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.[7]
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."[7]
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."[7]
Career
Early career in Daegu
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."[7]
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.[7][8]
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.[9] In 2001, Lee joined the play produced by theater group Yeoninmudae (연인무대의) titled 'Pig Hunt'. 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.[10]
Moving to Seoul
In 2002, despite being in his mid-thirties, Lee Sung-min made a tough 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 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 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.[9]
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.[11]
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. During his time working on the film in 2004, alongside Son Hyun-joo, he was recommended for a role in a television drama. Actor Ahn Jae-wook, who was the lead in the drama Oh Feel Young, even adjusted his schedule to accommodate Lee Sung-min's theater commitments.[9]
The promised three years with his family swiftly passed, yet Lee Sung-min 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. With the unwavering support of his family, they too relocated to Seoul. However, despite their collective efforts, financial hardships persisted. Lee Sung-min 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]
Career breakthrough, from supporting roles to lead roles
Lee Sung-min 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 the 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] However, Lee gradually made a breakthrough as a supporting actor in various films and dramas. He portrayed characters such as Choi Man-ri, a scholar in The King's Letters, a pop columnist in Go Go 70s, and a chief prosecutor in The Unjust.[9]
Lee Sung-min 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, personally recommended him.[13] However, during the audition, when asked if he was close to Song Kang-ho, Lee Sung-min honestly replied, "We're not close." As a result, it seems that Lee Sung-min 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 Sung-min reportedly responded, "To be honest, we weren't really close."[14]
Regardless, Lee Sung-min gradually began to leave a lasting impression on viewers. It all started with his portrayal of restaurant manager Seol Joon-seok in the 2010 MBC drama Pasta. Despite his character's unlikeable traits, Lee delivered a captivating performance as a villain who was hard to hate. Following that, he continued to appear in dramas such as Gloria, Listen to My Heart, films like A Little Pond, and plays such as The Story of Nulgeun the Thief.[9]
In 2011, he took on the role of Dr. Go Jae-hak, a doctor consumed by ambition, in the KBS 2TV drama Brain. In the MBC drama My Princess, he portrayed President Lee Young-chan, who pretended to be just and righteous while focusing on his own interests.[9] Lee Sung-min, who had often portrayed unlikeable villain roles, successfully underwent an image transformation in the 2012 MBC drama The King 2 Hearts. At that time, he received praise for his portrayal of Lee Jae-kang, the older brother of the protagonist (Lee Seung-gi) and the former Crown Prince.[9]
A few months later, in the MBC drama Golden Time, he took on the role of trauma specialist Choi In-hyuk. In terms of significance, he was practically on par with the lead role. It was reported that Lee Sung-min lost 7 kg of weight in order to showcase a different style of acting from his previous role as Go Jae-hak in the drama 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. In the end, Lee Sung-min was confidently recognized as a lead actor by the public.[9]
Career peak and critical acclaim
In the movie The Attorney, released at the end of 2013, he played the role of Lee Yoon-taek, a high school classmate of the protagonist Song Woo-seok, who is a lawyer (played by Song Kang-ho) and a journalist for a social department at a newspaper in the Busan area. Although it was a supporting role, he had a considerable presence. In the MBC drama Miss Korea, which aired around the same time, he portrayed Jung Sun-saeng, a former gangster who is chased by debt from Kim Hyung-jun (played by Lee Sun-kyun), the CEO of a cosmetics company.[9]
Lee Sung-min reached the peak of his acting career with his appearance in the 2014 tvN drama Misaeng: Incomplete Life. Guided by director Kim Won-seok and writer Jung Yoon-jung, this 20-episode series was an adaptation of Yoon Tae-ho's webtoon series of the same title.[15][16][17][18] 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.[19] The drama became a cultural phenomenon, achieving remarkable viewership ratings for a cable network program in South Korea.[20][21][22][23][24] Lee received accolades from viewers for his authentic portrayal of the working professional Oh Sang-sik. His exceptional performance earned him the Best Actor award in the TV category at the 52nd Baeksang Arts Awards and the Best Actor award for the same role at the 2016 tvN10 Awards.[9][25]
In early 2016, Lee Sung-min made his debut as a lead actor in the film Sori: Voice From the Heart in which he portrayed the character Hae-gwan. Hae-gwan is 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 received praise from 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 (played by Chae Soo-bin in flashback). 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 movie The Spy Gone North (2018). His acting receiving critical acclaim and winning multiple awards, including the Buil Film Awards, Grand Bell Awards, Korean Film Critics Association Awards, and Director's Cut Awards for Best Actor. His accolades continued in 2019 when he won the Best Actor award in the film category at the 55th Baeksang Arts Awards.[9]
In 2020, his performance in the movie The Man Standing Next once again received high praise. Portraying former President Park Chung-hee, Lee Sung-min defied initial skepticism with his masterful portrayal, incorporating a distinct Gyeongsang dialect and delivering a powerful performance.[9] Notably, his portrayal of the character Kang Won-jun in the Netflix drama Juvenile Justice (released in early 2022) showcased his versatility and garnered acclaim for his ability to depict a complex character 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 Sung-min's performance as Jin Yang-chul in Reborn Rich received 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 characters, 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 award in the TV category at the 59th Baeksang Arts Awards.[29]
Personal life
Lee Sung-min's wife was a contemporary dance major who also served as the director overseeing the choreography for one of his performances in Daegu. Initially, Lee didn't have a favorable impression of her because she came across as strict and serious. However, after the show, Lee began receiving frequent phone calls and mistakenly believed they were regarding the choreography fee. With no money to spare, he attempted to at least share a meal, but to his surprise, his future wife took the initiative and contacted him first, asking if it would be alright to go out together. This marked the beginning of their dating journey. Eventually, they got married with a modest cost of only 2 million won. Shortly after tying the knot, they immediately had a daughter, and Lee had to shoulder the responsibility of supporting their livelihood solely through his income.[30][31]
^ abcdeKim, Eun-kyung (2023-08-09). "[출향인사를 찾아서] 봉화 출신의 '국민배우' 이성민 난 영원한 대구 연극인…후배들과 함께 만드는 무대 꿈꿔" [[In search of outgoing greetings] 'National actor' Lee Sung-min from Bonghwa ``I'm an eternal Daegu theatre... I dream of making a stage with juniors``]. Yeongnam Ilbo (in Korean). Retrieved 2023-08-24.
^Lee, Yi-seul (2016-01-26). "이성민, 특별함 대신 겸손 입은 진.짜.배.우" [Lee Sung-min, Jin, who is humbled instead of special. Salty . Pear . All at once]. 뉴스웨이 (in Korean). Retrieved 2023-08-24.
^ abcdefghijklmnop"끝나지 않은 신드롬 배우 이성민" [Unending Syndrome: Actor Lee Sung-min]. www.ilyosisa.co.kr (in Korean). 2023-01-09. Retrieved 2023-08-24.
^Kim, Hyun-rok (2016-01-18). "'로봇,소리' 이성민 "가족같은 전혜진이 아내 연기, 눈 못 마주쳐"" ['Robot, sound' Lee Sung-min "Jun Hye-jin's family-like wife's acting, can't make eye contact"]. entertain.naver.com (in Korean). Retrieved 2023-08-24.
^Hong, Se-young (July 20, 2021). 송중기·이성민 '재벌집 막내아들' 출연확정 [공식] [Song Joong-ki and Lee Sung-min confirmed to appear in 'The Youngest Son of a Conglomerate' owner of miracle shares [Official]]. Sports Donga (in Korean). Archived from the original on December 23, 2021. Retrieved December 23, 2021 – via Naver.
^ abKim, So-yeon (April 28, 2023). "우영우'·'헤어질 결심' 대상, 이변 없었다 [백상예술대상](종합)" [‘Woo Young-woo’ and ‘Decision to break up’ Grand prize, no change [Baeksang Arts Awards] (comprehensive)] (in Korean). Maeil Business star Today. Retrieved April 28, 2023 – via Naver.
^"이성민 "아내와 결혼 21년차, 연극인 시절 생활고...장인이 가스비 내줬다"" [Lee Sung-min "I've been married to my wife for 21 years, and I've been a theatre... The father-in-law paid for the gas."]. 싱글리스트 (in Korean). 2020-01-26. Retrieved 2023-08-24.
^"배우 이성민, 아내 직업? "딸, 류준열에게 푹 빠져"" [Actor Lee Sung-min, wife's job? "Daughter, I'm in love with Ryu Jun-yeol"]. 데일리시큐 (in Korean). 2020-01-26. Retrieved 2023-08-24.
^Kang Min-kyung (August 18, 2021). "박정민X이성민X임윤아 '기적', 9월 개봉 확정..추석 극장가 정조준 [공식]" [Park Jung-min X Lee Sung-min X Im Yoon-ah 'Miracle', released in September .. Chuseok Theater is Jung Joon Jun [Formula]]. StarNews (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved August 18, 2021.
^Kim Seon-woo (July 30, 2022). "황정민·주지훈까지…'헌트' 특별출연도 영화제급" [Hwang Jung-min and Ju Ji-hoon... A special appearance in 'The Hunt' is like a film festival] (in Korean). JTBC. Retrieved July 30, 2022 – via Naver.
^Kang Shin-woo (September 15, 2022). "수리남 제작사 X 검사외전 감독 X 이성민 X 남주혁 버디무비…'리멤버' 10월 개봉" [Suriname Production Company X Prosecutor Gaiden Director X Lee Seong-min X Nam Joo-hyuk Buddy Movie… 'Remember' to be released in October] (in Korean). Seoul Economic Daily. Retrieved September 15, 2022 – via Naver.
^Yang Yu-jin (July 22, 2021). "조진웅X이성민X김무열 '대외비', 제25회 판타지아 국제영화제 공식 초청" [Jo Jin-woong X Lee Seong-min X Kim Mu-yeol's 'External Secret' officially invited to the 25th Fantasia International Film Festival]. My Daily (in Korean). Retrieved July 22, 2021 – via Naver.
^Yoo, Eun-bi (August 5, 2023). "학연·혈연에 팬心까지 총동원 …특별출연 '美친 라인업'[이슈S]" [Mobilize school ties, blood ties, and even fan hearts…Special appearance on "Crazy Friendly Lineup" [issue S]] (in Korean). SpoTV News. Retrieved August 9, 2023 – via Naver.
^Moon Ji-yeon (February 18, 2022). "[공식] 황정민·정우성·이성민·박해준·김성균 확정..'서울의 봄' 17일 크랭크인" [[Official] Hwang Jung-min, Jung Woo-sung, Lee Seong-min, Park Hae-joon, Kim Seong-gyun confirmed... 'Seoul Spring' crank-in on the 17th] (in Korean). Sports Chosun. Retrieved February 18, 2022 – via Naver.
^Ha Su-jeong (July 20, 2021). "재벌집 막내아들' 송중기x이성민 출연 확정..2022년 첫 방송 [공식]" [Song Joong-ki x Lee Seong-min confirmed for 'The Youngest Son of a Conglomerate'..First broadcast in 2022 [Official]]. OSEN (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved July 20, 2021.
^Cho Hyeon-joo (October 11, 2023). [단독] 이성민, 나문희·유승호와 가족 될까? [[Exclusive] Will Lee Sung-min become a family with Na Moon-hee and Yoo Seung-ho?] (in Korean). Retrieved November 24, 2023 – via Naver.
^Moon Ji-yeon (January 25, 2022). "[공식] 존재만으로 신뢰..김혜수 '소년심판' 2월 25일 공개 확정" [[Official] Trust just for existence.. Kim Hye-soo's 'Boys Judgment' will be released on February 25th] (in Korean). Sports Chosun. Retrieved January 25, 2022 – via Naver.
^Jung Yu-jin (October 17, 2022). "이성민 "'헌트'→'수리남' 특별출연, 후배들에 도움 된다면 언제든" [N인터뷰]③" [Lee Seong-min "'Hunt' → 'Suriname' special appearance, if it helps juniors anytime" [N interview] ③] (in Korean). News1. Retrieved October 17, 2022 – via Naver.
^Lee Chang-gyu (September 13, 2022). "디즈니+ 오리지널 '형사록', 10월 공개 확정…이성민→이학주 케미 기대↑" [Disney+ original 'Criminal Records' confirmed for release in October... Lee Seong-min → Lee Hak-joo's chemistry is expected↑] (in Korean). X-ports News. Retrieved September 13, 2022 – via Naver.
^Kim, Do-gon (February 8, 2023). "이성민X유연석X이정은, '운수 오진 날' 캐스팅[공식]" [Lee Seong-min X Yoo Yeon-seok X Lee Jung-eun cast in 'The Day of Misfortune' [Official]] (in Korean). Sports Kyunghyang. Retrieved February 8, 2023 – via Naver.
^Kim Na-ra (November 1, 2021). "제42회 청룡영화상, 후보 발표…류승완 '모가디슈' 최다 부문 노미네이트 [공식]" [42nd Blue Dragon Film Awards, nominations announced... Ryoo Seung-wan 'Mogadishu' Nominated for Most Category [Official]] (in Korean). My Daily. Retrieved November 1, 2021 – via Naver.
^Noh Kyu-min (February 9, 2022). "[공식] 제20회 디렉터스컷 어워즈, 24일 개최…'오겜' 'D.P.' '지옥' 노미네이트" [[Official] The 20th Director's Cut Awards, held on the 24th... 'Ogem' 'D.P.' 'Hell' nomination] (in Korean). Ten Asia. Retrieved February 9, 2022 – via Naver.
^Moon, Ji-yeon (June 26, 2023). "[공식] '더 글로리'·'SNL코리아3' 최다 노미..제2회 청룡시리즈어워즈 후보 발표" [[Official] 'The Glory'-'SNL Korea 3' Most Nominations...2nd Blue Dragon Series Awards Nominations Announced] (in Korean). Sports Chosun. Retrieved June 28, 2023 – via Naver.
^Lee, Se-bin (September 21, 2023). "이성민, 한류드라마부문 연기상 수상…"진짜 받아야 했던 송중기와" [서울드라마어워즈]" [Lee Sung-min wins acting award in Korean drama category... “Song Joong-ki really deserved it” [Seoul Drama Awards]]. Ilgan Sports (in Korean). Retrieved September 21, 2023.
^Kim, Yang-soo (October 14, 2023). "[종합] '코리아드라마어워즈' 이성민 대상…오정세x김선아 최우수상" [[Overall] 'Korea Drama Awards' Lee Sung-min Grand Prize...Oh Jung-seh x Kim Sun-ah Best Actress]. Joy News 24 (in Korean). Retrieved October 14, 2023.
^Ha-neul Lee (October 24, 2023). "제59회 대종상영화제, 남우주연상→여우주연상 후보 및 각 부문별 선정" [59th Grand Bell Awards, Best Actor → Best Actress Award nominations and selection in each category]. Ten Asia (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved October 25, 2023.
^Ha-na Lee (December 19, 2023). "'재벌집'부터 '더글로리'까지‥'APAN STAR AWARDS' 치열한 수상 후보 공개" [From ‘Reborn Rich’ to ‘The Glory’… ‘APAN STAR AWARDS’ fierce competition candidates revealed]. Newsen (in Korean). Retrieved December 20, 2023.
^Park, Hae-shik (November 24, 2022). "강수연·박찬욱, 은관문화훈장 수훈…송강호·허영만은 보관문화훈장" [Kang Soo-yeon and Park Chan-wook, awarded with the Silver Crown Order of Cultural Merit... Song Kang-ho and Heo Young-man received the Order of Cultural Merit] (in Korean). Sports DongA. Retrieved November 24, 2022 – via Naver.
^Lim, Chae-yeon; Kim, Young-gyeong (February 23, 2015). 2015 KOREA POWER CELEBRITY 40 - ‘미생’ 두 주인공 떴다 [2015 KOREA POWER CELEBRITY 40 - Two main characters of 'Misaeng' appeared]. JoongAng Ilbo (in Korean). Archived from the original on April 12, 2015. Retrieved May 22, 2021 – via Joins.