Lee Joon Gi: 17 interesting things to know about him

He started out as a model

Credit: Lee Joon Gi/Instagram

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The handsome actor made his debut as a model for fashion brand So Basic and shot an advertisement with top actress Kim Hee Sun and actor Kang Dong Won. In an interview with MBC’s Section TV, Lee Joon Gi described the actress as a “goddess” and shared that when the billboard was up, he would go and look at it every weekend.

Lee Joon Gi first wanted to be an actor after watching a production of Hamlet in high school. Despite his parents' disapproval, Lee Joon Gi went to an acting academy while prepping for college exams. He failed and later went to Seoul, working part-time jobs and living in a dingy rooftop room until eventually landing the modelling gig and his first lead role in The King and the Crown (2005).

He beat 3,000 actors for his role in The King and the Clown

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Lee Joon Gi’s role as a beautiful and effeminate street clown in the highly acclaimed historical film propelled him to fame and boosted his popularity throughout Asia. On an episode of variety show Knowing Bros, Joon Gi shared that the tough audition process took a month and he had to compete with 3,000 actors because the story was based on a famous play. In order to stand out, he did a handstand and split his legs at the end of his audition. The move not only made a deep impression, it even made it into a scene in the movie.

After rising to fame with The King and the Clown, Lee Joon Gi went on to star in many historical dramas including Gunman in Joseon (2014) and Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo (2016). All of these earned him the title of "King of Saeguk" or "king of historical dramas".

Prior to his role in Again My Life, many of you would have might have tuned into his 2020 thriller drama Flower of Evil. In it, he plays a craftsman who appears to be the ideal husband while hiding a dark past and his true identity that his wife and homicide detective (played by Moon Chae Won) later discovers.

During a press conference for the show, Lee Joon Gi revealed that he found that the r0le wouldn't be easy to execute when he first got the script, and he had to spend a lot of time to prepare for it. "I have to show him as the head of a household and as a married man, and the script made me think a lot about whether I would be able to right away convey the considerable persistence and pain of someone who’s hiding the truth."

While Lee Joon Gi is no stranger to the spotlight, he actually shared the results of his MBTI (Myers-Briggs Type Indicator) test that he has an INFP-T personality. Quiet, open-minded and imaginative, Lee Joon Gi stays true to his introversion when he shared that he likes to unwind at night with a can of beer.

He is a martial arts expert

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The actor may have a “flower boy” image but he is well-known for being talented in various martial arts. Lee Joon Gi seldom needs a stunt double for his action scenes, and has been labelled South Korea’s ‘Top Action Star’. Besides being passionate about Brazilian Jiu-jitsu, he also has black belts in Taekwondo, Hapkido and traditional Korean martial art Taekkyeon. For his previous dramas, he also learned Parkour, Thai kick boxing, and Systema, a Russian martial art.

He is the proud owner of adorable Chihuahuas

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The dog lover revealed his Chihuahuas “Ggabi” and “Jjoonie” on the Korean variety show My Ear’s Candy in 2017. Besides showing off how cute they were, Lee Joon Gi also got the dogs to show off their training by performing tricks such as lying down and playing dead. Jjoonie unfortunately passed away in August 2021, which Lee Joon Gi revealed in a heartfelt Instagram post dedicated to the dog.

It is a given that every South Korean male has to serve mandatory military service, much like Singaporean men. During his stint, Lee Joon Gi earned his marksman honours after scoring an impressive average of 19 hits (out of 20).

He's organised

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On the Korean variety show My Ear’s Candy, Lee Joon Gi also showed off his superior organisational skills when he shared how he packs each item of clothing in its own plastic bag. He stated that he does this because he doesn't like when his clothing gets mixed up together. Lee Joon Gi also added that he earned the nickname "organising robot" during his military stint.

He is passionate about music

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While it’s not uncommon for Korean actors to show off their singing chops on drama soundtracks and songs dedicated to fans, Lee Joon Gi enjoys singing and dancing, and has been consistently releasing his own music since 2006. He has also gone on Asia-wide tours and fan meetings to perform for fans. On the variety show Knowing Bros, the actor revealed that he had dreamed of being a singer when he was young. He went for many auditions and even auditioned at SM Entertainment, home to girl group Girls’ Generation, but did not make the cut.

Much like us, Lee Joon Gi also goes through tough times. In an interview with The Star, he opened up about the way he processes difficult moments.

“I think hard about all the things that opened my potential and helped me get to where I am. I remember the values that I hold dear. I remind myself that I need to value myself.”

He was in a musical with Kingdom actor Ju Ji-hoon

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The two suave actors, who are of the same age, met each other in the army for the first time and co-starred in the military musical Voyage of Life. During the musical’s press conference, Ju Ji-hoon said that although he thought Lee Joon Gi would have a hard time because he was the last to join the cast and had the lowest rank, his outgoing personality helped him to get along well with the people around him.

He got casted in a Hollywood movie thanks to a YouTube video

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The Korean star appeared in Resident Evil: The Final Chapter as the villain Commander Lee. Director Paul W.S. Anderson was reportedly so taken with Lee Joon Gi’s stunt skills and charismatic gaze after watching a fanmade YouTube video of him in various action scenes, that he reached out to his agency to offer him a role without an audition. He also won praise from leading lady Milla Jovovich who was impressed that he did all of his own stunts without using any wires and called him a “scene-stealer” during an interview with KBS’s Entertainment Weekly.

He is extremely supportive of his co-stars

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Lee Joon Gi is friends with many of his co-stars and loves to show his support for them. He is known for attending singer IU's concerts after starring with her in Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryo, and was last seen at her 2019 concert. He also had a cameo appearance in her drama Hotel del Luna, and they have sent food trucks to each other’s filming sets. Joon Gi and fellow cast member Byun Baek Hyun, who is a member of EXO, also became good friends and he went to a few of the K-pop group’s concerts. Recently, he sent a food truck to the set of It’s Okay to Not Be Okay to cheer on Seo Ye Ji, whom he worked with on Lawless Lawyer.

He performed on stage despite getting 50 stitches on his forehead

Credit: Lee Joon Gi/Instagram

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During the final rehearsal for the army musical Voyage of Life, Lee Joon Gi hit his head on a steel structure and had to be rushed to the hospital hours before the show started. Although it was a serious injury which required 50 stitches, he didn’t want to disappoint his fans who had bought tickets. He pressed on and performed during the opening night with bandages on his head. After returning to the hospital after the show, he only rested for one day before returning to the stage.

He hopes to work with Ha Ji Won one day

Credit: Lee Joon Gi/Instagram

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The charming actor has acted in numerous films and dramas and worked with many leading ladies. During an interview on Section TV to promote the drama Lawless Lawyer, Lee Joon Gi was asked who he would like to work with next. He replied that he has always wanted to work with A-list actress Ha Ji Won, as he thinks that he would be able to learn a lot from her.