Lee Joon

Lee Joon
Native name	이창선
Born	Lee Chang-seon (1988-02-07) February 7, 1988 Seoul, South Korea
Other names	Lee Joon
Occupation	Actor
Years active	2008–present
Agent	Prain TPC
Musical career
Genres	K-pop
Instruments	Vocals
Years active	2009–2014
Labels	J. Tune Camp
Associated acts	MBLAQ Dynamic Black

Lee Chang-seon (born February 7, 1988^[1]), better known by his stage name Lee Joon,^[2] is a South Korean actor. He is best known as former member of the South Korean boy group MBLAQ.^[3] Since early 2015 he has been signed to Prain TPC, which manages other actors such as Ryu Seung-ryong, Park Ji-young, Park Yong-woo and others.^[4]

Career

Before becoming a part of MBLAQ, Lee acted in CFs, had a small non-recurring role in the first episode of Korean sitcom That Person is Coming (그분이 오신다), which aired in 2008, and began and completed filming for the 2009 film, Ninja Assassin in which he portrayed the Teenage Raizo. Lee made his acting debut in a South Korean movie titled, Rough Play, which was produced by Kim Kiduk and which was unusually risque for a pop idol due to the numerous nude sex scenes he had to perform in the film.^[5][6] His acting as "Oh Young" had earned the “Best Male Newcomer” award at the 1st Wild Flower Film Festival 2014. He was nominated for the same category at the 50th Baeksang Arts Awards.

Since his departure from MBLAQ, he has been actively working as an actor even though he had no agency at that time as he was offered a lead role in an upcoming drama from SBS, titled "I Heard It as a Rumour".^[7] In which he plays the young son of a wealthy upper-class family who accidentally impregnates his lower class girlfriend. During promotion of the drama Lee stressed the importance of sex education among teenagers.^[8]

MBLAQ (2009-2014)

Lee Joon on stage

After training under Rain and J.Tune Entertainment, Lee became a member of South Korean quintet male group MBLAQ, serving as a vocalist and main dancer. The group debuted on October 9, 2009 at Rain's Legend of Rainism concert where they performed various songs from their then-unreleased single album Just BLAQ. Their performance was met with praise, with many concert spectators and fans considering them to be the next TVXQ.^[9][10] MBLAQ's first single, "Oh Yeah", was released to the public through a music video on October 14, 2009 with their debut single album, Just BLAQ releasing on the same day.^[11] MBLAQ made their broadcast debut with the song "Oh Yeah" on Mnet's M! Countdown.^[12]

The group has starred in various South Korean variety shows as guests as well as in their own variety shows like Mnet's MBLAQ – The Art of Seduction, MBC's MBLAQ's Idol Army, Mnet's Sesame Player and KBS's Hello Baby Season 5.

MBLAQ made their Japanese debut on May 3, 2011 with an event held at the Kanagawa Lazona Kawasaki Plaza which gathered a reported 10, 000 fans. A day later, on May 4, they released their first Japanese album Your Luv which immediately reached first position of the Oricon Daily Charts, selling more that 11,000 copies.^[13][14]

Since their debut, MBLAQ has released three single albums, three extended play albums and one studio album.

He is also one of the regular guests for SBS Running Man, with him making an appearance on the show a total of 5 times. The episodes that he appeared on are namely: Episode 8, 95, 108, 129, and 162.^[15]

His fanclub is named J+.

Other activities

In late 2009, after MBLAQ's debut, Lee was cast as a permanent cast member in the television shows Star Golden Bell Season 2 and Oh! My School (prev. 100 Points out of 100').

On February 26, 2010, it was announced that Lee and seven other artists from 2PM, 2AM and CN Blue would be MCs for Mnet's M! Countdown.^[16]

In 2010, he was cast in two dramas, titled Jungle Fish 2, in which he plays opposite Jiyeon from T-ara,^[17] and Housewife Kim Kwang Ja's Third Activity which aired on September 22, 2010.^[18] He participated in the OST for Jungle Fish 2 by singing two songs: "슬픈예감 (Feeling Sad)" with Hong Jong Hyun and "슬픈예감 (Feeling Sad) (Farewell Version)" with Hong Jong Hyun, Han Jiwoo, Kim Bora and Shin Soyool.

In 2011 Lee supplied his voice for the Korean dub of the film Gnomeo & Juliet,^[19] as well as making a cameo in the South Korean film version of Jungle Fish 2.

On January 6, 2012 it was announced that Lee and After School's Lizzy would become a dance couple for the MBC Lunar New Year special Pit-a-Pat Shake!, and on January 24 the episode in which they performed their acrobatic dance routine was broadcast.^[20][21]

Personal life

Lee Joon in 2013

Lee Joon was born and raised in Seoul, South Korea. He has an older sister. Before joining Seoul Arts High School had only danced for a month and won 2nd in a competition and a scholarship to Seoul Arts High School. He majored in modern dance at the Korea National University of Arts and attended Kyung Hee Cyber University.^[22][23]

Before Lee's debut with MBLAQ, due to his good looks, he modeled for a variety of products such as wigs, home shopping and hangover drink ads.^[22]

On November 6, 2010, during an interview, Lee revealed that he has both insomnia and severe bipolar disorder. He went on to say "[I had] suffered from insomnia before [my] debut", and that "It was fixed for a bit due to the fatigue after MBLAQ's debut, but it [had] come back recently. [He hadn't] slept for two days".^[24]

On February 13, 2011 Lee was pulled out of filming MBLAQ's special stage for their song "Stay" at SBS's Inkigayo after he suddenly began vomiting. He was admitted to a hospital where he was diagnosed with a cochlea disorder, but it was determined that the condition was not severe. However, his activities were cancelled for a brief period of time in order for him to recover.^[25]

Awards and recognition

For Rough Play, Lee Joon won Best New Actor at the 1st Wildflower Film Awards (where he also received a Best Actor nomination). He was also nominated for Best New Actor at the 50th Baeksang Arts Awards and the 23rd Buil Film Awards in 2014.

For Heard It Through the Grapevine, he was nominated for Best New Actor (TV) at the 51st Baeksang Arts Awards and Excellence Award, Actor at the 8th Korea Drama Awards in 2015.

Filmography

Film

Television dramas

Variety show

Music video appearances

Awards and nominations

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Lee Joon.

• Official Site
• Joon's cyworld (Korean)
• Lee Joon Japan Official Fanclub
• Lee Joon Japan Fanclub Twitter