Actor You Need to Know: Lee Do-hyun

The first chapter of Lee Do-hyun’s acting career got underway with the role of a young Lee Joon-ho in 2017’s Prison Playbook (later starring Jung Kyung-ho as a gilt-edged jail guard). The noted black comedy centers on the lives of prisoners, their kin, and those on duty in penal facilities. For Lee, the opportunity was just what he needed—it cast a microscope on the rookie’s performing art and spurred the maturation of an artist who shines whenever he steps into the frame. Lee comes off as “great” in the broadest sense as characters—often guarded and wary, but he almost effortlessly induces their reticence to something dynamic.

He should have had no trouble doing so, considering Lee graduated from the Chung-Ang University Department of Film and Theater. I’m sure he had a fundamental understanding of what he did from early on. No surprise that his next Still 17, a romance television series, got him nominated for “Character of the Year” at the 2018 SBS Drama Awards alongside Ahn Hyo-seop and Jo Hyun-sik. Moving forward, the guy dug deeper into acting, receiving additional offers to play varied roles in renowned K-dramas, notably Clean with Passion for Now (2018), Hotel del Luna (2019), and more, all the while building a solid name for himself. I genuinely like him in that he works his best to represent a spectrum of mental states, especially the moody ones and the ones that have attitude swings.

That recalls what he did as Lee Eun-hyuk, the medical student and the head of the building’s survivors, in the apocalyptic horror hit Sweet Home (2020). When people turn into vicious beasts and the residents of the building strain to live and keep humanity alive, he creates the ideal cynic who endures all with an even hand and sensibility. No matter how far-flung or cold he appears to be, Lee’s originality in conveying the character’s mind amazes and draws one more to him.

The role reinforced the actor’s credibility, partially established by his first lead role in the Korean remake of the American film 17 Again (2009), dubbed 18 Again (2020). As a parallel to the 37-year-old Mike O’Donnell turned Mark Gold (Zac Efron) in the original movie, Lee played an 18-year-old Hong Dae-young turned Go Woo-young in the coming-of-age rom-com fantasy drama. In recognition of his work, he won the Best New Actor award for television at the 57th Baeksang Arts Awards and the Best New Actor award at the 7th APAN Star Awards.

Come to think of it, Lee has resisted being stereotyped throughout his career to date. In several capacities, he has chosen to make a difference. His noteworthy appearances in the procedural psychological thriller Beyond Evil, the melodrama Youth of May, and yet another melodrama, Melancholia, in 2021 serve to underscore his proclivity for diversity. I’m guessing Lee also has a thing for melodrama, which he’s been a part of often. In fact, his turn in Youth of May earned him the moniker “Next Generation Melo-king” for his stellar achievement in the melodrama subgenre.

In the blockbuster revenge drama series, The Glory (2022–2023) and its second installment, The Glory Part 2 (2023), Lee assumes the role of Joo Yeo-jeong, the compassionate plastic surgeon who helps Moon Dong-yoon (Song Hye-kyo) in her plan of payback to make her assailants atone. Joo adds a certain vibrancy to the rest of her drab existence, and as the plot evolves, they help each other get past their tragic pasts. Yes, Joo too has a chink in his armor, and their growing closeness mends existing flaws. With utmost care, Lee conveys emotive brilliance while Joo rescues the dang Moon on her road from hopelessness to restoration.

He pulls off Choi Kang-ho, a woman’s melancholy prosecutor son, admirably in his recently released slice-of-life family drama, The Good Bad Mother (2023). In the wake of an unforeseen accident in which he loses his memories and wakes up with a child’s mind, it explores the mother and son’s pursuit of fulfillment. A highly healing K-drama about the two seeking to mend their relationship, it’s chock-full of scenes that leave a lasting impression thanks to impeccable acting. As the plot probes profound sentiments, Lee rises to the occasion in full throttle.