Lee Jong-suk

Lee Jong-suk is a South Korean actor and model known for his tall, slender frame and emotionally complex roles. He rose to fame through hit television dramas like I Can Hear Your Voice (2013), Pinocchio (2014), W (2016), and Big Mouth (2022), becoming one of the most bankable stars in the Korean entertainment industry. As of 2026, he continues to select diverse projects, balancing commercial hits with critically acclaimed performances. His fandom, With Js, supports him through charity events and coffee truck donations at filming locations.[edit]

Lee Jong-suk was born on September 14, 1989, in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province. He grew up with his parents and a younger sister. From a young age, he suffered from social anxiety disorder, which made him shy and withdrawn. To help him overcome this, his mother encouraged him to take acting classes. His first step into the entertainment industry came in 2005 when he debuted as a runway model for the Seoul Collection, becoming the youngest male model to walk in the show at age 16. He continued modeling while taking acting lessons. A pivotal moment came in 2010 when he made his acting debut in the drama Prosecutor Princess, followed by a role in the hit Secret Garden, where he played a young composer named Han Tae-sun, gaining initial public recognition.[edit]

Lee Jong-suk's breakthrough came in 2012 with School 2013, where he played a rebellious student, earning him a New Star Award at the SBS Drama Awards. In 2013, he starred in I Can Hear Your Voice as Park Soo-ha, a young man who can read minds. The drama was a massive hit, reaching peak ratings of 24.1%, and solidified his status as a top Hallyu star. He won the Top Excellence Award at the SBS Drama Awards for that role. He continued his success with Pinocchio (2014), playing a determined reporter, and W (2016), where he portrayed a webtoon character come to life, winning the Daesang (Grand Prize) at the MBC Drama Awards. After completing mandatory military service in 2020, he made a triumphant return with the dark thriller Big Mouth (2022), earning another Top Excellence Award. In 2025, he starred in The Auditors, a mystery thriller about a corporate audit team.[edit]

Lee Jong-suk is known for his tall, slender physique, sharp jawline, and expressive eyes. He often plays emotionally complex characters, ranging from cold geniuses to vulnerable romantics. The media portrays him as a genre-hopping actor who balances commercial hits with critically acclaimed roles, earning him the nickname King of Melodrama. His official fandom name is With Js. Fans organize large-scale charity donations for his birthday and hold coffee truck support events at his drama filming locations. He maintains a relatively private social media presence, posting mostly professional photos and occasional heartfelt letters on his official fan cafe.[edit]

Lee Jong-suk commands a massive, digitally-native audience that operates less like a traditional organized fandom and more like a global community centered on his verified Instagram hub. While the search results note no single official moniker for his supporters, the sheer scale of his following, 26 million users, demonstrates an organizational power that rivals any idol group, mobilizing instantly around casting news and career milestones. This fanbase is deeply invested in the narrative arcs of his life, from his transition from runway model to acclaimed actor to the widely publicized chapter of his four-year relationship with IU, which sparked intense online discourse and analysis that defined his public image for years. Their engagement is characterized by a blend of professional admiration and personal curiosity, often gathering in unofficial forums to discuss his roles in *W: Two Worlds* and *Romance Is a Bonus Book*. Despite the lack of a formal name, this collective energy ensures he remains a dominant force in the industry, a status quantified by the iFANN Global Fame Rankings. These authoritative metrics place him as the 5th most famous person in K-Drama, reflecting his enduring pull within the genre. His standing extends beyond specific categories, ranking him the 49th most famous person in South Korea and the 24th most famous person from South Korea. On a broader continental stage, he holds the position of the 100th most famous person in East Asia, holding steady across recent cycles. These placements confirm his trajectory as a top-tier star whose influence spans both domestic markets and international digital spaces.[edit]

Lee Jong-suk brings a unique physical discipline to his craft, holding a black belt in Taekwondo that informs his action scenes. He is also a devoted coffee enthusiast, consuming several cups of Americano daily, a habit that has become part of his relaxed public persona. His artistic range extends behind the camera as well; he published a photo essay book titled *I Am Lee Jong-suk*, showcasing his photography skills alongside his acting work. At home, he keeps company with his pet cat, Gureum (Cloud). His path was not without challenges, as he served his mandatory military service as a public service worker from March 2019 to December 2020 due to an anxiety condition. Beyond these facts, his career is marked by significant cultural moments. The story of his four-year romance with singer-actress IU became a defining saga in his life, ending in July 2026 after years of speculation. This relationship generated a unique form of modern folklore where fans engaged in intense "sign hunting," analyzing past interactions for clues, a phenomenon that drew criticism but highlighted the depth of his connection with the public. Following their split, the narrative shifted to his continued success, with new casting announcements involving co-stars like Nana and Kim Seon-ho keeping his relevance high as he navigates this post-relationship era.[edit]

Lee Jong-suk was raised with his parents and a younger sister. He has openly credited his mother for encouraging him to pursue acting to overcome his social anxiety. As of 2026, he is not married and has no children. He owns a luxury apartment in Seongsu-dong, Seoul, and has a pet cat named Gureum.[edit]

Lee Jong-suk has frequently collaborated with actresses Park Shin-hye (Pinocchio), Suzy Bae (While You Were Sleeping), Han Hyo-joo (W), and Yoona (Big Mouth). He is close friends with fellow actor and model Kim Woo-bin, and actor Lee Kwang-soo. He co-founded the agency A-Man Project with his longtime manager.[edit]

Lee Jong-suk was publicly rumored to be in a relationship with actress Park Shin-hye in 2014-2015 after they co-starred in Pinocchio and were spotted shopping in Los Angeles, but both agencies denied it. In 2016, rumors circulated about a romance with W co-star Han Hyo-joo, also denied. His only confirmed relationship was with singer-actress IU (Lee Ji-eun), announced on December 31, 2022, after years of friendship. They were considered a power couple in the Korean entertainment industry. On January 23, 2025, Korean media reported their breakup due to busy schedules, which both agencies confirmed, stating they would remain good colleagues. As of 2026, Lee Jong-suk is single.[edit]

iFANN currently estimates Lee Jong-suk's net worth at $10 Million in 2026. This valuation reflects his sustained success as one of the most bankable stars in the Korean entertainment industry. His primary income stream derives from drama salaries, where he reportedly earns between $100,000 to $150,000 per episode for major projects such as *Big Mouth* and *The Auditors*. His commercial appeal has secured long-term partnerships as a brand ambassador for prestigious labels including BVLGARI watches, Edwin jeans, Samsung electronics, and Subway. In terms of assets, he owns a luxury apartment in Seongsu-dong, Seoul, valued at around $2 million. Furthermore, he maintains a strategic stake in the entertainment agency A-Man Project, which he co-founded, diversifying his portfolio beyond on-screen performance.[edit]

Lee Jong-suk has won over a dozen acting awards, including the prestigious Daesang (Grand Prize) at the MBC Drama Awards for W in 2016. He has received multiple Top Excellence Awards from SBS, MBC, and the Korea Drama Awards for his performances in I Can Hear Your Voice, Pinocchio, While You Were Sleeping, and Big Mouth. He also earned a New Star Award for School 2013 and Best Couple awards with his co-stars.[edit]