Lee Hwi-jong

Lee Hwi-jong (born May 15, 1991) is a South Korean actor. He is mostly active in theater plays and musicals, but he also does independent film. He is known for his supporting roles in the dramas Law School, Goodbye Earth and the film The Girl on a Bulldozer.

Early life
When Lee Hwi-jong was young, he was quite introverted and fell in love with gaming, considering becoming a professional gamer. However, his mother, who was involved in theater at school, encouraged him to try acting. At first, Lee felt very uncomfortable standing in front of people and even just saying one line would make his face turn red. Despite this initial discomfort, Lee gradually became more aware of the appeal of acting. He attended the Korea National University of Arts Preparatory School and then entered a theater academy, steadily working towards becoming an actor.

Lee was a part of the Class of 2010 in the Department of Theater and Film at Korea National University of Arts, along with classmates Kim Go-eun, Lee Yoo-young, Park So-dam, Ahn Eun-jin, Lee Sang-yi, Kim Sung-cheol, and Cha Seo-won.

Career
Lee Hwi-jong primarily focused on independent films while studying at Korea National University of Arts. Starting from his second year, he also had the opportunity to work on commercial films. However, balancing outside activities with a packed class schedule from 8 a.m. to 4-5 p.m. was challenging. He graduated early with a Bachelor of Arts degree, determined to continue making films, both short and after graduation.

Lee made his debut in Daehakro in 2015 with the play Sewol Ferry: Room in the Air. After graduating in 2016, by chance, he auditioned for the play "History Boys" and made his professional stage debut in the role of Acta.

In December 2016, Lee attended his film press conference alongside Lee Jun-sang, Park Jeong-geun, Kwon Ki-ha, Park Myung-shin, Go Won-hee, and Jeong Ji-sun. On January 5 2017, the queer independent film 'Don't Worry' released in theater. It is an omnibus work consisting of three films, 'A Yearning Heart' (director So Joon-moon), 'Little Finger' (director Kim Hyun and Kim Dae-gyeon), and 'Sowol-gil' (director Shin Jong-hoon).

He was also cast as Myeong-gu in play Voice of the Millennium.

In 2017, Lee was cast in musical History of Fools. It was performed at the Suhyeon Theater at DCF Daemyung Culture Factory in Daehakro from June 3 to August 27.

In 2018, Lee played the role of the illegitimate son Smerdyakov in musical Brother Kamazarov, who realizes true evil through his own death, alongside Park Jun-hwi in a double cast.

In the same year, Lee portrayed Stone, a helper robot, in the musical "Thank You Berry Strawberry," which ran at Daehakro Art One Theater Hall 2 until October 28.

In 2018, Lee was triple-cast with Oh Jong-hyuk and Ki Se-joong in the role of Arthur, a vampire who dreams of the day he can fly. The performance ran from November 30, 2018, to February 10, 2019, at Chungmu Arts Center's Black Theater.

In 2019, Lee were double cast with Yang Hee-jun to play the role of Dan, a character who lives in style and style while reciting Sijo in musical Swag Age: Shout, Joseon!. It performed at Doosan Art Center Yeongang Hall from June 18th to August 25th. He reprised his role in encore performance at Daehakro Hongik University Art Center Grand Theater from February 14 to April 26, 2020. He won New Actor award in 3rd Korea Musical Awards and win with other cast ensemble award in 8th Yegreen Musical Award.

In 2020, Lee joined two-hander play Mouthpiece. Lee and Jang Ryul were double in the role of Declan, who is unable to develop his artistic talent while being neglected by his parents and society's indifference. It was performed at Art One Theater Hall 2 from July 11th to September 6th.

In 2021, The play The Glass Menagerie performed at Daehakro Art One Theater Hall 2 from April 6 to May 30. Lee and Hong Joon-ki were named for the role of Tom, a young man who dreams of becoming a poet but struggles in reality.

In 2022, Lee participated in the third installment of The 9th Best Plays Festival, Touching the Void by David Greig. It is based on the true story of the survival of two British mountain climbers, Joe Simpson and Simon Yates. Shin was triple casts with Kim Seon-ho and Shin Sung-min for the role of Joe Simpson. The Korean premiere, directed by Kim Dong-yeon, was performed at Art One Theater 2 in Daehangno from July 8 to September 18, 2022.

Start Production second creative musical 'Youth Noise' met the audience with its premiere stage at the Cotton Hall of Dongduk Women's University in Daehakro from January 1, 2023. Youth Noise. Lee, Kim Yi-dam, Jeong Wook-jin, and Kim Min-seong were cast in the role of Oh Young-won, a popular online travel writer who loves Pinocchio and dreams of traveling to Italy, but has never actually been on a trip.

Musical Wonder Boy, seasonal production of Sejong Center for the Performing Arts' Sync Next 22, was performed at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts S Theater from Friday, August 19th to Saturday, August 27th. Lee and Kim Beom-jun take turn perform the role of Wonder Boy, Jung Hoon, who gained superpowers after losing his father in an unexpected accident.