Lee Jinwoo (이진우)

Seven years after stepping into the industry as the maknae of the idol group TEEN TEEN, Lee Jinwoo is making his most visible move yet as an actor — landing the lead role in KBS 2TV's mini-series *Shimwoomyeon Yeonri-ri*, his first top-billed part on a public broadcast network.

From idol debut to dramatic pivot

Lee Jinwoo debuted in 2019 as a member of TEEN TEEN, where he held positions as main rapper, main dancer, and vocalist — a range that signaled early versatility. His transition toward acting gathered momentum through supporting work, most notably a role in the ENA drama *Namib*, in which he played the son of veteran actress Go Hyun-jung. That casting drew attention both for the high-profile pairing and for his ability to hold his own alongside established talent, and it became the reference point that followed him into subsequent casting conversations.

A lead role, seven years on

In early 2026, Lee Jinwoo was confirmed as the lead in *Shimwoomyeon Yeonri-ri* — a KBS 2TV mini-series in which he plays Sung Ji-cheon, an elite student who achieved a perfect score on the college entrance exam yet finds himself adrift when confronted with questions about his own life and ambitions. The role offers him considerable dramatic range, pairing internal conflict with a romantic storyline opposite Choi Gyu-ri. At the production presentation, Lee Jinwoo acknowledged the weight of the moment plainly: "I feel like I need to do well." The series marks a meaningful threshold — a first lead credit on a major public broadcaster, arrived at gradually rather than overnight.