Lee Hong-nae

Lee was born and raised in Yangsan, Gyeongsang-do, where he completed his elementary, middle, and high school education.^[2][3][4] His given name, "Hong-nae" (Korean: 홍내; Hanja: 洪耐; lit. 'broad endurance'), which is interpreted as "always be considerate and patient."^[1] During his high school years, he worked part-time for a delivery service.^[3][5] Lee then pursue a degree in public administration from the Catholic University of Pusan.^[2]

At the age of 20, Lee moved to Seoul and ventured into modeling. Due to his relatively short stature compared to other models, he faced limited opportunities in fashion shows and primarily worked for magazines.^[2][3][4][5] When his modeling career failed to take off, he initially contemplated a military career, inspired by a childhood fascination with war movies. Yet, while serving his mandatory military duty, he realized that a soldier's life wasn't suited for him.^[3][4] It was during the late hours of his service that he made the pivotal decision to become an actor.^[1] Despite lacking formal training or attending acting school, Lee was determined to pursue an acting career,^[3][4][5][6] drawing inspiration from models-turned-actors like Kim Woo-bin and Jang Mi-kwan for his transition into the industry.^[2]

Lee made his acting debut in the 2014 film Fire in Hell. The film features aggressive elements and has garnered a strong fan base. He was cast through an open audition and recalls entering the audition room screaming, without any prior knowledge of the process. He believes that director Lee Sang-woo appreciated his innocence, for which he is very grateful. This film ignited his passion for acting.^[2][5] Following his debut, Lee starred in minor roles in both film and television. To financially support himself while building his career, he worked part-time in construction and cosmetology. He occasionally still modeled as well.^[3][5][6] In 2017, he appeared in the music video for BTS's cover song Come back home.^[7]

Lee Hong-nae's career began with supporting roles, including a villainous turn in the 2019 tvN series Catch the Ghost. His recognition grew significantly in 2020, first through his talked-about role as a bodyguard in tvN's The King: Eternal Monarch, and then with his major acting breakthrough as the villain Ji Cheong-sin in the OCN series The Uncanny Counter.^[8][9] This compelling performance earned him his first acting accolade: the Scene Stealer Award for a male actor at the 2021 Brand Customer Loyalty Award, organized by the Korea Consumer Forum.^[9][10]

After seven years of playing minor and supporting roles in various films and television series, Lee secured his first main role in the independent film Made on the Rooftop. For his performance in the film, he was named Best New Actor at the 41st Korean Association of Film Critics Awards.^[11][12]