Squid Game, Lee Jung-jae’s Private Life, Controversies, Girlfriends, Marriage, and Scandals
Lee Jung-jae’s Private Life, Controversies, Girlfriends, Marriage Plans, and Scandals
Lee Jung-jae, born on December 15, 1972, is a prominent South Korean actor who recently gained massive international attention through the global hit Squid Game. With a career spanning over three decades since his 1993 debut in the SBS drama Dinosaur Teacher, Lee has garnered both critical acclaim and public intrigue. Despite a successful filmography, his personal life and past controversies have often attracted as much attention as his on-screen roles. Below is a look at the key details of his private life, relationships, and scandals.
1. Relationship Status: Unmarried but In a Long-Term Romance
Though Lee Jung-jae is famous for remaining unmarried, he has been in a public relationship with Im Se-ryung for over a decade. As of 2025, the couple is marking approximately 11 years of dating. While Lee has occasionally expressed disinterest in tying the knot or has indicated that he lacks certainty about marriage, he and Im Se-ryung have been photographed enjoying luxurious vacations—such as their Caribbean getaway in St. Barth’s—captured by paparazzi. Im Se-ryung herself is well-known in business circles, and her relationship with Lee has consistently drawn media fascination.
2. Luxurious Lifestyle and Celebrity Connections
Lee Jung-jae’s success has afforded him a high-end lifestyle. One notable example is his residence in “La Terrasse,” a luxury villa complex in Seoul’s upscale Samseong-dong area. Interestingly, actor and longtime friend Jung Woo-sung lives on the same floor in the same complex, showcasing their close personal bond.
As for vehicles, Lee is known to own a Mercedes-Benz G-Class—famously featured in the movie The Thieves (specifically in the Busan scenes). He also posted an Instagram photo in October 2021 where he was seen driving a Porsche 964, further cementing his status as a car enthusiast.
3. Two DUI Incidents
Despite his stellar acting credentials, Lee Jung-jae’s record includes two separate drunk driving incidents that left a blemish on his career.
- First DUI (September 13, 1999):
Lee was caught driving his BMW with a blood alcohol level of 0.222%. He collided with a Daewoo Matiz carrying a young woman. Actor Jung Woo-sung was reportedly in the passenger seat. Initially, Lee denied he had been driving, claiming his manager was behind the wheel. He later admitted to the charges at the police station, resulting in a suspended license and a non-custodial indictment. - Second DUI (July 22, 2002):
Only three years after the first incident, Lee was again caught driving under the influence at a sobriety checkpoint near Cheongdam Elementary School in Seoul. At the time, he was ironically starring in an OB Lager beer commercial, creating additional public uproar. Both times, Jung Woo-sung was also present in the vehicle, leading some to debate whether Jung was liable for “abetting drunk driving.”
These repeated offenses—especially while being a public figure endorsing a beer brand—became a focal point of criticism and remain a notable part of Lee’s past controversies.
4. Outing Controversy Involving the Late Woo Jong-wan
In 2013, Lee Jung-jae gave an interview to Vogue Korea in which he mentioned a close friend “Y” who had passed away. He talked about advising this friend to “quit being gay,” implying he had tried to dissuade him from his sexuality, and he spoke openly about the friend’s struggle. Many deduced that “Y” referred to television personality Woo Jong-wan, raising accusations that Lee had effectively “outed” his late friend.
- Lee’s Perspective:
A representative stated that the interview was conducted with a sense of familiarity and comfort, as Lee, the Vogue editor, and Woo Jong-wan had all been close friends. Lee allegedly never intended for these private remarks to be published verbatim. - Public Response:
Critics condemned both Lee Jung-jae for speaking so candidly about a sensitive matter and the Vogue Korea editorial team for failing to filter out personal content that could be misinterpreted. Vogue Korea later issued a brief statement expressing regret that Lee Jung-jae’s genuine feelings for a dear friend were misconstrued.
While the controversy stirred debate about sensitivity in media interviews, many fans sympathized with Lee’s claim that his words had been taken out of context, and that the editor was also at fault for not offering discretion.
5. Additional Anecdotes: Blackpink’s Jennie and Lee Jung-jae
An interesting pop-culture tidbit links Lee Jung-jae to BLACKPINK’s Jennie. Jennie’s mother is reportedly a fan of Lee from his Sandglass days—where Lee’s character was named Baek Jae-hee. She liked the name so much that when her daughter was born, she adapted “Jae-hee” to “Jennie.” According to Jennie, when she shared this story with Lee Jung-jae, he was pleasantly surprised and seemed genuinely touched by the homage to his iconic role.
6. Career Highlights and Legacy
Despite controversies, Lee Jung-jae remains a respected actor with numerous accolades and a wide-ranging filmography that includes works like Deliver Us from Evil, New World, The Thieves, and his breakout global success Squid Game. In 2022, he received the prestigious Geumgwan (Gold Crown) Cultural Medal, further solidifying his status as a cultural icon.
As of 2025, with more than three decades in the entertainment industry, Lee continues to expand his artistic and business ventures—including co-founding Artist Company with Jung Woo-sung—while navigating the ever-present public eye on his personal life.
Final Thoughts
Lee Jung-jae’s story exemplifies the complexities of celebrity life: exceptional talent and high-profile success juxtaposed with controversies, scrutiny, and public debate. From his long-term romance with Im Se-ryung and enduring friendship with Jung Woo-sung to his past missteps and a significant outing controversy, Lee’s personal journey reflects both the pressures and privileges of superstardom. Regardless of public opinion on his private matters, he remains one of South Korea’s most influential and internationally recognized actors, contributing to the global spread of Korean pop culture and television.
