For those of you who have watched the Korean drama Tale of the Nine Tailed, you surely know the actor who played the role of the nine-tailed fox mystical creature called Gumiho, named Lee Yeon. Yes, he is Lee Dong Wook, a South Korean actor known for his captivating portrayal as Gumiho in his latest drama.
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Who doesn’t recognize the handsome actor with his naturally pink lips? Thanks to his role in the latest drama, Dong Wook’s popularity soared, and the drama attracted a lot of attention from the audience. This was also the case in 2016-2017 when Dong Wook’s popularity skyrocketed due to his role as the Grim Reaper in the drama Guardian: The Lonely and Great God.
For K-drama fans, it’s common to be familiar with an actor’s character without knowing their real name. Similarly, some may only know Lee Dong Wook’s character as Lee Yeon (Gumiho) but not his real name. Therefore, let’s take a closer look at the biography of Lee Dong Wook, the actor who portrayed Gumiho in the drama Tale of the Nine Tailed. Pay attention!
LEE DONG WOOK’S BIO
Lee Dong Wook is a South Korean actor best known for his leading roles in the dramas My Girl (2005), Scent of a Woman (2011), Hotel King (2014), and Guardian: The Lonely and Great God (2016-2017). He has also made a name for himself as a host on several variety shows such as Strong Heart and Produce X 101. Here’s a brief bio of Lee Dong Wook:
- Birth Name: Lee Dong Wook
- Hangeul: 이동욱
- Clan: Lee
- Born: November 6, 1981 (age 41), Seoul, South Korea
- Height: 185 cm
- Education: Joongbu University, Broadcasting and Media Arts
- Occupation: Actor, Model, Host
- Active Year: 1999–present
- Agency: Kingkong by Starship
- Wife: Single
LEE DONG WOOK’S PERSONAL LIFE
Lee Dong Wook was born on November 6, 1981, in Seoul, South Korea, as the eldest of four children. He did not come from a wealthy family, so at the age of 18, he decided to start acting to support his family’s economy. The Scorpion actor studied at Joongbu University, majoring in Broadcasting and Media Arts.
Dong Wook is known for his cleanliness and habit of taking care of household chores, such as washing dishes, doing laundry, and tidying the house. As for hobbies, Dong Wook claims not to have any specific ones. In his spare time, he enjoys relaxing, playing games, listening to music, and watching movies.
In August 2009, Dong Wook enlisted in the military and served under the National Defense Public Relations Service. He was dismissed in June 2011.
Regarding his romantic life, Dong Wook was known to have been in a long relationship with Bae Suzy. However, their relationship only lasted for four months, reportedly due to busy schedules.
LEE DONG WOOK’S CAREER
Since childhood, Dong Wook aspired to be an artist and started his career at the age of 18 when he won the V-Ness model contest and debuted in an MBC single-episode drama. He initially had minor roles in various dramas but gained recognition with his role in the drama School 3. His breakthrough came with the lead role in the drama My Girl (2005). From there, Dong Wook continued to take on leading roles in various other dramas such as La Dolce Vita (2008), Partner (2009), Scent of a Woman (2011), Wild Romance (2012), The Fugitive of Joseon (2013), Hotel King (2014), and many more.
In 2016-2017, Dong Wook’s popularity reached new heights with his role as the Grim Reaper in the drama Guardian: The Lonely and Great God, alongside Gong Yoo. This drama played a significant role in the revival of Dong Wook’s acting career, and in 2017, he joined the Kingkong by Starship agency.
In 2018, Dong Wook starred in the drama Life, where he portrayed a doctor working in the ER. In 2019, he starred in the drama Touch Your Heart alongside his co-star from Guardian: The Lonely and Great God, Yoo In-na. The same year, he also starred in the thriller drama Hell is other People as a dentist.
In 2020, Dong Wook returned with the fantasy drama Tale of the Nine Tailed, where he played Gumiho, a fox with nine tails who was once a mountain god and later becomes a civil servant.
Apart from his acting career, Dong Wook co-hosted Strong Heart with Shin Dong Yup from April 2012 to January 2013 and also hosted Produce X 101. He was part of the variety show Roommate from 2014 to 2015 and made guest appearances on The Return of Superman episodes 126, 127, and 138.
AWARDS
Throughout his nearly 20-year career in entertainment, Dong Wook has starred in numerous dramas and films and frequently appeared on South Korean variety shows. He has received various awards and nominations for his acting. Early in his career, he won the V-Ness Model Awards in the Grand Prize category. In 2001, he was awarded as a New Generation Actor at the 9th Korean Most Popular Entertainment Awards. The same year, he was recognized as the Best New Actor for the drama Loving You in 2002.
In 2003, he won the New Star Award at the SBS Drama Awards. In 2011, he received the Most Attractive Actor in Asia award at the 8th Cosmopolitan Beauty Awards in China. He also won several awards in 2011 for his role in Scent of a Woman, including the Grand Prize and Cultural Diplomacy Category at the South Korea, Japan, 18th Culture Awards, and the Top 10 Stars and Top Excellence Award for Actor in a Weekend Drama at the SBS Drama Awards.
In 2012, at the SBS Entertainment Awards, he won the Best Newcomer in the MC Category and the Best Couple Award with Shin Dong Yup on Strong Heart. In 2013, he received the Asia Fashion Star Award at the PC LADY & Tudou Fashion Awards. In 2014, he won the Fashionista Award at the 9th Asia Model Festival Awards, and in 2017, he was once again awarded in the Best Supporting Actor category for his role in Guardian: The Lonely and Great God at the 5th Annual DramaFever Awards.
Read More: Top Actor and Actress Agency in South Korea
HER ROLE AS GUMIHO IN THE DRAMA TALE OF THE NINE TAILED
Tale of the Nine Tailed is the latest drama in which Lee Dong Wook stars and is still ongoing. In the drama, Lee Dong Wook plays Lee Yeon, a nine-tailed fox known as Gumiho.
In this fantasy drama, Lee Yeon is a god who resides on Baekdudaegan Mountain and later returns to life as a human in the city. He takes on the role of a judge who interferes with human life while navigating between the real world and the other world.
For his role
in this drama, Dong Wook underwent a transformation by slightly elongating his hair and coloring it with a tanned hue. He also participated in martial arts classes to better embody the character of Gumiho in Lee Yeon.
Lee Dong Wook expressed his love for this fantasy drama and found it intriguing to portray a male Gumiho character, as the role was traditionally played by female actors in previous adaptations. Fans of Dong Wook supported his performance in the drama, as they felt he was the perfect fit for the Gumiho character.
The drama’s premiere episode received impressive ratings, beating out competing dramas Private Lives and Do Do Sol Sol La La Sol. With a 5.8% rating and 1.5 million viewers, the premiere episode set a high standard. Although the rating dropped slightly to 0.3% in the second episode, the drama still maintained its lead over other shows.
With the above information, readers can gain insights into the original figure behind the Gumiho character in the drama Tale of the Nine Tailed—Lee Dong Wook, a talented South Korean actor renowned for his good looks and natural pink lips. Happy reading!
