Xports News is celebrating its 14th anniversary by reflecting on some of Korea’s top stars who debuted in 2007, the same year the outlet was launched. Among these stars is Lee Je-hoon, who has remained active in the entertainment industry. Last year, he appeared in the films ″Time to Hunt″ and ″Grave Robbers,″ while this year, he starred in the SBS drama ″Taxi Driver″ and the Netflix series ″Move to Heaven.″ Lee Je-hoon is also set to make his directorial debut later this year with ″Unframed,″ a project in collaboration with his production company, Hardcut, and Watcha. Recently, he established his own management company, ″Company,″ after leaving his agency of 12 years, marking a new chapter in his career.

Lee Je-hoon’s acting journey began in 2007 with his debut in the comedy horror film ″The Night Is Their Time.″ He quickly gained recognition through various independent films, including ″The Predators″ and ″The Sublime Vacation.″ His performances in 2011’s ″Bleak Night″ and ″The Front Line″ solidified his status in the Korean film industry. In ″Bleak Night,″ he portrayed Ki-tae, a troubled teenager grappling with friendship, while in ″The Front Line,″ he played Captain Shin Young-il, a character confronting the horrors of war, earning him six Best New Actor awards.

In 2012, Lee Je-hoon starred as Seung-min, a young architecture student, in ″Architecture 101.″ The film’s sweet romance resonated with audiences, drawing over 4.11 million viewers. He recalled a memorable scene with co-star Suzy, saying, ″There was a moment where I told her, ’Would you mind getting lost?’ I thought I could deliver the line easily, but I found it hard to say it in front of her.″

Later that year, Lee Je-hoon remained busy, completing filming for ″The Fortune Tellers″ and ″Paparotti.″ He enlisted in the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency’s public relations unit on October 25th, taking a break from his military service. Reflecting on his enlistment, he stated, ″I have less than 48 hours left until my enlistment, but it still doesn’t feel real. I will return more mature and resilient.″

After his discharge in July 2014, Lee Je-hoon returned to acting with the SBS drama ″Secret Door″ and the film ″Detective Hong Gil-dong: The Lost Village.″ He expressed his nervousness about re-entering the public eye, saying, ″It’s been a while since I’ve been in public, and I’m very nervous about whether I’ll ever get the chance to appear in front of the public.″

In 2016, he gained significant popularity for his role as Inspector Park Hae-young in the tvN drama ″Signal,″ which achieved an average viewership rating of 13.4%, peaking at 15%. He noted, ″The atmosphere on set was great, and I was given a sufficient script, which made me more comfortable and improved communication.″

In 2017, Lee Je-hoon showcased a more mature performance in ″Anarchist from Colony″ and ″I Can Speak.″ He remarked, ″’Anarchist from Colony’ is still enjoyable no matter how many times I watch it. I wanted to portray real-life figures authentically.″ He added that ″’I Can Speak’ brought attention to the issues faced by comfort women victims and had a significant societal impact.″

In 2020, Lee Je-hoon reunited with director Yoon Sung-hyun for the Netflix film ″Time to Hunt.″ He shared, ″The filming period was long, but this project helped me grow.″ He also transformed his image by playing Sang-gu, the guardian of Geu-ru, an estate manager with Asperger’s syndrome, in the Netflix original drama ″Move to Heaven.″

In ″Taxi Driver,″ Lee Je-hoon portrayed a unique character as a ″taxi driver and villain-hunting expert.″ He expressed, ″I feel like I’ve lived my life immersed in this work.″ The series concluded with the fourth-highest viewership ratings of all time for SBS Friday-Saturday dramas.

As he celebrates his 14th anniversary, Lee Je-hoon is embracing a new challenge as a director. The ″Unframed″ project will feature four actors—Lee Je-hoon, Park Jung-min, Son Seok-gu, and Choi Hee-seo—while he also directs and writes the screenplay. His upcoming film ″Blue Happiness″ has already confirmed its cast, including Jung Hae-in, Lee Dong-hwi, Kim Da-ye, Tang Jun-sang, and Pyo Ye-jin. Anticipation is high for Lee Je-hoon’s next steps, as he continues to evolve without fear of change over the past 14 years.