Lee Sang Yi

Who Is Lee Sang-yi?

Lee Sang-yi (Korean: 이상이; born November 27, 1991) is a South Korean actor, musical actor, and singer. He is best known for his roles in Once Again (2020), Youth of May (2021), and Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha (2021). As a singer, he is best known for being a member of the vocal group MSG Wannabe.

Previously taking on villain roles, he got his well-deserved break and accolades in the family drama Once Again (2020). He earned not only the nickname “The National In-Law” but also acting awards from APAN and KBS.

Furthermore, his career spans theater, television, film, and music. Therefore, Lee Sang-yi is not just an actor. He is a complete performer.

Early Life: Ansan, Childhood, and a Love for Acting

Growing Up in Ansan, Gyeonggi Province

Lee Sang-yi was born in 1991 in Ansan, Gyeonggi Province. Lee’s interest in acting was sparked when he took part in an English play during his elementary school years.

After attending Jeongji Elementary School and Wonil Middle School, Lee Sang-yi pursued his passion for acting by enrolling in the Department of Theater and Film at Anyang Arts High School.

A Child Actor With a Supportive Father

Lee started his journey in the entertainment industry as a child actor, initially encouraged by his father. He took on a supporting role as part of a group at the acting academy he attended.

His father’s early encouragement gave him the confidence to pursue what others might have dismissed as a dream. Because of that support, he never stopped.

University: Korea National University of Arts

In 2010, he pursued his higher education at the School of Drama, Department of Acting, Korea National University of Arts. During his college years, he held a notable position as head of the class of the acting department. He successfully earned a Bachelor of Arts degree.

He is currently signed under Chorokbaem Entertainment.

Military Service and Stage Debut (2014)

Following his mandatory military service as a duty police officer at the National Police Agency, Lee Sang-yi debuted in the musical Grease in 2014.

Completing military service before a creative career is common in South Korea. However, what sets Lee Sang-yi apart is the speed and ambition with which he moved forward afterward.

He subsequently appeared in various musicals, including Runway Beat and Legendary Little Basketball Team.

Musical Theater Career: A Decade on Stage

Lee Sang-yi spent years building his craft in musical theater before screens took notice. That foundation is central to his identity as a performer.

Early Musicals (2014–2016)

Having studied acting at the Korea National University of Arts, he debuted in the musical How to Make a Star (2013). This was followed by several more, including Grease (2014), Bare: The Musical (2015), Thrill Me (2016), In the Heights (2016), and Il Tenore (2018).

In 2016, Lee Sang-yi and Kang Young-seok were part of the double cast for the Korean encore of Stephen Dolginoff’s musical Thrill Me.

Awards Recognition in Musical Theater

His work in musical theater earned him nominations at the Korea Musical Awards for Best New Actor in 2017 for Me and Natasha and the White Donkey, and at the Yegreen Musical Awards for Best New Actor in 2016 for Infinite Power.

Later Stage Work (2017–2019)

In 2017, Lee spent five weeks rehearsing and perfecting his dance skills together with Park Ji-eun to cover the choreography from the popular film La La Land. In April, Lee performed onstage in the play Mad Kiss.

His commitment to physical preparation for each role has been a constant throughout his career. Whether dancing, fighting, or singing, he puts in the hours before the curtain rises.

Television Career: From Supporting Roles to Leading Man

Early Small Screen Appearances (2018–2019)

Lee Sang-yi’s path to television stardom was gradual. In 2019, Lee appeared as a villain in Special Labor Supervisor Jo Jang-pung and as baseball coach Yang Seung-yeop in When the Camellia Blooms.

These roles were supporting. However, they were noticed. Moreover, they gave him the experience and visibility he needed for what came next.

The Breakthrough: Once Again (2020)

In the weekend drama Once Again, he portrayed Yoon Jae-seok, the younger brother of Lee Sang-yeob’s character.

The role made Korea fall in love with him. He earned not only the nickname “The National In-Law” but also acting awards from APAN and KBS.

Specifically, he won Best New Actor at the KBS Drama Awards 2020 and the Excellence Award, Actor in a Serial Drama at the APAN Star Awards 2021 for Once Again.

Youth of May (2021)

In 2021, he appeared in Youth of May across 12 episodes as Lee Soo-chan. The historical romance drama set during a turbulent moment in Korean history gave him a chance to show dramatic depth alongside a strong ensemble cast.

He was also nominated for Best Supporting Actor at the KBS Drama Awards 2021 for this role.

Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha (2021)

His ability to blend vulnerability with charm led to his acclaimed role in the hit series Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha, where he played a star PD (Production Director).

He appeared as Ji Seong-hyun across all 16 episodes of the tvN drama. The show became a phenomenon across Asia and introduced him to an international audience beyond Korea’s borders.

His performance earned him the Popular Star Award at the Asia Model Awards 2021.

Yumi’s Cells (2021)

Also in 2021, he appeared in Yumi’s Cells across 2 episodes as Ji U-gi. Even in a limited capacity, he left a strong impression on viewers of the popular webtoon adaptation.

Bloodhounds (2023) — Netflix

He gained wider recognition for his leading role as Hong Woo-jin in Bloodhounds (2023–present).

He recently starred as a boxer in the Netflix action series Bloodhounds with Woo Do-hwan. The show, an action-packed thriller streamed globally on Netflix, pushed his international profile significantly higher.

The performance earned him the Excellence Award, Actor at the Korea Drama Awards 2023.

My Demon (2023–2024)

He also appeared as Joo Seok-hun in My Demon (2023–2024). The fantasy romance drama, starring Kim Yoo-jung and Song Kang, further expanded his reach on streaming platforms.

Good Boy (2025)

In 2025, Lee starred in Good Boy as Kim Jong-hyeon. The drama marks one of his most recent leading roles and continues to build on a career that gets stronger with each project.

Upcoming Projects (2026)

He is currently attached to The Legend of Kitchen Soldier (2026), in which he plays Hwang Seok-ho, currently in post-production, and Boyfriend on Demand (2026) as a virtual boyfriend character. His pipeline heading into 2026 remains active and ambitious.

Film Career

Beyond television, Lee Sang-yi has also appeared on the big screen. His film credits include Love in the Big City (2024) as Min-joon and Single in Seoul (2023) as Byeong-soo. These roles demonstrate his comfort moving between formats — stage, screen, and cinema — with equal ease.

Music Career: MSG Wannabe and Vocal Group JSDK

How MSG Wannabe Was Born

That same year, Lee joined the MBC variety program Hangout with Yoo and debuted as a member of the project vocal group MSG Wannabe under the sub-unit JSDK.

MSG Wannabe was not a typical idol group. It was something far more interesting. The group consists of members Byeollu Ji, Kim Jung-min, Kang Chang-mo, Jung Ki-suck, Lee Dong-hwi, Lee Sang-yi, Wonstein, and Parc Jae-jung.

The group brought together established actors, comedians, and singers into a single vocal project. The result was a cultural phenomenon.

Chart Success and Awards

MSG Wannabe’s song “Foolish Love” (바라만 본다) reached number one on the charts and received a Platinum certification from the KMCA. Their song “Only You” (나를 아는 사람) by sub-unit JSDK peaked at number two.

The group won the Project Music Award at the Melon Music Awards 2021. Additionally, Lee Sang-yi and his Hangout with Yoo cast won the Best Teamwork Award at the MBC Entertainment Awards 2021.

Lee Sang-yi’s Vocal Contributions

As part of the JSDK sub-unit, Lee Sang-yi contributed to songs including “Resignation” (체념) and “Only You” (나를 아는 사람) alongside Kim Jung-min, Simon Dominic, and Lee Dong-hwi.

He further demonstrated his vocal ability by contributing to the Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha OST. His musical theater background gives his singing a depth and expressiveness that stands out among actor-musicians.

Personal Life: Grounded and Private

Lee Sang-yi keeps much of his personal life away from public attention. He lets his work speak for itself.

He stands at 183 cm (6 ft 0 in) and was born in Seonbu, Danwon, Ansan, Gyeonggi, South Korea. His Hanja name is written as 李相二. He is a Sagittarius by zodiac sign.

His genre as a singer is ballad. As a vocalist, he is active with MSG Wannabe and the MSG Wannabe sub-unit JSDK, with his singing career active since 2021.

Filmography

Television Dramas

Year	Title	Role	Network
2019	When the Camellia Blooms	Baseball Coach Yang Seung-yeop	KBS2
2020	Once Again	Yoon Jae-seok	KBS2
2021	Youth of May	Lee Soo-chan	KBS2
2021	Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha	Ji Seong-hyun	tvN
2021	Yumi’s Cells	Ji U-gi	tvN
2022	Poong, the Joseon Psychiatrist	Kim Yoon-gyeom	tvN
2023	Bloodhounds	Hong Woo-jin	Netflix
2023	Han River Police	Go Gi-seok	tvN
2023–2024	My Demon	Joo Seok-hun	SBS
2024	No Gain No Love	Bok Gyu-hyun	KBS2
2025	Good Boy	Kim Jong-hyun	—
2026	Boyfriend on Demand	Virtual boyfriend	TBA
2026	The Legend of Kitchen Soldier	Hwang Seok-ho	TBA

Films

Year	Title	Role
2023	Single in Seoul	Byeong-soo
2024	Love in the Big City	Min-joon

Stage — Selected Musicals and Plays

Year	Title	Notes
2013	How to Make a Star	Debut musical
2014	Grease	Post-military stage debut
2015	Bare: The Musical	Role of Peter
2016	Thrill Me	Double cast with Kang Young-seok
2016	In the Heights	—
2017	Crazy Kiss	Play
2018	Il Tenore	Wooran Cultural Foundation

Awards and Nominations

Year	Award	Category	Work	Result
2016	Yegreen Musical Awards	Best New Actor	Infinite Power	Nominated
2017	Korea Musical Awards	Best New Actor	Me and Natasha and the White Donkey	Nominated
2020	KBS Drama Awards	Best New Actor	Once Again	Won
2020	KBS Drama Awards	Netizen Award, Actor	Once Again	Nominated
2021	APAN Star Awards	Excellence Award, Actor	Once Again	Won
2021	KBS Drama Awards	Best Supporting Actor	Youth of May	Nominated
2021	Asia Model Awards	Popular Star Award	Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha / Youth of May	Won
2021	Brand of the Year Awards	Rising Star Actor	Lee Sang-yi	Nominated
2021	MBC Entertainment Awards	Best Teamwork Award	Hangout with Yoo	Won
2021	Melon Music Awards	Project Music Award	MSG Wannabe (M.O.M)	Won
2023	Korea Drama Awards	Excellence Award, Actor	Bloodhounds	Won