Throughout three seasons of Squid Game, Lee Byung Hun has captivated audiences as the enigmatic Front Man, the mastermind behind the deadly games. The Hollywood Reporter praised his performance as a career highlight. With minimal dialogue but powerful presence, he has solidified his global status. The Front Man has become an iconic figure, synonymous with the show's unsettling atmosphere.
A leading figure in Korean cinema, Lee Byung Hun's career spans nearly 35 years. According to MK, his acting consistently earns critical acclaim. He possesses a remarkable ability to convey emotion and shift the atmosphere with a single glance, delivering lines naturally and convincingly.
In 1991, after passing the KBS talent audition, he debuted in the television drama Asphalt My Hometown. From 2000 to 2010, he dominated Asian screens, garnering numerous awards. In director Park Chan Wook's Joint Security Area (2000), he excelled as a South Korean soldier, masterfully portraying the psychological complexities of a tense situation. The film won Best Film at the Blue Dragon Film Awards, and Lee Byung Hun received Best Actor at the Busan Film Critics Awards (BCFA).
His role as Kim In Ha in All In (2003) earned him the Daesang (Grand Prize) at the SBS Drama Awards and Best Actor. Lee Byung Hun captured the multifaceted nature of In Ha: cold and decisive, yet deeply wounded. Hankyung noted his performance as a key factor in the drama's phenomenal success that year.
In 2009, he starred in Vietnamese-French director Tran Anh Hung's I Come with the Rain. Later that year, he returned to television with Iris, playing secret agent Kim Huyn Jun, torn between survival, friendship, romantic love, and patriotism. The drama became a pan-Asian sensation, earning him the Daesang at the KBS Drama Awards and another Best Actor award at the Baeksang Arts Awards.
In 2008, Byung Hun played his first villainous role in The Good, the Bad, the Weird. The film, screened at the Cannes Film Festival, opened doors to Hollywood, leading to his role as Storm Shadow in G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra. According to News1, his Hollywood foray was a pioneering step for the Hallyu wave's expansion into Western markets.
Behind the glamour lies a tumultuous journey. Lee Byung Hun faced intense criticism for scandals involving infidelity, leaked explicit videos, and blackmail. In 2014, model Lee Ji Yeon, one of two individuals who blackmailed him, claimed they had a secret three-month relationship. Angered by the abrupt breakup, Ji Yeon plotted revenge.
At the time, Lee Byung Hun had been married to actress Lee Min Jung for a year. She remained largely silent on the matter, opting to retreat abroad. The scandal erupted during her first pregnancy. Amidst public backlash against her husband, she moved in with her parents in Gangnam, while Byung Hun apologized to her family. Ultimately, Lee Min Jung forgave him. They welcomed their first child in 3/2015 and their second, a daughter, in 12/2023. According to Nate, the couple purchased a house in Los Angeles for approximately 2.7 billion won (about 1.9 million USD) in 2019, frequently visiting for vacations or Hollywood engagements.
Following the career-impacting scandal, he returned to the screen with compelling roles, including a cold yet lonely gangster in Inside Men (2016) and an ambitious politician in The Man Standing Next (2020). Working in both Korea and internationally has enriched his experience and deepened his character portrayals.
In a July interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Byung Hun shared that every life experience, whether joyful or painful, informs his acting process.
"There are moments in life when I question the loss of humanity, and it truly pains me," he said. "Though these concepts are difficult to articulate, I know I've endured such internal struggles. The emotions I've accumulated throughout life shape my approach to characters."
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Lee Byung Hun in "Squid Game". Image: Netflix |
He is set to star alongside actress Son Ye Jin in director Park Chan Wook's upcoming film I Can't Help It. The story follows office worker Yoo Man Su, unexpectedly fired after 25 years. The character fights to reclaim his position while protecting his family from external threats.
Beyond acting, he manages BH Entertainment, an agency representing top stars such as Han Ga In, Han Hyo Joo, Han Ji Min, Park Bo Young, Lee Jin Wook, Ahn So Hee, and Kim Go Eun. He often organizes outings for artists and staff to foster camaraderie, including a 2023 trip to Da Nang, Vietnam.
Que Chi (via The Hollywood Reporter, Hankyung, MK)
