Lee Young Hoon was born in Gwangju, South Korea. He began his acting career after joining the MBC Academy while in still high school.
Future actors Jo In Seong and Lee So Yeon were his peers.
In 2001, the 19 year-old was cast by Leesong Hee Il for his short film “Good Romance”. Once filming ended, he entered Suwon Science College as a drama major, performing onstage there for the duration of his studies.
Upon his discharge from military service, his former director cast him in the independent film “No Regret”, It became somewhat of a ground- breaking film for its realistic portrayal of a gay man working in the male host industry. It was widely praised by critics and screened to packed houses at the 2006 Busan International Film Festival.
While Young Hoon found the role difficult to play, as it had been four years since his last acting gig, he was presented with the Best Newcomer Award by the Korea Film Critics Society at the Critic’s Choice Awards.
In 2008, he appeared in his first major commercial film “The Guard Post”, and the romance drama “Ride Away”.
