Lee Sung-jae

Quick Facts: Who was Lee Sung-jae?

Subject:

Lee Sung-jae

Known for:

Versatile South Korean actor known for comedy and dramatic roles in film and television.

Born:

1970-08-23

Century / Era:

1970s Historical Era Archive

Verified Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

Lee Sung-jae (Korean: 이성재; born August 23, 1970) is a South Korean actor. Among his notable works include the films Art Museum by the Zoo (1998), Attack the Gas Station (1999), Kick the Moon (2001), and Public Enemy (2002), as well as the television series Gu Family Book (2013). Lee in a short period rose to become one of the more versatile and popular actors in Korean cinema. After working for a time on TV (his debut was the MBC drama The Love of Two Women), he launched his film career with the romantic comedy Art Museum by the Zoo opposite superstar Shim Eun-ha.

Career & Major Achievements

The success of this movie gave him considerable attention and led to him being offered many more roles. After starring in Ghost in Love opposite Kim Hee-sun, Lee rose to prominence as the leader of a small group of thugs in one of the biggest box-office hits of the late 1990s, Kim Sang-jin's smash comedy Attack the Gas Station. Shortly thereafter he took a role in a very different kind of film, the accomplished black comedy Barking Dogs Never Bite, and his portrayal of a dog-hating lecturer who desperately wants to become a professor received good reviews. In 2001, Lee acted opposite Ko So-young in A Day, a drama about a young married couple who wish to have a baby; he then appeared alongside Cha Seung-won and Kim Hye-soo in Kick the Moon, another wildly popular comedy by Kim Sang-jin.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

Lee also had a memorable turn as the villain in Public Enemy, a hugely successful film by hit director and Cinema Service founder Kang Woo-suk. In 2004, Lee portrayed a mountain climber in the big-budget adventure/melodrama Ice Rain, which was shot in the Canadian Rockies, then played a ballroom dancer in Dance with the Wind, Park Jung-woo's directorial debut (Park wrote the screenplay for many of Kim Sang-jin's films). Other notable roles include real-life fugitive Ji Kang-hun in 2006's Holiday, and a sculptor in 2010 3D erotic film Natalie. Among the television series he's starred in include 2008 romantic comedy Lawyers of the Great Republic of Korea, and 2012 hit cable drama How Long I've Kissed.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1970 (1970-08-23): Birth of Lee Sung-jae — Versatile South Korean actor known for comedy and dramatic roles in film and television.
2. 1998: 1998 Milestone — Among his notable works include the films Art Museum by the Zoo (1998), Attack the Gas Station (1999), Kick the Moon (2001), and Public Enemy (2002), as well as the television series Gu Family Book (2013).
3. 2001: 2001 Milestone — In 2001, Lee acted opposite Ko So-young in A Day, a drama about a young married couple who wish to have a baby; he then appeared alongside Cha Seung-won and Kim Hye-soo in Kick the Moon, another wildly popular comedy by Kim Sang-jin.
4. 2004: 2004 Milestone — In 2004, Lee portrayed a mountain climber in the big-budget adventure/melodrama Ice Rain, which was shot in the Canadian Rockies, then played a ballroom dancer in Dance with the Wind, Park Jung-woo's directorial debut (Park wrote the screenplay for many of Kim Sang-jin's films).
5. 2006: 2006 Milestone — Other notable roles include real-life fugitive Ji Kang-hun in 2006's Holiday, and a sculptor in 2010 3D erotic film Natalie.
6. 2008: 2008 Milestone — Among the television series he's starred in include 2008 romantic comedy Lawyers of the Great Republic of Korea, and 2012 hit cable drama How Long I've Kissed.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Lee Sung-jae

True or False: “Lee Sung-jae's breakthrough role was exclusively in a critically acclaimed independent art house film.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): While he started with 'Art Museum by the Zoo,' his rise to prominence was significantly boosted by major box-office hits like 'Attack the Gas Station.'

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• A. H. M. Jones — Contemporary (Died in 1970) (1970): Pioneering British historian of classical antiquity, specializing in the later Roman Empire.
• Abraham Maslow — Contemporary (Died in 1970) (1970): Pioneering American psychologist known for the Hierarchy of Needs and self-actualization theory.
• Alan Shearer — Contemporary (Born in 1970) (1970): English football legend, record goalscorer, and respected pundit.
• Abdülmecid II — Shared historical date (08-23 · Died) (1944): Last Ottoman Caliph and prominent Turkish aesthete, head of the Osmanoğlu family.
• Abu Bakr — Shared historical date (08-23 · Died) (634): First Rashidun Caliph and esteemed companion of the Prophet Muhammad.
• Albert Ayler — Historical peer (Died in 1970) (1970): Pioneering avant-garde jazz saxophonist known for ecstatic, spiritual improvisation.
• Alexander Kerensky — Historical peer (Died in 1970) (1970): Russian revolutionary who led the Provisional Government during the tumultuous period of 1917.
• Aitana Bonmatí — Historical peer (Born in 1998) (1998): Star Spanish midfielder known for her decorated career with Barcelona and the Spain national team.
• Akira Kurosawa — Historical peer (Died in 1998) (1998): Master of Japanese cinema, known for dynamic style and epic storytelling.
• Akhtar Hameed Khan — Historical peer (Died in 1999) (1999): Pioneering Pakistani social scientist and development practitioner.
• 1970 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1970
• August 23 (08-23) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on August 23

Frequently Asked Questions about Lee Sung-jae