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Lee Dong Wook and his acting career that is full of ups and downs

Having been through many eras of this film industry, Lee Dong Wook is still considered one of the hottest Korean actors.

In most of his films, the actor got fans crazy for his handsome look that sometimes outshines the films’ stories.

1. My Girl (2005)

Lee Dong Wook debuted in 1999 but didn’t leave much impression on the viewers during his rookie days. It was not until 2005, when “My Girl” was aired, that K-dramas fans were able to know about actor Lee Dong Wook, who has attractive white skin and full lips. However, his acting skill was still lacking and couldn’t satisfy the viewers.

In this TV series, Lee Dong Wook plays the heir of Seol Gong Chan Hotel. To fulfill his grandfather’s wish, he hires Ju Yoo Rin (Lee Da Hae), a girl who always tells lies, to act as his sister. After working together for a long time, their partnership develops into love.

Lee Dong Wook

2. Hotel King (2014)

After the hit drama “My Girl”, Lee Dong Wook met Lee Da Hae again in another TV project called “Hotel King”. Therefore, the audiences expected this drama to be as successful as their previous work in 2005. Immediately after the first broadcast, “Hotel King” became a fever not only in Korea but also around the world.

This drama got the viewers to cry out loud because of the tragic love story of Ah Mo Ne (Lee Da Hae) and Cha Jae Wan (Lee Dong Wook). Both put on a cover that makes people think they are cold-hearted in order to hide their painful past. Unlike the familiar story in which love will heal everything, when the truths are unfolded one by one, the audiences would have to wonder if the two shouldn’t have met and loved each other in the first place.

3. Blade Man (2014)

Blade Man received lots of attention since it was revealed to be led by the two Korean actors with top visuals, Lee Dong Wook and Shin Se Kyung

Unfortunately, despite the beautiful scenes, the drama’s plot was quite boring, and this resulted in an average rating of one-digit number.

This series centers around Joo Hong Bin (Lee Dong Wook), a real “blade man” in modern times who develops a supernatural ability – his anger and mental pain manifest as knives sprouting from his body, and has a good sense of smell. Hong Bin becomes attracted to Son Se Dong (Shin Se Kyung), a beautiful girl who owns the exact same smell as his ex-girlfriend.

4. Bubble Gum (2015)

Although “Bubble Gum” was screenwriter Lee Mi Na’s debut drama, it has a really interesting story. After receiving many criticisms for his unstable acting skills in “Blade Man” and “Hotel King”, Lee Dong Wook was finally recognized through this series.

Lee Dong Wook

This drama brings about the sweet and romantic love story of Park Ri Hwan (Lee Dong Wook) and Kim Haeng Ah (Jung Ryeo Won), who have known each other since their childhood.

Growing up together, the two always share all their happy and sad times and gradually develop special feelings for each other. However, since their relationship proceeds to a romance, it receives strong objections from both families.

5. The Beauty Inside (2015)

“The Beauty Inside” once shocked all K-Drama fans due to its super cast consisting of all Korean top stars, including Han Hyo Joo, Lee Dong Wook, Park Seo Joon, Park Shin Hye, Lee Jin Wook, Yoo Yeon Seok, etc.

This movie was remade based on an American film with the same name and excited all viewers with its unique and attractive story. The story tells about Kim Woo Jin, a furniture designer who wakes up in a different body every day.

This makes Woo Jin become more reserved in front of other people. However, since Yi Soo (Han Hyo Joo) appears in his life, she helps him step out of his comfort zone to face love.

6. Goblin (2016)

After a couple of years in the industry without any outstanding works, Lee Dong Wook’s career and popularity were thought to be on the decline. However, his role as the second male lead in the hit drama Goblin has helped the actor get back on track. Goblin, a work of the golden writer Kim Eun Sook, has achieved huge success not only in Korea but also across Asia. 

The “bromance” of Gong Yoo and Lee Dong Wook is one of the things that make Goblin more appealing. The duo of Goblin and Grim Reaper continuously give viewers a good laugh because of their hilarious arguments, always joking around and making fun of each other.

lee dong wook

Although they are not the main couple in the drama, the romance between fried chicken restaurant owner Sunny/Kim Sun (Yoo In Na) and Wang Yeo (Lee Dong Wook) has made many viewers cry buckets of tears. After Goblin ended, viewers constantly ask for the couple’s reunion in another project to make up for their incomplete ending in Goblin. 

7. Life (2018)

Life is the next drama Lee Dong Wook took part in after a 2-year hiatus since the release of Goblin. Starring in a medical drama, a popular genre in Korea, but Lee Dong Wook failed to achieve much success with Life because the storyline is not public-friendly enough. The drama feels like a documentary for doctors and professionals, rather than targeting a mass audience.

lee dong wook

The plot depicts intense mind battles between Ye Jin Woo (Lee Dong Wook) and a newly appointed director Goo Seung Hyo (Jo Seung Woo) that take place at a hospital. Ye Jin Woo is a devoted and passionate doctor who always prioritizes the wellbeing of his patients. What will happen if he has to go up against Goo Seung Hyo, a cool-headed and ambitious man who puts power and money first?

8. Touch Your Heart (2019)

Touch Your Heart – a romance drama that marks the reunion of Lee Dong Wook and Yoo In Na after the resounding success of Goblin. Although the main couple has a large number of “shippers” from their previous collaboration, Touch Your Heart unfortunately could not achieve high ratings as expected.

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The rom-com drama tells a story between an attorney, Kwon Jung Rok (Lee Dong Wook) and a popular actress, Oh Yeon Seo (Yoo In Na). Hoping to make a comeback after a serious scandal that causes her career to decline, Oh Yeon Seo agrees to gain experience for a new role by taking a job as a secretary for Kwon Jung Rok at a law firm. 

9. Strangers From Hell (2019)

Taking a break from romance dramas, Lee Dong Wook surprised viewers with his transformation into an evil character in the psychological thriller Strangers From Hell in 2019.

The drama starts with mysterious and terrifying footage when the main character Yoon Jong Woo (Im Si Wan) moves into a cheap, musty, smelly dormitory, with creepy residents who seem to be hiding some horrifying truth. 

lee dong wook

Lee Dong Wook plays Seo Moon Jo – a good-looking dentist who seems to be friendly, and somewhat oddly obsessive towards Jong Woo, who later turns out to be a cold-blooded killer.

10. Tale Of The Nine Tailed (2020)

Tale Of The Nine Tailed is Lee Dong Wook’s latest drama. Recently, after a year since the series ended, the producers have confirmed that they will continue to work on the second and third season of Tale Of The Nine Tailed.

lee dong wook x

Lee Yeon (Lee Dong Wook) – A nine-tailed fox that has lived for thousands of years but never forgets about his one true love. In Seoul during the 21st century, as he settles into the city life, he accidentally meets PD Nam Ji Ah (Jo Bo Ah) – the reincarnation of his first love. But the old enemy has not yet let go of the two, can Lee Yeon prevent the painful events of the past from happening again? 

More than 20 years of working in the industry, Lee Dong Wook has proved his outstanding talent and visuals, not being outshined by any potential actors of the younger generation. Therefore, many viewers consider Lee Dong Wook one of the most prominent and successful Korean actors in their 40s. 

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Dienanh
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