Lee Jun Ki is one of those actors that crept up on me over the years, slowly but surely.
When I consider how I used to feel indifferent about him, it still sometimes surprises me. Coz now I have a serious weakness for Lee Jun Ki, and he’s very firmly entrenched in my list of k-loves.
From who’s-that-guy-who-looks-like-he-stepped-straight-out-of-a-manga? to OMG-I-luff-him!-SQUEE!, I’ve certainly come a long way in my appreciation of Lee Jun Ki.
And today, I wanna tell you guys all about that.
Come squee, ogle and swoon with me, y’all. ❤
Before I jump into my journey of appreciating Jun Ki, can I just take a moment to say, how cool is it that he’s singing today’s song?? Enjoy the listen 🙂
MY JUN KI JOURNEY
Indifferent Beginnings: My Girl
When I first watched My Girl (2005), it was a casual sort of thing (it was airing on local TV, my mum was watching it, I decided she’d appreciate some company) and I didn’t enjoy it all that much.
The fact that it was dubbed over in Mandarin using ubiquitous voices heard in Every Other Drama didn’t help. Of course, I changed my mind about the show some years later, but that’s another story.
What’s relevant to today’s post is that the only notice I took of Lee Jun Ki was that he was So. Pretty. Even prettier than lotsa girls, is what I was thinking.
Plus, he totally looked like he simply stepped out of the pages of some manga, what with his sharp jaw-line, rosebud lips, killer cheekbones and appropriately slanty monolid eyes.
And the hair – that was totally manga-esque, and I spent his screentime basically marveling at his real-life-ness.
I wasn’t terribly impressed with his acting, and after the show ended its run, had no urge to seek him out further on my screen.
A Slight Shift: Iljimae
Iljimae came along in 2008, and at the time, I was still wary of sageuks of any kind. But, I was also at the height of my Park Shi Hoo fangirl love, and decided that I had to watch anything and everything that Park Shi Hoo was in, sageuk or no.
Of course, my watch of Iljimae was heavily colored by my Park Shi Hoo fangirl lenses, but I did notice that Lee Jun Ki could be pretty cool when he was being badass.
I rather liked it when intensity was blazing from his eyes and when he was demonstrating all his martial arts swordfighting prowess.
I didn’t appreciate his character’s rather OTT campy comedic side, though, and I was also rather aggravated by the ending of Iljimae (also something that I eventually changed my mind about, and also, another story).
Which means that I walked away from Iljimae still feeling fairly neutral towards Lee Jun Ki.
Sitting Up: The King and The Clown
My mum, on the other hand, had an early appreciation for Lee Jun Ki, and told me that he was excellent in The King and The Clown (2005). So one day, on a whim, I decided to check out the movie, and I was impressed.
Lee Jun Ki’s role in the movie is demanding, intense and quite tragic, and I came away convinced that Lee Jun Ki was well worth keeping on my radar.
On a related note, I was also blown away by just how beautiful Lee Jun Ki looked, dressed to look like a woman.
Cool Jun Ki: Fly, Daddy, Fly
With Lee Jun Ki newly on my radar, I checked out Fly, Daddy, Fly (2006), and loved it.
Seriously. Such a heartwarming movie, and Lee Jun Ki gets to be so cool in it!
He plays an aloof and somewhat mysterious high-schooler, who doesn’t say much but coolly oozes swag:
And who turns out to be an excellent fighter with Awesome Fight Skillz:
I loved seeing Lee Jun Ki be so cool.
It sorta helped, too, that he was the tallest person in the entire cast, which just upped the cool factor.
Badass Spy-jinks: Time Between Dog and Wolf:
I heard some good things about Time Between Dog and Wolf (2007) – essentially, that it’s an engaging watch despite its poorer production values – and decided that I was curious enough to give it a go. And I really, really liked it!
Yes, the production values were on the low side and the show looked like Iris’ (2009) not-so-well-off cousin, but what the show lacked in polish, it made up for with heart. I felt nicely engaged by it and if memory serves, I marathoned the whole thing in a mere matter of days.
Lee Jun Ki had a pretty huge amount of scope to play with, given that his character takes on a variety of identities while undercover. Although I thought he went a little OTT at times, it was clear that Lee Jun Ki was really giving the role his all, and that impressed me.
I also really liked seeing Lee Jun Ki at his Badass Spy best. So cool.
The Military
We didn’t get any Lee Jun Ki on our screens in 2010 and 2011 thanks to his enlistment in the military, but while serious Lee Jun Ki fans probably cried over Oppa’s absence, I actually looked forward to what post-MS Lee Jun Ki might be like.
One of the things that I felt Lee Jun Ki lacked onscreen (relatively speaking), was a masculine, manly man sort of gravitas. Often, Lee Jun Ki’s boyishness would shine through many of his roles, and while it could be cute, I felt that it limited him as an actor.
On a fangirly note, I do prefer my men of the manly man variety. Heh, which you’ve probably already noticed by now.
I must say, the military did not disappoint. Post-MS Lee Jun Ki had oodles of new masculine, manly gravitas, and that made me a very happy camper indeed.
A New-Found Gravitas: Arang and the Magistrate
The first time we got to experience Lee Jun Ki’s new-found gravitas was in Arang and the Magistrate (2012), and I LOVED it. I loved him.
There was a new dignity and weightiness to Lee Jun Ki’s Eun Oh, and an onscreen restraint that I really, really enjoyed.
Not only is Arang an excellent show (watch it if you haven’t!), Lee Jun Ki is intense, charismatic and very handsome & swoony.
Coming away from Arang, I was a full-on Lee Jun Ki fan, and couldn’t wait to see more of him on my screen.
Action Awesome: Two Weeks
Thanks to competing drama interests and hectic Real Life demands, I was slow to check out Two Weeks, but when I finally did get around to watching it, I really, really liked it!
I enjoyed Lee Jun Ki’s restrained, layered, haunted performance as a man on the run, desperate to do at least one thing right in his life – to save his dangerously ill daughter, even if he died doing it.
It’s true that the romance and accompanying swoon factor in this show was kept to a bare minimum, but that didn’t affect the levels of awesome Lee Jun Ki brought to the show. And if you think about it, that’s a level of awesome that’s an accomplishment in itself, right?
I came away from this show totally in the mood for more Lee Jun Ki on my screen.
More Awesome: Joseon Gunman
Happily for me, Lee Jun Ki is currently burning up screens across dramaland as our titular Joseon Gunman.
I’m exercising self-control and saving up for a marathon, so no spoilers in the comments please! I’m just pleased as punch that I’ve heard so many good things about Joseon Gunman.
These glorious images, plus the premise, make me think that I’m going to get a similar-but-edgier, more grown-up, more badass version of Lee Jun Ki compared to his outing in Iljimae, and I’m really looking forward to eating it all up in big breathless bites in the not-too-distant future.
Edit: I finished the show, and my Flash Review is here!
INTERVIEW INSIGHTS
Admittedly, I don’t follow Lee Jun Ki very closely outside of his drama outings.
I know that many of his fans appreciate his bubbly persona and generous fan-service, and I do think he does a great job at connecting with his fans with his frequent updates on social media.
At the same time, I prefer the less boyish version of him that I see onscreen, and I like to keep that image of him as intact as possible in my mind.
It’s just harder to find his onscreen badassery believable if I know too much about his aegyo-tastic ways off-screen, y’know? Well, that’s how my fangirl mind works, anyway.
What I do appreciate, though, is his thoughtfulness in interviews. He’s clearly a serious, dedicated actor underneath the smiley, boyish exterior, and his contemplative answers in interviews totally show off that substance. I really dig that.
A couple of interviews that I really enjoyed reading are here, here and here.
And here are just a few excerpts that I found most illuminating.
On acting:
“I know very well that I’m still not perfect as an actor. But even if I can’t give a satisfying performance straight away, I will give it my all, so at least I won’t have any feelings of regret this way. I don’t want to have doubts such as ‘I could have done this in a different angle, I could have expressed this feeling in a different manner’ that might make me feel regretful later.
Actually, I meticulously made notes in order to perform all the action directions in writer Son Hyeon Kyung’s script, so I probably would have been able to comfortably act if I am determined enough.
All I needed to do was to follow what was instructed. But rather than playing safe, I think I will be able gain much more as an actor if I sufficiently express my opinions.
I was able to present all the flexible details thanks to the scriptwriter, director and all the staff who placed their trust in me as the lead actor.”
On love and relationships:
“Of course I have dated an older woman before. It’s good if the person has deep thoughts, consideration for others and can communicate well with me.
Age is just a number to me. Love becomes unconditional when you fall for someone right? I also believe that the right person will appear one day so I have no intentions to deliberately choose someone who is older or younger than me.”
On his fans:
“I am thankful not because I have fans, but I think my fans are the reason why I exist. They are friends whom I can trust and rely on more than anyone else. When I feel tired, I will think ‘my fans are looking at me, I can’t be tired like this right?’
If I happen to make a mistake, my fans will be the ones who will be saddened the most, so I am closely watching myself in order not to forget my dignity as ‘my (fans’) actor’.”
He’s a thoughtful man of substance, isn’t he? Likey.
I not only love, but also totally respect, how he pours all of himself into each new role. I love that meticulous dedication to his craft.
MULTIPLE SHADES OF LEE JUN KI
In the course of my research for this post, I confirmed something that I already sorta knew about Lee Jun Ki: the man has multiple facets to him.
His photos span a range that is so wide that it’s sometimes a little startling to think that the photos are of the same person. And yet, it’s all him. That says so much too, about how he’s growing as an actor.
Here’s the result of that research, for your gazing pleasure.
That Bone Structure:
Given that Lee Jun Ki’s bone structure is what first captured my imagination, I thought this would be a great place to start. Have a look at that glorious bone structure that sometimes looks like it could literally cut through glass.
That jawline. And those cheekbones. That sharp nose-bridge. (Yes, I’m thorough that way)
Cheery Playful:
A side to Lee Jun Ki that fans often get to see, is his cheery playful side. He always looks so genuinely happy in the moment that it’s almost hard to believe that he goes through periods of loneliness too.
Then again, maybe that’s why he’s that happy to pose for the camera, coz it helps him leave the loneliness behind?
Thoughtful Pensive:
On the other end of the scale, the thoughtful pensive look on Lee Jun Ki is so different compared to his cheerful, playful side.
The thoughtful pensive look on him makes me think of the times that Lee Jun Ki spends alone at home, pondering over acting, life and loneliness. Not that I think the loneliness defines him.
I guess it’s the huge contrast between his cheerful cheeky smiles and his admission to loneliness that sticks in my mind.
In any case, I dig the thoughtful vibe of these pix. I feel like it hints at the substance that Lee Jun Ki harbors on the inside.
Cozy:
Have you ever wanted to have a lazy, cozy morning with Lee Jun Ki, snuggling under the covers and just generally lounging around? Well, here’s a collection of pix that will help to fuel your imagination in just that direction.
Just check out how warm and snuggly Lee Jun Ki looks in these pix.
I particularly love that photo of him snuggling with that awesomely grumpy-looking cat. It’s almost like Jun Ki’s all, “C’mere, cat-boy, lemme snuggle you.” And cat-boy is like, “Noooo~ mreow~” And Jun Ki’s all, “Sorry, you don’t get to choose.” Haha!
Dreamy:
Another lovely version of Jun Ki, is the Dreamy Dreamer.
With that fantastic bone structure and the right styling and photo composition, he can sometimes look so ethereal that he feels almost unearthly.
My favorite in this set is the third pic. Doesn’t he look, well, dreamy?
Smoldery:
On a very different note, here’s Smoldery Lee Jun Ki. It’s one of my favorite looks on him.
While all the pix in this section are deliciously intense, it’s kinda hard to beat the one with Smoldery, Dripping Wet Jun Ki. Ahem. You’ll know the one when you see it. 😉
Smirky:
I also love the smirky look on Lee Jun Ki. It’s basically the smoldery look, injected with a touch of sardonic irony.
It makes Lee Jun Ki appear all the more badass, and I like it.
My fave pic in this section is the last one, where he’s in his Magistrate uniform. Coz, Lee Jun Ki rocks sageuk garb. In my mind, Lee Jun Ki + sageuk garb + smirk = total win.
Fierce Badass:
If you’ve followed me for a while, you probably know how much I love when an actor can deliver impressive badassery. (Hint: a lot.)
I’m therefore very pleased to report that Lee Jun Ki is very capable of delivering the badassery, thank you very much.
Here’s the evidence, accompanied by appropriate amounts of leather and guyliner when the occasion calls for it.
My favorite of the set, is the one of him prowling in the all-leather black suit, glowering out of his guyliner. It’s badass and manga-esque, and totally becomes him.
Preppy:
On a very different note, I also like the preppy look on Jun Ki. And the glasses look so good on him that I kinda wonder why he doesn’t wear them more often?
Hints of Shirtless:
Lee Jun Ki is famously averse to working out at the gym, despite being well versed in martial arts (Tae Kwon Do 3rd degree, Hapkido 1st degree and Taekkyeon 1st degree – woah, right?). He says working out at the gym is just too boring and that’s why he hates to do it.
Which means that while he’s not as ripped as many other actors on the k-scene, he could probably totally kick (almost) everyone’s butt. Heh.
Here’re a couple of photos of Lee Jun Ki with hints of shirtless about them.
Shirtless:
Well now, you didn’t think my superpowers would fail us completely, now, did you? 😉
There is a small smattering of shirtless Lee Jun Ki pix on the interwebs, and I’ve located them for your viewing pleasure.
My fave? It’s this first one, coz we get a rare glimpse at those choco-abs. Mmm.
Edit: I’ve been informed by eagle-eyed fangirls that this first pic is photoshopped. I will leave it up since it’s something that fans created out of Jun Ki love, but at least now we have the record straight. 🙂
The Sharp Suit:
To make up for the relative lack of glorious shirtless pix, I’ve beefed up this section, which is another one of my favorites. I love a man in a sharp suit, and Lee Jun Ki cleans up fabulously.
It’s hard to pick a favorite, but I think mine just might have to be the 4th pic, of Lee Jun Ki being thoughtful in a tux.
So~ handsome. ❤
Candid:
No k-love post is complete without a quick section of candid photos. It’s the candids that give us a sense of seeing more of the actual person beneath the starry veneer.
While I like the goofy beach photos for showing off Jun Ki’s playful side, I think my favorite in this section is that last pic of him with the glasses. He’s smiling for the camera, but he also looks contemplative and thoughtful, which I somehow feel is a closer representation of his true personality. Plus, the glasses; he looks so adorably nerdy.
FINAL THOUGHT
All in all, even though I started out feeling quite indifferent towards Lee Jun Ki, it’s been a complete pleasure watching him evolve and grow into a more confident, charismatic, commanding manly man of substance, and I’m looking forward to much, much more awesome to come.
Jun Ki-sshi, fighting~!
You’re doing a fantastic job, and I’d like for you to remember that you aren’t really alone. Coz we love ya~ ❤
I’ve been watching Kdramas since it became famous like a decade ago😅 I also discovered Lee Joon Ki in Flower of Evil and got hooked in Scarlet Heart. After Scarlet, I watched all his movies and dramas.. My verdict? Before Joon Gi, I have Kim Soo Hyun and Park Bo Gum as faves.. But I am ditching both of them for Lee Joon Gi.
Lee Joon Gi’s acting is superb plus the fact that he is super versatile and handsome. He is the best of the best.
BUT other shines brighter than him because Lee Joon Gi don’t have any romantic comedy dramas unlike the likes of Kim Soo Hyun, Park Bo Gum, Lee Min Ho, Ji Jang Wook and others.
We all know people love romcom ’cause it’ s light, funny and enjoyable. Most of Lee Joon Gi’s drama are action/melodrama and hence, viewers find it a little heavy or burdensome like Flower of Evil, Scarlet Heart, Two Weeks, Time Between Dog and Wolf and many others.. (This is actually a warning! ☺️ If you plan on watching Lee Joon Gi’s drama, prepare tissues and a little heartbreak after the show. ☺️)
As a fan, I really want Lee Joon Gi to shine more. He is in a league of his own. He is the best actor and talent wise, he can act better than others. But maybe, Joon Gi needs to join the “system” and accept roles in romcom to step up his game. Overall, Lee Joon Gi’s performance is still unbeatable. Praise and respect worthy as an actor.He is the best of the best. ❤️❤️❤️
I just pray that he will be teamed up with actors with same caliber as his like Ha Ji Won.
Someday. LEE JOON GI WILL SHINE THE BRIGHTEST AMONG THE STARS. ❤️
@Nina – He was good in Lawless Lawyer as well.
I would’ve loved to have seen him in the American film he co-starred in but it looked scary so I left it alone. 🙂
I wanted the entire film Resident Evil: The Final Chapter to see Lee Joon-gi, but he was only in it 1:16 minutes and didn’t have any lines!
@Cathy – Thanks. That means the fight scene that I saw on YouTube must be his entire performance. At least now I know I’m not missing anything!
Ah, how did I miss seeing this post? So awesome. Especially nice to see him looking so good in these photos. Currently in Flower of Evil his outfits are… pretty blah. It’s like they made him purposely unglamorous, wearing ill-fitting Shirts and jeans (Dad jeans?) and casual shoes? Blech. You can be a dad while still being a decent dresser. I’m enjoying Flower of Evil so far for the plot. But the level of “pretty” (cinematography, costumes, lighting) is noticeably lower than other shows. Even though the actors are fantastically good looking!
I honestly think it would be impossible for LJG to actually look “bad”…no matter what he’s wearing (or not wearing) 😉
Heh. So here I’ve been squeeing over LJG on all the reviews of dramas he’s been in, and you have an entire page dedicated to him. Ummm. I love you. I love that you’re also his fan. Hahaha…. I’m glad I’m not his only fan girl out there. I know I’m late to the party. And there are a lot of younger attractive actors out there. But, there is something truly timeless about LJG’s features… and they only got better with time. I also have always thought he looks like he just stepped out of a Manga/Anime. I secretly want him to play Kakashi in a live action Naruto. He could pull it off without a stunt double.
Aw, thanks for enjoying this post, Naomi! 😀 I agree that his features have a timeless and unique quality to them; even though there are other celebs who might have similar features, Lee Jun Ki just looks unique. And YES, Lee Jun Ki totally looks like he stepped out of a manga or anime! 😀
I first saw LJK in Moonlovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo and that was all it took for me to get totally ‘hooked’ on this guy. Watched everything else I could find with him it it since (most of it numerous times), and still craving for more.
OMG, there ought to be a law against being THAT good looking AND having the talent and personality to go with it!
I am a fangirl of this talented actor, singer, model and dancer. He is irresistible, very kind, very talented, loveable, handsome , awesomely attractive, adorable , heartwarming and excellent. He put everything into all of his performances and each character that he plays becomes unique, , What a polite, humble , elegant, charismatic, flirtatious man. There is also vulnerability about him when he is being interviewed. Long time since I felt this longing kind of way about a celebrity. Elvis Presley was my last fangirl rush now this guy. I just love this guy whenever I see a picture of him or a movie my heart does flip flops so unpredictable for me. Just can’t help it. Such a sweetheart. Time for you to update this gorgeous photo album that we all love. Thanks for the photos.
Thanks for enjoying this post, Josie! I agree, Lee Jun Ki is a very talented individual indeed! 🙂
Awesome! Thanks for posting.
Discovered him from Scarlet Heart ryeo and been following him since then.
Lee Joon Gi makes anyone and everyone fall in love with him. He is simply adorablel. As soon as I saw his face in Scarlet Ryeo I was like Oh yeah , I have been watching all of his episodes. He is captivating. He is my Magnet.
This man can put a spell on anyone. Absolutely eye candy. I just want to run and hug him.
I am so happy I stumbled through Scarlet Ryeo and saw Lee Joon Gi in that role. He captivated my attention and ever since I have been watching all of his movies and listening to all his songs. He is an authentic actor. Love him and wish I could meet and greet him. I learned to sing the song “Dont know love because of him. Beautiful song. I thank you for this page. He is wonderful and so is everyone on this page. We all root for that one shiny star.
Aw, thanks for enjoying this page, Magda. Lee Jun Ki really is a talented individual. I recently really enjoyed him in Lawless Lawyer. Have you seen that one? 🙂
Yes, I watched that one. I am currently on Gunmen and Joseon. It is also very good. He is the best of the best.
I love coming back to your blog every once in a while, just to see what’s happening. I did’t know about LJK until I was scouring for kdrama clips on YouTube, looking for a new one to watch, and I came across clips of him in his mask in Scarlet Heart. I was shocked at how beautiful he is. I was also shocked that he was already 34 (at the time) I watched Scarlet Heart and I binged Lawless Lawyer when it was all out, but I don’t usually watch Korean movies or many historical dramas. I may have to make an exception for this man, though. I just appreciate his acting so much!
Tee hee. I love how you say LJK is shockingly beautiful, because that is so true! 😀 I left a couple of LJK drama recommendations for you in response to your Lawless Lawyer comment, but in terms of films, I recommend Fly Daddy Fly, as well as LJK’s breakthrough movie, The King and The Clown. Fly Daddy Fly is more actiony-feel-good, while The King and The Clown is quite tragic, but really showcases LJK’s stunning beauty. I hope that helps! 🙂
Reblogged this on KDrama Feels.
It’s good to see Lee Joon Gi grow as an actor through the years. I first saw him in My Girl and really liked him. I followed up all his dramas and man it was all daebak. The plot s are just amazing and the acting is on the verge. He never fails to amaze me. I love him as an actor and as well as a person. He’s so lovable. So far my favorites are time between dog and wolf, joseon gunman and iljimae I also liked Scarlet Heart Ryeo too but I think he doesn’t get enough screen time there but still I loved his acting.
Oh yes, LJK is awesome. I thought he was amazing in Scarlet Heart Ryeo; he singlehandedly lifted the show for me. Loved him in Arang as well. <3
I like lee junki too..thank’s for sharing..your review very nice..may i share junki’s pics?
Sure, you can share the pictures. I don’t own them. But it’d be nice if you could include credits when sharing, especially if you’re sharing quite a few photos 🙂
Thanks for your sharing. I too just started to enjoy JG’s shows.
Glad you enjoyed this post, Alica! Yay for more JG love in the house! 😉
hi…today is 2016 already.i’m searching about blogs for lee joon gi and i found your amazing post…i just noticed lee joon gi when i watched scholar who walks the night…i was really impress about his acting skill…i really like his badass fierce look and his action scene…i can feel his deep emotion by just looking in his eyes….hope you continue blogging about him,,,he is also amazing in his recent drama scarlet heart ryeo ❤
Ah, I’m glad you enjoyed this post, irish ann! 🙂 I do enjoy Lee Jun Ki very much, and will more than likely watch any and all of his upcoming dramas, so reviews of his dramas will definitely be coming! I’ve posted my review of Scarlet Heart, actually. If you’d like to check it out, you can find it here. 🙂
I really hope you make a review for Lee Joon Gi’s Scarlet Heart Ryeo! I’d really love to know your thoughts about it! Pleaseee~😍
Hi there Arvi, I’m pleased to say that I’ve just posted my Scarlet Heart review – you can check it out! 🙂
im crazy now about lee junki, i have alwayds had a good impresion of him, but until this new drama of him scarlet heart ryeo. OMG he blew my mind with his acting and charisme, and those sharp jawline <3 have u watched it yet?
Yes indeed, LJK really blew it out of the water in Scarlet Heart. I loved him it. 😍 I recently posted a review of it, actually. You can check it out here if you like 🙂
i have nothing more to say. . . you have elaborated everything for me too. specifically i really love his bone structures. and as u mentioned ”he harbor in the inside “i feel that way too thats why i love him even more. and i think he is not lucky to be loved he deserved to be loved and appreciated. you did a great job in regard to this article. i see many pictures of LJK i have not seen before <3
Aw, I’m glad you enjoyed this post, Vaveine. 🙂 It’s true that LJK deserves more love. Crossing all my fingers for his drama, that it will be a truly awesome one! 🙂
Thank u for this awesome posting..I love Jun Ki, since he was in “My Girl” .. He is totally different with other..
Love him and always support him..
Glad you enjoyed this post, Yuli!! 😀 Indeed, Lee Jun Ki is quite special, and I’m always keen to see him in a good project!!
I hope I could read your thoughts on Lee Joon Gi’s ‘Scholar Who Walks The Night’, ‘Scarlet Heart:Ryeo’ and ‘Never Said Goodbye’. By the way, I found myself agreeing to everything you said here haha. I became his fan in 2012 because of Arang but it wasn’t too serious addiction. Now that he’s currently in Scarlet Heart, I’m watching everything he did from the start. Thanks to your post, I appreciate Joon Gi more for having a fan like you~~ 😊😊😊
Hi there navifly, I’m glad you enjoyed this post! 🙂 I haven’t seen Never Said Goodbye, but you can check out my review of Scholar Who Walks the Night here. 🙂
I think I am liking Scarlet Heart a lot more than you. I did watch and love the C-Drama (well love almost all of it) and swashbuckling romances are catnip for me so, though its not perfect, I’m really enjoying it through episode 5 anyway.
LJG said at some point this past year he wanted to focus on maybe doing movies, but when he comes back to dramaland I want him to be in a contemporary drama…I’ve already come up with a job for him: troubleshooter for a corporation. No chaebol nonsense but something he could be a bad___ in or a nice guy depending on what he’s trying to fix. Most importantly is it means I see him in a suit….All The Time. I just concluded The Good Wife and the guy in that ( Yoon Kye Sang) just looks fantastic in all those suits. So LJG needs to re-gain his weight back because though I understand why he did it, it does not look like something he should maintain long term, and do this part. Korean drama writer, feel free to steal my idea. I won’t sue.
In all seriousness, LJG was also not an original bias of mine (Lee Min Ho), or second (Rain), or third (Cha Seung Won), or fourth (Jung Il Woo)… He snuck up on me. He reminds me of certain actors (Jang Hyuk or Ji Sun) that are just diligent in their work ethic, and he’s one of the few flower boys that I actually can buy as an action guy. I begrudge no one the opportunity to go to China and make big bucks because k-dramaland seems to me – and outsider – to be a pretty brutal business where a scandal, real or not, can happen at anytime. But I actually appreciate the fact that LJG has managed to turn out a drama (a mixed bag but still) every year in recent memory when he probably could be making a fortune in C-dramaland though I realize geopolitical matters are now in play. I know he did a movie, but I’ve actually always wondered why he didn’t pursue dramas in China given his popularity. I just don’t want to think of his voice being dubbed.
I’ll look forward to your review of SH someday down the road.
Oops Ji Sung
That’s a great point, that LJK could’ve totally been doing more work in China, but chose to do kdramas instead. That’s definitely something I appreciate as a fan, even though I haven’t been loving some of his recent projects. I won’t say that I dislike Scarlet Heart so far.. I was rather bemused at E1-3, but I really did like E4 quite well. I’m not caught up with the eps after E4, but just liking E4 better gives me hope that I’ll soon be loving the show as much as other viewers seem to be 🙂 And, he does look amazing as Wang So. It’s almost as if his beauty makes the mask beautiful. On anyone else, it would probably look bad, but on him, it just amps up his beauty. It’s LJK magic. 😁
PS: Love the idea of him doing his next drama always decked out in sharp suits! He looks great in suits, and we don’t see him in ’em enough! I hope some writer-nim is reading your idea and taking notes! 😉
I just love, love, love him. It is his eyes. Hi eyes speak volumes. Everything I watch that he is in I am immediately drawn to his character. I wish the best for him always.
Oh yes, I think LJK’s great! His eyes are just ❤❤❤.. I do wish he’d get offered roles in better-written dramas though. I didn’t love his last couple of dramas, and am slightly dismayed that I’m not quite loving Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo the way I’d hoped. Fingers crossed that I’ll find myself loving the show soon! 😅
Check out Scarlet Heart Ryeo for topless LJK!!! Bit skinny for my liking but quite hot 😉
I was stunned that LJK did a bona fide shirtless scene for Scarlet Heart!! I mean, I rewound and replayed, just to make sure it was real! 😂 Yes, he did look a bit too skinny, but poor guy was asked to lose weight for the role, AND asked to do a shirtless scene. Whatcha gonna do, eh? I’m just impressed with LJK stepping out of his comfort zone and doing an actual shirtless scene, which is definitely a first!
I even screencapped his concave tummy cos it was just so… scary 🙁
I love him as tragic 4th prince Wang So. ❤ Those cheekbones! The jawline! The oozing charisma! Omoooo ❤ ❤ ❤
LJK does have amazing cheekbones and a gorgeous jawline! They are all the more pronounced because of the weight-loss requested by PD-nim. I know he should put some weight back on, but Imma enjoying the glorious razor-sharp features while I can! 😉
Wa I thought I’m the only one who thinks of joon ki that way…I also never thought I will ever fangirl on him but I also knew that I will one day ..I knew him so well and felt hes awesome somehow but still never put him on my going crazy list XD now I think hes so cute and cool …right now am watching Iljimae but not cuz am watching it ..I have watched( two weeks ) before and as u said Joon ki was creeping on me little by little so now I just can’t deny that I really love hin XD I also love the way he talks ..hes kinda wierd somehow and talks in a happily cheecky way in interviews along with his voice and how it sounds XD
I think oppa’s look is really normal but u can’t just ignore the fact that hes charismatic thats why 😉 also I think *whispering* he never done the double eyelide surgery thats why his eyes are like that XD and HE LOOKS COOL WITH IT
Hi there Asha! Wow, so LJK snuck up on you too? I guess that’s his special power, eh? To sweep you off your feet when you aren’t looking! XD
I can’t say I agree that LJK looks normal – how can that gorgeous bone structure pass for normal? 0.o – but I do heartily agree that he looks amazing with the monolid. I’m so glad he kept the monolid, instead of going for double eyelid surgery like so many other Koreans might’ve done! His features are out-of-this-world beautiful, he almost doesn’t look real, especially in candid photos! XD
He is 100% natural! That’s how and why I’m attracted to him! Such a glorious guy!
Thanks for the piece of JG! I’m his newest fan after watching the Scholar walks the night! He’d nailed it! He won my heart totally!
I’m hopelessly falling in love with him… and have been non-stop searching about JG! That’s how I found your blog! Once again, thank you!
Ooh, welcome to the JK love, Sabrina! The good news is, you now have quite a bit of JK to feast on 😉 Have you watched Arang and the Magistrate? He’s SO GOOD in that. I loved him in that more than in his recents shows like Scholar and Joseon Gunman. Of course, I’m now breathlessly waiting for Bobogyungshim: Ryeo, coz he looks SO AMAZING in the long trailer. Have you seen that? If not, here it is, for some lovely, broody-sexy Jun Ki! <3
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K1HFoCnyqjA
I have watched all his works already! in fact, I have watched the Scholar twice and almost done with Arang the 2nd time… Can’t wait for the Ryeo in this month. Sorry can’t view the video.
Ah! The video seems to have been taken down. Here’s another link – it’s not HD, but it’s the same extended trailer, and LJK still looks amazing!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8oa2tX6Nulo
I was stumbled on this post and felt I had to do a shout out on one of my first ever kdrama crushes from waaaaayyyy back! I first noticed Lee Joon Ki in My Girl, which was the second kdrama I watched after Jewel in the Palace and got hooked on it ever since. It still remains one of my favourites till today. Although in that one LJK was the second lead and ultimately did not get the girl (Lee Da Hae), I was smitten by his puppy dog charm and ability to turn on the tears AND STILL look pretty and heartbroken at the same time. Even my mum, who is as Ahjumma as you can get, noticed him in King and Clown and commented that he had very sexy eyes. Before LJK, I had always preferred big expressive eyes on a man. But my mum’s comment made me look at him anew and I’ve never dismissed almondy monolid-eyed men again without giving them a second look to reassess their charms. So yes I think LJK in his younger days was awfully pretty in an androgynous way which I found to be surprisingly seductive and attractive. I looked out for his other works like Iljimae and Time between Wolf and Dog, and liked how his acting skills were getting honed and he became more masculine in his appearance and mannerisms.
Then LJK’s Military service came along and many more pretty boys came along to fill the void on kdrama land, so he slipped off my radar for a while. I looked forward so much to his return to tv with Arang and Joseon Gunman. However I felt those serials didn’t really do him justice, and I also found myself not liking his new look. I can’t say for sure whether it was all that working out and macho stuff that they make them do in the army or whether he paid more than a few visits to the *ahem* clinics in Gangnam, but I started wishing that he had his old pre-MS face back. Now his face just looks too sculptured and he has lost some of that passion from his eyes. He also had an air of idealism and innocence about him back then (perhaps I’m just mixing him up with his Iljimae and Hero alter ego), which has disappeared in his recent drama outings.
The reality I think is that he, like all of us grow older every day. These stars are subject to the same ups and downs of life and they cannot stay the same for us. So when I look at LJK now, I don’t adore him the way I used to, but I feel sentimental because he reminds me that nothing and no one remains untouched by the sands of time.. It’s good to live in the present and enjoy things and people as they are because life is fleeting and change is a constant. I wish LJK all the best in his career and that his future acting roles will draw upon his unique look and life experiences.
Ah, LJK’s one of the your first k-loves? Aw, how nostalgic!! 😀
I actually loved him in Arang.. I thought that was one of his best performances, as far as dramas go.. I loved his restraint and gravitas. So manly. <3 🙂 As for him appearing less idealistic.. I suppose that's understandable, given that he's been in the industry for a long time now. Also, given that his last few dramas have done less than spectacularly in the ratings, I can sympathize with a touch of tiredness or jadedness. I do love how hardworking and dedicated he is, and I'm rooting for him to have a Truly Fabulous drama real soon. 🙂
pues a mi desde que lo vi en el erudito que camina de noche quise investigar todo sobre el ya que no tiene la suficiente publicidad como otros oppas porque yo y otras fans ya lo hubieramos identificado .desde ese momento me hice su fans persistente y creo que dificilmente alguien lo supere ya que el es un actor muy completo,canta,baila, actua,toca la guitara ,tiene diciplina en tres diferentes artes marciales,y aparte mucho carisma,.yo me doy de topes por no haberlo descubierto antes y haber disfrutado de sus doramas y cancionesque son muy de mi gusto,aunque no todos los dramas puedo encontrar en el idioma español ,bueno es algo de lo que pienso.
Sorry I don’t speak Spanish, but I am glad you discovered Lee Jun Ki!
Or, as Google Translate put it, Lo siento, no hablo español, pero me alegro de que usted descubrió Lee Jun Ki! 🙂
Your writing and point of view is awesome! Daebak! I agree with most of it!
Thank you for writing this 😊
Aw, thanks Mabelle! I’m glad you enjoyed the post! 😀
My one and ONLY fangirl crush since Iljimae and spiraled out of control after Time Between Dog and Wolf. There is no one that can replace him in my affections! Some come close but not enough! Love this man and enjoy watching him as he ages and still remain perfect….to me!
Aw, LJK’s your only fangirl crush? He’s definitely special, then! And I can totally imagine how your affection for him spiked after TBDAW, he was very cool in that show! And I must agree that he’s getting more and more appealing as time goes by – I love the manly gravitas that he came back with, post-MS. I love how he manages to be pretty AND manly at the same time. 🙂
honesty im a big fun of park shi ho…ive notice lee jun ki recently..he is a very good actor..and so handsome ..he is a complete package as an actor..
so now.ive watch.all movies and drama of ljk
Yay for more LJK love in the house! 🙂 To answer your question about his name, it’s because there are 2 romanization systems in Korean. His name, written in Hangul as 이준기, can be romanized as either Lee Jun Ki or Lee Joon Gi. Both are correct 🙂 I hope that helps, tania!
Good collaboration of LJG, i love it. Well, for real this is the first time i was impressed by k-actor (his acting is remarkable)7, tbh. He is real actor with real talent and not relying with his beautiful face. He is a total package. I more like his photo during MS, not to say but it look like a photoshoot and so manly. All his facial features are perfect and i never seen any bad angle of him. He is so unique, incomparable with any actor. Totally addicted to him.
I must agree that LJK’s quite the total package.. Such gorgeous bone structure, and so dedicated to his roles. He’s got such a lovely manly gravitas after MS, it makes him pretty AND handsome at the same time 😉
Why is it he has 2 name lee jun ki? lee joon gi?
Currently watching Scholar who walks the Night and because of that, I went to check out The King and the Clown and man, was I totally and utterly swept away by Lee Jun Ki’s performance there. So, I’ve gained a new bias and finding this post was just superb. Thank you for this wonderful post. It feeds my current Junki addiction perfectly. Yummy. ^ ^
Aw, yay for more Lee Jun Ki love in the house! 😀 I’m so pleased that you enjoyed this post, Eueu! I have to agree that LJK is fantastic in The King and The Clown. So tragic, and so beautiful. I’m totally planning to watch Scholar Who Walks the Night.. I’m saving it for later, after more episodes have aired, so that I can marathon the LJK awesome 😉
well, now i can see we followed a similar process to end up liking Lee Jun Ki xD
Hahaha! Really! 😀 Well then, high five, squee sista!! We do have excellent taste! XD
* high five back *
I agreed with you very handsome man. Love his drama, music and pictures. Great singer, model and actor can wait for his next dram or movie.
He does have amazing bone structure, doesn’t he? 😀 I’m looking forward to see what he picks up as his next project as well. I liked Joseon Gunman, but wasn’t as blown away by it, as I was with Arang. ❤
Good lawd. I dont know which photos my fave but I just had an &^%** looking at all of them. LOL. I kid I kid.
Thanks for sharing. I missed him and decided to catch up on his drama after a few years break from watching any at all. Illijimae is def my fave but he is awesome in each one.
Tee hee. I’m glad you enjoyed this post, Kay! He really has gorgeous features, doesn’t he?? 😀 If I had to pick a fave drama of LJK’s, I think I’d pick Arang. I loved his chemistry with Shin Min Ah, and I loved the restraint he displayed in his delivery. I also really, really enjoyed him in Two Weeks. I do concede he had some awesomely cool moments in Iljimae tho! ^^
I love your tongue-in-cheek post on lee joon gi. I laughed out loud about your description of him coming out from the pages of a mangga. When i first saw him in MY GIRL (and until now), i thought there was something surreal abut this guy. I just don’t know what. Now I know. I guess that is why his looks translates well into fanart.
i also agree with you on him having more gravitas on his acting these days. When i watched ILJIMAE years back, i was putt-off by his over-the-top comic acting and was attracted to the acting depth of Park Shi Hoo (which by the way made me PSH’s instant fan). I did not even bother watching his other Kdramas as i felt they were just capitalizing on his looks as a way of compensating for his acting. Fortunately, i stumbled across 2 WEEKS.
It was over a weekend and nothing was showing on my faves (LEE DONG WOOK & PARK SHI HOO), when i resignedly watched the first episode snippet of 2 WEEKS. In it LJG was bloodied, haggard and gaunt – a far cry from his usual pretty boy looks. I am so glad they did not glam him up. With no good looks to be distracted at, i was forced to focus on his acting which was amazing. That got me riveted to watch the whole series and saw a vast acting improvement. Even in scenes when he was supposed to look good (flashback scenes), his acting was still very good. I can feel the desperateness in his character when there was no way out.
Now, I am a big fan. His acting in Joseon Gunman was also good (though not as good as in 2 weeks). There were still some overthetop acting but kept at a minimum. His funny scenes are now more natural rather than comical. Yes, it’s ILJIMAE in a more mature rendering. And it goes true for his kissing scenes which are now satisfyingly – blistery HOT!
Hey there moondragon! I’m glad you enjoyed this post on Lee Jun Ki! 🙂 He really does have very uniquely beautiful features, doesn’t he? I still think he looks like he could’ve stepped out of a manga, but now, with his manlier vibe, I imagine a tougher, stronger, more badass sort of manga character, lol.
Yes, LJK is fantastic in Two Weeks, isn’t he?? It took me a while to get around to watching that drama, but I’m so glad I did. He’s excellent in it, and it’s a solid, engaging show from beginning to end. I’m now watching Joseon Gunman, and I tend to agree with you that he does push the line between natural and OTT. Still good, though, and I’m enjoying him on my screen very well! 🙂
@kfangurl : another mistake…The one picture on 3rd with hints of shirtless with white towel ( JunkiCross army ) also not him.
That’s the picture of Jay Zhou, Very Famous Taiwanesse prodigy Singer, Songwriter, Composer , producer and Actor. The one who play in Green Hornet. Lee Joon Gi always wearing a cross earing ( since last 2005 ), that’s why his fandom using name as ‘ Lee Jun ki Cross Army, before his Hanjunse launched. Those are a picture of Jay Zhou when his fans were discussing & describing him a little like Vaness Wu and a little like Jay Zhou, that’s why this picture are everywhere.
Happy that you became his fans. If you really like his manga looks, you can add his famous Manga when he star on ‘Grace MV’ . He really becomes one of those Manga comes to alive.
Lee Joon Gi ‘Manga looks’ :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zj7dUrfwjVw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQYi0yav5YA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JTx1jm33d9c
Hi there Tess! Thanks for letting me know about the mistakes in the photos! I’ve removed the pic with the towel, but have left the shirtless pic up (with an edit to inform everyone that it’s photoshopped), since it was created by fans out of Jun Ki love 🙂
Thanks for sharing the vids – he really does look like a manga come to life! I do prefer his more recent post-MS manly vibe, but his features are still as beautiful 🙂
@kfangurl : the one with his choco-abs are fake….it’s not him, That’s not his body, sorry to makes you dissapointed, he he he. Actually that’s Rain Bi body…..those were made by Joon Gi fans, when we all wanted to see his abs, maybe around 2006. He famous in all K E industry for not wanted showing his body, not wanted to do Ido drama, . He comes from one of those Catholic Conservatives family. The biggest show of his body in Two Weeks are just very rare, that’s why in all his film, the Pd nim always made his Co-Star do the Choco abs show, and like Park Si Hoo in Iljimae, and Ryu Soo Young to do the fanservices.
oh my!…this is going to be the second attempt posting!…i already did the last time and i had a long one!..i had troubled typing on my mobile keypad only to find that my long message was lost!!!! it irked me that i almost throw away my mobile! hahahaha! but on the second thought it was my net provider doing so i keep back my mobile!..i already snatched away some of the photos from here Kfangirl!…please forgive me, it is all pretty that my mobile gallery is now overflowing with additional pretty photos of Lee Jun Ki!…need i say more with this pretty man?…no question about it…this pretty man is not only pretty but he has substance!…he totally blew me away on Two Weeks watching and Joeson Gunman is definitely on my TBWL…i would definitely acquire a copy of that and watch that on my home screen…as it is a period sageuk so i want to watch that quietly…
Thank you for the pretty post Kfangrl!…as always you give the best!..i love all the collection of photos you shared!.. 😉 <3
I would like to share some vids of him singing to Jason Mraz I'm Yours! and dancing to Taeyang's Ringa Linga he's so awwweeessssommeee!..hope everyone likes it and enjoy!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6QjK-GyvdMw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VdJbCk8QRls
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NhJBcU7gCGI
Aw~ I’m sorry you had trouble posting from your phone before, Evez! Hugs to ya: ❤❤❤
Of course you can add the pix to your collection, Evez! I don’t own the images.. The collection is simply a result of intensive research on the net – displayed here for everyone’s easy enjoyment ^^
Thanks for sharing the vids, Evez! LJK’s really got some singing and dancing talent, doesn’t he?? I’m most impressed by the 3rd vid – Boy does he have rhythm!! You can totally tell that he’s definitely feels the rhythm even as he’s dancing. That’s sexy ^^
Thank you very much for this articol. Excellent description, you have a very good eye, I read all with delight…..I’m so happy that Lee Joon Gi make a part of my life from 3 years, I’m proud to tell all the world..”I am Lee Joon Gi fan forever”. Thank you!!!
Aw, thanks Truica, I’m so glad you enjoyed the post! Lee Jun Ki is a very talented actor, and I’m so pleased that you felt this post did him justice! 🙂
Just wiped-off the drool…. but my mind is still with him 🙂 Thank you for such a beautiful recital of Lee JoonGi, he’s PERFECT can’t describe him any which way. Following his career with intrigue… love him a lot & wish him more success & good health. Thank you again for happiness (while reading this blog).
Aw, thanks Maina! I’m so glad you enjoyed this post on Lee Jun Ki! 😀 He’s maturing with grace, and I’m loving his more recent works coz they show off his new maturity so nicely! I’m looking forward to seeing what other works he decides to take on too! 🙂
I’m finally able to read this. During the first episodes of Joseon Gunman, I was actually hoping you’d write about him. Voila! It’s here. I first saw LJK in Iljimae way way back dubbed in our language. I don’t remember much of the story anymore, I remembered commenting that he was really pretty. Much prettier than a woman, actually. Then I saw The King and the Clown. Very good but what registered in my thoughts that he has gotten prettier. I guess because he was styled to be effeminate. And though I’ve always wanted to see TBDAW, I never got to and the next thing I saw him in was in Arang and Two Weeks. I still feel a little indifferent to him at times and I couldn’t pinpoint why. But I like his acting so I’m following him. And yes, girl, he rocks the spectacles. I’ve never found him handsome until he appeared in Joseon Gunman in suit and spectacles. Look forward to it.
Aw! You were hoping that I’d write about LJK?? Wow, we are so in sync, kaiaraia!! 😀
It’s a little odd that you didn’t like him much in Arang (I luffed him in Arang), plus I thought he did an excellent job in Two Weeks. STILL. I’m just so glad that you’ve finally found a show where you are able to appreciate his hotness! And yes, I am very much looking forward to Joseon Gunman! It’s top of my priority list in terms of the currently airing dramas! 😀
Heee!!!
My journey with Lee Jun Ki is more or less the same as yours, though I have probably only checked out half of the projects you’ve listed.
I’ve loved My Girl the first time I saw it (it was one of my first subbed drama!), but I found his character clingy. He wasn’t the worst when it comes to 2nd lead, but I was so set on my OTP that I was probably biased anyway ^^ But like everyone else, I found him SO PRETTY! I actually had a friend going gaga over him during MG, but even with my new-found love for him, I don’t think that I would have found him attractive back then.
I can’t remember how I found out about the King and the Clown. I’ve checked about half of it, was really impressed, but for some reason I only had the first CD files (remember the VCDs? LOL) I forgot about it, but now that you’ve mentioned it I might just go and hunt it down again. Life is easier for a fangirl nowadays 😛
I’ve tried to check out TBDAW after Cruel Ciry, and also because it sounds like those old Hong Kong police dramas that I loved. Maybe because it felt so dated, but I just couldn’t sit through it.
Then I watched Arang! I loved Arang!!!! I love him, I love her, I love everything! But I wasn’t head over heels for him, Until now. Until Joseon Gunman. Oh save me unni he’s so hot!! If I go back in time to tell my 17 years old self (when I watched MG) that I’d find him hot and manly one day, I’d laugh like a hyena at the “Crazy Ahjumma from the Future” LOL
And I forgot to add: Forget about the shirtless section, is he actually pulling a gun out of his pants?! o.O I..can’t… *dies*
LOL. Though my first thought was “that is not safe…for him”
At least forget about the first two photos in the shirtless section, they are both photoshopped.(Everything else about this post is spot on and absolutely perfect!!) And what makes that gun super sexy is that he really knows how to use it as evidenced by the fact that his finger is not on the trigger. He received a marksmanship award during his military service!! So he’s weapons dangerous too!! Thanks for the great post!! I enjoyed every bit of it. <3
Glad you enjoyed the post, DVDDIVA. Yes, LJK did win a marksmanship award during MS, which makes it so perfect that he’s now our Joseon Gunman! 😀
HAHA. I feel ya, maknae! If I’d gone back in time to tell Past Me watching MG, that I’d eventually find LJK hot, I’d think Future Me crazy too! XD Funny how that worked out, eh?? But I totally agree; I think even if I rewatched MG now, I don’t think his look then would appeal to me now. I like my men of the more manly variety, as you know 😉
OMG, yes, I LOVED him and Shin Min Ah in Arang!! They were PERFECT together!!! As for TBDAW, I think you need to be in a bit of retro-ish mood. I liked it very well, but the production values are poor, so you can’t be in the mood for slick and shiny while watching it. Also, it’s pre-MS LJK, so even though he’s pretty great in that show, he just can’t match up to his post-MS self! XD
I do recommend Fly Daddy Fly, tho! LJK is so cool in there! And it’s such heartwarming movie! ❤
I would love to see him in a romantic comedy wearing suits, glasses, and a smirk. *swoon* Bonus if it’s a noona romance, since I’m older than he is 🙂
Ooh, that sounds like a good drama for him! He hasn’t done a role like that yet, and I’d love to see him take that kind of show on, now that we’ve got his post-MS hotness firmly in place 😉
“It’s just harder to find his onscreen badassery believable if I know too much about his aegyo-tastic ways off-screen, y’know? ” I re-read this line about 5 times and kept cracking up!! I LOVE it! Lee Joon Ki got on my radar because of ‘My Girl.’ But I never really saw anything else with him until 2 Weeks so I really appreciate the list. He really is beautiful, and talented. Somehow I can’t quite remember his acting so much as his presence. I love how you say his “appropriately slanted monolid eyes” – They are one of his best features, it’s like I feel is brave, because he hasn’t gone the way of many other actors and opted for the ‘Western eye’ look. They seem au natural to me, besides being dreamy, smoldering, sexy and very exotic.
LOVE all your pictures! Particularly the leather and the suits.
Tee hee! I read YOUR comment about 5 times and cracked up each time too, Lady G!! XD But that onscreen badassery vs. off-screen aegyo is a very real dichotomy that I find myself having to manage, not only for Lee Jun Ki, but also for Joo Won. These men are so hawt onscreen when they turn on the fire in their eyes, and I swoon. And then they go and pour on the aegyo – LJK in photos that he shares on social media, Joo Won in his stint on 1N2D – and I find it really hard to still believe in the swoon afterwards. I studiously skim over LJK’s social media photos (I mean, I can only see photos of a happy smiley Joseon Gunman so many times before it starts to mess with my ability to see him as badass, right?) and have determinedly avoided watching all of Joo Won’s 1N2D episodes. Clearly, the swoon is a bigger priority for me than seeing more of their real personalities! XD
Oh, have you not seen Arang and the Magistrate? I highly recommend it! Loved LJK in it, and loved Shin Min Ah too. They were awesome together! ❤
Yes, I like LJK’s very oriental eyes very much – very sexy and exotic for sure! I think the only thing he’s done anything to is maybe pinned down his ears. They used to be the sticky-outy type of ears (hence lots of manga hair as camouflage) and then in later years I noticed he could wear cropped hair and his ears were laying more “flat”, so I assumed that he’d fixed his ears. Don’t blame him for it; I think it makes his look more versatile.
Yay that you enjoyed all the pictures – coz it’s how I use my superpower for the greater (fangirl) good. HAHA. XD
Hi! Thanks so very much for this piece on lee joon gi! So many lovely lovely delicious pics of my current k-love, he just cant take a bad pic even if he tried it would seem. You put down in words exactly how i feel about him, its so freaking uncanny! I am fangirling over him so hard, (its so weird, actually squee over pics n interviews with him, did i mention he has a very nice voice too?) especially with joseon gunman on now, i love this show! Im so glad he lost a little of the boyishness after going to the army n i totally dig him in shorter hair, way more sexier in my eyes, hehehe…
Hey there thil28! Welcome to the blog! 😀 I’m so glad you enjoyed this post on Lee Jun Ki, coz he really is so talented, and so worthy of the love, isn’t he? 🙂
Yes, his features are amazing – it’s something that I’ve always found fascinating about him, coz he looks so chiseled and perfect that he looks like a manga character come to life! It’s no wonder that he takes great pictures and it’s practically impossible to find a bad photo of him!
Totally agree with you that post-MS Jun Ki is more manly & delicious! When he wears short cropped hair with that manly vibe, it’s so hawt, seriously. I love how he’s just getting more and more appealing with age! ❤
Yay, it’s here! Thank you so much for this post, it is soooo worth the wait, i love it! *trying to stop myself from licking my screen albeit futile* I guess i won’t be needing dinner tonight. LOL
Giggle. You are so cute, Erl! XD I can just imagine you trying to hold back from actually licking your screen! XD Thanks for your patience, I know I promised this LJK post quite a while ago. I’m so glad that you found the wait worthwhile!! ❤
Thanks for posting this! I’m actually watching Iljimae and Joseon Gunman right now. He’s grown so much in between.
I love how he looks in a suit, he needs to do a drama where he gets to wear one.
Song Joong Ki (Nice Guy) reminds me of a younger LJK, in that they were both very, very cute in their 20s. Looking forward to his post-military service transformation.
Oh! How interesting that you’re watching Iljimae & Joseon Gunman at the same time, DBChen! 😀 I imagine that must be a great way to observe how Lee Jun Ki’s grown as an actor! I remember liking him well enough in Iljimae, but he was too boyish then to inspire any sort of real swoon on my part. Things have definitely changed post-MS, and I’m looking forward to swooning at him in Joseon Gunman! ^^
I’d LOVE to see Lee Jun Ki do a drama where he gets to wear a suit a lot! 😀 He got to wear one for a fair amount of time in Time Between Dog & Wolf, and he looked great in it. What I really want, though, is him in a suit, with all his post-MS swag in place. Augh. I can just imagine the awesome! I remember feeling very disappointed when he turned down Inspiring Generation, simply coz it meant we wouldn’t get to see him in those dapper 1920s pin-striped suits! XD
Also – what a great point! Song Joong Ki is another actor that I feel is very talented, and would benefit a lot from gaining some post-MS manliness. I’m lookin’ forward to seeing that transformation right along with ya! 😀
Hello OP! flashforward to 2016: you guys were right 😀 Song Joong Ki has made it big after DoTS, and he really did transform after MS. I watched DoTs first then Sungkungkwan Scandal then Tree with deep roots and he was just wonderful in all of them.
Thanks for making this very nice post about LJK. All that eyecandy 😳 yay! I learned a few more things about him too. I read your post from top to bottom including all the comments lol. I recently became his fan after watching “Scholar who walks in the night.” So I started searching around and stumbled on your blogpost. He’s really good and and I like him in everything he has done so far. I still have to watch “Scarlet Heart,” I’m glad he has this drama in 2016. I’m sure it will be very exciting and satisfying to watch him there too. Right now I’m watching Iljimae and whoa, he did look more boyish and somehow a little different than now. MS and a few years did him a lot of good, he keeps getting better and better. He’s just sooo handsome!!! Not to mention I saw little Yeo Jin Goo and little Kim Yoo Jung, they were just so adorable when they were younger and talented.. Moon embracing the sun flashback 🙂 + Moonlight drawn by clouds. Will watch the “King and the Clown” at some point, and other dramas/movies LJK is in.
I’m quite new to K-drama just started this year so I’ve been catching up so far. It’s strange watching k-drama backwards in time, started with the recent ones and if I found an actor/actress I liked I would watch their older series/movies so I really do see how much they have transformed and how talented they always have been 😀
Ooh! It’s so funny how 2 years ago we were just remarking about SJK benefiting from some post-MS manliness, and in 2016 – viola! – he did just that in DotS. How funny, and how surreal! I loved him in SKKS and Tree as well, so you picked well, in your retro-active drama watching! 😉
I did watch Scarlet Heart, and even though I thought the show had many shortcomings, I really thought Lee Jun Ki was wonderful in it. On its own, I wouldn’t quite recommend the show, but for LJK’s magnificent performance, it’s all worth it, I say! 😉 If you’re looking to watch other LJK projects, I do recommend Two Weeks, as well as Fly Daddy Fly. Oh, and Arang, of course. I loved him in Arang – and the post-MS manliness is already intact there too!
I can totally imagine the slightly surreal feeling of checking out actors’ older projects; you totally get to see them in their younger and greener days. I find it particularly surreal watching actors when they were child actors – especially when the actors aren’t little kids anymore!
Hehe it’s fate I guess! You had faith in them and you knew they would turn out just as you said it would. lol. I love that SJK is becoming even more popular now. Arang I definitely will watch that too for LJK 😀 Iljimae is turning out pretty well and I like it that Park Shi Hoo is there too. I have the same feeling about Scarlet Heart, but for the actors I would watch it 😀
Yep, it really is surreal, I watched Warrior Baek Song Doo (which is one of my fave dramas ever) interviews and BTS, and Chang Wook and Yoo Seung Ho were still a bit shy and nervous about it, they were still new actors back then but now Chang Wook has Healer and K2 under his belt. Both of which I just loved. I just love all the child actors and am rooting for them in their new adult roles to come!
A shoutout for Six Flying Dragons too, which is just the most epic, most awesome show I have seen so far, with WBSD coming in a tie. The OSTs, characters, acting, choreography were just so so good. It was like watching a 50 hour Les Miserables in a foreign language. After which I had to watch TDR of course <3
So for now will continue to bask in the wonder and delight of K-drama land. I love your reviews and recaps, do keep on blogging! I'll be your loyal follower 😀 Aja!
So glad you’re enjoying your kdrama adventures, pagaspas! I’m sure you’ll discover even more kdramas to love, as you go. For some lovely cute fusion sageuk, may I recommend Moonlight Drawn By Clouds, as well as Sungkyunkwan Scandal? I loved both of those. They are quite different, even though they both boast a youthy fusion sageuk vibe. Lots of cute in both, which might be a nice change of pace after the intensity of TWDR, SFD & WBDS. 🙂
Thank you for the recommendation. I actually have watched those and I loved, loved, loved them. MDBC was just so cute, funny and just awesome. I loved both leads, it was my first time to watch both of them and then when I went backwards I got to see little Kim Yoo Jung in various roles she’s just so good. Park Bo Gum is just so perfect too. So now I’ve been watching him in older dramas. Gah, there’s just so many beautiful and talented people and I can’t stop fangirling over them. Lol! But LJK love forever 😉
SKKS was one of the first few sageuks that I started with, loved SJK there, this was after seeing him in DoTS.. And this was also where I fell in love with Yoo Ah In, so I followed him to SFD, then TWDS came after that of course. Well that’s just me, when I discover someone brilliant from a drama, I want to watch all their old dramas too. 😀 And that list keeps growing! First it was Lee Jong Suk, then there was Park Hae Jin (CiTT) Kim Soo Hyun, Ji Chang Wook, Lee Min Ho, Lee Seung Gi, Jo Jung Suk, Kim Woo Bin, Jang Hyuk, Park Si-Hoo, and so many more plus the ladies too like Suzy and Park Min Young. Omo! And will never forget LJK, heheheh. SO there you have it, I’m just a super fan of kdrama!
Iljimae was soo nice! The ending was satisfying for me as well, even though a lot of people say otherwise. I’m just happy he got to finish his mission I think that was the important part. But of course it would have been nice to know more 🙂 LJK’s acting was spot on, especially when he was grieving beside the titis tree, damn that was an emotional scene I won’t forget for a while. Will watch Hero, 2 weeks, and Time between Dog and Wolf pretty soon.
Speaking of dramatic scenes, Princess Man was the drama that broke my floodgates, no other drama so far has succeeded to make me sob in almost episode going to the end. The feels! It was just so poignant, dramatic and heartbreaking. So heavy! And what can I say, seeing Moon Chae Woon from Mr. Black was a nice bonus. She was such a strong, courageous, and bold female lead in Princess Man.
Anyway enough rambling for now, thank you for replying as always! Looking forward to more posts, blogs and commentaries from you. Hugs!
Ahh, I know what you mean about discovering an awesome actor, and then following through with all of his previous projects. I guess it’s the natural thing to do, when all you want is more Oppa on your screen, after all! I know I’ve done that before! 😉
I’m glad you ended up enjoying Iljimae.. I remember hating the ending when I watched it, but then later, when I chanced on someone else’s explanation of the ending, I liked it a lot better. 🙂 I haven’t seen Hero, but I do highly recommend Two Weeks. I also really liked Time Between Dog and Wolf – LJK got to show off a wide acting range in that, and I remember thinking it was a very engaging watch. I never got around to reviewing that show since I watched it early on in my kdrama journey, but I think I’d rate it a B+ at least 🙂
First, I must say…THANK YOU for posting about Lee Junki <3
He's actually one of my all time favorite actors ! Like you, My Girl was the first drama I saw him in. But I took a liking to him when I saw him in MG, just b/c he looked like he came from a manga. I mean during that time, what's not to like about him?? He's pretty, aka gominam and a great actor ! For me, Time Between Dog and Wolf was the role where I saw him as a man. It was probably the first role that made people look at him as manly and not so much a flower boy. I personally liked Dog and Wolf. I mean, I must have liked it a whole lot since I am the owner of that boxset, lol.
Sadly, I haven't seen all his movies, but I've seen most of his dramas. I'm actually trying to catch up with Joseon Gunmen. I love the chemistry between him and Nam Sangmi. It's cool to see them in the same drama again !
As for King and the Clown, I actually liked it. Which is saying something since I don't usually watch love stories between the same sex Jun Ki did a great job portraying the girly guy character :3 I loved how he would "Hajima". It made giggle b/c he sounded absolutely adorable xDD
I think as the years go by, I just love him more and more. Although he plays similar characters in the dramas he's been in, he always brings something new to the table and I love that he puts in all his effort in his character. Lee Junki is such an amazing and talented actor ! It's so awesome to see him grow (since I've been a fan of him since 2006).So yes, being a fan that long, I was pretty sad when he had to enlist in the army. And it also felt like forever until he was discharged, but *dramatic pause* my love for him did not waver. xD
Anyways…I will stop now…since I've overly spazzed out about Lee Junki x)
ALSO, do you keep up with his postings on twitter? I love it whenever he uploads a pic. He has such playful pictures and my gosh, he has such a nice no make up face 🙂
Wow, Kira! Looks like you’ve some major Jun Ki love goin’ on! 😀 I love how your love for him didn’t waver, all through his MS stint! XD
Like you, I’ve seen more of his dramas than his movies. I haven’t watched Hero though. The premise just never hooked me enough for me to want to check it out. Would you recommend it?
I do agree that Lee Jun Ki really pours his all into each character that he plays, and I do love that he’s growing so much as an actor. I definitely enjoy his more recent works more than his earlier ones. Which is a good thing, I guess, since he seems to enjoy working and promises to keep bringing us more awesome 🙂
I actually have seen the photos that he shares on social media, and while I love how active he is in keeping connected with his fans, I often find myself skimming the photos and trying not to scrutinize them too closely. Like those photos that he’s been sharing from the Joseon Gunman set. He’s all smiley and adorable in almost all the pix, but I just HAFTA keep my brain tuned to badass Joseon Gunman rather than adorable cute Joseon Gunman, y’know? 😛 Otherwise I’ll have a hard time getting immersed in his character when I watch the show. And for me, keeping that drama experience pure ranks higher than enjoying fan-service. Not that I have anything against fan-service. I think fan-service is great. I only avoid it when it messes with my drama experience. 😉
I would recommend Hero. It’s been a while since I watched it xD but I’d still recommend !
I liked in the drama how he was wimpy x) One of the usual characters Lee Junki would play.
I have yet to finish 2 weeks and Arang and the Magistrate.
LOL..I can keep the badass Joseon Gunma in my head. Him sharing the cutesy pics onset is just a plus to feed the fangirl in me hehe.
I can see why you wouldn’t tho 😉 but besides me fangirling, I like to see the BTS glimpses of the cast together
He plays wimpy in Hero? Lol. I unabashedly prefer Badass LJK to Wimpy LJK, so it might take me a long while to get around to Hero! XD
I loved both Two Weeks and Arang, and highly recommend both shows! 😀 I’m enjoying Joseon Gunman quite well, 8 episodes in. I’m still avoiding too many cutesy pix, in the interest of fuller immersion. I think perhaps I’m a more easily distracted fangirl than you. The traces of cutesy still linger with me, and it messes with my ability to believe the badassery. 😛
Yup, that is one beautiful man right there. Wish I had his genes. LOL!
I have a very big soft spot for Jun Ki and I don’t even know where I aquired it as I haven’t seen all that many of his dramas/movies. He is certainly not the best actor out there but I like how he is so earnest about his acting and always puts his all into the roles he does. I think the military service did him a world of good as he came back with more gravitas and restraint. He still has a tendency to go OTT at times but hopefully he’ll get rid of that as time goes by.
Loved, LOVED him in Arang but unfortunately Joseon Gunman turned out to be a big disappointment for me. I was so excited about it beforehand but I just could’t get into it no matter how hard I tried. Sigh. By the time I got to ep 8 I was bored with the plot and totally indifferent with just about every character. Oh well, there’s plenty of love for the show elsewere. Maybe next time, Jun Ki, maybe next time.
He DOES have amazing features, doesn’t he?? I suspect he might’ve gotten his ears fixed, coz in his earlier days, I think one of the big reasons they kept giving him manga hair was to camouflage his sticky-outy ears. Now, though, he can wear his hair super short, and he looks great. I just love his bone structure – he’s so pretty! 😀 ❤
Jun Ki is very earnest about all his roles! Even when he overacts, I can tell that he’s pouring all of himself into the role and not holding anything back, and that’s a quality that I do respect in him. I’m very happy, though, that in recent dramas, he’s learned the beauty of restraint. His recents outings in Arang and Two Weeks definitely have me chomping at the bit for more!
Aw. So sad that Joseon Gunman didn’t work out for you, Timescout! :/ That’s unfortunate, since I’ve been hearing generally very positive things about it. Happily, LJK appears to enjoy working, so perhaps it won’t be long before his next drama hits all the right notes for ya 😉
Oh yes, he does seem to like keeping busy so I’m sure something more appealing will come along at some point.
I saw you asked Kira about ‘Hero’. It’s one of those dramas I liked when hardly anyone else didn’t, LOL! Jun Ki was still hamming it up a bit too much but other than that it really wasn’t all that bad and I liked all the chacters. Baek Yoon Shik as an ex mob boss was just hilarious and he and Jun Ki’s Do Hyuk made such cute partners. 🙂
Giggle. It’s just like you to like a drama that largely flew under everyone’s radar, Timescout! XD I think back when this aired, I was still looking for romance to be a decent chunk of my kdramas and that’s probably why this one slipped past me unnoticed. Plus, I still wasn’t a big fan of Lee Jun Ki at the time, so his involvement didn’t sway me the way it would sway me now. I’m gonna stick this back on the Someday list. I’ve got too many other newer dramas that I’d like to check out that I just can’t make time for many of the older ones at any one time. Right now I’m finally watching Baker King Kim Tak Gu, long after everyone’s seen it! XD
On a sort of unrelated note, I picked back up on One Warm Word after a break that was enforced by Hectic Real Life, and today I just watched E8 and I totally flailed at my screen at Park Seo Joon. OMGGG. I had to pause midway to work out the squee. Ack. The melty power of Park Seo Joon, which I’d let slip my mind while RL got busy, just hit me wham-bam right in the face, and I’m so, SO grateful that you asked me to check out One Warm Word, Timescout. I’m sending you big, big hearts. ❤❤❤
LOL! It is rather typical of me to pick up unappreciated dramas. Hero was an easy watch which didn’t demand all too much from me. It has an understated romance as well, just so you know. 🙂 It’s pretty neigh impossible to make even a decent dent in the List of Doom, but sometimes you do discover forgotten gems in it. That’s always fun. Oy, Baker King – it was mostly fun but had a little bit too much makjangy silliness. Joo Won was very good though.^^
Park Seo Joon tends to have that effect on people. *g* He was totally adorable in OWW, which btw. would have been a tad too dreary without him and Han Groo.
Ah! So Hero does have some romance in it – good to know 😉 Thanks Timescout!
Forgotten gems – what a great way to put it! That’s exactly why I still tinker at that list! XD And it has yielded some gems. I would’ve never discovered All About Eve otherwise, and I did enjoy that one! Baker King is quite makjang, but it’s one of the most digestible makjangs I’ve come across. It’s not hard to keep going, whereas with many other makjang shows I’m ready to throw in the towel very fast! And yes, Joo Won IS good – all that glowering makes him so angsty!
And OMG Park Seo Joon! When I paused to work off the squee, I very nearly wanted to explode, the feels were so great! Ahhhh!! The melty power of Park Seo Joon is not to be trifled with, I realize. And you are so right. Without him and Han Groo in OWW, it WOULD be a much heavier watch. I’m VERY happy that they’re on my screen! ^^
Annyeong!!! Thank you for posting about Jun Ki and for feeding our eyes with lots of eyecandies. I first saw Jun Ki after watching My Girl but didn’t notice him that much. What piqued my interest towards him is after watching his interview at Healing Camp. The struggles and sacrifices that he have gone through just to reach his dreams is what made me admire him.
Also after knowing that there was a time when he felt so lonely, I actually registered to his website and would leave him encouraging messages everyday. 🙂
Aw, I’m so glad you enjoyed the post, ‘Eun! 😀
I haven’t seen the episode of Healing Camp, but caught a small snippet where he talks about his struggle after being betrayed by his “friend” who had offered to manage his finances. Even with that short snippet, my heart totally went out to him. He appeared to be more affected by his friend’s betrayal than the loss of the money itself. At least, that’s the impression I got. I love how candidly and openly he shares – he really doesn’t hold back, and when that open quality is combined with introspection and thoughtfulness, it can be such a revelationary experience, to watch/read interviews.
I love that you actually leave him encouraging messages on a regular basis, ‘Eun! That is so sweet of you ❤ I’m not a big enough fan to commit to something like that, so I really appreciate fans like you who shower enough love on him for the rest of us. 🙂