L / Myungsoo / (명수) (엘)

Known across two industries under a single initial, L — the stage name of Kim Myung-soo — built his public identity as a visual and member of the South Korean boy group INFINITE while simultaneously developing a parallel career in Korean drama.

INFINITE and the group context

INFINITE debuted under Woolim Entertainment and became one of the more distinctive boy groups of the early 2010s, known for precise choreography and a cohesive sonic identity. Within that lineup, Kim Myung-soo operated under the name L — a designation that itself became a recognizable personal brand, distinct enough that his name recognition extended well beyond the group's core fanbase.

Acting and screen work

Alongside his group activities, L pursued a sustained career in television drama, a path that a number of idol-to-actor transitions attempt but fewer maintain with consistency. By his eighth year since debut, that trajectory remained active enough that a casting in the remake of the Korean sports drama Stove League was framed as a potential turning point — an indication that his screen career had reached a stage where a high-profile project could meaningfully redefine his standing as an actor rather than simply as an idol who acts.

The Stove League association carries particular weight given the original series' reputation in Korean television, making the remake casting notable context for where L's acting work stood heading into that period of his career.

Profile and recognition

One measure of L's cultural footprint is indirect but telling: by 2026, a separate idol had accumulated public attention specifically for bearing a physical resemblance to him — a form of recognition that speaks to the durability of his visual identity years into his career. That the comparison itself was considered newsworthy suggests his image remained a reference point in the broader idol landscape well past INFINITE's commercial peak years.