Lee Sung-min

Lee Sung-min (born October 15, 1968) is a South Korean actor.

Lee Sung-min was born on October 15, 1968, in a small village called Dochon, located between Bonghwa and Yeongju in North Gyeongsang Province.

During his early years, he frequently moved with his father, who relocated to various places across the country, including Seoul and Gangwon.

It wasn't until the fourth grade of elementary school that he finally returned to his hometown of Bonghwa, where he completed his middle and high school education.

Afterwards, he left his hometown once again to pursue higher education, enrolling as a university student in Daegu Science University.

Reflecting on his past, it was his father who paved the way for his acting journey.

His father, known for his kindness and warmth, greatly enjoyed watching movies with his son.

Although Bonghwa lacked movie theaters at the time, Yeongju had two cinemas.

As valued customers, his father and he would eagerly rush to the theater ahead of others whenever a new film was released.

"I still vividly recall the movies like 'King Kong' and 'Bruce Lee' that I watched with my father during my childhood."

Actor Lee Sungmin shared, "When I was young, my father always ensured that I watched 'masterpiece films' on weekends. Thanks to him, I had the opportunity to experience cultural elements that were challenging for a rural child to access at such a young age. Perhaps, by absorbing movies through my father from an early stage, it enabled me to pursue an acting career and consistently engage in emotive performances."

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 Seong-min remarked, "Each troupe at the time pursued distinct directions, identities, and showcased different works."

While actively 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, he received the New Actor Award at the Daegu Theater Festival, an honor that can only be bestowed once in a lifetime.

Additionally, he achieved the highest honor among actors in the Daegu region by winning the Daegu Theater Festival Best Actor Awards.

Lee Sung-min crossed paths with his future wife in the play B Unso.

She was the choreographer for the play B Unso.

Their encounter marked a turning point in his life, as Lee Sung-min went on to achieve remarkable milestones.

In 2001, Lee joined the play produced by theater group Yeoninmudae (연인무대의) titled 'Pig Hunt'.

In 2002, despite being in his mid-thirties, Lee Sung-min made a 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 to Seoul.

At that time, Lee Sung-min 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."

However, Lee faced financial hardships in Seoul.

To make ends meet, he would make a weekly trip back 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 Sung-min would undertake a two-hour walk from Dongdaegu Station to his home in Shijidong.

He carried taxi and chauffeur service phone numbers in his pocket, always prepared to quickly earn money in case of unemployment.

In Daehangno, Lee joined theater group Chaimu.

As a member of the theater group Chaimu, Lee appeared in plays such as B Unso, Pig Hunt! and There? In 2003, Pig Hunt, a satirical play, was performed from 19 to 26 October at the small theater of the Dongsoong Art Center.

He 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 in supporting roles.

He is best known for his supporting roles on television and film, notably his much-praised performances in Golden Time (2012), Broken (2014), Misaeng: Incomplete Life (2014), and Reborn Rich (2022).

Lee has also received critical acclaim for his role in the 2018 espionage film The Spy Gone North, for which he won Best Actor at the 55th Baeksang Arts Awards.

The play received the top prize (Presidential Award) at the 19th National Theater Festival, jointly organized by the Korea Arts and Culture Promotion Agency (Director Kim Jeong-ok) and the Korean Theater Association (Chairman Choi Jong-won).

As a result, 'Pig Hunt' received a prize of 20 million won and invited to the Seoul Performing Arts Festival held in October.

The director of this work, Han Jeon-gi, and the lead actor, Lee Sung-min, received the Best Director Award and the Best Acting Award, respectively.