Lee Si-eon

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In this Korean name, the family name is Lee.
Lee Si-eon
Lee in December 2019
Born
Lee Bo-yeon

(1982-07-03) July 3, 1982 (age 43)
Mora-dong, Buk-gu, Busan, South Korea (Currently Mora-dong, Sasang-gu, Busan, South Korea)[1]
Other namesLee Shi-un
EducationSeoul Institute of the Arts – Broadcasting and Entertainment
OccupationActor
Years active2009–present
AgentStory J Company
Spouse
Seo Ji-seung
​
(m. 2021)​
Korean name
Hangul
이보연
Hanja
李普淵
RRI Boyeon
MRI Poyŏn
Stage name
Hangul
이시언
Hanja
李施彦
RRI Sieon
MRI Siŏn

Lee Si-eon (born Lee Bo-yeon on July 3, 1982) is a South Korean actor and television personality. He is best known for his comic supporting role in the popular campus drama Reply 1997. He is also known for being a cast member of MBC's popular reality TV show I Live Alone until his departure in December 2020.

Early life and education

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After graduating from high school in Busan and completing his military service, Lee Si-eon moved to Seoul.[2] In 2005, Lee enrolled in the Broadcasting and Entertainment Department at the Seoul Institute of the Arts,[3] joining a cohort that included Kim Seon-ho from the same department, as well as Kwon Hyuk-soo and Lee Dong-hwi from theater department.[4]

Career

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Lee made his television debut in the 2009 drama Friend, Our Legend. He later revealed that the media had initially misreported that a female actress had been cast in his role due to his birth name, Lee Bo-yeon. The drama's director, Kwak Kyung-taek, gave him the stage name "Lee Si-eon" after consulting a naming agency. He continues to use the name throughout his career.[5] He went on to appear in dramas such as Warrior Baek Dong-soo (2011) and The King 2 Hearts (2012).[6]

Lee had his breakthrough with his comic supporting role as Bang Sung-jae in the tvN drama Reply 1997, the first installment of the Reply series created by Shin Won-ho and Lee Woo-jung. His character was known as the "one-man rumor mill" of the group. The series achieved both commercial and critical success, sparking a retro craze in South Korea.[7][8][9][10]

Following the drama's success, on September 15, 2012, Lee, along with co-stars Seo In-guk, Eun Ji-won, and Shin So-yul, hosted an episode of Saturday Night Live Korea, which featured parodies of scenes from their series.[11] A special program on tvN's enews was also aired on September 20, 2012, providing behind-the-scenes footage and bloopers from the set.[12]

He also appeared in the films Tough as Iron (2013) and My Love, My Bride (2014), as well as dramas including Modern Farmer (2014), and Remember - War of the Son (2015).[6]

In 2015, Lee expressed interest in joining the variety show Real Men, citing his experience as a drill instructor during his mandatory military service.[13] He was subsequently invited to participate in the Real Man Manly Men special in November 2016.[14]

Lee was cast in a supporting role in the drama W: Two Worlds, which aired on MBC from July 20 to September 14, 2016. The series explores the intersection of two realms: the real world and an alternate universe within a webtoon, from which it derives its title. Lee portrayed Park Soo-bong, an apprentice to webtoon artist Oh Seong-moo and a confidant of his daughter, Yeon-joo. W received acclaim for its innovative premise, achieving ratings of 11.63% and topping viewership ratings in its time slot throughout its run.[15] Following the success of W, Lee joined the cast of the MBC reality show I Live Alone in September 2016.[16][17]

He went on to appear in the dramas Man to Man (2017), Into the New World (2017), and Two Cops (2017).[6] Lee credited I Live Alone for helping him land his role in drama Live, noting that writer Noh Hee-kyung cast him after watching him on the reality show. She had initially disliked his acting style, but after seeing him watch TV during an episode, she thought he resembled the character Kang Nam-il. Lee expressed his gratitude for the affection he received through the show, noting that it helped him show a new side of himself as an actor.[6]

Personal life

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Lee has been in a relationship with actress Seo Ji-seung since 2017.[18] On November 8, 2021, it was reported that Lee would be getting married in a private ceremony on December 25, 2021, in Jeju.[19] Later that same day, Lee's agency confirmed the report.[20]

Filmography

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Lee at the 2017 MBC Drama Awards

Film

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Year Title Role
2001 Kick the Moon bit part
2011 Children... PD Yoon
Perfect Game senior member of national team/MBC Baseball player (cameo)
2013 Tough as Iron Jong-soo
2014 My Love, My Bride Ki-tae
2019 Race to Freedom: Um Bok Dong Lee Hong-dae
Killed My Wife Chae Jung-ho
2020 Search Out Sung-min
2024 Pilot Captain from the air force (cameo)

Television series

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Year Title Role Network Notes
2009 Friend, Our Legend Kim Joong-ho MBC
2010 Dr. Champ Heo Taek-woo SBS
2011 Paradise Ranch Secretary Lee
Warrior Baek Dong-soo Daeheung
2011–12 Bolder By the Day Wang Sung-han MBN
2012 The King 2 Hearts Kim Hang-ah's first love MBC
Reply 1997 Bang Sung-jae tvN
2012–13 Seoyoung, My Daughter Choi Ho-jung's blind date KBS2 Cameo
2013 Don't Look Back: The Legend of Orpheus Kim Dong-soo
The Strange Cohabitation Gwang-hyun Drama Special
Reply 1994 Bang Sung-jae tvN Cameo (Ep. 16)
Eun-guk and the Ugly Duckling Eun-guk KBS2 Drama Special[21]
Jin Jin Kim Kyung-chul Drama Special
2014 The Noblesse Yoon Shin-joong JTBC
Modern Farmer Yoo Han-cheol SBS
Righteous Love tvN Cameo
2015 Kill Me, Heal Me Park Min-jae MBC
Hogu's Love Shin Chung-jae tvN
Beating Again Oh Woo-sik JTBC
Webtoon Hero Toondra Show Text of the Joseon Dynasty MBC Every 1
2015–16 Remember Section Chief Ahn SBS
2016 W Park Soo-bong MBC
2017 Three Color Fantasy - The Universe's Star Grim Reaper
Innocent Defendant SBS Cameo (Ep. 18)
Good Manager Prosecutor Park Yong-tae KBS2 Cameo (Ep. 20)
Whisper young Kang Yoo-taek SBS
Man to Man Ji Se-hoon JTBC
My Sassy Girl Bang Se-ho SBS
Reunited Worlds Shin Ho-bang
Man in the Kitchen Bong Myung-tae MBC
Two Cops Yong-pal [22]
I'm Not a Robot Cameo
2018 Live Kang Nam-il tvN [23]
High-End Crush Section chief Heo MBN Web Drama
Player Lim Byung-min OCN [24]
2019 Welcome to Waikiki 2 a reporter JTBC Cameo (Ep. 3)[25]
Abyss Park Dong-cheol tvN [26]
Hotel del Luna an astronaut Cameo (Ep. 3)[27]
2019–20 Queen: Love and War Wal TV Chosun [28]
2020 Dinner Mate Food truck operator MBC Cameo (Ep. 3)
Men Are Men Oh Jak-ga KBS2 Cameo
Cheat on Me If You Can Jang Seung-cheol
2021 The Penthouse: War in Life 2 Detective SBS Cameo (Ep. 6)[29]
Racket Boys Busan Citizen Cameo (Ep.9) [30]
2022 Crazy Love Kang Min / Kim Cha-bae KBS2 [31]
Café Minamdang Yeo Chul-pal Cameo (Ep.2)[32]
Bad Prosecutor Go Joong-do [33]

Television shows

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Year Title Role Notes
2016 Real Men Cast Member Manly Men special
2016–2020 I Live Alone
2022 Around the World While Born with Kian84[34]
2023 You Go to Sydney with Heo Sung-tae, Ahn Bo-hyun and YouTuber Kwak Tube[35]

Music video appearances

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Year Song title Artist
2012 "Have, Don't Have" Dal Shabet[36]

Theater

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Year English title Korean title Role Ref.
2021 The Perfect Other 완벽한 타인 [37]
2022 Then and Today 그때도 오늘 Moon-suk [38]

Awards and nominations

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Year Award Category Nominated work Result
2016 SBS Drama Awards Special Award, Actor in a Genre Drama Remember Nominated
MBC Drama Awards Best New Actor[39] W Nominated
Best Couple Award (with Kim Eui-sung) Nominated
MBC Entertainment Awards Male Rookie Award in Variety Show I Live Alone, Real Men (Season 2) Nominated
2017 MBC Entertainment Awards Rookie Award, Variety Category I Live Alone Won
MBC Drama Awards Golden Acting Award, Actor in a Monday-Tuesday Drama Two Cops Nominated
SBS Drama Awards[40] Best Supporting Actor Reunited Worlds Nominated
2019 19th MBC Entertainment Awards Top Excellence Award in Variety Category (Male) I Live Alone Nominated
Best Teamwork Award Won
2020 20th MBC Entertainment Awards Top Excellence Award in Variety Category – male[41] Nominated

References

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  1. ^ "이시언". Cinefox (씨네폭스) (in Korean). Retrieved 2024-10-16.
  2. ^ "이시언 "'응답' 망했더라도 평생 기억에 남을 작품" [인터뷰]". m.entertain.naver.com (in Korean). Retrieved 2025-09-15.
  3. ^ Kim, Hyo-jin (2021-04-12). "유재석부터 김선호까지"…서울예대 출신 연예인 눈길 - 김효진 기자 - 톱스타뉴스 - 엔터/문화/예술 [From Yoo Jae-suk to Kim Seon-ho, celebrities from Seoul Institute of the Arts are attracting attention]. Top Star News (in Korean). Archived from the original on 2025-09-09. Retrieved 2025-09-09.
  4. ^ Kim, Hyun-min (November 7, 2018). '백일의 낭군님' 김선호 "논산 육군훈련소 조교, 가능성 열게 된 경험" [인터뷰] ['100 Days My Prince' Kim Seon-ho "Assistant at Nonsan Army Training Center, the experience that opened up possibilities" [Interview]]. Sport Today (in Korean). Archived from the original on January 3, 2023. Retrieved January 3, 2023.
  5. ^ "이시언, 본명 이보연 대신 이시언 선택한 이유". 스포츠경향 (in Korean). 2018-01-06. Retrieved 2025-09-15.
  6. ^ a b c d "'플레이어' 이시언 "천재 해커 연기 힘들었죠"". m.entertain.naver.com (in Korean). Retrieved 2025-09-15.
  7. ^ Han, Yeo-wool (5 September 2012). "이시언: My name is…". TenAsia (in Korean). Archived from the original on 2019-06-06. Retrieved 2014-01-18.
  8. ^ Han, Yeo-wool (5 September 2012). 이시언: 방성재보다 이시언. TenAsia (in Korean). Archived from the original on 2019-06-06. Retrieved 2014-01-18.
  9. ^ Lee, Hyun-jin (5 September 2012). <응답하라 1997> 이시언 씨, '까리뽕쌈'하게 사셨군요. OhmyNews (in Korean). Retrieved 18 January 2014.
  10. ^ Hong, Grace Danbi (3 September 2012). "Reply 1997 Cast Sad to Finish Filming". enewsWorld. Archived from the original on 9 September 2012. Retrieved 2014-01-18.
  11. ^ Hong, Grace Danbi. "Seo In Guk Teaches How to Become Reply 1997s Yoon Yoon Jae". enewsWorld. Archived from the original on 29 January 2013. Retrieved 18 November 2012.
  12. ^ Lee, Kyung-nam (22 September 2012). "A Peek Behind A Pink Jung Eun Ji and Seo In Guk′s Faucet Kiss Scene of Reply 1997". enewsWorld. Archived from the original on 23 September 2012. Retrieved 18 November 2012.
  13. ^ "이시언 "군 조교 출신, '진짜사나이' 도전하고파"(인터뷰)". 이시언 “군 조교 출신, ‘진짜사나이’ 도전하고파”(인터뷰) - 손에 잡히는 뉴스 눈에 보이는 뉴스 - 뉴스엔 (in Korean). 2015-05-29. Retrieved 2025-09-15.
  14. ^ "'진짜사나이' 이시언, 명불허전 점호 마에스트로 '조교 출신의 위엄'". m.entertain.naver.com (in Korean). Retrieved 2025-09-15.
  15. ^ "Lee Si-eon joins Han Hyo-joo and Lee Jong-suk for drama 'W'". HanCinema. Star News. May 14, 2016. Archived from the original on January 27, 2017. Retrieved December 8, 2018.
  16. ^ "'나혼자산다' 기안84, 마감 전 석고상 그리기 열중 "나란 넘 X친넘" 셀프 디스". Asia Today (in Korean). June 15, 2018. Retrieved June 15, 2018.
  17. ^ "'나혼자산다' 측 "박나래·이시언, 극과 극 자취 베테랑 출격"". m.entertain.naver.com (in Korean). Retrieved 2025-09-15.
  18. ^ ELLE. "이시언, 4년 열애 끝에 드디어 결혼! 예비신부 서지승은 누구? - DAILY NEWS". ELLE (in Korean). Retrieved 2025-09-15.
  19. ^ Kang Kyung-yun (November 8, 2021). "이시언, 연인 서지승과 결혼...'나혼산' 1호 품절남되나" [Lee Si-eon, married to lover Seo Ji-seung... Is 'Nahonsan' the first out of stock?] (in Korean). SBS Entertainment News. Retrieved November 8, 2021 – via Naver.
  20. ^ Lee Seung-rok (November 8, 2021). "[공식] 이시언♥서지승, 12월 25일 전격 결혼 발표!" [[Official] Si-eon Lee ♥ Ji-seung Seo, announced their wedding on December 25th!] (in Korean). My Daily. Retrieved November 8, 2021 – via Naver.
  21. ^ "HanCinema's Drama Review: Drama Special - The Ugly Duckling". Hancinema. 10 November 2013. Retrieved 2016-04-28.
  22. ^ "Lee Si-eon to star in "Two Cops"". HanCinema. September 27, 2017.
  23. ^ "Lee Si-eon to star in Noh Hee-kyeong's "Live"". HanCinema. November 20, 2017.
  24. ^ "Song Seung-heon, Krystal, and Lee Si-eon in "Player"". HanCinema. Star Money. June 4, 2018.
  25. ^ Hwang, Su-yeon (March 21, 2019). "이시언 측 "'으라차차 와이키키2' 특별출연 맞다"". Newsen (in Korean). Retrieved March 21, 2019.
  26. ^ Park, Soo-in (February 19, 2019). "이시언 측 "'어비스' 출연 확정" 박보영과 연기 호흡(공식입장)". Newsen (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved March 15, 2019.
  27. ^ Jeon, Hyo-jin (July 20, 2019). "'호텔델루나' 이준기·이시언, 특별출연…여진구 전 지배인 후보군". Sports Donga (in Korean). Retrieved July 23, 2019.
  28. ^ Choi, Ji-yun (21 October 2019). "진세연·김민규, 궁중 로맨스···TV조선 '간택' 12월 첫방". Newsis (in Korean). Retrieved 13 December 2019.
  29. ^ Han Jeong-won (February 3, 2021). "이시언 측 "'펜트하우스2' 특별출연" 소식만으로 기대감 (공식)" [Lee Si-eon's side "Expectation for a special appearance in 'Penthouse 2' (official)]. Newsen (in Korean). Retrieved February 3, 2021.
  30. ^ Moon Ji-yeon (June 27, 2021). "[공식] 이시언, '라켓소년단' 특별출연..'찐 부산시민'役" [[Official] Si-eon Lee, 'Racquet Boys' Special Appearance... as 'Busan Citizen]. Sports Chosun (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved June 27, 2021.
  31. ^ Lee Kyung-ho (February 11, 2022). "크레이지러브' 김재욱X정수정, 달콤살벌 재미 예고..3월 7일 첫방" [Crazy Love' Kim Jae-wook X Jung Su-jeong, preview of sweet and bloody fun... First airing on March 7th] (in Korean). Star News. Retrieved February 11, 2022 – via Naver.
  32. ^ Jung Ji-hyun (June 21, 2022). "이시언, '미남당' 특별출연…"권수현과 상상 이상의 시너지" [공식]" [Si-eon Lee to make a special appearance in 'The Handsome Man'... "synergy beyond imagination with Kwon Soo-hyun" [Official]] (in Korean). My Daily. Retrieved June 21, 2022 – via Naver.
  33. ^ Park Jin-young (April 28, 2022). "[단독] 이시언, '진검승부' 캐스팅…도경수와 티격태격 케미" [[Exclusive] Si-eon Lee, cast for 'True Sword Battle'... Do Kyungsoo and the quarrelsome chemistry] (in Korean). JoyNews24. Retrieved April 28, 2022.
  34. ^ Hwang So-young (October 25, 2022). "[단독] 이시언, 기안84 '세계일주' 합류‥'얼간이' 재회" [[Exclusive] Sieon Lee, Gian84 join 'Around the World'… 'Idiot' reunion] (in Korean). JTBC. Retrieved October 25, 2022 – via Naver.
  35. ^ Kim Da-eun (January 9, 2023). "허성태·이시언·안보현·곽튜브, 류호진PD 새 예능 '니가 가라 시드니'로 뭉친다" [Heo Seong-tae, Lee Si-eon, Ahn Bo-hyun, Kwak Tube, and Ryu Ho-jin PD unite in a new variety show, ‘You Go Sydney] (in Korean). Ilgan Sports. Retrieved January 9, 2023 – via Naver.
  36. ^ Kim, Ji-yeon (31 October 2012). "Lee Si Eon to Star in Dal Shabet's Next Music Video". enewsWorld. Retrieved 2014-01-18.
  37. ^ Tae Yu-na (April 9, 2021). "여신강림' 임세미, 7년만 연극 복귀…이시언과 호흡 [공식]" ['Descent of the Goddess' Lim Se-mi returns to the theater after 7 years... Sieon Lee and Breath [Official]]. TenAsia (in Korean). Retrieved April 9, 2021.
  38. ^ Kang Jin-ah (December 1, 2021). "이희준·이시언·오의식·김설진, 연극 '그때도 오늘' 출연" [Lee Hee-jun, Lee Si-eon, Oh Eui-shik, and Kim Seol-jin to appear in the play 'Then and Today'] (in Korean). Newsis. Retrieved December 1, 2021 – via Naver.
  39. ^ Hong, Se-young (December 30, 2016). "[2016 MBC 연기대상] 남주혁X류준열, 남자 신인상 공동 수상" [[2016 MBC Drama Awards] Nam Joo-hyuk X Ryu Jun-yeol, jointly awarded the Best New Actor Award] (in Korean). Sports Donga. Retrieved September 8, 2022 – via Naver.
  40. ^ Kim, Sol-ji (December 31, 2017). "[2017 SBS 연기대상] 김원해·박진주, 男女조연상 "오래 걸린 값진 상" [[2017 SBS Drama Awards] Kim Won-hae·Park Jin-joo, Male/Female Supporting Actor “A valuable prize that took a long time] (in Korean). Maeil Broadcasting Network. Retrieved February 17, 2023 – via Naver.
  41. ^ Hong Se-young (December 29, 2020). "[2020 MBC 방송연예대상] 성훈, 버라이어티 부문 남자최우수상". sports.donga (in Korean). Retrieved December 29, 2020.
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