Tale of the Nine Tailed drama poster. Photo: TVN/Handout
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https://scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3108638/my-girl-k-drama-star-lee-dong-wook-returns-our-screens Celebrities
My Girl K-drama star Lee Dong-wook returns to our screens in Twilight-style Tale of the Nine Tailed, but what makes Bae Suzy’s ex-boyfriend so popular?
The Guardian: The Lonely and Great God star is a charismatic talk show host, best friend to fellow actor Gong Yoo, and a loving brother – here are 5 things you didn’t know about Lee Dong-wook as he turns 39
Lee Dong-wook channelling Robert Pattinson in new drama Tale of the Nine Tailed. Photo: TVN/Handout
Lee Dong-wook is finally back on our screens in Tale of the Nine Tailed. In the drama, which has more than a hint of Twilight about it, our hero plays an immortal, supernatural gumiho (nine tailed fox) who falls for a human (played by Jo Bo-ah), but must wait for her to be reincarnated.
As he celebrates his 39th birthday, we take a look at the many charming sides of Lee.
He’s a great talk show host
He’s got the looks, he’s got the charisma and he’s got the eloquence. With these qualities, it comes as no surprise that Lee had his own talk show called Wook Talk (a.k.a Because I Want to Talk) that wrapped up this past February.
Since Lee is a natural conversationalist and good listener, audiences regularly tuned in, especially to watch the bromance between him and his best friend, famous actor Gong Yoo. And that wasn’t his only on screen hosting experience. He also previously emceed for Produce X 101 – a boy band survival reality show – and co-hosted the star-studded Strong Heart talk show.
He has Siberian ancestry
In one episode of Wook Talk, guest Yoo Sung-ho, a forensics professor, revealed that Lee’s DNA test showed a gene found in many Koryaks and Khakas in Siberia. It’s a very rare result, since only one per cent of Koreans share this gene. The surprising result caught Lee off guard. He was also happy when the professor told him he had the “body age” of a 32-year-old.
He once dated Bae Suzy
[BREAKING] Suzy & Lee Dong Wook Confirmed to Have Broken Up#Suzy #수지 #LeeDongWook #이동욱
▶https://t.co/pYy71Ua6sV pic.twitter.com/6k1PIdjg9m— SBS Star (@SBS_star) July 2, 2018
Both at the top of their game, the news that Lee was dating the much-loved K-pop idol and actress 13 years his junior became the hot topic of 2018. Sadly, their relationship ended just four months after they went public as a result of their busy schedules, according to their agents.
He enjoys doing the laundry
In an interview with Esquire Korea in 2019, Lee shared that his “small joy in life” is doing laundry and cleaning on his day off because he likes things to be organised and polished. In fact, he appears to be something of a laundry pro, declaring that certain rules couldn’t be breached: sort your clothing into colours and categories before washing, don’t use fabric softener, and add a drop of vinegar or baking soda.
He’s close with his sister
Lee’s bond with his sister is well known as he often mentions her on his talk shows. The pair even appear on reality programmes together. In a clip from Healing Camp in 2011, the actor shared how he felt sorry for his sister because while he was able to live with their parents in Seoul, she was forced to live in a rural town due to the family’s financial difficulties when they were young.
In reality talk show Taxi in 2013, he also described how he paid for his sister’s college tuition and wedding expenses. Another sweet, teary eyed moment came when – on another episode of Healing Camp – his sister said in a video message: “I’m really happy these days and I know it’s because we have you. I hope you live for yourself too, not only for the family.”