Lee Chae-min

Lee Chae-min, born on September 15, 2000, is a South Korean actor who began attracting wider attention through television dramas in the early 2020s. He made his acting debut in the 2021 JTBC series High Class, in which he appeared as An Seung-jo. The mystery drama centered on wealthy mothers connected to an international school and starred Cho Yeo-jeong, Kim Ji-soo, Park Se-jin, and Gong Hyun-joo.

In 2022, Lee joined the cast of KBS2’s sports-and-youth drama Love All Play. He played Lee Ji-ho, a member of the badminton team at Yunis, alongside Park Ju-hyun and Chae Jong-hyeop. The series followed professional badminton players balancing competition, team dynamics, injuries, ambitions, and relationships. That same year, he appeared in the television drama Crash Course in Romance, a major ratings success for tvN. Lee portrayed Lee Seon-jae, one of the high-school students preparing for university entrance examinations at the private academy run by the celebrated mathematics instructor Choi Chi-yeol, played by Jung Kyung-ho.

Crash Course in Romance, which aired from January to March 2023, placed Lee within an ensemble of young performers playing students under intense academic pressure. His character was linked to the drama’s depiction of South Korea’s competitive private-education culture, known as “hagwon” education. The series also starred Jeon Do-yeon as Nam Haeng-seon, a former national handball player who becomes involved with Choi Chi-yeol.

Later in 2023, Lee appeared in tvN’s fantasy romance See You in My 19th Life as Kang Min-gi. The drama, adapted from Lee Hye’s webtoon of the same name, follows Ban Ji-eum, a woman who remembers all of her past lives and seeks people connected to her previous incarnation. Lee’s character becomes part of the series’ mystery involving remembered lives, fate, and long-standing connections.

Lee’s first leading role in a Netflix series came with Hierarchy, released on June 7, 2024. He played Kang Ha, a transfer student entering Jooshin High School, an elite institution dominated by privileged heirs. Kang Ha’s arrival disrupts the school’s established power structure as he investigates the circumstances surrounding his older brother’s death. The series co-starred Roh Jeong-eui, Kim Jae-won, Ji Hye-won, and Lee Won-jung.

Beyond acting, Lee was a Music Bank host. He began presenting KBS2’s weekly music program in September 2022 with IVE member Jang Won-young. After her departure, he co-hosted with LE SSERAFIM’s Hong Eun-chae. Lee left the program in May 2024, ending a tenure that accompanied his rise from supporting television roles to leading a Netflix youth drama.