I'm making an assumption here, but I think that most of the people who know Lee Dong Hwi started knowing him because of Reply 1988 (a.k.a one of the best K-dramas of all time). While the show aired in 2015, Dong Hwi actually had been in the industry for two years prior, carrying out minor roles mostly for big screen titles.
He may be a latecomer to showbiz but Dong Hwi has proven himself to be one talented artist. Did you guys know that he has an amazing singing voice, too? Yep, he does! In fact, he is part of MSG Wannabe—a project group developed by Yoo Jae Suk through his show, Hangout with Yoo. Dong Hwi is in the JSDK sub-unit composed of actors Kim Jung Min and Lee Sang Yi and hip hop artist Simon Dominic.
Dong Hwi is also a member of the friendship group, BYH48 (inspired by the Japanese group AKB48). The group's leader is actor Byun Yo Han (hence the BYH) and also includes Ryu Jun Yeol, Ji Soo, and even EXO's Suho. The group, according to Yo Han, was formed by working on different plays and short films together. "We're just friends who meet up late at night for no reason," Yo Han revealed in a Naver interview.
Dong Hwi, who is a fashionista himself as one can glean from his Instagram, is also in a long-term relationship with model/actress, Jung Ho Yeon. If the name sounds familiar, it's because she played Kang Sae Byeok in the hit Netflix series, Squid Game.
If you're curious to see more of the genius behind the actor Lee Dong Hwi, here are some of his dramas that you shouldn't dare miss!
Early projects
1. Gunman In Joseon (2014)
Who else is in it: Lee Joon Gi, Jeon Hye Bin
Set in the late 19th century when South Korea is at a time of modernization, Park Yoon Kang (Lee Joon Gi)'s life undergoes its own transformation. His father, a legendary swordsman and head of the king’s royal guard, is killed and then branded as a traitor. His sister is also sold off to become a slave. Yoon Kang has to live in hiding and wait for the right time to avenge the demise of his family. Lee Dong Hwi plays the role of Han Jung Hoon, a low-life police officer and best friend to Yoon Kang. Jung Hoon eventually learns of Yoon Kang’s plans, which he helps carry out in secret.
2. Reply 1988 (2015)
Who else is in it: Hyeri, Ryu Jun Yeol, Go Kyung Pyo, Park Bo Gum
Reply 1988 follows the story of five childhood friends trying to get by in the late 1980s. We see Deok Sun (Hye Ri), Jung Hwan (Ryu Jun Yeol), Sun Woo (Gyung Pyo), Dong Ryong (Lee Dong Hwi), and Taek (Park Bo Gum) go through the ups and downs of teenage life, right at the time when South Korea was to host the 24th summer Olympics. Everyone has their own story to tell and struggles to face. For his part, Dong Ryong is good at a lot of things except for his academics—much to the chagrin of his father, who is the boys' high school principal.
3. Entourage (2016)
Who else is in it: Seo Kang Joon, Choi Jin Woong, Lee Kwang Soo
This remake of an American series takes viewers on the ins and outs of the South Korean entertainment industry. Cha Young Bin (Seo Kang Joon), in all honesty, is nothing more than just a pretty face. However, his well-connected agency CEO, Kim Eun Gab (Cho Jin Woong), is powerful enough to turn him into one of the rising stars as of late. To keep his sanity in check and his affairs in order, Young Bin heavily relies on his three best friends: Joon (Lee Kwang Soo), Ho Jin (Park Jung Min), and Geo Book (Lee Dong Hwi). Each friend has his role in Young Bin's entourage. In this drama, we see Geo Book as the bright and positive lad who serves as the actor's driver and lackey.
4. Pegasus Market (2019)
Who else is in it: Kim Byung Chul. Jung Hye Sung, Park Ho San
Based on a webtoon of the same name, Moon Seok Gu (Lee Dong Hwi) is at the helm of Cheonlima Mart. Despite its poor performance, Seok Gu is doing the best he can to make it one of South Korea's leading retail stores. Plus, he also wants to work at Daema Group, the store’s parent company. When Seok Gu learns that a new CEO will lead Cheonlima Mart, he starts hoping that his plans will finally come to fruition. Jung Bok Dong (Kim Byung Chul), however, was actually demoted to that position and is hell-bent on destroying Daema Group by driving Cheonlima Mart to the ground. Who among Seok Gu and Bok Dong will succeed in their plans?
Recent project
5. Glitch (2022)
Who else is in it: Jeon Yeo Been, AfterSchool's Nana
Hong Ji Hyo (Jeon Yeo Been) has a stable job, thanks to her family’s connections. She is also in a long-term relationship with Lee Si Gook (Lee Dong Hwi). Things seem monotonous for Ji Hyo, until Si Gook disappears from the face of the earth. A lot more others are mysteriously disappearing too, and electronic devices seem to glitch more often than ever. Ji Hyo goes in search of his missing boyfriend and picks up clues along the way. She enlists the help of Heo Bo Ra (Nana), an unsuccessful vlogger and streamer, who is also part of the UFO community. Ji Hyo only believes in what she can see but for the first time in her life, she might just have to trust and believe what she couldn't.
Upcoming project
7. Casino (2022)
For the most part, Cha Mu Sik (Choi Min Sik) has coursed through life by making bets. At the peak of his life, he was dubbed the king of the casino. That is until he loses everything through unfortunate events, one after the other. Desperate to regain control over his life, Mu Sik makes one last bet, this time with his life on the line.
Little is known about the roles other cast members will play. However, in a trailer released by Disney+ Korea, we see Lee Dong Hwi, who is said to play the character named Jung Pal, proudly entering a casino with Cha Mu Sik and his cohorts. I’m guessing he's helping Mu Sik become king of the casino again? I can't wait to find out this November! BTW, did you know that Casino is partially shot in the Philippines? This is the reason why Lee Dong Hwi was here in the country back in the first quarter of 2022!
MORE K-DRAMA ROUNDUPS FEATURING YOUR FAVORITE STARS:
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