1. Early Life and Background
Lee Tae-gon's early life was marked by his birthplace in Daejeon, South Korea, and his academic pursuits in physical education before transitioning into the entertainment industry.
1.1. Birth and Upbringing
Lee Tae-gon was born on November 27, 1977, in Daejeon, South Korea. He has two older sisters. Physically, he stands at 73 in (185 cm) tall and weighs 168 lb (76 kg), with a B blood type.
1.2. Education
Lee Tae-gon completed his elementary education at Seoul Gaepo Elementary School and his middle school studies at Jungdong Middle School. He then attended Dankook University Affiliated High School. He pursued higher education at Kyonggi University, where he majored in physical education with a specialization in swimming. He furthered his studies at Kyonggi University's Graduate School of Culture and Arts, earning a Master's degree in performing arts. He fulfilled his military service as an assistant.
1.3. Pre-Debut Career
Before embarking on his acting journey, Lee Tae-gon worked as a swimming instructor, leveraging his academic background in physical education and his expertise in swimming. In 1998, he debuted as a fashion model, having received training from actor Gong Jung-hwan. He also engaged in various advertising modeling activities during this period.
2. Acting Career
Lee Tae-gon officially began his acting career in 2005 and has since become a prominent figure in South Korean television, starring in numerous dramas and making appearances in a variety of television shows.
2.1. Debut
Lee Tae-gon made his official television acting debut in 2005 with the SBS weekend drama Dear Heaven, where he played the lead role of Gu Wang-mo, starring alongside Yoon Jung-hee. This role brought him initial recognition as an actor. Following the success of Dear Heaven, he was cast in the SBS historical drama Yeon Gae Somun in 2006, portraying the young adult version of the titular character from the 9th or 10th episode onwards.
2.2. Television Dramas
Lee Tae-gon has appeared in a variety of television dramas, often taking on significant roles. His notable works include:
- Dear Heaven (SBS, 2005) as Gu Wang-mo
- Yeon Gae Somun (SBS, 2006) as young adult Yeon Gae Somun
- Winter Bird (MBC, 2007) as Jung Do-hyun
- Detective Mr. Lee (MegaTV, 2008) as Lee Han
- My Life's Golden Age (MBC, 2008) as Park Dong-hwan
- Assorted Gems (also known as Jewel Bibimbap) (MBC, 2009) as Seo Yeong-guk
- Golden Fish (MBC, 2010) as Lee Tae-young
- Gwanggaeto, The Great Conqueror (KBS1, 2011) as Dam Deok/King Gwanggaeto the Great
- One Well-Raised Daughter (SBS, 2013) as Han Yoo-chan / Seol Yoo-chan
- Love (ft. Marriage and Divorce) (TV Chosun, 2021) as Shin Yoo-shin (appeared in Season 1 and Season 2)
2.3. Television Shows and Variety Appearances
Beyond his acting roles, Lee Tae-gon has been a frequent presence on various television and variety shows, showcasing his diverse personality and interests.
- Knee-Drop Guru (MBC, 2010) - Guest
- Strong Heart (SBS, 2010) - Guest
- Law of the Jungle in Siberia (SBS, 2012) - Cast member (Ep. 23-28)
- Mom is in the Landscape, Mamado (KBS2, 2013) - Cast member
- I Live Alone (MBC, 2014) - Cast member (Ep. 69-111)
- Law of the Jungle in Brunei (SBS, 2015) - Cast member (Ep. 175-177)
- Law of the Jungle in Papua New Guinea (SBS, 2016) - Cast member (Ep. 216-219)
- Battle Trip (KBS2, 2017) - Contestant with Kangnam (Ep. 65-67). For his appearance on Battle Trip, he obtained a scuba diving license for the underwater museum in Cancun, Mexico.
- Law of the Jungle in Fiji (SBS, 2017) - Cast member (Ep. 288-292)
- Radio Star (MBC, 2017, 2021) - Guest (Ep. 525 in 2017)
- Please Take Care of My Refrigerator (JTBC, 2017) - Guest
- A Man Who Feeds The Dog Season 2 (Channel A, 2017) - Cast member
- 7th and 8th Cue (MBC Sports+, 2018)
- Law of the Jungle in Northern Mariana Islands (SBS, 2018) - Cast member (Ep. 349-452)
- Legendary Big Fish (SBS, 2019)
- Law of the Jungle in Chuuk (SBS, 2019)
- Soomi's Side Dishes (tvN, 2020)
- City Fisherman (Channel A, 2020)
- Sword War (tvN, 2021)
- Love (ft. Marriage and Divorce) (TV Chosun, 2021) - Shin Yu-shin
- Dolsing Fourmen (SBS, 2022)
- Fan Heart Contest (KBS2, 2022) - Host, alongside Park Mi-sun and Jang Min-ho
- Stars' Top Recipe at Fun-Staurant (KBS2, 2022) - Cast member
- Trust Me and Follow Me, Urban Fishermen 4 (Channel A, 2022) - Cast member
- Middle Class 4 (KBS1, 2022-2023) - Host, marking his first time hosting a current affairs and educational program.
- City Sashimi Restaurant (2023) - Chef
- House Husband 2 (KBS2, 2024)
3. Awards and Nominations
Lee Tae-gon has received several awards and nominations throughout his career, recognizing his performances in both dramas and variety shows.
| Year | Award Ceremony | Category | Work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | SBS Drama Awards | New Star Award | Dear Heaven | Won |
| 2006 | 4th Korea Fashion World Awards | Best Dresser Award (Talent Category) | Won | |
| 2010 | MBC Drama Awards | PD Award | Golden Fish | Won |
| 2011 | 19th Korean Culture & Entertainment Awards | Arts News Award | Won | |
| 19th Korean Culture & Entertainment Awards | Drama Division Acting Grand Prize | Gwanggaeto, The Great Conqueror | Won | |
| KBS Drama Awards | Excellence Award, Actor in a Serial Drama | Won | ||
| 2014 | SBS Drama Awards | Excellence Award, Actor in a Serial Drama | One Well-Raised Daughter | Nominated |
| 2019 | SBS Entertainment Awards | Best Challenger Award | Law of the Jungle | Won |
| 2009 | MBC Drama Awards | Best Couple Award | Assorted Gems | Nominated (with Go Na-eun) |
| 2010 | MBC Drama Awards | Top Excellence Award, Actor | Golden Fish | Nominated |
| MBC Drama Awards | Grand Prize | Nominated | ||
| 2011 | KBS Drama Awards | Top Excellence Award, Actor | Gwanggaeto, The Great Conqueror | Nominated |
4. Other Activities
In addition to his acting career, Lee Tae-gon has been involved in various non-acting professional endeavors, including advertising and business.
He has been an advertising model for numerous brands, including Hyundai Marine & Fire Insurance (2002), Korea Investment & Securities (2003), SK Telecom (2003), Korea Tourism Organization (2004), GM Daewoo (2004), Dong-A Pharmaceutical's Bacchus (2004), Shinhan Financial Group (2005), Lotte Confectionery's Xylitol Hyva (2005), Anguk Pharmaceutical's Tobicom S (2006), Fashion Group Hyungji's 'Will be' (2018), Buffalo's 'Aomax' (2018), and Cowell Fashion's fishing outdoor brand 'FTV' (2018). In 2009, he served as a Green Public Relations Ambassador for KICC. Lee Tae-gon is also reported to be managing two companies.
5. Personal Interests and Hobbies
Lee Tae-gon is known for his diverse personal interests and hobbies, which he often shares publicly. He is an avid fisherman, frequently catching large breams. His other hobbies include golf, riding, and swimming. He is also noted for his interest in physiognomy and the Chinese zodiac. In 2013, he released a photo book titled "Actor, and a Journey with an Unknown Me," which featured photographs taken in Italy and included a making-of DVD.
