Lee Sung-min

Lee Sung-min (; born October 15, 1968) is a South Korean actor. He is best known for his supporting roles on television and film, notably his much-praised performances in Golden Time (2012), Broken (2014), Misaeng: Incomplete Life (2014), and Reborn Rich (2022); the latter two earned him the Best Actor for Television at the 51st and 59th Baeksang Arts Awards, respectively. Lee has also gained critical acclaim for his role in the 2018 espionage film The Spy Gone North; he received a Best Actor nomination at the 39th Blue Dragon Film Awards, as well as wins at the 55th Grand Bell Awards and the film category of the 55th Baeksang Arts Awards. Early life Lee Sung-min was born on October 15, 1968, in a small village called Dochon, located between Bonghwa County and Yeongju in North Gyeongsang Province. During his early years, he frequently moved with his father, who relocated to various places across the country, including Seoul and Gangwon Province. It wasn't until the fourth grade of elementary school that he finally returned to his hometown, where he completed his middle and high school education. Afterwards, he left once again to pursue higher education, enrolling at the Daegu Science University. Reflecting on his past, it was Lee's father who paved the way for his acting journey. His father, known for his kindness and warmth, greatly enjoyed watching movies with his son. Although Bonghwa lacked movie theaters at the time, Yeongju had two cinemas. As valued customers, they would eagerly rush to the theater ahead of others whenever a new film was released. "I still vividly recall the movies like 'King Kong' and 'Bruce Lee' that I watched with my father during my childhood." The actor shared, "When I was young, my father always ensured that I watched 'masterpiece films' on weekends. Thanks to him, I had the opportunity to experience cultural elements that were challenging for a rural child to access at such a young age. Perhaps, absorbing movies through my father from an early stage, it enabled me to pursue an acting career and consistently engage in emotive performances."