Lee Eon

This is a Korean name; the family name is Park. In stage/pen name, the surname is Lee.
Lee Eon
Born Park Sang-min
5 February 1981
South Korea
Died 21 August 2008 (aged 27)
Hannam-dong, Seoul, South Korea
Occupation Actor, model
Years active 1999–2008
Korean name
Hangul 이언
Revised Romanization I Eon
McCune–Reischauer I Ǒn
Birth name
Hangul 박상민
Revised Romanization Bak Sang-min
McCune–Reischauer Pak Sang-min

Lee Eon (5 February 1981 – 21 August 2008) was a South Korean actor and model.

Early life and career

Lee Eon was born Park Sang-min on 5 February 1981. Lee began practicing ssireum while in elementary school, going on to win gold medals at Korean national ssireum competitions in 1997 and 1998. As a freshman at university, he was inspired by Cha Seung-won to become a model, and after losing 30 kg (66 lb) made his debut at a fashion show in Busan in 1999. His later fashion show appearances included the Seoul Fashion Artists Association Collection.[1]

Lee branched out into acting, making his film debut in 2006;[2] he played a ssireum wrestler in Like a Virgin, putting his skills to good use and helping lead actor Ryu Deok-hwan learn the moves.[3] He later appeared in the 2007 hit drama series Coffee Prince, and made his final appearance in KBS period drama Strongest Chil Woo.[2]

Death

Lee died in a motorcycle accident on 21 August 2008. He had been riding home from a party celebrating the airing of the last episode of Strongest Chil Woo, when his motorcycle hit the guardrail of an overpass in Hannam-dong, Seoul, at around 2 a.m. He died at the scene from a broken neck and was taken to the nearby Soonchunhyang University Hospital.[1][2] Many of his colleagues attended his funeral, including Gong Yoo, his co-star in Coffee Prince, who took leave from his military service to hold Lee's memorial tablet in the procession to the grave site.[4]

Filmography

Year Title Role
2006 Like a Virgin Park Joon-woo
2007 When Spring Comes (TV) Gi-dong
Coffee Prince (TV) Hwang Min-yeop
2008 Who Are You? (TV) Kwon Yong-deok
Strongest Chil Woo (TV) Ja-ja

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Nominated work Result
2007 1st Korea Drama Awards Most Popular Actor
Coffee Prince
Won
MBC Drama Awards Best New Actor Nominated

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Garcia, Cathy Rose A. "Actor Dies in Motorbike Accident". The Korea Times, 21 August 2008. Retrieved on 19 November 2008.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "BRIEFLY: Model-turned-actor Lee Eon dies". Hancinema, 22 August 2008; originally published by The Korea Herald. Retrieved on 19 November 2008.
  3. ↑ "Ryu: 'No answer to understanding how women think'". Korea JoongAng Daily, 21 August 2006. Retrieved on 19 November 2008.
  4. ↑ "Stars show up at Lee Eon's funeral". Hancinema, 23 August 2008. Retrieved on 19 November 2008.

External links