After honing his acting in one-act dramas, Lee Min-ki first gained popularity on television in romantic comedies Love Truly (2006) and Dal-ja's Spring (2007).[3][4] He then starred in the quirky low-rated cult series Evasive Inquiry Agency (2007)[5] and alternated mainstream films with indies such as Oishii Man (2009).[6][7] He gained favorable notices for his supporting roles in the thriller A Million as a hot-tempered Marine-turned-janitor who finds himself involved in a survival reality show,[8] and the disaster film Tidal Wave, in which he plays a lifeguard who makes a heartbreaking sacrifice when a tsunami hits the Korean beach town of Haeundae.[9][10][11]
Lee then solidified his bona fide movie star status with his leading roles in the action film Quick and romantic comedy Spellbound.[12][13][14]
In 2021, Lee starred alongside Nana in the MBC romantic comedy Oh My Ladylord.[26] After the contract with his former agency expired in September 2021, Lee signed a contract with Yeongsang ENT.[27] The same year, he joined the JTBC television series My Liberation Notes which premiered in April 2022. He played the role of Yeom Chang-hee, the second of three siblings with no proper goal in life.[28]
Singing
After performing a stylized version of "My Way" at the 2008 Mnet KM Music Festival, Lee lent his vocals to a track with Korean electronica/pop singer Sheean in a collaboration with Japanese electronica/Shibuya-kei artist FreeTEMPO. The song, titled "Power of Love," was released as a digital single, and Lee also appeared in the music video.[29]
On August 11, 2009, he unveiled his musical debut No Kidding, a six track EP with a very indie-electro rock sound.[30] The album's title song "Eternal Summer" was the first and only single released.[31]
In 2013, he released two singles titled "Those Days I Had with You" and "Everything" in collaboration with Gold Coast.[32]
Personal life
Lee enlisted for his mandatory military service on August 7, 2014, and was assigned as a public service worker.[33][34] He was discharged in August 2016.[35]
^Kim Mi-hwa (September 2, 2021). "이민기, 신생 엔터 상영이엔티와 전속계약 [공식]" [Lee Min-ki, an exclusive contract with a new entertainment company, Sangsang ENT [Formula]]. Star News (in Korean). Retrieved September 2, 2021 – via Naver.
^Park Jae-hwan (March 17, 2022). "이민기 "꿈도, 욕망도, 속도 없는 둘째" JTBC드라마 <나의 해방일지>" [Lee Min-ki "No dream, no desire, no speed" JTBC drama <My Liberation Journal>] (in Korean). KBS Entertainment. Retrieved June 4, 2022 – via Naver.
^Kim Na-ra (July 12, 2021). "이민기, 김래원X이종석 '데시벨' 특별출연…"황인호 감독과 의리" [공식]" [Lee Min-ki, Kim Rae-won X Lee Jong-suk's 'Decibel' Special Appearance... "Loyalty to Director Hwang In-ho" [Official]]. mydaily (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved July 12, 2021.
^Kim Yoo-jin (July 9, 2021). "나의 해방일지' 이민기·김지원·손석구·이엘 캐스팅 확정 [공식입장]" [My Liberation Journal' casts Lee Min-ki, Kim Ji-won, Son Seok-gu, and EL confirmed [Official position]] (in Korean). X-ports News. Retrieved July 9, 2021 – via Naver.
^Lee, Seung-gil (November 8, 2022). "이보영·조승우·한지민·이준호·임윤아…JTBC, 초호화 2023년 드라마 라인업 전격공개" [Lee Bo-Young - Cho Seung-Woo - Han Ji-Min - Lee Joon-Ho - Im Yoon-A...JTBC unveils ultra-luxury 2023 drama line-up] (in Korean). My Daily. Retrieved September 12, 2023 – via Naver.
^"[단독]이민기·곽선영·허성태, 코믹 수사극 '크래시' 주인공" [[Exclusive] Lee Min-ki, Kwak Sun-young, and Heo Seong-tae, main characters in the comical investigative drama ‘Crash’]. 스타뉴스 (in Korean). December 21, 2023 – via Naver.
^Ha Kyung-heon (February 22, 2023). "이민기-한지현, 'K-성형' 드라마 '룩앳미' 캐스팅[공식]" [Lee Min-ki and Han Ji-hyun cast in 'K-Plastic Surgery' drama 'Look at Me' [Official]] (in Korean). Sports Kyunghyang. Retrieved February 22, 2023 – via Naver.