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Lee Hong-gi
South Korean singer and actor (born 1990) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Lee Hong-gi (Korean: 이홍기; born March 2, 1990), also known mononymously as Hongki, is a South Korean singer, actor, and media personality. He is best known as the front man of rock band F.T. Island. In 2015, Lee debuted as a solo artist with the releases of his first Korean extended play FM302 and his first Japanese album, AM302. As an actor, Lee started his career by starring in children drama Magic Kid Masuri (2002). He later successfully transitioned to adult role and participated in various television dramas, notably You're Beautiful (2009) and A Korean Odyssey (2017). He started a YouTube career by launching personal channel Honggi Jonggi in April 2022.
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Acting career
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 | This section needs to be updated. (May 2020) |
Before Lee Hong-gi debuted as a singer with the band F.T. Island, he was a child actor, making his acting debut in 2002 with KBS2 TV series Magic Kid Masuri as Masuri's friend Kim Ji-hoon.[3] This children drama gained popularity among elementary school students during its run. He was also featured in EBS children drama Kkangsooni, where he played the character of Eo Soo-bong, and sang for the drama's OST.
In 2008, he was offered the lead role in Master of Study, the Korean adaptation of Japanese drama Dragon Zakura. Master of Study should have aired in the beginning of 2009 but due to preproduction difficulties, the drama was postponed to the beginning of 2010 which led FNC Entertainment to refuse Lee's role because of his busy schedule with the band.
Lee then played Lysander in a Korean musical theatre version of A Midsummer Night's Dream,[3] where he showcased his singing, acting and dancing skills. In 2009, after a five-year break, he made his acting comeback and took the role of the quirky but loveable drummer Jeremy in You're Beautiful.[4] To promote the drama, he also contributed solo tracks to the OST, such as "Promise" and "Still/As Ever."[5][unreliable source?] He received a New Star Award at the 2009 SBS Drama Awards for his performance. You're Beautiful recorded modest ratings in South Korea, but it became an international success and with it, Lee's worldwide popularity increased.
In April 2011, Lee starred in the TBS Japanese drama Muscle Girl! opposite Yui Ichikawa.[6][unreliable source?] This was followed by a 90-minute Korean-Japanese co-production titled Noriko Goes to Seoul, in which he played a young aspiring singer who meets an older woman (Takashima Reiko) who inspires him through hardships to achieve his dream.[7]
In June 2013, he made his big screen debut in the movie Rockin' on Heaven's Door (Korean title: Passionate Goodbye), with Baek Jin-hee, in which Lee portrayed as a rebellious music star who is sent to work in a hospice.[8][9]
Lee began filming Bride of the Century with Yang Jin-sung. He went on a four-week rest after he dislocated his shoulder and suffered facial fractures during December 2013.[10][11] He resumed shooting in January 2014, and the drama aired that February.[12][13]
Lee also starred in SBS Modern Farmer alongside Park Min-woo, Lee Ha-nui, and others. The drama aired from October 18, 2014, to December 21, 2014, at 20:40 on Saturdays and Sundays.
Lee Hong-gi was cast in the musical Sugar, an adaptation of the 1959 film Some Like It Hot. He plays Joe (Josephine), a saxophonist who disguises himself as a woman after witnessing a gang murder. The show runs at the KEPCO Art Center Grand Theater in Seoul from December 12, 2025, to February 22, 2026.[14]
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Music career
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F.T. Island
In 2007, Lee debuted in the band F.T. Island as the lead singer. He can also rap and beatbox.
Lee decided to pursue a career in singing after he starred in Kkangsooni, for which he sang a song for the soundtrack. At the end of the drama, he performed the song live on stage. He was 13 years old at that time. Impressed by his powerful vocal ability, a few music agents approached him, not wishing to waste his talent for singing. Then-fledgling label company FNC Music signed Lee and fully trained him to become the lead singer of F.T. Island.
Solo debut
In 2015, Lee announced through social media that he was working on both a Korean and Japanese album, which was released in November and December respectively.[15][unreliable source?] The mini Korean album was revealed to be FM302, and the album was released on November 18, 2015,[16] while the Japanese album was revealed to be AM302, and it was released on December 9, 2015.[17] 'FM302' combines the radio terminology frequency modulation (FM) with Lee's birthday which is on March 2, to create the effect of his own radio frequency that resonates his music across the world. The title song "Insensible" is a ballad track and it tells the sad story of a man who is unable to forget his previous love. The music video was published on November 18, 2015.[18][unreliable source?] The lead actress of the music video is actress Park Shin-hye.[19] Prior to his official music video release, a showcase was organized.[20][unreliable source?] Upon the release of FM302, it topped both Naver's real-time search chart, as well as Hanteo sales chart. The album still retained its position next week, selling more than 19,000 albums within two weeks. Moreover, six days after the release of the album, Lee won first place on SBS MTV's The Show for the first time.[21][unreliable source?] The album charted at No. 2 on Gaon Chart's national physical albums ranking, as well as No. 5 on the Gaon Social Chart in the 3rd week of November.[22][unreliable source?]
On the other hand, the music video for the lead single of the Japanese album AM302, "モノローグ (Monologue)", was published on November 11, 2015, on F.T. Island's Official Japanese YouTube channel. The Japanese album contained some tracks from the Korean album FM302, but was translated into Japanese. The album is also available in three different sets, namely, the original version, Primadonna version (for fans), and the limited edition DVD version.[23] Upon release, it charted at #4 in the Oricon charts.[citation needed]
Soundtrack appearances
Lee has sung many OSTs for different dramas such as You're Beautiful, Heartstrings and The Heirs.
On May 21, 2015, Dal Shabet's official YouTube channel uploaded a video titled "Joker" in Rock Version. The video was a collaboration with Lee and Subin singing Joker in rock version.[24][unreliable source?] It was believed that the two decided on a collaboration when Lee and Subin met on Hello Counselor.
Compositions and lyric-writing
In recent years, Lee has also begun composing music, contributing the songs "Black Chocolate" and "Orange Sky" to F.T. Island's Japanese album Rated FT, as well as the title track "Memory" and the song "Always With You" on F.T. Island's Korean mini-album Thanks To, "Siren" from their album The Mood and title song "Wind" from their album Over 10 Years .[25][26][unreliable source?] He also composed Japanese songs "On My Way", "Just Please" and "Born to be a Rock n Roller".[citation needed]
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Personal life
Lee was enrolled in Kyunghee University studying theatre and film.[3]
Lee started his own fashion brand 'Skullhong' in June 2014. He designs accessories, jewelry and various nail products.[27][unreliable source?] It was originally based in Seoul, but has since expanded its business to Hong Kong, and Tokyo, Japan.[28][unreliable source?]
On September 30, 2019, Lee began his mandatory military service, becoming the first F.T. Island member to enlist.[29][unreliable source?] Lee was discharged on April 18, 2021.[30]
Philanthropy
In August 2012, Lee, Jung Yong-hwa, and Park Shin-hye served as surprise guests at a fundraising event called 'Hopes, Dreams, Happy Trip to Korea' organized by the non-profit organization 'Good Friends Save Children' (GFSC). They met with 80 victims of the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami, who were students and staff from Ogatsu Middle School in Ishinomaki, Miyagi Prefecture. They provided gifts and offered words of encouragement.[31][32]
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Discography
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Studio albums
Extended plays
Singles
Soundtrack appearances
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Filmography
Television series
Film
Variety show
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Radio show
Musical theatre
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Bibliography
Awards and nominations
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References
External links
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