Lee Hyun-wook

Lee Hyun-wook (이현욱, born June 17, 1985) is a South Korean actor whose career trajectory moved from short films to scene-stealing supporting roles to leading man status. Born in Icheon, Gyeonggi Province, he discovered acting in middle school. His parents disapproved, but his grandmother enrolled him in an acting academy. He graduated from Anyang Arts High School and later from the Korea National University of Arts.

Lee began with short films: Repatriation (2000), The Camel (2008), Thorn Hearted (2010), and The Out Boxer (2011). The latter earned him the Face in Shorts Award at the 10th Asiana International Short Film Festival. In 2014, he made his television debut in the thriller Three Days and his commercial film debut later that year.

His breakthrough came with the 2019 OCN horror-thriller Hell Is Other People, where he played the unsettling Yoo Gi-hyuk. The role announced his ability to inhabit complex, morally ambiguous characters. He followed this with the tvN drama Mine (2021), playing the enigmatic Han Ji-yong, and Netflix's Remarriage and Desires (2022). At the 58th Baeksang Arts Awards, he was nominated for Best New Actor for Mine.

In 2025, Lee took on his largest historical role to date: King Taejong (Lee Bang-won) in the tvN drama The Queen Who Crowns, opposite Cha Joo-young.

He is represented by Gilstory Entertainment.