Lesser Known Facts About Lee Min-Ho Every Fan Must Know

Can’t help but fall in love with Lee Min-ho over and over again? We totally get you! Capturing everyone’s gaze with his handsome looks and acting prowess, the South Korean heartthrob has touched millions of hearts with K-dramas like Boys Over Flowers, Pachinko and The Heirs. Whether you’ve adored him as the dreamy Gu Jun Pyo or the cunning Hansu–Lee Min-ho’s popularity is the culmination of not just one but many standout avatars. However, there are so many cool facets to the actor that make him even more inspiring in real life. Check out some lesser-known facts about Lee Min-ho only his true fans would know.

From wanting to be a professional Football player in childhood, escaping death not once, but twice and being labelled ‘skeleton’ and ‘demon’ by pupils in high school to leading a successful television career which established him as the top Hallyu star who rules the industry – Lee Min-ho has come a long way. Tucked between the many professional wonders of the actor are bytes from his real life which make his trajectory a lot more fascinating. Get an up close and personal account of Lee Min-ho with our facts guide.

9 fascinating facts about Lee Min-ho every fan should know

1. He aspired to be a professional football player in childhood

If Lee Min-ho were to follow his childhood passion, he would probably be a soccer player today. During his time at the Namseong Elementary School, he was even chosen for the junior Football class of manager and ex-professional Korean player Cha Bum-kun. However as fate would have it, he broke his arm in a match in fifth grade, which put his dreams to a halt.

2. Lee Min-ho is the first Korean actor to get his wax statues at Madame Tussauds

For those of you who don’t know, Lee Min-ho has wax installations at two Madam Tussauds museums–in Shanghai and Hong Kong. At the peak of his global fame back in 2013, Lee’s wax figure was unveiled at the Madame Tussauds Shanghai. He even went on a fan meeting tour in Asia the same year. Hong Kong followed suit in 2014. A second wax figure of Lee was unveiled at Madame Tussauds Hong Kong in January 2024. That’s not all. He also became the first Korean celebrity to perform at China’s CCTV Lunar New Year Gala the same year.

3. The actor survived two major car accidents

 

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Lee Min-ho escaped death, not once, but twice in his life. He got in a life-threatening car accident in 2006 at the age of 19. Lee was on a car trip with fellow actor Jung Il Woo and two other pals when a car in the opposite lane crashed right into them head-on. Both the actors were the only survivors in this crash, suffering severe injuries. Lee Min-ho was even in a coma for a month and was hospitalised for a year. For three years, the actor operated with a 46cm metal plate in his thigh.

The second ill-fated event, a car accident happened in 2011 on the sets of City Hunter. The car with Lee inside crashed into a stationary truck and was completely wrecked from the front. However, the actor miraculously only got minor injuries and soon resumed filming.

4. He was deemed unfit to be an active soldier for mandatory military service

Due to his injuries from these accidents, Lee Min-ho was deemed unfit for combat duties after a physical examination. Since he couldn’t serve as an active soldier, the actor instead worked as a public service worker at the Suseo Social Welfare Centre in Gangnam, Seoul. Lee began his mandatory military service in May 2017.

5. Lee Min-ho is an amazing singer and an excellent gamer

 

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If you head over to Lee’s Wikipedia profile, you’ll find his occupation to be actor/ singer. For his hit K-drama Boys Over Flowers, he sang the original soundtrack “My Everything.” Similarly, for The Heirs, he contributed his voice for “Painful Love.” Moreover, performing on China’s CCTV Lunar New Year Gala in 2014, Lee sang a song with Harlem Yu.

Talking about his fondness for gaming, the actor once declared that he would be a pro Gamer or work for a gaming company in case he didn’t become an actor. Did you know he’s a pro in League of Legends (LOL), which he plays with Kim Hee Chul from Super Junior?

6. The K-drama star is a philanthropist lauded for his charity work and causes

Lee Min-ho has dedicated himself to noble causes and giving it back to the society. In 2014, he set up his own fundraising platform, PROMIZ, to raise awareness and get donations for humanitarian and social causes. In 2016, PROMIZ even won at the Korea Good Brand Awards. Lee Min-ho also worked with UNICEF to help victims of the Nepal earthquake in 2015, aiding underprivileged children, preserving endangered species and other causes. The Ministry of Health and Welfare also recognised the actor for his contribution to society.

7. He has dated famous celebrities like Bae Suzy and Park Min-young

Lee Min-ho’s dating history is always the talk of the town. While the actor has landed in relationship rumours with multiple actresses, he was confirmed to be dating Bae Suzy and Park Min-young. The actor and his City Hunter co-star Park Min-young confirmed their relationship in 2011, but the whirlwind romance ended in early 2012.

Then comes Lee Min-ho’s most-talked-about romance and his longest relationship, with Bae Suzy. The two started dating in 2015 and were spotted on several dates during the course of the relationship, including their time in London. The two even sparked engagement rumours at one point. However, that didn’t last long. In November 2017, they officially parted ways.

8. Lee Min-ho’s massive net worth: He’s one of the richest South Korean actors

Lee Min-ho easily earns handsome paycheques from his television and movie roles. According to multiple Korean media reports, Lee Min-ho has an impressive net worth of USD 26 million, as of 2023. This figure makes him one of the richest actors in South Korea joining the likes of Kim Soo-hyun, Lee Jung-jae and others.

9. He’s the ambassador for multiple luxury brands like Fendi and Berluti

 

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Did you know that Lee Min-ho promoted 13 brands in China in 2014 alone? Clearly, the star is drowning in money with his lucrative brand deals. Over the years, Lee has represented a slew of high-end brands like Fendi, Azarine Cosmetic, BOSS, Ferrero Rocher, Lazada, Berluti and Cuckoo.

Which of these facts about Lee Min-ho did you find fascinating?

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(Main and featured images: actorleeminho/Instagram)

This story first appeared in Lifestyle Asia Hong Kong.