Career

Modeling
Lee Jun Ki started out as a model and held minor roles in Korean dramas. In 2001, he first appeared in the television commercial for the So Basic fashion label.

Acting
His first drama appearance was as a dissatisfied teenager in the KBS drama What should I do? He later appeared with a minor role in Star's Echo, a drama by MBC and Fuji TV in 2004.

In 2005, his first major acting role came in The King and the Clown (왕의 남자), in which he took on the role of a feminine entertainer in the late 15th century forced to satisfy King Yeonsan's sexual and emotional cravings. The film became one of the highest grossing South Korean-made movies in South Korea, unexpectedly replacing Taegukgi as the most-watched film in Korean history with over 12.3 million viewers, despite the low amount Lee was paid of just over $100,000 for the role.The poor fee was largely due to the contract that was signed by Lee before he rose to stardom with the role of Gong-gil from 'The King and the Clown'.[1][2] Lee was against the halving of screen quotas in South Korea that allows foreign films to be shown in theaters on certain days, while domestic films are alloted another amount of days. He believed that without the screen quotas, The King and the Clown would not have been as successful in competing against foreign films.[3][4] He earned many Best Male New Comer awards for his role as Gong-gil in The King and the Clown in 2006.

Flying Boys
His next role was as the supporting character on the Korean drama SBS's My Girl together with Miss Korea, Park Si Yeon, Lee Da Hae, and Lee Dong Wook. His movie, Fly, Daddy, Fly garnered much attention and media coverage due to Lee's overwhelming popularity.[5]

Lee's popularity overseas is also noted, where in the 19th Tokyo International Film Festival, he was recognized as a top star.[6] In China, Lee was the only Korean among 300 Asian stars invited to attend a Chinese television show that celebrated the Chinese New Year[7]. During the Shanghai International Film Festival, Lee was approached by acclaimed Chinese director Chen Kaige, who proposed that the two should make a film together in China, to which Lee responded, "I'd love to make the movie if the script is good and the character is right."[8]

May 18
In 2007, Lee film a joint Korea-Japan movie entitled Virgin Snow with Japanese actress Aoi Miyazaki, in which he plays a Korean exchange student.[9] He was later able to hold his first meeting with his Japanese fans on March 10, 2007 in Osaka, Japan. The next day he spoke about his acting career during a talk show that was recorded at the Swiss Hotel in Osaka later.[10] Virgin Snow prove to be a success and placed 9th at the box office[11], setting a record for a Korean film released in Japan. He also starred in an action drama Time Between Dog And Wolf, his first drama ever as the lead role. Ratings took off at a relatively high 20% (approximately); however, they waned as the drama concluded.

At the 27th Hawaii International Film Festival (HIFF) has announced that Lee will be this year's recipient of its Rising Star award. The award acknowledges the actor's work, media image, and growing star-power in the global arena. The festival, which runs through October 18–28, will present the award at "An Evening with Lee Jun-ki" on Friday, October 19 along with a screening of the US premiere of one of his latest films. He also had a role in Korea's summer blockbuster May 18, about the events surrounding the Gwangju Massacre of 1980. The film will also screen at HIFF and has been nominated for the festival's top award, the Golden Orchid for Best Feature of 2007. The film covers one of the most tragic events in Korean history; the repressive regime of General Chun Doo-hwan resulted in a civilian uprising in the city of Gwangju, which was subsequently crushed by government troops entering the city and firing into crowds of demonstrators. The film has sold over seven million tickets at the local box office. [12]

Recently he joined Hong Kong EEG, making his entry into the Chinese market.

From April to July 2008, Lee underwent filming for his TV series 'Iljimae', a period drama in which he starred as a Robin Hood-esque character during the Chosun era.[13] Its first episode was started on the 21st of May with 15.4% program rating. From then its program rating was increased and finally Ilgimae was finished on the 24th of July with 31.4% program rating, one of the highest ratings of the year.

Singing
A poll by Music website Jukeon asked "Who will be the most popular if they release an album?" Lee ended up being in first place with 66% of the votes [1]. He released a mini album which contains three songs that he wrote for his fan meetings. The songs are:

"One Word"
"I Don't Know How to Love"
"Foolish Love"
"Time Between Dog And Wolf"

Years Awards
2006 Max Movie: Best Actor (King and the Clown)
Netizen's Choice Awards: Best Male Newcomer
42nd Baeksang Art Awards: Best Male New Comer
42nd Baeksang Art Awards: Popularity Award
42nd Baeksang Art Awards: In style Fashion Award
43rd Daejong Film Festival: Best New Actor (King and the Clown)
43rd Daejong Film Festival: Most Popular Actor
43rd Daejong Film Festival: Most Popular Actor Overseas
5th Korea Film Awards: Best New Actor
MNET MKMF Awards: Music Video Award ("Grace" Lee Soo Young)
27th Blue Dragon Film Awards :Popularity Award (With Kang Sung Yeon, King And Clown)
27th Blue Dragon Film Awards :Best On-Screen Couple Award (With Gam Woo Seong, King And Clown)

2007 43rd Baeksang Art Awards: Popularity Award
Andre Kim's New and Superior Star Award
10th Annual Shanghai International Film Festival: Overseas Star Award
27th Hawaii International Film Festival: Rising Star Award
2007 China Fashion Awards: South Korean Artist of the Year
2007 MBC Drama Awards: Excellence Award (for Time Between Dog & Wolf)

2008 Honorary Ambassador for Seoul Hallyu Festival
Honorary Legal System Officer (名譽法制官)
Seoul Drama 2008 (Most Popular Actor for "Time Between Dog and Wolf")

TV Commercials/Advertisements
VOV (Korea leading cosmetic brand)
MacDonald (Shake Shake Fries)
Pepsi
Longliqi Shampoo
Spris
Samsung Anycall Fx (series)
Samsung Anycall
Giordano
Vonin (Men's Cosmetics)
Pomegranate
Lacvert Cosmetics
I-Audio
KFC Go-go
Su An Su (수앤수)
Kleenex
Chungkang College of Cultural Industries
So-Basic

Clazziquai: "Sweety"
Kang Sung Hoon: "Precious Story"
Lee Soo Young: "Grace" (Grace I & II)
Lee Soo Young: "Secret" (Part III of the trilogy from Grace I & Grace II)
Lee Hyori: "Anystar"
Eun Ji Won: "Drunk"