just the first of a sequence of audacious moves that would define his career.
Career of Lee
Lee began modeling after completing his military service in 2007 and received some lucrative modeling offers early on in his career. Simultaneously, he continued to apply for roles in television and cinema, and he made his acting debut in the 2008 sitcom ‘Here He Comes.’ His performance was appreciated, and he soon participated in another comedy series, ‘High kick Through the Roof!’ He had a couple more minor jobs after that, but his fate was transformed by a spell on the variety show ‘Running Man.’ Lee joined the cast of the show in 2010, and his character immediately became one of the most famous characters on the show.
As a result of the show, his popularity skyrocketed, earning him the moniker “The Prince of Asia.” Lee also received awards throughout the award season, including the SBS New Star Award and the Best Newcomer in Variety.
He dominated 2012 with his great comic timing on the comedy shows ‘Wonderful Radio’ and ‘All About My Life,’ and later that year, he also starred in a melodrama and a thriller to give his image a tiny twist. He publicly stated that he wants to explore the darker side of his existence and that he would love to portray a terrible character on TV while riding high on success. With the 2013 drama ‘Goddess of Fire,’ in which he played a malevolent prince, his fantasy came true.
In 2014, he branched out into darker parts with the neo noir thriller ‘Confession,’ which portrayed the story of three Korean teenagers whose lives are turned upside down after they become engaged in a murder mystery. Lee went on to star in the drama ‘It’s Ok, That’s Love.’ In 2015, he received critical acclaim for his role in the film “Collective Invention.” The film, which deals with drug usage, had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival, and Lee later stated that walking the red carpet was a “dream come true” for him.
He took a break from acting in 2015 and spent the majority of the year away from the spotlight, but he returned the following year with back-to-back TV roles. He made cameo appearances in ‘Descendants of the Sun’ and ‘Dear My Friends,’ before starring in ‘Entourage,’ a South Korean version of the American series of the same name that chronicles the life of a successful film actor and his friend group, entertainingly portraying his post-fame existence.
Lee became a great success in China and South Korea with his involvement in the series “The Sound of Your Heart.” The series was a huge financial and critical success, and Lee began to obtain more international parts around this time.
Lee had a special appearance on the show ‘The Best Successful’ in 2017 and is expected to star in a major part in the upcoming comedy film ‘The Accidental Detective 2,’ which is the sequel to the hit franchise. ‘Strong Heart,’ ‘Happy Together 3’, ‘Healing Camp,’ and the Chinese version of ‘The Amazing Race’ are among his many guest appearances on variety shows. In addition to his films and acting roles, he has appeared in music videos for musicians such as KARA, Turbo, and Cosmic Girls, and has received numerous honors for his work, including APAN Star Awards and Blue Dragon Film Awards.
Personal Experiences of Lee
On set, Lee Kwang-soo is a laid-back guy, and everyone who has worked with him raves about his contagious energy and how enjoyable it is to work with him. Lee is quiet about his personal life and claims that he will continue to be so because he wants to keep everyone, including his admirers, out of it. He hinted at being in a relationship at one point, but there was never any official confirmation of it.
Estimated Net Worth
Lee Kwang-soo is one of the wealthiest TV actors and one of the most popular. Lee Kwang-net soo’s worth is estimated to be $2.5 million, according to Wikipedia, Forbes, and Business Insider.