Your Ultimate Lee Dong Wook Drama Guide
To celebrate his 21 years in the industry, we round up all 22 drama appearances and starring roles of this K-drama hunk and Hallyu star!
Needing little to no introduction, Lee Dong Wook is a familiar face to many, even those who have are still new to K-dramas! His stunning visuals and charismatic personality aside, it is undeniable that it is an absolute treat to watch him play a wide range of roles from an arrogant chaebol and a mysterious dentist, to the Grim Reaper and, most recently, a nine-tailed fox in Tale of the Nine Tailed.
And since his acting debut, he has truly captivated the hearts of many in the span of his 21-year long career as an actor. To celebrate his birthday today, and his 21-year anniversary yesterday, we round up all 22 titles you can catch this K-drama hunk and Hallyu star in!
Your Ultimate Lee Dong Wook Drama Guide
Your Ultimate Lee Dong Wook Drama Guide
School 2 (1999)
Lee Dong Wook first made his acting debut in 1999 in an MBC single-episode drama titled 'School 2' after winning the grand prize in the V-NESS model contest the same year.
Photo Credit: KBS
School 2 (1999)
The producer and director of 'School 2' took one look at him and proceeded to cast him in the teen drama.
Photo Credit: KBS
School 3 (2000)
The actor definitely made an impression and was subsequently cast in the third installment of the teen drama.
Photo Credit: KBS
School 3 (2000)
Though his role was minor, it was a role that gained him further recognition in the industry.
Photo Credit: KBS
Pure Heart (2001)
Lee Chan Suk (Ryu Jin) is a cautious and intelligent law-inforcement agent who is in pursuit of crime suspect Kang Hyun Gee (Lee Jong Won). Hyun Gee's biological sister, Han Sae Jin (Lee Yo Won), was raised as an only child by her adopted family. At first, Chan Suk uses Sae Jin as bait to capture Hyun Gee, but over time he begins to fall for her pure heart.
Photo Credit: KBS
Pure Heart (2001)
In this romantic crime drama, Lee Dong Wook plays the support role of Lee Ho Goo.
Photo Credit: KBS
Loving You (2002)
Set in Jeju Island, this love story revolves around Da-rae— a strong girl who became the head of her family after her father’s death and after her mother collapsed from a heart ailment. Feeling guilty after the death of a friend, Hyuk works as a laborer in a farm concealing his identity as a chaebol (heir). The two meet at sea during a storm and save each other.
Photo Credit: KBS
Loving You (2002)
Da-rae and Hyuk overcome many obstacles but suffer a setback when they realize that they are from two totally different worlds. Lee Dong Wook plays the supporting role of Lee Min in this 12-episode drama.
Photo Credit: KBS
Land of Wine (2003)
Kim Jae Won plays Suh Joon, a troublemaker son of a rich businessman. The drama draws the life of Suh Joon as he finds his own success in an alcohol business selling traditional Korean beer.
Photo Credit: SBS
Land of Wine (2003)
In this melodrama, Lee Dong Wook brings to life the main character Song Do Il.
Photo Credit: SBS
Precious Family (2004)
Also known as 'Letters to the Parents', this drama shows how members of a good-natured family endure life’s hardships and how the love they have for each other helps them no matter how many difficulties they face. Aside from Lee Dong Wook, it also stars familiar faces Kim Hee Ae, Yoo Seung Ho, and Jung Joon, to name a few.
Photo Credit: KBS
Precious Family (2004)
In this family drama, Lee Dong Wook plays Ahn Jung Hwan, one of the sons in the family.
Photo Credit: KBS
Bride from Hanoi (2005)
The drama tells the tale of of Eun Woo (Lee Dong Wook), a promising young doctor, Seok Woo (Lee Won Jong), a 40-year-old bachelor who is self absorbed, and Tiv (Kim Ok-Vin), a 21-year-old girl who comes to Korea in pursuit of Eun Woo’s love as an unintentional Vietnamese bride for Seok Woo, Eun Woo’s brother.
Photo Credit: KBS
Bride from Hanoi (2005)
At the beginning, the drama depicts a love triangle between Tiv and the two brothers. However, eventually, it actually deals with Eun Woo’s personal growth in love and life as he realizes the true meaning of life through his brother and Tiv.
Photo Credit: SBS
My Girl (2005)
Lee Dong Wook's role as Sol Kong Chan in 'My Girl' is the role that saw him hit international stardom. The drama series became a hit during its run both domestically and across Asia, and officially made him a Hallyu (Korean Wave) star.
Photo Credit: SBS
My Girl (2005)
In this hit romantic comedy, Lee Dong Wook plays Seol Gong-chan, the sole heir to the L'Avenue Hotel fortune.
Photo Credit: SBS
Bittersweet Life (2008)
In this 24-episode drama, Oh Yeon-Su plays Yoon Hye-jin, a housewife trapped in a bad marriage. Her husband, Ha Dong-won, played by Jung Bo-Suk, is a wealthy but extremely unfaithful fund manager—and his latest fling is turning out to be so much more.
Photo Credit: MBC
Bittersweet Life (2008)
Deeply involved with Lee Joon-soo's sweetheart Hong Da-ae, Ha is so busy that he doesn't notice that his wife has discovered his illicit affairs. Yoon decides to commit suicide and journeys out to Japan to do the fatal deed, only to fall for a young man—Lee Joon-soo played by Lee Dong Wook.
Photo Credit: MBC
The Partner (2009)
Centered around two law firms who struggle to defend the accused and those around them, this drama tells the story of Eun-ho Kang (Kim Hyun-Joo), a widowed single mother and attorney who encounters the charismatic and ruthless attorney Tae-jo Lee (Lee Dong-Wook).
Photo Credit: KBS
The Partner (2009)
The first two episodes see the attorneys work on cases involving a step-brother charged with murdering of his step-sister and a lawsuit between a wealthy mother-in-law and her divorced daughter-in-law. Each successive episode covers provocative cases like these, while also bringing to light the charms of the attorneys and their daily lives.
Photo Credit: KBS
Scent of a Woman (2011)
The romantic melodrama depicts the life of a woman named Lee Yeon-Jae (Kim Sun-A) who in her mid-thirties and works as a low-level clerk. Though she works hard, she lives her life without much joy. One day, she learns that she is dying and decides to travel aboard to find happiness.
Photo Credit: SBS
Scent of a Woman (2011)
Lee Dong-Wook plays Kang Ji-Wook, the only son of Line Tour's company president. He is good looking, physically fit, rich, and the successor to the company, but he is ultimately unhappy with life and does not get excited by much of anything. The 16-episode melodrama sees their stories intertwine.
Photo Credit: SBS
Wild Romance (2012)
This romcom tells the love story between a baseball player and a female bodyguard who is a former judo athlete. Starring Lee Dong Wook as Kim Tae-Han and Lee Si-Young as Yoo Eun-Jae, it ran for 16 episodes.
Photo Credit: KBS
Wild Romance (2012)
Park Mu-yeol is the obnoxious, brash, and arrogant star player of the Red Dreamers and is popular for both his skill and his bad temper. Stubborn bodyguard-by-trade Yoo Eun-jae hates him since she is a lifelong fan of the Blue Seagulls, the Red Dreamers' rival team. The two mortal enemies are suddenly thrown together by fate.
Photo Credit: KBS
The Fugitive of Joseon (2013)
Set during the reign of King Injong, this sageuk stars Lee Dong Wook as as Choi Won, a royal physician and doting father.
Photo Credit: KBS
The Fugitive of Joseon (2013)
He becomes a fugitive when he gets entangled in an assassination plot to poison the crown prince, and fights to save both his daughter's life and his own.
Photo Credit: KBS
Hotel King (2014)
When he was a young boy, Cha Jae-Wan (Lee Dong-Wook) was a beggar. He was also physically abused by the leader of a group of beggars that he belonged to. One day, he killed the leader of the group by accident and he passed out. When he wakes, he finds himself in a luxurious hotel. A man, Lee Joong-Goo (Lee Deok-Hwa), informs him that his father, Ah Sung-Won, abandoned him and his mother. Jae-Wan vows to take revenge on his father for his deceased mother.
Photo Credit: MBC
Hotel King (2014)
Now, Cha Jae-Wan works as the general manager for the Hotel Ciel, run by none other than Ah Sung-Won. One day, Cha Jae-Wan tells Ah Sung-Won that he is his father and he should reveal that publicly. Ah Sung-Won though reacts unexpectedly and dies. After his death, his only child, Ah Mo-Ne, played by Lee Da-Hae, appears at the hotel. Though she seems arrogant, it turns out she is actually acting this way for fear of being alone.
Photo Credit: MBC
Blade Man (2014)
Lee Dong-Wook plays Hong-Bin, an arrogant man with an anger problem. He runs a game company where all the employees are all afraid of him. He also holds a grudge against his father for breaking up his relationship with Tae-Hee (Han Da-Gam), a woman he still can't get over.
Photo Credit: KBS
Blade Man (2014)
One day, he notices that he seems angry all the time and his sense of smell has become more sensitive. His secretary hasn't told him that when he gets angry, blades come out of his body. He is the only person that knows about that. One day, Hong-Bin goes to the hospital to see his employees who were beaten by him. There, he notices the scent of Tae-Hee. The woman who has her scent is Se-Dong, played by Shin Se-Kyung.
Photo Credit: KBS
Bubble Gum (2015)
The romance drama is set within the backdrop of a hospital and a radio station. People from different walks of life and with different problems get together and become happier.
Photo Credit: tvN
Bubble Gum (2015)
Lee Dong Wook plays Park Ri-Hwan who falls for Jung Ryeo Won's Kim Haeng-A.
Photo Credit: tvN
Guardian: The Lonely and Great God (2016)
Written by popular drama writer Kim Eun-sook, 'Guardian: The Lonely and Great God' tells the tale of Kim Shin (Gong Yoo), a decorated military general from the Goryeo Dynasty. One day, he is framed as a traitor and killed by the young king. He becomes an immortal goblin, helping people with his powers and being a kind man in spite of his grieving past. The only way to put an end to his immortality is the Goblin's bride, played by Kim Go Eun, whose aid in pulling out the sword will end his painful immortality.
Photo Credit: tvN
Guardian: The Lonely and Great God (2016)
The fantasy romance drama saw Lee Dong Wook star alongside Gong Yoo and Kim Go Eun that was a hit world wide. He plays the Grim Reaper.
Photo Credit: tvN
Life (2018)
Set in the ER department, this medical drama sees at its core storyline a power struggle. Ye Jin-Woo (Lee Dong-Wook) is an emergency medical specialist at Sangkook University Hospital. He has a warm heart and charisma. He admires hospital director Lee Bo-Hoon (Cheon Ho-Jin). One day, he finds out from his brother Ye Sun-Woo (Lee Kyu-Hyung) that the hospital director placed government subsidy money into his personal bank account.
Photo Credit: JTBC
Life (2018)
That night, the hospital director dies after falling off an apartment building rooftop where vice-director Kim Tae-Sang (Moon Sung-Geun) lives. His death is ruled an accident caused by a heart attack. Ye Jin-Woo believes otherwise.
Photo Credit: JTBC
Touch Your Heart (2019)
Yoo In Na plays Oh Yoon-Seo an actress who is famous for her beautiful appearance but her acting is bad. She gets involved in a scandal with the son from a chaebol family. Her acting career declines precipitously.
Photo Credit: tvN
Touch Your Heart (2019)
Lee Dong Wook plays Kwon Jung-Rok, an attorney for a law firm who is arrogant and cold-hearted. One day, his boss asks Kwon Jung-Rok to allows Oh Yoon-Seo to work as his secretary for 3 months, in order for her to gain experience for a role she desperately needs. He is not happy about the situation, but he has to accept.
Photo Credit: tvN
Strangers From Hell (2019)
Im Si-Wan plays Yoon Jong-Woo, a man in his twenties who has lived in a small town for all of his life. One day, he gets a job at a small office in Seoul and moves out to Seoul, staying at a cheap apartment which shares its kitchen and bathroom with other residents. He doesn't like staying at the apartment and he doesn't like the other residents who seem weird and suspicious.
Photo Credit: OCN
Strangers From Hell (2019)
Lee Dong Wook stars in the thriller drama as Seo Moon-jo, a handsome and mysterious dentist who works near Eden Dormitory and lives in room 304. He comes across as friendly and compassionate; however, things are not what they seem.
Photo Credit: OCN
Search: WWW (2019)
Starring Im Soo-jung, Lee Da-hee, Jeon Hye-jin, Jang Ki-yong, Lee Jae-wook and Ji Seung-hyun, 'Search: WWW' tells the story of three women in their late thirties—Bae Ta-mi, Cha Hyeon, and Song Ga-kyeong—who work in the top two competitive web portal companies: Unicon and Barro.
Photo Credit: tvN
Search: WWW (2019)
Lee Dong Wook makes a cameo appearance in episode 7 as Bae Ta-Mi's ex-boyfriend.
Photo Credit: tvN
Tale of the Nine Tailed (2020)
This fantasy action romance drama stars Lee Dong Wook, Jo Bo-ah, and Kim Bum, and tells the tale of a 1000-year old gumiho (nine-tailed fox) named Lee Yeon (Lee Dong-wook) abdicated his position as the mountain spirit of Baekdudaegan to search for the reincarnation of his one true love Ah-eum (Jo Bo-ah). He followed her soul up to the Samdo River and gave her the fox bead as her mark when she is reborn again.
Photo Credit: tvN
Tale of the Nine Tailed (2020)
Playing the role of the titular gumiho and former mountain spirit and guardian of Baekdudaegan, lover of Ah-eum and half-brother of Lee Rang, Lee Dong Wook captivates with his acting.
Photo Credit: tvN