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Lee Sang-yi (actor)
South Korean actor (born 1991) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Lee Sang-yi (Korean: 이상이; born November 27, 1991) is a South Korean actor and singer known for his work on stage and screen. He debuted in theater in 2014 and has since acted in several plays and musicals. He gained wider recognition for his leading roles in dramas, notably, Bloodhounds (2023–present), Spice Up Our Love (2023), and Good Boy (2025). As a singer, he is best known for being a member of the vocal group MSG Wannabe.
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Early life and education
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Lee Sang-yi was born in 1991 in Ansan, Gyeonggi Province. His interest in acting began during his participation in a school production of The Sound of Music at Jeongji Elementary School.[1][2][3] While attending Wonil Middle School, Lee's father encouraged him to enroll in a local acting academy, where he also studied tap dancing.[4] Lee decided to pursue acting professionally and informed his parents of his intention to attend an arts high school. He subsequently enrolled in the Department of Theater and Film at Anyang Art High School.[1][2][3]
During his time at Anyang Arts High School, Lee served as student council president. He sought this position to foster interaction with students across different departments. His campaign involved performing songs on guitar for peers before school and establishing a Cyworld club to connect with potential classmates. This proactive engagement led to his election and continued leadership roles.[4]
In 2008, while still in high school, Lee won first place in the J-Tune Company UCC contest, showcasing his dance abilities with a performance of Rain's "Rainism". His clip was circulated on platforms such as Daum TV Pod, Pikicast, and YouTube.[4][5] During this period, Lee also explored various career paths, including guitarist, professional gamer, and stage designer, before ultimately choosing acting as it integrated his diverse interests.[4]
Lee enrolled in the School of Drama at Korea National University of Arts, joining the Department of Acting's Class of 2010. His peers from the same batch included Ahn Eun-jin, Kim Go-eun, Lee Yoo-young, Park So-dam, Kim Sung-cheol, and Lee Hwi-jong. During his studies, he served as the head of the acting department's class.[4][6]
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Career
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2014–2019: Theater beginnings
Following his mandatory military service as a duty police officer at the National Police Agency, Lee Sang-yi debuted in the musical Grease in 2014.[7] He subsequently appeared in various musicals, including Runway Beat and Legendary Little Basketball Team.[8]
In 2015, Lee performed as Peter in Bare: The Musical.[8] That same year, he was cast as Jang Seon-jae in the musical Infinite Power, which marked actor Park Hee-soon's directorial debut. Lee noted that Park, a former member of the Mokhwa theater company, directed with an emphasis on individual actor's strengths, stating, "Having been an actor himself, the director understands the actor's mindset better than anyone else."[9][10][11]
In 2016, Lee and Kang Young-seok were jointly cast as Nathan Leopold in the Korean production of Stephen Dolginoff's musical Thrill Me. Lee's portrayal of Nathan emphasized a mild-mannered yet logically acute character. Directed by Park Ji-he, the production ran from February 19 to June 12, 2016, and Lee's performance garnered attention for its emotional intensity.[12] In 2016, his stage roles also included Benny in In the Heights[13] and Baek-seok in Me, Natasha, and the White Donkey.[14][15][16][17]
In 2017, Lee participated in the Mongni Music Drama Concert 2017 [Grown Up], which ran at KT&G Sangsang Art Hall from February 16 to 26.[18] He dedicated five weeks to rehearsing choreography from the film La La Land with Park Ji-eun; their dance cover was posted on YouTube in March 2017 and achieved widespread popularity.[19][20] In April, Lee performed in the play Crazy Kiss,[21][22] followed by the Korean premiere of Guards At The Taj! in August.[23] Later that year, he made his television debut as Oh Dal-soo in the drama Manhole and appeared as Oh Dong-hwan in the Prison Playbook series in November. Despite his television appearances, he maintained his commitment to stage performances.[14]
In 2018, Lee took on a supporting role in the television musical romantic comedy To. Jenny, appearing alongside Kim Sung-cheol and Jung Chae-yeon. His stage work in 2018 included the musical Red Book, where he played Brown,[14][24][25][26] and a co-starring role in Today's Show - Moving Day.[27] In 2019, Lee portrayed Elvis impersonator Casey in the musical The Legend of Georgia McBridealongside Park Eun-seok and Kang Young-seok. This musical, written by American playwright Matthew Lopez, had premiered in the United States in 2014.[28][29] In the same year, Lee appeared on television as an antagonist in Special Labor Inspector and as baseball coach Yang Seung-yeop in When the Camellia Blooms.[30]
2020–2022: Breakthrough roles and debut as singer
In 2020, Lee starred in the 100-episode weekend drama Once Again. He played Yoon Jae-seok, a dentist and the younger brother of Yoon Gyu-jin, portrayed by Lee Sang-yeob. His romantic storyline with Lee Cho-hee's character became a fan favorite, with their on-screen pairing affectionately known as the "Sadon Couple" or "national in-laws." This performance earned them the Best Couple Award at the 2020 KBS Drama Awards, where Lee also received the Best New Actor Award. The drama's success considerably boosted his public recognition.[31]
After a two-year hiatus from musical theater, Lee returned in February 2022 to perform in A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder. He took on the role of Monty Navarro, a character determined to become a count by eliminating eight heirs of the D'Ysquith family. Lee's portrayal, which blended comedic elements with solid acting, was well-received by audiences, who noted his "nerd beauty" and strong performance.[32][33][34]
Lee maintained a busy schedule in 2021. In May, he joined the cast of the KBS2 drama Youth of May[35] as Lee Soo-chan, a resolute individual managing family responsibilities and a business in 1980s Gwangju. His authentic portrayal, which explored themes of love, family, and ambition amidst challenges, was critically praised. [33] Also in May 2021, Lee appeared on the variety show Hangout with Yoo and debuted as a member of MSG Wannabe's sub-unit JSDK.[36]
In June 2021, he was confirmed for tvN drama Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha, portraying Ji Sung-hyun, a workaholic variety show director with an optimistic demeanor.[37] For the drama, Lee covered the song "Love is Forgotten" by Hareem[38] and contributed to the original soundtrack with his single "I Hope You're Happy," released on October 17, 2021.[39] On November 24, 2021, leveraging the popularity of Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha, Lee reprised his role as Ji Sung-hyun and became a virtual guide for Gongjin VR tour. This initiative, a collaboration between Studio Dragon, Korea Tourism Organization, and LG U+, utilized LG U+'s XR platform U+DIVe to create virtual reality content aimed at promoting South Korean tourist destinations through drama content.[40]
In November 2021, Lee once again performed as Monty Navarro in the musical A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder.[41] Concurrently, he confirmed his appearance in the Netflix Original Series Bloodhounds, featuring on three young individuals entering the private loan world and encountering a formidable force.[42] Lee concluded 2021 by serving as an MC for the 2021 MBC Entertainment Awards with Jun Hyun-moo and Kim Se-jeong.[43]
2023–present: Leading roles
In 2023, Lee took part in Kim Dong-yeon's play Shakespeare in Love, adapted from the 1998 film of the same name.[44] He shared the role of William Shakespeare with Jung Moon-sung and Kim Sung-cheol in a triple cast.The play received favorable reviews and Lee's performance was praised by critics and audience.[45]
In 2024, Lee returned to the small screen in the romantic comedy No Gain No Love as CEO Bok Gyu-heon.[46] The chaebol businessman posts negative comments about a romance novelist, portrayed by Han Ji-hyeon, but later falls in love with her. The couple was such a hit that the creators added a two-episode spin-off titled Spice Up Our Love (2023) starring Lee and Han as a couple trapped in a romance novel.[47]
He next starred as a former silver medalist fencer in JTBC’s action-comedy Good Boy (2025) alongside Park Bo-gum and directed by Shim Na-yeon.[48] In the second half of 2025, Lee reprised his role as William Shakespeare in the play Shakespeare in Love.[49][50]
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Filmography
Film
Television series
Television show
Hosting
Music video appearances
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Stage
Concert
Musical
Theater
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Discography
Soundtrack appearances
With MSG Wannabe
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Awards and nominations
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References
External links
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