Lee Deok-hwa (; born May 8, 1952) is a South Korean actor. He served as 3rd chairman of Korean Film Actors Association (2009 – 2011).
Career Lee Deok-hwa studied theater and film at Dongguk University, and made his acting debut in 1972. He and his father, movie star Lee Ye-chun starred together in the 1975 horror film The Man with Two Faces.
In 1976, Lee and actress Im Ye-jin starred in Never Forget Me and I Am Really Sorry, both movies in the "Really Really" series that dealt with teenagers' aspirations and romance. They were box office hits, and hugely popular among high school students of that generation. Lee had previously acted opposite Im in Red Shoes (1975) and continued to do so in Blue Classroom (1976), I've Never Felt Like This Before (1976), Angry Apple (1977), When We Grow Up... (1977), The First Snow (1977), The Hey Days of Youth 77 (1979), and Love's Scribble (1988).
Lee received acting recognition for his subsequent films, including three Best Actor awards from the Grand Bell Awards for Lost Love (also known as In the Name of Memory, 1989), Fly High Run Far (1991), and I Will Survive (1993). Lee also became the first Korean actor to win an award at an international film festival in 1993 when he was chosen as Best Actor at the Moscow International Film Festival for I Will Survive.
On the small screen, Lee won the prestigious Daesang (or "Grand Prize") for the contemporary drama Love and Ambition (1987) and period epic Han Myung-hoe (1994). The latter is among the many real-life historical figures that Lee has played in his prolific career, including Joseon prime minister Han Myung-hoe in Han Myung-hoe (1994), Goryeo military dictator Yi Ui-min in Age of Warriors (2003), Tang dynasty general Xue Rengui in Dae Jo-yeong (2006), Goryeo military commander Gang Gam-chan in Empress Cheonchu (2009), and King Dongmyeong of Goguryeo in The King of Legend (2010).
In 2005, Lee played Chun Doo-hwan in the television drama 5th Republic, in an ongoing series on MBC about modern Korean political history. The Fifth Republic stands for the period that Chun was in power as president, depicting how he assumed power through a military coup and was forced to resign after a series of democratic movements. The drama was controversial and provoked mixed reactions. Some viewers complained that Lee's charismatic turn as Chun was an attempt to beautify or whitewash the image of the dictator, whereas former aides of Chun accused MBC of distorting history.
Later that year, Lee was reported to be the second top earner among all actors and entertainers who appeared on the KBS network in 2004, with total earnings of .
He reunited with Dae Jo Yeong writer Jang Young-chul in 2010 hit drama Giant, set during the economic boom of 1970-80s Korea. He again joined Jang's follow-up along with former co-star Lee Beom-soo in the 2012 drama History of a Salaryman. The series is set upon a quirky comedy and satire of China's Chu–Han Contention against the backdrop of the pharmaceutical industry, industrial espionage, and office politics.
In 2013, Lee received glowing reviews for his turn as King Injo in the period drama Blooded Palace: The War of Flowers, shown on cable channel jTBC. At a press conference prior to airing, Lee said, "Injo is a king who acceded to the throne due to revolutionary force. He had no philosophy of his own and was just a puppet king. It is more interesting for me to portray a king that we are unfamiliar with."
Lee also hosts variety shows, notably the Korean version of Dancing with the Stars for the past three seasons.
Other activities Lee was president of the Korea Film Actors Association in 1995, and its chairman from 2009 to 2010. He also served as festival director for the Chungmuro International Film Festival in Seoul (CHFFIS) from 2008 to 2009.
Lee ran for Congress in 1996 under the conservative New Korea Party, predecessor of the Grand National Party, but was defeated.
He actively campaigned for Lee Myung-bak during the 2007 primaries and presidential election, making speeches at sorties and taking an advisory post for the team's art and culture policy.
In 2009, Lee, Cho Jae-hyun, Choi Soo-jong, Sul Kyung-gu, Kim Hye-soo, Ahn Sung-ki and Park Joong-hoon each taught a master class in acting at the Im Kwon-taek Film and Art College of Dongseo University. All of them then waived their lecturing fees and donated the entire amount to scholarships for young actors. Lee said he willingly accepted the request to teach because he wanted to contribute to training talented film experts for the future of the Korean film industry, and that he was happy to donate his fee to that cause.
Personal life Lee's father is actor (1919–1977). His daughter is also an actress.
Filmography Film YearTitleRoleNotes/1975Red Shoes1976The Man with Two FacesNever Forget MeYoung SooLet's Talk About YouthSeven TomboysSeong Chun-hyangLee Mong-ryungBlue ClassroomI Am Really SorryTae IlI've Never Felt Like This BeforeGreen Fallen LeavesKang Min1977Angry AppleCheongYou Are the Moon, I Am the SunSeung IlWhen We Grow Up...Young SooThe First SnowKi Chul1979The Hey Days of Youth 77Kwak Du-shikWe Took the Night TrainHyukTomorrow After TomorrowGyu HwaThe Rain at NightHwang Sa Bin1981Two Sons1983Wild Scoundrels of College1984The Companion1987A Street MusicianJung Tae1988You My Rose MellowJong HwanLove's ScribbleDal Ho1989Lost LoveHappiness Does Not Come In GradesBa Gil-hwaCountry of FireBaek Chan-gyu1990I Stand EverydayJang Baek-sooThe Woman Who Walks on WaterJae Min1991Fly High Run FarHae Wol1993I Will SurviveMan Seok1994I Wish for What Is Forbidden to MeLife and Death of the Hollywood Kid1995The Rose of Sharon Blooms AgainPresident HooSupport Role1996CueMin Wook2002LessonWook KiSupport Role2006Radio Star2011Sunnycameo2013Eating Talking Faucking[Philosopher]Support Role
Television series YearTitleRoleNotes1980Ahrong-yi Darong-yi1981EmbraceLet's Love1982RegretCan't ForgetWomen's History – "Seogung Mama"Prince Gwanghae1983Portrait of YouFather and SonIn-geunSupport Role1984Love and Truth1985The Season of Men1987Love and AmbitionPark Tae-sooSupport Role1988500 Years of Joseon – "Queen Inhyeon"Jang Hee-jae1989Happy WomanPark Jae-subMigratory Bird1990The End of Love1991Do You Know Eun Ha-suYoon Ji-woonAngel Na Woon-gyu1992Ambitions on SandNo Gil-joon1993Theme Series1994Han Myung-hoeHan Myung-hoe1997Woman Next DoorLee Ho-namPromise1998Hong Gil-dongIm Sung-joongSupport RoleI Love You! I Love You!Park Jong-hwan1999WaveYoung-no's UncleMagic CastleWang Dae-sanLA Arirang2000SWAT PolicePark Tae-hyungPromiseHuh Tae-heungCheers for the Women2001Ladies of the PalaceYoon Won-hyung2002Five Brothers and SistersSupport Role2003All InKim In-dalAge of WarriorsLee Ui-min2004Into the StormKim Sung-chulSupport RoleMy Lovely FamilySong Min-subFirst Love of a Royal PrincePresident Choi Eun-chul20055th RepublicChun Doo-hwanGolden ApplePark Byung-sam Support Role2006Look Back With a SmileLee Duk-hwaDae Jo-yeongXue RenguiSupport Role2008Formidable RivalsPresident Kang Min-kookAeja's Older Sister, MinjaHan Beom-manHometown Legends – "Gisaeng House Ghost Story"Kim Won-ik (Ep. 6)2009Empress CheonchuGeneral Gang Gam-chanSupport Role2010GiantHwang Tae-sopLegend of the PatriotsPark WoongThe King of LegendKing Dong-myungsungSupport Role2011MidasKim Tae-sungSpy Myung-wolCompany President Joo2012History of a SalarymanJin Shi-hwang21st Century FamilyLee Duk-hwaMay QueenJang Do-hyunSupport Role2013King of AmbitionBaek Chang-hakBlooded Palace: The War of FlowersKing In-joSecret LoveChairman Jo Han-ilSupport RolePrime Minister & IChairman NaCameo2014Wonderful Day in OctoberLee Shin-jaeHotel KingLee Joong-goo2015My Heart Twinkle TwinkleLee Jin-samSupport RoleShine or Go CrazyWang Shik-ryumHyde Jekyll, MeGoo Myung-hanSupport RoleUnkind LadiesCameo (ep. 21–22)The Merchant: Gaekju 2015Shin Seok-joo2016MonsterHwang Jae-manSupport RoleSquad 38Chairman WangCameo2017Innocent DefendantSuspicious PartnerByun Young-heeSupport RoleHit the TopLee Soon-taeJudge vs. JudgeDo Jin-myung2018Welcome to WaikikiJoon-ki's fatherCameo (ep. 4)Nice WitchOh Pyung-panSupport Role2019Love in SadnessYoon Hyung-chul [Ma Ri's father]2021The Red SleeveKing Yeongjo2022Business ProposalChairman Kang Da-goo One Dollar Lawyer Baek Hyun-moo2023Stealer: The Treasure KeeperKim Young-sooThe Escape of the SevenBang Chil-sung 2024Jeongnyeon: The Star Is BornChae Gong-Seon's dadCameoBrewing Loveassociation chairman 2026Undercover Miss Hong Kang Pil-beom
Variety shows YearTitleNotes/1981-1984Show 20001983–1985MBC Campus Song Festival Host1985–1991Saturday Saturday is Fun1991–1992Show Seoul Seoul2010Chuseok Special: Story Show 부탁해요2011Special Feature: 7080 Idol Stars, King of Pop Singers2011–2013Dancing with the Stars2017–presentCity Fisherman Cast Member; Season 1–42021Hello TrotHost with Bae Seong-jae 2023 City Sashimi Restaurant General manager
Radio programs YearTitleNetwork1982–1984Women SalonKBS Radio 41978–1979Lee Deok-hwa and Im Ye-jin's Reckless RadioTBC Radio
Book 사람을 좋아하는 사람 이덕화 (1996)
Awards and nominations + Name of the award ceremony, year presented, category, nominee of the award, and the result of the nominationAward ceremonyYearCategoryNominee / WorkResultBaeksang Arts Awards1985Popularity Award - TVLove and Truth 1987Love and Ambition 1988Best Actor – FilmYou My Rose Mellow1992Popularity Award - FilmFly High Run Far 2022 Best Supporting Actor – Television The Red Sleeve Chunsa Film Art Awards1991Best ActorFly High Run Far1992Fly High Run Far 1993I Will Survive Grand Bell Awards1989Lost LoveMBC Drama Awards1987Grand Prize (Daesang)Love and Ambition 2005Special Award5th Republic2012Golden Acting Award - ActorMay Queen2021Best Achievement AwardThe Red Sleeve Top Excellence Award, Actor in a Miniseries Moscow International Film Festival1993Best ActorI Will Survive KBS Drama Awards1994Popularity AwardHan Myung-hoeGrand Prize (Daesang)Top Excellence Award - Actor2007Dae Jo-yeongSBS Drama Awards2010Best Supporting Actor in a Special Planning DramaGiant2012Special Award, Actor in a MiniseriesHistory of a Salaryman2014Special Award, Actor in a Drama ShortWonderful Day in October
Election results Year Elections Constituency Political party Votes (%) Results 1996 15th National Assembly General Election Gwangmyeong A (Gyeonggi) NKP 24,405 (33.30%) Defeated
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