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Lee Jung-jae is a South Korean actor, director, and entrepreneur. Lee also directs, produces, and co-owns production firm Artist Company. Recently, his selfie with Bollywood icon Shah Rukh Khan at Riyadh Joy Forum 2025 went viral, giving rise to huge buzz on social media. Let's see the most fascinating things about his life that fans are always eager to learn.
Lee Jung-jae was born on Friday, December 15, 1972, in Seoul, South Korea. His birth sign is Sagittarius. He attended Gwangju's Sungui Elementary School, Seoul's Cheongdam Middle School, and Hyundai Senior High School afterwards.
In 1999, he joined for a Bachelor's in Theater & Film Art at Dongguk University, Seoul. Subsequently, in 2008, he graduated with his Master's from the same institution. His thesis was called 'A Study on the Acting Approach to the Role of Kang Se-jong in the Movie Typhoon.'
Lee's father is named Lee Chul-seong. He came from a very financially humble background and had the responsibility of looking after his family, particularly since his older brother was autistic.
Lee Jung-jae's net worth is estimated at ₹100 crore to ₹125 crore.($12 million to $15 million USD).
His income is not only due to his acting, but also to his business of production, hospitality, and real estate. Lee also directs, produces, and co-owns production firm Artist Company, which he established with fellow actor and close friend, Jung Woo-sung.
So aside from acting, his huge money comes from behind the camera through movie production, entertainment investment, and even property deals.
This huge valuation reflects his rise from local Korean star to a international celebrity, particularly after the global success of Squid Game.In 2003, Lee began dating South Korean actress Kim Min-hee. They were together for three years before they broke up in 2006. Lee has publicly declared that he does not believe in marriage bond.
Lee Jung-jae is best known for his work in:
An Affair (1998)
The Last Witness (2001)
Typhoon (2005)
The Thieves (2012)
The Face Reader (2013)
His international debut was in 2021 when he acted in Netflix's survival drama Squid Game as Seong Gi-hun, a character that made him an overnight sensation globally.
Lee owns an upscale Italian restaurant chain called Il Mare, named after his 2000 hit movie of the same title. He is also the owner of real estate development firm Seorim C&D, and co-founded entertainment label Artist Company with Jung Woo-sung.
His work in Squid Game was a benchmark for the Hallyu Wave the international boom of Korean entertainment. As Seong Gi-hun, he was the embodiment of the common struggle against economic hardship, making the character humanly relatable to all cultures.
Also Read: Shah Rukh Khan & Lee Jung-jae’s Selfie Breaks the Internet | Is SRK the New VIP in Squid Game?
