ActorKing Kong by Starship
Lee Dong-wook
Lee Dong-wook (이동욱) is a South Korean actor who has become one of the defining faces of Korean prestige television. He debuted in 1999 after winning a modeling contest, and his breakout came with the romantic comedy My Girl (2005), which turned him into a Hallyu star across Asia. His career reached new heights with tvN and Studio Dragon's "Guardian: The Lonely and Great God" (2016-2017) alongside Gong Yoo. Playing a lovesick grim reaper who cannot remember his past, he delivered a performance that redefined the trope. The drama peaked at 20.5% cable viewership, a national record at the time, and his character became one of the most-loved in Korean drama history.
Post-Goblin, Lee proved his range across genres: medical thriller Life (2018), psychological horror Hell Is Other People (2019), supernatural action Tale of the Nine Tailed (2020), crime comedy Bad and Crazy (2021), Disney+ thriller A Shop for Killers (2024), and the JTBC drama The Nice Guy (2025). He is managed by King Kong by Starship and counts 18 million Instagram followers, placing him among the most-followed Korean actors globally.
1 articles9 creditsDebut: January 1, 1999Korean
Gallery
Filmography
2025
The Nice GuyK-Drama
Park Seok-chul
2025
The Divorce InsuranceK-Drama
Noh Ki-jun
2024
A Shop for KillersK-Drama
Bae Jin-man
2023
Tale of the Nine Tailed 1938K-Drama
Lee Yeon
2021
Bad and CrazyK-Drama
Ryu Su-yeol
2020
Tale of the Nine TailedK-Drama
Lee Yeon
2019
Touch Your HeartK-Drama
Kwon Jung-rok
2016
Guardian: The Lonely and Great GodK-Drama
Wang Yeo / Grim Reaper
2011
Scent of a WomanK-Drama
Lee Yeon-jae
Fans Also Ask
What drama made Lee Dong-wook famous internationally?
Lee Dong-wook became internationally recognized for his role as the grim reaper Wang Yeo in Guardian: The Lonely and Great God (Goblin) in 2016-2017. The tvN drama peaked at 20.5% viewership, setting a cable television record in South Korea, and his chemistry with co-stars Gong Yoo and Yoo In-na made him a global fan favorite.
What agency is Lee Dong-wook under?
Lee Dong-wook is managed by King Kong by Starship, a talent management company under the Starship Entertainment umbrella. He has been with the agency for most of his career and the agency manages his official Instagram and homepage.
What are Lee Dong-wook most recent dramas?
Lee Dong-wook starred in Disney+ A Shop for Killers (2024) as Bae Jin-man. In 2025, he appeared in tvN The Divorce Insurance as actuary Noh Ki-jun and JTBC The Nice Guy as Park Seok-chul, a gangster who dreams of becoming a writer. A Shop for Killers Season 2 on Disney+ is also in development.
Does Lee Dong-wook have an official Instagram?
Yes. Lee Dong-wook official Instagram is @leedongwook_official, operated jointly with his agency King Kong by Starship. As of 2025, the account has over 18 million followers, making it one of the largest among Korean actors on the platform. His official website is leedongwook.co.kr.
When was Lee Dong-wook born and how did he start his career?
Lee Dong-wook was born on November 6, 1981, in Seoul, South Korea. He made his acting debut in 1999 after winning a modeling contest and later studied theater arts at Joongbu University. His breakthrough into Hallyu stardom came with the romantic comedy My Girl (2005) alongside Lee Da-hae.
