Lee Seung-gi
Lee Seung-gi (Korean: 이승기; Hanja: 李昇基; born January 13, 1987) is a South Korean singer, actor, host, and entertainer.[1] Lee had numerous hit songs as a singer such as "Because You're My Woman", "Will You Marry Me", and "Return". He has garnered further recognition as an actor and rose to popularity in parts of Asia with leading roles in popular dramas such as Brilliant Legacy (2009), My Girlfriend Is a Gumiho (2010), The King 2 Hearts (2012), Gu Family Book (2013), You're All Surrounded (2014), A Korean Odyssey (2017–2018), and Vagabond (2019). He was a member of the first season of weekend variety show 1 Night 2 Days from November 2007 to February 2012, and the host of talk show Strong Heart from October 2009 to April 2012.[2]
|Born|
|Occupation|
|Musical career|
|Genres|
|Instruments|
|Years active||2004–present|
|Labels||Hook Entertainment|
|Korean name|
|Hangul|
|Hanja|
|Revised Romanization||I Seunggi|
|McCune–Reischauer||Ri Sŭnggi|
|Website||http://www.leeseunggi.com|
|Military career|
|Branch||Republic of Korea Army|
|Years||2016–2017 (1.7 years)|
|Rank||Byeongjang|
|Unit|
- Singer
- actor
- host
- entertainer
- Vocals
- 13th Airborne Special Forces Brigade ("Black Panther"), Republic of Korea Army Special Warfare Command
Lee's success as a singer, actor and host earned him the title "Triple Treat" entertainer.[3][4] He was first included in Forbes Korea Power Celebrity list in 2010 placing seventh,[5] subsequently ranking fourth in 2011[6] and sixth in 2012 and 2015.[7][8] The success of his television dramas in parts of Asia established him as a top Hallyu star.[9] He is also included in the list of Highest paid Korean actors in 2021 placing fourth [10]
EducationEdit
Lee graduated from Dongguk University obtaining his degree in international trade and commerce on February 20, 2009 and received a special achievement award during graduation. He then continued his studies obtaining two master's degrees, marketing, trade theory as well as finance and cultural contents at Dongguk Graduate School.[11]
CareerEdit
2004–present: As singerEdit
Scouted by singer Lee Sun-hee, Lee trained for two years before debuting on June 5, 2004, at the age of 17. "Because You're My Girl", his debut song from his first album The Dream of a Moth, became a popular ballad which created a "liking older women" syndrome in South Korea.[12][13] With this song, he won the "Best Newcomer" award in various music awards ceremonies in 2004, such as the M.net KM Music Festival and Seoul Music Awards. In 2007, he also won the "Best Male Solo Artist" award at the M.net KM Music Festival with his song "White Lie" from his third album Story of Separation.[14]
Lee released a digital single titled "Will You Marry Me" in 2009,[15] which became a hit in South Korea. With this single, he received the "Digital Single Bonsang" award in the 24th Golden Disc Awards.[16] The same year, he released his fourth album Shadow, which was a success and received 40,000 pre-order copies before its release.[17][18]
In 2010, he recorded a duet version of his 2007 song "Smile Boy" with South Korean figure skater Kim Yuna, which became the official 2010 FIFA World Cup commercial song in South Korea.[19] He also received the "Digital Single Bonsang" award for the second consecutive time at the 25th Golden Disc Awards with his song "Love Taught Me To Drink".[20] This was followed by the release of his fifth album, Tonight in 2011, a departure from Lee's usual traditional ballads and encompasses more of a rock band-style sound and melodies.[21] The title song "Aren't We Friends" instantly topped online music charts upon release.[22] His other single, "Era of Love" also earned the No. 1 spot on that week's Billboard K-Pop Hot 100.[23]
On March 6, 2012, Lee made his debut in Japan with the release of his first Japanese album Time for Love (also translated as Alone in Love) and a single of the same title.[24] Both the album and single ranked number one on the Oricon Daily Chart.[25][26] To celebrate his success, Lee held a fanmeeting at Tokyo Dome City Hall.[27] He held a concert at Nippon Budokan, Tokyo, on June 1, 2012, three months after his debut.[28][29]
Back in South Korea the same year, Lee released an EP titled Forest.[30] The title song "Return" set a record for being number one for six consecutive weeks on Billboard's Korea K-Pop Hot 100.[31][32]
On June 10, 2015, Lee made his music comeback with his sixth album And... after a hiatus of two years and seven months.[33][34]
On January 21, 2016, Lee's agency, Hook Entertainment, announced that Lee would be enlisting for his mandatory military service on February 1. As a gift to fans, Lee also released a new track on January 21 at noon, titled "I Am Going to the Military".[35] On March 3, 2016, Lee's song "Meet Someone Like Me" was released. The single is the last song Lee recorded before joining the army, and was produced by Psy.[36]
On November 15, 2020, Lee released a pre-released track titled "The Ordinary Man" (뻔한 남자), ahead of his anticipated seventh album The Project, which was released on December 10, 2020.[37]
2006–present: As actor with pan-asian fameEdit
In 2005, Lee guest-starred in MBC's sitcom Nonstop 5.[38] He then officially debuted as an actor in KBS's 2006 weekend drama The Infamous Chil Sisters.[39]
He was then cast as the male lead in SBS's weekend drama Brilliant Legacy in 2009, co-starring Han Hyo-joo.[40] The drama maintained its top spot in viewer ratings throughout its run, with its final episode attaining a viewer rating of 47.1%.[41] The huge success boosted Lee's popularity as an actor and led to increased advertising offers for the actor.[42] With this drama, he received the "Excellence in Acting" award, the "Top 10 Stars" award and the "Best Couple" award with Han Hyo-joo at the 2009 SBS Drama Awards.[43]
This was followed by SBS's fantasy drama My Girlfriend Is a Nine-Tailed Fox in 2010, playing a university student who (despite strong discouragement from his grandfather) wants to drop out in order to pursue his dream of becoming an action movie star.[44][45] His performance earned him his second "Excellence in Acting" award at the 2010 SBS Drama Awards.[46]
Lee then starred in MBC's action drama The King 2 Hearts (2012),[47][48] fantasy-historical drama Gu Family Book (2013),[49][50] and SBS's police drama You're All Surrounded (2014).[51][52]
In 2015, Lee made his film debut with romantic comedy Love Forecast which co-stars Moon Chae-won.[53][54] In July 2015, Lee was cast in the period comedy film The Princess and the Matchmaker with Shim Eun-kyung, directed by The Face Reader director Han Jae-rim.[55] The film was released in 2018.[56]
In 2017, Lee was cast in the fantasy drama A Korean Odyssey, written by the Hong sisters. This marks his first project after enlistment.[57][58]
In 2019, Lee starred in the spy action drama Vagabond.[59][60] With this drama, he received the "Top Excellence Award in a Miniseries" and the "Best Couple" award with Bae Suzy at the 2019 SBS Drama Awards.
In 2021, Lee was cast in the crime thriller Mouse.[61]
2007–present: As host and entertainerEdit
Lee was a permanent member of the first season of 1 Night 2 Days, a segment of KBS's weekend variety show Happy Sunday, from November 2007 to February 2012. Known by his nickname "Heodang", his appearance on the show shot him to fame in Korea and made him a household name.[62][63] In 2008, he received the "Best Popularity" award in the KBS Entertainment Awards due to his popularity with audience in 1 Night 2 Days. He also earned the "Top Excellence Host" award in the 2010 KBS Entertainment Awards and the "Daesang" award with the other cast members of the first season at the 2011 KBS Entertainment Awards.[64]
Lee took on a hosting role in SBS's Tuesday night talk show Strong Heart in October 2009, with Kang Ho-dong.[65] It was recognized as the "Best Program" at the 2009 SBS Entertainment Awards and Lee was awarded the "Netizens' Popularity" award.[66] Lee was again recognized for his role in the talk show and received the "Top Excellence Host" award for two consecutive years at the 2010 and 2011 SBS Entertainment Awards.[64][67] In March 2012, Lee announced his departure from Strong Heart in order to focus on his singing career. He recorded his last episode on March 15, which was broadcast on April 3.[68]
Lee reunited with 1 Night 2 Days cast members and PD Na Young-seok in the travel-reality show New Journey to the West in 2015.[69][70]
In 2017, Lee was announced to be joining the cast of SBS variety show Master in the House.[71]
In 2018, Lee was announced to be the MC of Mnet's reality/survival program, Produce 48.[72] The same year, it was announced that Lee will join the second season of Netflix's variety show Busted!.[73] Lee was nominated and awarded the Grand Award (Daesang) at the 2018 SBS Entertainment Awards for SBS variety show Master in the House. He became the youngest entertainer who win the Grand Award (Daesang).[74]
In 2019, Lee joined the cast of Little Forest, a healing variety program designed as a home kids garden development project for children.[75] The same year, he featured in the Netflix travel show Twogether alongside Taiwanese actor Jasper Liu.
In 2020, Lee hosted a singing reality show Sing Again.[76] In 2021, Lee joined the third season of Netflix's variety show Busted!.
In the mediaEdit
Lee is known for his clean and positive image, which earned him the nickname of "Nation's umchina" and "Nation's Little Brother".[77] He is one of the most in-demand and popular commercial models and celebrity endorsers in South Korea.[78][79] He endorses a wide variety of products and services and consistently ranks high in the monthly endorser survey of the Korea Advertisers Association.[80][81]
On June 23, 2012, Lee was one of the torchbearers in the 2012 London Summer Olympics Torch Relay chosen by Samsung.[82][83] On October 30, 2012, the National Election Commission of South Korea appointed Lee as the Honorary Online Ambassador of the nation's campaign for a fair and clean presidential election.[84]
Personal lifeEdit
Mandatory Military serviceEdit
On February 1, 2016, Lee began his 21 months of mandatory military service as active duty soldier, entering Nonsan Army Recruit Training Center in Chungcheongnam-do.[85] After training there for five weeks he was dispatched to his assigned role following the completion ceremony.[86] Lee was formally discharged on October 31, 2017 from the military at Jeungpyeong County in North Chungcheong Province where he was a member of the 13th Airborne Special Forces Brigade 'Black Panther', Republic of Korea Army Special Warfare Command (the 13th Brigade was redesignated as the 'decapitation unit' named 13th Special Mission Brigade on 1 December 2017 following tension with North Korea, with the mission of assassinating high-ranking North Korean officials), serving as a military intelligence specialist.[87][88][89] It's reported that Lee Seungi had volunteered to complete trainings not required for enlisted soldiers and adminisitrative soldiers, such as parachute training, Krav Maga level 1, long distance march, and as the 'Black Panther' Brigade was redesignated as the 'decapitation unit' named 13th Special Mission Brigade on 1 December 2017 with the mission of assassinating North Korean leaders following tension with North Korea, he received the same training as other soldiers during the unit's transformation, including those not required for enlisted soldiers.[90]
DiscographyEdit
- The Dream of a Moth (2004)
- Crazy For U (2006)
- Story of Separation (2007)
- Shadow (2009)
- Tonight (2011)
- And... (2015)
- The Project (2020)
FilmographyEdit
Awards and nominationsEdit
ReferencesEdit
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- ^ "[INTERVIEW and PHOTOS] Singer and actor Lee Seung-gi". 10Asia. January 1, 2012.
- ^ "Triple threat with singing, acting and hosting skills" Archived July 20, 2018, at the Wayback Machine Asiaone. March 19, 2012
- ^ "I want to be remembered as multi-entertainer". The Korea Times. March 11, 2018.
- ^ "Korea's Power Celebrity List 2010". Forbes. July 16, 2010.
- ^ "Korea's Top Celebrities 2011". Forbes. March 31, 2011.
- ^ "Forbes Korea's Top 'Power Celebrity 40' ranking". Manila Bulletin. Archived from the original on August 20, 2013.CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
- ^ "[창간특집 IV] 2015 KOREA POWER CELEBRITY 40 – 엑소, 한국 최고의 파워 셀러브리티". JoongAng Daily (in Korean). February 23, 2015.
- ^ "Lee SeungGi Profile: Top Korean Actor And Entertainer". Kpopmap - Kpop, Kdrama and Trend Stories Coverage. January 6, 2020. Retrieved April 1, 2021.
- ^ 안준영. "'드라마 출연료가 가장 높은 남자배우' 3위는 이병헌, 2위는 송중기, 1위는 바로…". WIKITREE. Retrieved April 1, 2021.
- ^ "Lee Seung Gi Enrolls in Grad School". enewsWorld. July 13, 2012. Archived from the original on March 13, 2018. Retrieved March 13, 2018.
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- ^ "May–November romances change, in song, film and TV". Korea JoongAng Daily. April 4, 2004.
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- ^ 이승기, 디지털싱글 '결혼해줄래'로 가요계 컴백. Hankyung Ilbo (in Korean). June 18, 2009.
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- ^ Eunae, Kim (November 6, 2020). 이승기 5년만에 컴백, 15일 윤종신과 손잡은 선공개곡 발표..12월 정규 7집 앨범까지[공식] [Lee Seung-gi's comeback after 5 years, announced the pre-released song in partnership with Yoon Jong-shin on the 15th... until the 7th regular album in December]. Osen. Retrieved November 6, 2020 – via Naver.
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- ^ Hong, Grace Danbi (April 30, 2014). "Lee Seung Gi is Paying More Attention to His Face Working with Models". enewsWorld. Archived from the original on May 2, 2014. Retrieved May 2, 2014.
- ^ "Lee Seung-gi to debut on screen with 'Woman of 3 Men'". The Korea Herald. June 18, 2014.
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- ^ "Lead roles cast in 'Face Reader' sequel". Korea JoongAng Daily. July 11, 2015.
- ^ "Director says 'The Princess and the Matchmaker' is exhilarating period comedy-drama". Yonhap News Agency. January 31, 2018.
- ^ "Lee Seung-gi confirms lead role in upcoming drama 'Hwayugi'". Kpop Herald. November 5, 2017.
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- ^ "Lee Seung-gi, Suzy reunite for drama 'Vagabond'". Kpop Herald. June 5, 2018.
- ^ "Lee Seung-gi, Suzy confident of captivating action scenes in 'Vagabond'". Yonhap News Agency. September 16, 2019.
- ^ "tvN Drama "Mouse" To Be Rated 19+ For First Episode". Soompi. March 2, 2021.
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- ^ a b "Lee Kyung-kyu wins grand prize at KBS Entertainment Awards". 10Asia. December 27, 2010.
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- ^ "'2 Days & 1 Night' members reunite for 'New Journey to the West'". The Korea Times. September 2, 2015.
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- ^ "Lee Seung-gi to host new season of 'Produce' audition show". Kpop Herald. April 19, 2018.
- ^ "Lee Seung-gi is the newest detective in "Busted"". Inquirer. November 8, 2018.
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- ^ "[TD포토] '리틀 포레스트' 찍박골의 여름 맞이". TV Daily (in Korean). August 12, 2019. Archived from the original on September 12, 2019. Retrieved September 12, 2019.
- ^ "Lee Seung-gi, Jasper Liu co-star in Netflix travel show". The Korea Times. September 10, 2019.
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- ^ "Lee Seung-gi to carry Olympic torch". Korea JoongAng Daily. March 1, 2012.
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- ^ "이승기, 18대 대선 온라인 홍보대사로 위촉" (in Korean) Nate News. October 30, 2012
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- ^ "Actor-singer Lee Seung-gi discharged from military". Yonhap News Agency. October 31, 2017.
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- ^ "[ENG] 10.31.2017 Channel A News – Significance of Lee Seunggi's Special Forces Training Patches & His Brigade's Important Mission". LSGfan ~ Lee Seung Gi Blog. November 4, 2017. Retrieved March 12, 2021.
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