
Lee Sun-kyun
ActingAbout Lee Sun-kyun
Lee Sun-kyun (March 2, 1975 – December 27, 2023) was a South Korean actor. He was best known for his roles in the films, Helpless (2012), romantic comedy All About My Wife (2012), and crime/black comedy A Hard Day (2014). He was also known for his role in the Bong Joon-ho's Academy Award-winning black comedy film Parasite for which he won a Screen Actors Guild Award along with his castmates. He received several other awards including nomination for an International Emmy Award. After beginning his career in musical theatre, for many years Lee was relegated to minor and supporting roles onscreen, only getting to play lead characters in one-act dramas on KBS Drama City and MBC Best Theater. In one such Best Theater project, he worked with TV director Lee Yoon-jung on Taereung National Village (2005), which led to him being cast in her later series Coffee Prince in 2007. Coffee Prince, along with medical drama White Tower brought Lee mainstream popularity, which he followed with Pasta (2010), Golden Time (2012) and My Mister (2018). Meanwhile, on the big screen, he received a Best Actor award from the Las Palmas de Gran Canaria International Film Festival for his role in Paju (2009), followed by critical acclaim for mystery thriller Helpless (2012), romantic comedy All About My Wife (2012), and crime/black comedy A Hard Day (2014). Lee also continues to collaborate with auteur Hong Sang-soo, and his arthouse films with Hong include Night and Day (2008), Oki's Movie (2010), and Nobody's Daughter Haewon (2013). In 2019, he starred in Bong Joon-ho's Oscar-winning black comedy film Parasite.
Lee Sun-kyun Movies & Career Overview
The filmography of Lee Sun-kyun reflects a strong mix of popular and critically appreciated roles. Across 40 major appearances, the actor has built a reputation through performances in multiple genres and storytelling styles.
Dominant Genre
A large portion of Lee Sun-kyun's work falls within the Drama genre, where audiences tend to respond most strongly to their on-screen presence.
Success Ratio
Approximately 57% of Lee Sun-kyun's films maintain ratings above 6.5, indicating a consistent level of audience approval.
One of the most highly rated entries in their career remains Parasite, which stands out as a key performance.
Best Lee Sun-kyun Movies Ranked
Must-watch hits from Lee Sun-kyun's career based on audience ratings.
Full Filmography
Every movie Lee Sun-kyun has appeared in, with audience ratings and verdicts.
| Year | Movie | Character | Success | More |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Land of Happiness | Park Tae-joo | Average | Similar → |
| 2024 | Project Silence | Cha Jeong-won | Hit | Similar → |
| 2023 | Sleep | Hyun-su | Hit | Similar → |
| 2023 | Killing Romance | Jonathan Na | Average | Similar → |
| 2022 | Kingmaker | Seo Chang-dae | Hit | Similar → |
| 2020 | Mr. Zoo: The Missing VIP | Black goat (voice) | Hit | Similar → |
| 2019 | Parasite | Park Dong-ik | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 2019 | Jo Pil-ho: The Dawning Rage | Jo Pil-ho | Average | Similar → |
| 2018 | Take Point | Yoon Ji-eui | Hit | Similar → |
| 2017 | A Special Lady | Sang-hoon | Average | Similar → |
| 2017 | Man of Will | King Gojong | Hit | Similar → |
| 2017 | The King's Case Note | King Yejong of Joseon | Hit | Similar → |
| 2015 | The Advocate: A Missing Body | Byeong Ho-sung | Hit | Similar → |
| 2014 | A Hard Day | Go Gun-su | Hit | Similar → |
| 2013 | Our Sunhi | Munsu | Hit | Similar → |
| 2013 | Nobody's Daughter Haewon | Seongjun | Hit | Similar → |
| 2012 | All About My Wife | Lee Du-hyeon | Hit | Similar → |
| 2012 | Helpless | Jang Moon-ho | Hit | Similar → |
| 2011 | Officer of the Year | Jeong Eui-chan | Hit | Similar → |
| 2010 | Petty Romance | Jeong-bae | Average | Similar → |
| 2010 | Oki's Movie | Jingu | Hit | Similar → |
| 2010 | Our Slightly Risque Relationship | Gi Dong Chan | Flop | Similar → |
| 2009 | Lost in the Mountains | Myeong-woo | Average | Similar → |
| 2009 | Paju | Kim Joong-sik | Average | Similar → |
| 2008 | Romantic Island | Kang Jae-hyuk | Average | Similar → |
| 2008 | Sakwa | Min-suk | Hit | Similar → |
| 2008 | Night and Day | Yoon Kyungsoo | Hit | Similar → |
| 2007 | Our Town | Jae-sin | Average | Similar → |
| 2006 | A Cruel Attendance | Min-ho | Average | Similar → |
| 2006 | The Customer Is Always Right | Lee Jang-gil | Flop | Similar → |
| 2004 | R-Point | Sergeant Park | Hit | Similar → |
| 2004 | Love, So Divine | Man in Love Dovey Couple | Average | Similar → |
| 2004 | My Mother the Mermaid | Do-hyeon | Hit | Similar → |
| 2003 | Scent of Love | Doctor Shin | Average | Similar → |
| 2003 | Show Show Show | Sang-cheol | Flop | Similar → |
| 2002 | Boss X File | - | Flop | Similar → |
| 2002 | A Perfect Match | Doctor | Average | Similar → |
| 2002 | Surprise Party | Kim Jung-woo | Hit | Similar → |
| 2002 | Make It Big | Woo Jung-chul | Hit | Similar → |
| 1995 | A Single Spark | Newspaper Reader | Hit | Similar → |
Lee Sun-kyun - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best movie of Lee Sun-kyun?
According to audience ratings, the best movie starring Lee Sun-kyun is "Parasite" with a rating of 8.5/10.
How many movies has Lee Sun-kyun acted in?
Lee Sun-kyun has been featured in at least 40 major films throughout their career.
What are some other popular movies by Lee Sun-kyun?
Other notable films include "Man of Will", "The Advocate: A Missing Body", and "A Single Spark".




