Hit K-dramas and movies contribute massively to the rising net worth of Lee Jae-wook. Know all about his personal life, career and earnings.
From winning the Global Excellence Award for his contribution to Korean entertainment to becoming the owner of an ever-growing net worth, Lee Jae-wook has established himself as one of the most popular South Korean celebrities of the century. Here’s taking a look at what contributes to The Impossible Heir actor’s fortune.
Mostly known for playing Jang Uk in the 2022 fantasy K-dramas Alchemy of Souls and its sequel Alchemy of Souls: Light and Shadow, Lee has to his credit multiple other hit Korean movies and shows. These include Battle of Jangsari (2019), Search: WWW (2019), Kill Boksoon (2023), Death’s Game Part 1 (2023), Death’s Game Part 2 (2024) and The Impossible Heir (2024).
Talking about his acting projects, Lee said in a 2024 interview with KoreaTimes, “I always have high standards (of myself) so when a series gets a disappointing result, it’s hard on me. It may sound contradictory but I like and enjoy this hardship. I don’t let it get to me and reflect on why it didn’t work out or how I could have done better.”
He added, “I’m not the type of person who easily falls into mannerisms. I like the sense of accomplishment that comes after a challenge.”
All details about Lee Jae-wook: Net worth, career and other earnings
Lee Jae-wook’s net worth
According to K-media sources, Lee Jae-wook’s net worth is around USD 1-5 million.
While it is difficult to quote an exact figure, it is safe to say that Lee, who has had multiple leading roles to his credit over the years, continues to earn handsomely from his acting projects and brand partnerships.
Career and filmography
Lee Jae-wook, who made his debut in the Korean entertainment industry as hacker Marco Han in the 2018 sci-fi Korean thriller Memories of the Alhambra, has since then entertained fans with an array of movies and TV shows. These include hits like Extraordinary You (2019), Battle of Jangsari (2019) and Do Do Sol Sol La La Sol (2020). Lee played Baek Kyung, a troubled high school student dealing with an abusive father and a greedy stepmother in Extraordinary You — a romance K-drama based on the webtoon July Found by Chance by artist Moo Ryuyee. Lee’s performance not only earned him critical acclaim but also the Best New Actor title at the 2019 MBC Drama Awards.
Meanwhile, Battle of Jangsari, Lee’s big-screen debut, was a commercial hit that sold 690,000 tickets (USD 4.57 million) in the first five days of release. According to Box Office Mojo, it grossed over 7.8 million worldwide. The war movie is based on the true story of the battle which took place from 14 to 15 September 1950 at Jangsari in Yeongdeok, South Korea.
Lee got his first leading role in the romantic comedy Do Do Sol Sol La La Sol after a series of supporting roles in shows such as Search: WWW (2019) and When The Weather Is Fine (2020), Following the success of Do Do Sol Sol La La Sol in 2020, the actor was applauded for his diverse acting range and went on to win the Excellence Award for Actor in a Miniseries at the KBS Drama Awards. He also won the Rookie of the Year at the 18th Brand of the Year Awards.
In May 2021, Lee made a special appearance in the Netflix series Move to Heaven and consequently landed his career-best roles with the hit supernatural K-dramas Alchemy of Souls, and its sequel Alchemy of Souls: Light and Shadow in 2022. For his outstanding performance in the series, Jae-wook won the Best Actor award at the Asia Artist Awards, the Asia Special award from the Asia Model Awards, and the Global Excellence award from the Korea Drama Awards, all in 2022.
In 2023, the Lee Jae-wook-starrer crime drama Kill Boksoon gained global recognition and put him in the international limelight. One of the most-watched Netflix movies of that year, Kill Boksoon premiered in the Berlinale Special section of the 73rd Berlin International Film Festival on 18 February 2023. According to media outlet allkpop, the movie topped Netflix’s Global Top 10 Movies (non-English) with 19.61 million views in just three days after its release.
Lee also held his first fan meeting, the 2023 Lee Jae-wook Asia Tour Fan Meeting, in January 2023. According to his agency C-JeS Entertainment, the tour was a way for Lee to “repay the domestic and foreign fans who have shown a lot of love and interest since his debut.”
The Kill Boksoon actor is currently basking in the success of his 2024 K-drama Death’s Game Part 2, where he plays Cho Tae-sang — a struggling mixed martial arts fighter who had to give up on his dream due to family circumstances. The fantasy reincarnation series topped Prime Video’s Top 10 lists in about 60 countries across Asia, Australia, Latin America and Africa.
Lee Jae-wook will be next seen alongside Lee Jun-young and Hong Su-zu in the upcoming Disney Plus drama The Impossible Heir. A story of three underdogs taking over Korea’s largest conglomerate, the show will premiere on 28 February 2024. Lee’s next project is reportedly the mystery romance Korean drama Tangeum, which is slated to release in the second half of 2024.
Luxury brand endorsements
One of the most popular actor models in South Korea, Lee has an array of brand deals and advertisements adding to his rising net worth. These include brands like Dior, Chanel, Yves Saint Laurent, Prada, Fendi, Ferragamo, Louis Vuitton, Armani, Nike, LA MER, Marc Jacobs, Delvaux, Swarovski, Ex Nihilo, Zegna and Lancôme.
Lee has also been featured in stunning pictorials for prestigious magazines like GQ, W Korea, Marie Claire, Elle, Arena, #Legend and 1st Look.
In February 2020, Lee was announced as the new model for the Korean casual wear brand Ad Hoc and the street casual brand N DOZEN.
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Lee was selected as the brand model for the popular German skincare brand La Mer in February 2023. Additionally, in November of the same year, he became the brand ambassador of the Korean food brand Yopokki of Yungpoong.
Lee Jae-wook has also been seen promoting the Italian luxury fashion brand Prada on many occasions. The Korean star attended the Prada Mode Seoul Fashion Week in September 2023, clad in a classy grey suit from the brand. Furthermore, he appeared at Prada’s Milan Fashion Week show as an ambassador, in January 2024.
With over 6.5 million followers on Instagram, as of February 2024, the South Korean actor reportedly earns around USD 10,000 to USD 100,000 per post on the social media platform.
Personal life
Born on 10 May 1998 in Seoul, South Korea, Lee Jae-wook developed a liking for performance arts early on in his life. After his schooling at Seocho High School, Lee joined the Department of Theater and Film at Chung Ang University. He eventually went on to pursue an acting career. The Korean star is yet to enlist in the military.
On the relationship front, Lee Jae-wook is rumoured to be dating his Alchemy Of Souls co-star Go Yoon-jung. However, the duo hasn’t officially addressed these rumours.
(Hero and featured image: Courtesy Lee Jae-wook/Instagram)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
– Is Lee Jae-wook married?
As of February 2024, Lee Jae-wook is single.
– What is Lee Jae-wook’s height?
Lee Jae-wook stands 187 cm (6’1″) tall.
– Who is the most famous Korean actor?
Some of the most popular Korean actors are Lee Jae-wook, Hyun Bin, Son Ye-jin, Park Shin-hye, Kim Hye-yoon, Bae Suzy, Song Kang, Park Seo-joon, Choi Woo-shik, Kim soo-hyun and Gong Yoo.
A PhD research scholar, Sushmita is a full-time writer and a part time poet. Notepads are Sushmita's one true love -- the unbothered victims drowned in the ink of her pen. An avid fan of K-pop and K-dramas, she mostly writes about Korean culture and entertainment. When not writing, Sushmita is dancing, reading, collecting books, learning about fashion, art, motion pictures, and appreciating BTS.
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