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Lee Byung-hun, born on July 12, 1970, is a 54-year-old South Korean actor renowned for his versatility and success in the entertainment industry. With a career spanning over three decades, Lee has earned global recognition for his talent and achievements.
International audiences may recognize him as the enigmatic Front Man in Netflix's global hit Squid Game. He had a recurring role in season 1 and played a main character in the highly anticipated season 2, released on December 26, 2024.
While his work continues to achieve many successes, his personal life, especially his relationship with his wife, Lee Min-jung, frequently grabs attention. Recently, Lee Byung-hun and Lee Min-jung have made headlines with a sweet Instagram exchange, reigniting interest in their romance.
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Lee Byung-hun recently shared photos of coffee and food trucks sent to the set of his upcoming movie No Other Choice. The trucks featured supportive messages, hinting at their sender.
Messages like “Go, Dad! Seo Yi is rooting for you! Go, Mom! Woo Jin is rooting for you!” and “Rooting for Lee Byung-hun and Son Ye-jin for No Other Choice” were written across the banners.
Under the post captioned, “Thank you,” Lee Min-jung humorously commented:
“Don’t mention it… Who knows if I used your money to send them?”
The witty exchange quickly went viral, with netizens praising their relationship. Here's a detailed look at the actor's relationship timeline and his dating history.
A brief overview of Lee Byung-hun and Lee Min-jung's relationship timeline
Lee Min-jung (born February 16, 1982) is a South Korean actress who began her acting journey in Jang Jin's theatrical productions before taking on smaller roles in movies and dramas.
Her breakout moment came in 2009 when she appeared in the hit series Boys Over Flowers. That same year, she secured her first lead role in the family drama Smile, You. In 2010, she gained widespread acclaim for her lead performance in the romantic comedy Cyrano Agency.
Over the years, Lee has starred in notable projects such as Wonderful Radio (2012), Big (2012), Cunning Single Lady (2014), and Come Back Mister (2016). In 2020, she achieved further recognition with her role in the KBS weekend drama Once Again, earning praise for her portrayal.
Their brief romance in 2006
Lee Byung-hun and Lee Min-jung first crossed paths in 2006. At the time, Lee Byung-hun was a top Hallyu star, while Lee Min-jung was a rookie actress. They dated briefly but parted ways due to career commitments, according to Lifestyle Asia.
Speaking at SBS's Healing Camp in 2013, Lee Byung-hun revealed that their busy schedules made it difficult to maintain the relationship.
“Lee Min-jung was just starting to get some work and I was working all the time… it was really difficult to find time to meet, so we broke up,” the actor said.
Lee Min-jung shared a similar story on JTBC's Gamsung Camping, adding that their differing career stages were a significant factor in their split.
Reuniting in 2013
In 2012, as per The Korea Times, the couple reunited. Lee Byung-hun contacted Lee Min-jung after completing filming for G.I. Joe: Retaliation. Their romance reignited, and they began dating again.
Marriage in 2013
After months of speculation, the couple announced their wedding plans in 2013. They tied the knot in a lavish ceremony in Seoul on August 10, 2013, at the Grand Hyatt Seoul. Since then, they have been a prominent celebrity couple in South Korea.
Lee Min-jung gave birth to their first child, a son named Lee Joon-hoo, on March 31, 2015. On August 4, 2023, it was announced that they were expecting their second child. She welcomed their second child, a daughter, on December 21, 2023.
Lee Byung-hun's past relationships
Before marrying Lee Min-jung, Lee Byung-hun had high-profile relationships with notable actresses. According to media outlet Lifestyle Asia, in 2003, Lee Byung-hun and Song Hye-kyo starred together in the series All In. Their on-screen chemistry led to a real-life romance.
Their relationship became public in April 2003, with rumors of an engagement. However, the couple announced their breakup in May 2004.
In December 2009, Lee faced legal trouble when his ex-girlfriend, Kwon Mi-yeon, filed a civil lawsuit against him. According to South Korean media outlet The Korea Times, Kwon, a former female Canadian gymnast, alleged that Lee had deceived her into a romantic and s*xual relationship by promising marriage. She accused him of causing emotional distress and physical harm while also claiming he had a gambling problem. She sought 100 million won in damages.
Lee's agency, BH Entertainment, firmly denied these accusations, calling them baseless and retaliatory following their breakup. In response, Lee filed a countersuit against Kwon for defamation and attempted extortion. The case took a turn in August 2010 when Kwon's lawsuit was dismissed due to her failure to participate in court proceedings.
As a report by Lifestyle Asia, in 2010, the actor's chemistry with Kim Tae-hee in the drama Iris sparked dating rumors. However, neither confirmed the relationship, and the rumors eventually faded. Lee Byung-hun was also rumored to have dated Yoon Eun-hye, Kim Min-hee, and Han Hyo-joo. However, these claims were never confirmed.
For those unfamiliar, over the years, Lee Byung-hun has earned widespread acclaim for his performances in films like Joint Security Area (2000), A Bittersweet Life (2005), The Good, the Bad, the Weird (2008), I Saw the Devil (2010), Masquerade (2012), and Inside Men (2015). He has also impressed audiences in hit television series such as All In (2003), Iris (2009), and Mr. Sunshine (2018).
Lee's role in Inside Men earned him the Best Actor award at South Korea's three most prestigious award ceremonies: the Baeksang Arts Awards, Blue Dragon Film Awards, and Grand Bell Awards in 2015 and 2016. Seven of his films, including Joint Security Area, Masquerade, Inside Men, and The Man Standing Next, rank among South Korea's highest-grossing movies.
His contribution to both cinema and television was further celebrated as he was named Gallup Korea's Actor of the Year in 2012 for film and again in 2018 for television.
