Im Won-hee (Korean임원희; born October 11, 1970) is a South Korean actor. Im was an alumnus of the legendary Daehak-ro theater troupe Mokhwa (목화), starring in many of Jang Jin's stage plays. He made his film debut in Jang's black comedy The Happenings in 1998, and through the years has become one of the most versatile supporting actors in Korean cinema, with notable roles in Three... Extremes and Le Grand Chef.[2] But Im is best known for his iconic role Dachimawa Lee,[3] which began in 2000 as the title character of a 35-minute short film that director Ryoo Seung-wan made as a parody/homage to '70s Korean genre action films.[4] The internet short was enormously popular and received more than a million page views, and in 2008, Ryoo again cast Im in an action-comedy feature film based on the same character, Dachimawa Lee.[5][6]

Im Won-hee
Im Won-hee in September 2019
Born (1970-10-11) October 11, 1970 (age 54)
OccupationActor
Years active1995–present
AgentGen Stars
Korean name
Hangul
임원희
Revised RomanizationIm Won-hui
McCune–ReischauerIm Wŏnhŭi

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
1998 The Happenings gangster 1
1999 The Spy taxi hijacker 3
2000 Die Bad Detective Lee
Dachimawa Lee Dachimawa Lee short film
Taxi of Terror policeman 1
Coming Out tutor short film
2001 Guns & Talks priest
This Is Law Bong Soo-chul
2002 No Blood No Tears Haepari ("jellyfish")
Fun Movie Hwangbo
No Comment theater exam taker / national assembly member 1
2003 Silmido Won-hee
2004 Three... Extremes intruder short film
Lovely Rivals man in TV drama cameo
2005 Crying Fist Won-tae[7][8]
2007 Happy Killing Du-chan
Punch Strike Kwang-gyun
M Sung-woo
Le Grand Chef Bong-joo
2008 Dachimawa Lee Dachimawa Lee
2009 Short! Short! Short! 2009: Show Me the Money [9] short film "Neo Liberal Man"
2010 Miss Staff Sergeant Wang Jong-pal
A Barefoot Dream Director Poong
The Quiz Show Scandal Lee Joon-sang
2011 Romantic Heaven Detective Kim
Officer of the Year Ph.D Ko[10]
Mr. Idol Park Sang-shik
2012 I Am the King Hae-goo[11]
2013 Happiness for Sale man at city hall stealing coins cameo
Rockin' on Heaven's Door Bong-shik[12]
Horror Stories 2 teacher short film "The Escape"
My Dear Girl, Jin-young gynecologist cameo
2015 Makgeolli Girls Jang-ddol
Three Summer Nights Dal-soo
The Advocate: A Missing Body Office manager Park
2017 Along With the Gods: The Two Worlds Judge
2018 Snatch Up Loan shark Baek
Along with the Gods: The Last 49 Days Judge
Passing Summer Jung-bong
2019 The Skill of Remarriage Kyung Ho
Forbidden Dream Im Hyo-don[13]
2020 Collectors Sabdari / Shovel Leg[14]
2022 Reverse Sang Ho[15] Sound film
2024 Handsome Guys Lee Won-hee Special appearance[16]

Television series

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Year Title Role Notes
2006 Coma Detective Choi[17][18]
2010 Legend of the Patriots Kim Joon-beom
2011 Drama Special: Lethal Move Jong-man
2012 Salamander Guru and The Shadows Won-sam
Syndrome Oh Gwang-hee
2013 Dating Agency: Cyrano Kim Chul-soo cameo, ep 10-12
2014 You're All Surrounded Cha Tae-ho
2016–2023 Dr. Romantic Jang Gi-tae[19] Season 1–3
2016–2017 The Legend of the Blue Sea Doctor cameo, ep 19
2017 Strong Girl Bong-soon Baek Soo-tak
Drama Stage: History of Walking Upright Mi-Na's father
2018 Where Stars Land gift shop employee cameo, ep 17
Wok of Love Wang Chun-soo[20]
Room No. 9 Bang Sang-soo[21]
2019 Chief of Staff Go Seok-man[22] Season 1–2
Melting Me Softly Son Hyun-ki
2020 Drama Special: Modern Girl viscount
2021 Dark Hole Park Soon-il
2021–2022 Moonshine Hwang So-yoo[23]
2022 Crazy Love Park Tae-yang[24]
From Now On, Showtime! God of heaven cameo, ep 16

Web series

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Year Title Role Notes
2021 Move to Heaven Oh Hyun-chang
So Not Worth It Mr. Crane cameo, ep 4
The Witch's Diner Goo Hyo-sik[25] cameo

Variety show

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Year Title Role
2013 Gag Concert "Discoveries in Life" sketch
2013–2014 Law of the Jungle in Micronesia Cast member
2014 Law of the Jungle in Borneo
I Am a Man
2015 Real Men – Season 2[26]
2018–present My Little Old Boy
2021–present Dolsing Fourmen[27] Host

Theater

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Awards and nominations

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Name of the award ceremony, year presented, category, nominee of the award, and the result of the nomination
Award ceremony Year Category Nominee / Work Result Ref.
Blue Dragon Film Awards 2008 Best Supporting Actor Le Grand Chef Nominated
SBS Drama Awards 2016 Special Award, Actor in a Genre Drama Dr. Romantic Nominated
2018 Best Supporting Actor Wok of Love Won [28]
SBS Entertainment Awards 2018 Best Entertainer Award My Little Old Boy Won [29][30]
2020 Best Couple Award with Jung Suk-yong My Little Old Boy Won [31]
2021 Grand Prize (Daesang) [note 1] My Little Old Boy Won [32]
Excellence Award in Talk/ Variety Category My Little Old Boy, Dolsing Fourmen Won
2022 Scene Stealer Award Won [33]

Notes

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References

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  1. ^ 임원희. Cinefox (씨네폭스) (in Korean). Archived from the original on 2023-12-15. Retrieved 2023-12-15.
  2. ^ "Le Grand Chef depicts story of talented cook". The Korea Herald via Hancinema. 6 November 2006. Archived from the original on 2018-08-29. Retrieved 2013-07-03.
  3. ^ Yi, Chang-ho (19 December 2008). "JUN Ji-hyun and SUL Kyung-gu portrayed greatest characters". Korean Film Council. Archived from the original on 2023-08-01. Retrieved 2013-07-03.
  4. ^ "K-FILM REVIEWS: 다찌마와 리 (Dajjimawa Lee)". Twitch Film. 7 March 2006. Archived from the original on 28 December 2013. Retrieved 2013-07-03.
  5. ^ D'Sa, Nigel (23 January 2008). "RYOO Seung-wan Remakes Short into Feature". Korean Film Council. Archived from the original on 2023-08-01. Retrieved 2013-07-03.
  6. ^ Yang, Sung-jin (14 August 2008). "Dachimawa Lee breaks new ground in comedy". The Korea Herald. Archived from the original on 2023-08-01. Retrieved 2013-07-03.
  7. ^ "K-FILM REVIEWS: 주먹이 운다 (Crying Fist)". Twitch Film. 22 August 2005. Archived from the original on 20 July 2014. Retrieved 2013-07-03.
  8. ^ Kim, Kyu Hyun (7 February 2006). "Crying Fist DVD Review: Ryoo Seung Wan's latest shows his growth as a filmmaker". OhmyNews International. Archived from the original on 2015-07-13. Retrieved 2013-07-03.
  9. ^ Lee, Hyo-won (3 September 2009). "Money Comes Up Rather Short". The Korea Times. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2013-07-03.
  10. ^ Lee, Hyo-won (28 April 2011). "Arrest gives '90s comedy zesty spin". The Korea Times. Archived from the original on 2012-10-03. Retrieved 2013-07-03.
  11. ^ Lee, Tae-ho (30 July 2012). "Ju Ji-hoon says "I met director every single day to act out beggar and king"". TenAsia. Archived from the original on 30 March 2014. Retrieved 2013-07-03.
  12. ^ Sunwoo, Carla (24 May 2013). "Not all is grim when the reaper pays a visit". Korea JoongAng Daily. Archived from the original on 2014-03-01. Retrieved 2013-07-03.
  13. ^ "LIM Won-hee, KIM Won-hae and YOON Je-moon Join ASTRONOMY". Korean Film Biz Zone. October 31, 2018. Archived from the original on November 12, 2020. Retrieved November 22, 2018.
  14. ^ "Collectors (Korean Movie – 2019) - 도굴". HanCinema. Archived from the original on 2023-09-20. Retrieved 2020-10-27.
  15. ^ Kim Na-yeon (April 18, 2022). 이선빈X이준혁 약혼자 된다..오디오 무비 '리버스' 캐스팅 확정 [공식] [Lee Sun-bin X Lee Jun-hyeok become fiancee.. Audio movie 'Reverse' casting confirmed [Official]] (in Korean). MT Star News. Archived from the original on November 12, 2020. Retrieved April 18, 2022 – via Naver.
  16. ^ Jo Yeon-kyung (June 11, 2024). 아수라장 B급 장르의 진수 '핸섬가이즈' 美친 영화의 탄생(종합) [The Essence of the B-Movie Genre, 'Handsome Guys', the Birth of a Crazy Movie (Comprehensive)]. JTBC (in Korean). Archived from the original on June 27, 2024. Retrieved July 3, 2024 – via Naver.
  17. ^ "OCN broadcasts its second made-for-TV film COMA". KoreaContent.org via Hancinema. 12 July 2006. Archived from the original on 2023-08-01. Retrieved 2013-07-03.
  18. ^ Giammarco, Tom (10 January 2010). "Coma 3: The Necklace (2005)". Seen in Jeonju. Archived from the original on 2013-09-10. Retrieved 2013-07-03.
  19. ^ Hyun Jung-min (November 2, 2022). 임원희, '낭만닥터 김사부3' 합류…한석규와 다시 호흡 [Im Won-hee joins 'Romantic Doctor, Teacher Kim 3'... Breathe again with Han Suk-kyu] (in Korean). Sports World. Archived from the original on November 2, 2022. Retrieved November 2, 2022 – via Naver.
  20. ^ [공식입장] '기름진 멜로' 임원희 출연 확정, 장혁X정려원과 호흡. Korea Daily (in Korean). April 4, 2018. Archived from the original on June 12, 2018. Retrieved June 7, 2018.
  21. ^ '나인룸' 김재화X정원중X임원희X정연주X강신일, 명품 신스틸러 총출동. Naver (in Korean). MK News. August 17, 2018. Archived from the original on September 5, 2018. Retrieved September 5, 2018.
  22. ^ Kim, Ju-won (March 29, 2019). [공식] '보좌관' 정진영, 김갑수, 정웅인, 임원희..명품 조연 군단 캐스팅 확정. Sedaily (in Korean). Archived from the original on February 23, 2023. Retrieved April 8, 2019.
  23. ^ Kim Na-kyung (May 7, 2021). 장광→임원희 '꽃 피면 달 생각하고' 합류, 명품 배우들 총 출동 [Jang Kwang → Lim Won-hee joins 'Thinking of the Moon When Flowers Bloom', all luxury actors are dispatched]. The Korea Economic Daily (in Korean). Archived from the original on May 7, 2021. Retrieved May 7, 2021.
  24. ^ Lee Kyung-ho (February 11, 2022). 크레이지러브' 김재욱X정수정, 달콤살벌 재미 예고..3월 7일 첫방 [Crazy Love' Kim Jae-wook X Jung Su-jeong, preview of sweet and bloody fun... First airing on March 7th] (in Korean). Star News. Archived from the original on March 9, 2022. Retrieved February 11, 2022 – via Naver.
  25. ^ Hong Se-young (July 15, 2021). 송지효X남지현X채종협 '마녀식당' 인물관계도 공개 [Song Ji-hyo X Nam Ji-hyun X Chae Jong-hyeop's 'Witch's Restaurant' character relationship revealed]. Naver (in Korean). Sports Donga. Archived from the original on July 23, 2021. Retrieved July 23, 2021.
  26. ^ Kim, Jae-heun (March 11, 2015). "Real Men 2 returns with more reality". The Korea Times. Archived from the original on 2015-04-04. Retrieved 2015-04-02.
  27. ^ Lee Seung-gil (June 28, 2021). 탁재훈·임원희·이상민·김준호, 돌싱예능 '신발 벗고 돌싱포맨' 나온다 [공식] [Jae-Hoon Tak, Won-Hee Lim, Sang-Min Lee, Jun-Ho Kim, dolsing entertainment 'Shoes off, Stone for Man' is out [Official]]. mydaily (in Korean). Naver. Archived from the original on October 3, 2023. Retrieved June 28, 2021.
  28. ^ Lee, Jihyun (January 1, 2019). [SBS 연기대상] 감우성·김선아, 공동 대상..베스트 커플상까지(종합) [[SBS Drama Awards] Gam Woo-sung, Kim Sun-ah, co- grand prize.. Best Couple Award (Comprehensive)]. News1 (in Korean). Archived from the original on December 31, 2018. Retrieved June 26, 2020.
  29. ^ OSEN (2018-12-29). '반전의 대상' 받은 배우..올해의 프로그램 '미우새'(종합)[2018 SBS연예대상]. mosen.mt.co.kr (in Korean). Archived from the original on 2018-12-29. Retrieved 2018-12-29.
  30. ^ [종합] 'SBS 연예대상' 이승기 대상…김종국♡홍진영 베스트커플상. sports.donga.com (in Korean). 29 December 2018. Archived from the original on 2018-12-29. Retrieved 2018-12-29.
  31. ^ Kang Jin-ah (December 19, 2020). "[2020 SBS 연예대상]임원희·정석용 베스트 커플상" [[2020 SBS Entertainment Awards] Best Couple Award for Im Won-hee and Jeong Seok-yong]. Newsis (in Korean). Retrieved December 19, 2020.
  32. ^ Park Seo-yeon (December 19, 2021). "[2021 SBS 연예대상]'미운 우리 새끼' 팀, 대상 영예..이승기 프로듀서상(종합)" [[2021 SBS Entertainment Awards] 'My Little Old Boy' Team, Grand Prize Award... Lee Seung-gi Producer Award (General)] (in Korean). Herald POP. Archived from the original on January 12, 2023. Retrieved December 18, 2021 – via Naver.
  33. ^ Lee Seung-gil (December 18, 2022). 유재석, 감격의 '대상' 영예…통산 19번째 트로피 품었다 [2022 SBS 연예대상] (종합) [Yoo Jae-seok, thrilled 'grand prize' honor... I had my 19th trophy in total [2022 SBS Entertainment Awards] (comprehensive)]. My Daily (in Korean). Archived from the original on December 18, 2022. Retrieved December 18, 2022 – via Naver.
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