Before Lee Junho became the award-winning actor that he is now, he debuted as part of the legendary second-generation K-pop group 2PM under JYP Entertainment. He's a certified triple threat: He can sing, dance, and act! And well, we can't deny that he's got the good looks to match his overflowing talent. Through the years, we've seen Junho act in both K-dramas and K-movies, but we have a soft spot for his work on the small screen (more episodes = more chances to bask in his handsomeness).
Here are X K-dramas Lee Junho has appeared in:
1. Memory (2016)
Who else is in it: Lee Sung Min, Kim Ji Soo, Park Jin Hee
This melodrama tells the story of Park Tae Suk (Sung Min), a brilliant, cutthroat lawyer who discovers he has Alzheimer's disease. Suddenly, he's caught in a race against time as he struggles to take care of his family and maintain his career. Junho plays Jung Jin, a prickly junior associate with impeccable sense when it comes to work. They develop an interesting bromance that will keep you on your toes!
2. Good Manager (2017)
Who else is in it: Namgoong Min, Nam Sang Mi, Jung Hye Sung
For his next role, Junho takes on another workplace drama, this time with veteran actor Namgoong Min at the helm. Min plays Kim Sung Ryong, an accountant with a history of working for the mob. Despite his seemingly unsavory background, he gets hired as TQ Group's accounting department chief. He becomes an unlikely hero in the workplace as he finds himself accidentally fighting for employees' rights. Junho plays antagonist Seo Yul, TQ's finance director, surprising everyone by holding his own against Min’s amazing acting. We lived for Seo Yul's food scenes in the drama—and boy, there were a lot of them! Junho ended up winning an Excellence Award for Acting at the KBS Drama Awards for his role.
3. Rain or Shine (2017)
Who else is in it: Won Jin Ah, Lee Ki Woo, Kang Han Na
After playing a supporting role and a villainous role, Junho gets his chance to be the leading man this time around in this romantic melodrama. He plays Lee Kang Doo, an aspiring professional soccer player who ends up putting his dreams on hold after a tragic accident claims his father's life and leaves him with injuries. He finds his match in Ha Moon Soo (Jin Ah), a woman with a similarly tragic family background. Their feelings for each other bloom as they start opening up to each other.
4. Wok Of Love (2018)
Who else is in it: Jang Hyuk, Jung Ryeo Won
This hilarious rom-com will have you rooting for our group of misfits! Junho is Seo Poong, a brilliant chef at a restaurant at the prestigious Giant Hotel. When he ends up getting fired through no fault of his own, he gets his second wind as the co-owner of a small Chinese resto beside the hotel, the Hungry Wok. Working with him are Doo Chil Sung (Hyuk), a former gangster who runs Hungry Wok, and Dan Sae Woo (Ryeo Won), a bankrupt heiress.
5. Confession (2019)
Who else is in it: Yoo Jae Myung, Shin Hyun Been, Nam Gi Ae
This legal drama-slash-thriller is everything we love about suspense dramas. Junho is Choi Do Hyun, a boy with a weak heart. When he finally gets his turn for a heart transplant, his operation is successful—but his father becomes a murder suspect and ends up on death row. Do Hyun vows to prove his father's innocence and becomes a lawyer. But as he learns more about the case, he realizes things aren't as straightforward as he thinks. Will he give up his principles in the end? Can he outsmart the real culprit before it's too late?
6. The Red Sleeve (2021)
Who else is in it: Lee Se Young, Kang Hoon
In this historical drama, Junho plays crown prince Yi San who eventually becomes King Jeongjo, king of Joseon. He falls in love with Seong Deok Im (Se Young), a court lady who wants to remain free to live her life. It’s a battle of wills as the king insists she become his concubine. The series was so successful it received a one-episode extension, and it turned Junho into a household name. He also won several awards for his role, including Best Actor at the Korea PD Awards and the Top Excellence Award at the MBC Drama Awards.
7. King The Land (2023)
Who else is in it: Girls’ Generation's Yoona
Fans were abuzz after Junho and Yoona hosted the 2021 MBC Music Festival in December. They had such obvious chemistry! The two are currently starring in a new rom-com together called King the Land. Junho will play Gu Won, the reserved heir to the King Group, while Yoona plays Cheon Sarang, a bubbly King Hotel employee. The idol-actors have netizens raving about their onscreen romance — so much so, that their respective agencies had to deny dating rumors!
King The Land is currently available for streaming on Netflix. It's 16th and final episode will premiere on Sunday, August 6, 2023.
