Lee Sun-kyun
Known for
A South Korean actor whose warm, expressive gravity made him one of his country's most respected performers. Lee Sun-kyun, born in Seoul, reached worldwide fame as the wealthy patriarch Park Dong-ik in Bong Joon-ho's Palme d'Or and Best Picture winner 'Parasite' (2019). A veteran of Korean film and television, celebrated for both leading dramatic roles and his distinctive resonant voice, he died in 2023. His performance in 'Parasite' remains a touchstone of the film that carried Korean cinema to a global audience.
Lee Sun-kyun
38 Movies
14 Series
A South Korean actor whose warm, expressive gravity made him one of his country's most respected performers. Lee Sun-kyun, born in Seoul, reached worldwide fame as the wealthy patriarch Park Dong-ik in Bong Joon-ho's Palme d'Or and Best Picture winner 'Parasite' (2019). A veteran of Korean film and television, celebrated for both leading dramatic roles and his distinctive resonant voice, he died in 2023. His performance in 'Parasite' remains a touchstone of the film that carried Korean cinema to a global audience.
Movies
Plays Park Dong-ik
Parasite
2019
Plays Cha Jeong-won
Project Silence
2024
Plays Hyun-su
Sleep
2023
Plays Go Gun-su
A Hard Day
2014
Plays Sergeant Park
R-Point
2004
Plays Yoon Ji-eui
Take Point
2018
Plays Seo Chang-dae
Kingmaker
2022
Plays Kang Jae-hyuk
Romantic Island
2008
Plays Jonathan Na
Killing Romance
2023
Plays Jo Pil-ho
Jo Pil-ho: The Dawning Rage
2019
Plays Black goat (voice)
Mr. Zoo: The Missing VIP
2020
Plays Lee Du-hyeon
All About My Wife
2012
Plays Man in Love Dovey Couple
Love, So Divine
2004
Plays Jang Moon-ho
Helpless
2012
Plays Byeong Ho-sung
The Advocate: A Missing Body
2015
Plays Seongjun
Nobody's Daughter Haewon
2013
Plays King Yejong of Joseon
The King's Case Note
2017
Plays Park Tae-joo
Land of Happiness
2024
Plays Yoon Kyungsoo
Night and Day
2008
Plays Kim Joong-sik
Paju
2009
Plays Jae-sin
Our Town
2007
Plays Jingu
Oki's Movie
2010
Plays Doctor Shin
Scent of Love
2003
Plays Newspaper Reader
A Single Spark
1995
Plays Munsu
Our Sunhi
2013
Plays Jeong-bae
Petty Romance
2010
Plays Min-suk
Sakwa
2008
Plays King Gojong
Man of Will
2017
Plays Jeong Eui-chan
Officer of the Year
2011
Plays Lee Jang-gil
The Customer Is Always Right
2006
Plays Do-hyeon
My Mother the Mermaid
2004
Plays Woo Jung-chul
Make It Big
2002
Plays Myeong-woo
Lost in the Mountains
2009
Plays Doctor
A Perfect Match
2002
Plays Min-ho
A Cruel Attendance
2006
Plays Kim Jung-woo
Surprise Party
2002
TV Shows
Plays Lee Min-woo
Golden Time
2012
Plays Choi Hyun-wook
Pasta
2010
Plays Kim Hyung-joon
Miss Korea
2013
Plays Pil-ga
Thousand Years of Love
2003
Plays Choi Do-young
Behind the White Tower
2007
Plays Choi Han-sung
Coffee Prince
2007
Plays Kim Tae-hyun
Loveholic
2005
Plays Kim Yeong-Su
My Sweet City
2008
Plays Jo Hae-yoon
Triple
2009
Plays Park Dong-hoon
My Mister
2018
Plays Lee Sun-Woong
Diary of a Prosecutor
2019
Plays Do Hyun-woo
My Wife's Having an Affair This Week
2016
Plays Eun Yong
Payback: Money and Power
2023
Plays Koh Se-won
Dr. Brain
2021
Latest Trailers
Watch Trailer
Land of Happiness
Full Filmography
Land of Happiness
Park Tae-joo
2024
Film
Project Silence
Cha Jeong-won
2024
Film
Sleep
Hyun-su
2023
Film
Killing Romance
Jonathan Na
2023
Film
Payback: Money and Power
Eun Yong · 12 episodes
2023–
TV
Kingmaker
Seo Chang-dae
2022
Film
Dr. Brain
Koh Se-won · 6 episodes
2021
TV
Mr. Zoo: The Missing VIP
Black goat (voice)
2020
Film
Diary of a Prosecutor
Lee Sun-Woong · 16 episodes
2019–
TV
Photos
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lee Sun-kyun still alive?
Lee Sun-kyun passed away on December 27, 2023 at age 48.
What are the most famous roles of Lee Sun-kyun?
Lee Sun-kyun is best known for roles in Parasite, A Hard Day, Project Silence.
How many movies has Lee Sun-kyun been in?
Over a 28-year career (since 1995), Lee Sun-kyun has appeared in 38 movies and 14 TV shows.
What was Lee Sun-kyun's first movie?
The career of Lee Sun-kyun began with A Single Spark (1995).
What is Lee Sun-kyun's most recent movie or series?
Lee Sun-kyun's most recent release is Land of Happiness, which premiered on August 14, 2024.
What TV shows has Lee Sun-kyun appeared in?
On television, Lee Sun-kyun has appeared in Coffee Prince, Running Man, My Mister, Dr. Brain.
Lee Sun-kyun
1975-03-02 · 韩国,首尔
Lee Sun-kyun (March 2, 1975 – December 27, 2023) was a South Korean actor. He was best known for his roles in the films, Helpless (2012), romantic comedy All About My Wife (2012), and crime/black comedy A Hard Day (2014). He was also known for his role in the Bong Joon-ho's Academy Award-winning black comedy film Parasite for which he won a Screen Actors Guild Award along with his castmates. He received several other awards including nomination for an International Emmy Award.
After beginning his career in musical theatre, for many years Lee was relegated to minor and supporting roles onscreen, only getting to play lead characters in one-act dramas on KBS Drama City and MBC Best Theater. In one such Best Theater project, he worked with TV director Lee Yoon-jung on Taereung National Village (2005), which led to him being cast in her later series Coffee Prince in 2007. Coffee Prince, along with medical drama White Tower brought Lee mainstream popularity, which he followed with Pasta (2010), Golden Time (2012) and My Mister (2018).
Meanwhile, on the big screen, he received a Best Actor award from the Las Palmas de Gran Canaria International Film Festival for his role in Paju (2009), followed by critical acclaim for mystery thriller Helpless (2012), romantic comedy All About My Wife (2012), and crime/black comedy A Hard Day (2014). Lee also continues to collaborate with auteur Hong Sang-soo, and his arthouse films with Hong include Night and Day (2008), Oki's Movie (2010), and Nobody's Daughter Haewon (2013). In 2019, he starred in Bong Joon-ho's Oscar-winning black comedy film Parasite.