Lee Byung-hun is not just an actor—he is a force to be reckoned with. For over 30 years, the South Korean actor has stood at the beating heart of the country’s silver screen, shaping the filmmaking industry that has grown into a global powerhouse with his unmistakable gaze—one as sharp as it is vulnerable. The 55-year old has a career that is as varied as it gets—the tortured elegance of A Bittersweet Life, the regal duality of Masquerade, the quiet menace of the Front Man in Squid Game—yet every role is delivered with the same force: precise and unforgettable. Hollywood may have made it seem as if he built Rome in a day, but it is his dedication to acting—the many films and dramas—that has cemented him as a master of his craft: layered, flawless, iconic.
What sets Lee apart is not only the longevity of his career but the very idea that he never stands still. While others accept typecasting, Lee thrives on reinvention. From the soft-spoken lovers of his early television days, to ruthless agents and tormented villains on the big screen, to a masked game-runner who has become one of Netflix’s most feared characters, he transitioned each role with equal conviction. It is this restless spirit that places him in a league of his own—an artist who refuses to repeat himself, one who seeks tension and risk. It’s no surprise that his name alone signals depth and quality. A project with Lee’s name? You are in for a performance that will linger.
Among his peers in South Korea, Lee belongs to the pantheon of greats — and more: he is a pioneer who crossed into Hollywood with G.I. Joe, Terminator Genisys, and The Magnificent Seven, and has garnered every major accolade, from the Baeksang to the Blue Dragon. In 2021, he became the first Korean actor to win the Asian Film Excellence Award, a recognition not just of his talent, but of the bridges he has built between East and West.
But beyond these trophies and titles, Lee endures because of presence — that ineffable quality that cannot be taught. A man of few words, he carries an aura that is disarming yet magnetic, a gravity that commands attention without asking for it. Not because he is the Front Man, but because Lee himself possesses a charisma and talent so undeniable that it transcends roles—captured in this cover shoot where he nails every mood, every emotion, as if he’s reading your mind.
This is why, even after more than three decades, he’s still the legend. This year, he’s GQ Hong Kong Men of the Year issue’s cover star.
How do you feel being back in Hollywood with fellow South Korean actors to promote Squid Game?
I think it would be right to say that it was both fascinating and a new experience. I’ve appeared in several Hollywood blockbusters, done global promotions, walked red carpets, and met international press and fans before. But with Squid Game, the level of response and attention it received was far beyond anything I’d experienced with those global films — to the point where, at first, I was honestly a bit bewildered. It made me realize just how far Korean contents — our films and dramas — have come in terms of quality and recognition.
At the same time, with the rise of streaming platforms, there are certainly pros and cons for those of us in the entertainment industry. But I think the biggest advantage is that now, no matter where a story comes from, if it’s told well and made with quality, it has the potential to become a global phenomenon. It really felt like the beginning of a new kind of cultural shift — almost like a new world opening.
The Front Man is a man of power and authority. Yet, there’s still a mysterious side of him that has yet to be fully revealed. If you were to compare the real Lee Byung Hun with the Front Man, do you have anything in common with him?
The Front Man is someone who has gone through extremely intense circumstances — to the point where you could say he may have lost his life several times already – so I can’t say I fully understand what’s in his heart. He’s become a kind of monster shaped by that journey, which is why I didn’t approach the role by trying to find a direct connection between him and myself. That said, since I’m bringing the character to life, I can’t say there’s absolutely no overlap either. Any character in any project inevitably comes through me, so even if it’s subtle, a part of me might seep into the performance. But I’ve never thought of the Front Man as someone who shares similarities with who I am.
How do you choose which roles you want to take on? Is it based on instinct, the people you want to collaborate with, or some other ways?
Of course, the people I work with on a project are important to me. But more than that, what matters most is the feeling I get when I read the script — the emotion, the sense of excitement. That’s what draws me in first. And when the right people come together to bring that story to life, it becomes a great bonus.
How do you think your past roles have impacted your personal life and growth?
I believe the impact of that has been quite significant. I’ve often been asked — by the press, during interviews, or even by people close to me — ‘What’s your real personality like?’ Even friends I got to know later in life have asked me that, and I remember feeling a bit taken aback each time.
When I was younger, before I became an actor or in the early days of my career, I could describe my personality easily without much hesitation. But at some point, I began to wonder what my true personality really was. I think it’s because my everyday life became a cycle of diving into different characters, immersing myself, stepping out of them, and then preparing for the next.
Of course, every character is expressed through me, so there’s always a trace of myself in the role. But at the same time, I also absorb something from each character I portray. It’s a mutual exchange—I influence the character, and the character influences me until the project is over.
Having gone through so many roles, I sometimes wonder if my personality has shifted over time as a result. I’ve found myself becoming curious about things I never cared about before or developing an interest in topics I had no connection to as a child—simply because they were part of a story or a role. And maybe, if I had any rough edges, those have softened along the way. Or if I had certain tendencies that weren’t so positive, perhaps they have been refined in a better direction through the process of acting.
Having been in the entertainment industry for more than 30 years, what are the biggest changes you have observed, and how do you think that has affected the way you work and the overall quality of work produced by the industry?
The biggest change, as I mentioned earlier, is the rise and evolution of streaming services. And if we’re talking specifically about film, the shift from shooting on film to digital has also been a major turning point. Of course, many other changes have occurred along the way, but I think those are the most significant and defining ones.
What about happiness? What does it look like to you today? Has that changed from when you first started out?
Broadly speaking, I used to think of happiness as something in the future — something I was working toward, something that would eventually come if I kept moving forward. I saw it as the ultimate goal of life.
But now, I feel that happiness is simply the present. It’s shifted to something I try to recognise in each day — by asking myself, ‘How happy was I today?’ In the past, I thought of happiness as something I was living to experience later, not something I could feel now or had felt before. But these days, if I can truly say I’m happy right now, then that alone is enough — that, in itself, is happiness.
“I sometimes wonder if my personality has shifted over time as a result. I’ve found myself becoming curious about things I never cared about before or developing an interest in topics I had no connection to as a child.” Lee Byung-hun
Photographer: Park Jongha
Editorial Director: Jumius Wong
Creative Direction: Jenine Oh
Executive Producer: Sasha Park / SJP PRODUCTION New York
Casting: Castingbom 9
Styling: Lee Hye Young
Hair: Lim Chulwoo
Makeup: Kim Jungnam
Set Design: Re.kindle/ ABR
Art Director: Jeon Minkyu
Art Team Leader: Kang Minwoo, Lee Subin
Art Team: Kim Hantae, Park Hyunbin, Ji Sunghee, Han Yeonjae, Kim Namkyu, Jung Yena
Producer: Sheena Park / SJP PRODUCTION New York
On-set Producer: Selina Park / SJP PRODUCTION New York
Photo assistants: Yun Kibeom, Im Sohee
Wardrobe Coordinator: Sing Lei
