# Lee Seo-won (이서원)
**Lee Seo-won** (이서원, born 1997) is a South Korean actor who debuted in 2015 and was known for supporting roles in *Uncontrollably Fond*, *The Liar and His Lover*, and *Hospital Ship* before his career ended following a 2018 criminal conviction for forcible molestation and threatening with a weapon.[1](https://www.ajunews.com/view/20200706150412294)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1997[1](https://www.ajunews.com/view/20200706150412294) |
| Debut | 2015 JTBC drama *Awl* (송곳), as the young Ji Hyun-woo[2](https://v.daum.net/v/iQlM6NeES0?f=p) |
| Notable roles | Noh-jik in *Uncontrollably Fond* (KBS2, 2016); Seo Chan-young in *The Liar and His Lover* (tvN, 2017); Kim Jae-geol in *Hospital Ship* (MBC, 2017)[2](https://v.daum.net/v/iQlM6NeES0?f=p) • [3](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H_dBOYnYkpk) • [4](https://www.tenasia.co.kr/article/2017070420474) |
| Other work | MC on KBS2's *Music Bank*; films *Knocking on the Door of My Heart* (2016) and *The President's Last Bang figure Kim Chang-soo* (대장 김창수, 2017)[1](https://www.ajunews.com/view/20200706150412294) • [5](https://v.daum.net/v/nlgwcaCHXr) |
| Agency | Blossom Entertainment, which also represented Park Bo-gum and Song Joong-ki; he has no agency since the 2018 case[6](https://enews.imbc.com/Tpl/View/287249?progcode=0) |
| Conviction | One year in prison, suspended for two years, by military court[6](https://enews.imbc.com/Tpl/View/287249?progcode=0) |
## Career
Lee Seo-won entered acting through an acting academy and passed an audition for the young version of the lead character in the JTBC weekend drama *Awl* (송곳), which became his 2015 debut.[2](https://v.daum.net/v/iQlM6NeES0?f=p) • [7](https://www.kookje.co.kr/news2011/asp/newsbody.asp?code=0500&key=20180516.99099007552) Shortly after signing with [Blossom Entertainment](https://www.edgepedia.org/blossom-entertainment) he was cast in his second drama, KBS2's *Uncontrollably Fond* (함부로 애틋하게, 2016), playing Noh-jik, the only family member and close younger brother of Nol (played by Suzy).[2](https://v.daum.net/v/iQlM6NeES0?f=p)
**The Liar and His Lover.** In the 2017 tvN drama *The Liar and His Lover* (그녀는 거짓말을 너무 사랑해), based on a webtoon, Lee played Seo Chan-young, a member of the drama's fictional band Crude Play alongside actors Sungjoo, Shin Ji-min, and [Jang Ki-yong](https://www.edgepedia.org/jang-ki-yong).[3](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H_dBOYnYkpk) • [8](https://www.asiae.co.kr/realtime/sokbo_viewNew.htm?idxno=2017040407490776623) The four actors also recorded OST tracks for the series, including "In Your Eyes" (OST Part 7).[3](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H_dBOYnYkpk) In the same year he appeared in the film *The President's Last Bang figure Kim Chang-soo* (대장 김창수) and the web drama *Last Minute Romance*.[9](https://www.dailian.co.kr/news/view/672667/D-%EC%9D%B8%ED%84%B0%EB%B7%B0-%EC%9D%B4%EC%84%9C%EC%9B%90-%EB%B3%91%EC%9B%90%EC%84%A0-%EA%BF%88%EA%BE%BC-%EA%B8%B0%EB%B6%84%EC%9E%8A-2017)
**Hospital Ship.** In July 2017 his casting was confirmed in MBC's *Hospital Ship* (병원선) as Kim Jae-geol, a lonely practitioner of Korean medicine from a distinguished medical family, appearing alongside [Ha Ji-won](https://www.edgepedia.org/ha-ji-won) and [Kang Min-hyuk](https://www.edgepedia.org/kang-min-hyuk); it was his first leading role on a terrestrial network.[4](https://www.tenasia.co.kr/article/2017070420474) • [10](https://www.namu.moe/w/%EC%9D%B4%EC%84%9C%EC%9B%90) A September 2017 Dong-a Ilbo feature on rising 1990s-born actors described him as having moved from bit parts to a front-line role within a year.[11](https://www.donga.com/news/Entertainment/article/all/20170905/86183922/4) He also served as an MC on KBS2's music program *Music Bank*.[1](https://www.ajunews.com/view/20200706150412294)
## 2018 case and end of activities
In April 2018, at a drinking gathering at a fellow female celebrity's home in Gwangjin District, Seoul, Lee was accused of forcibly molesting the woman; when her friend woke and urged him to leave, he drew a weapon and threatened him.[1](https://www.ajunews.com/view/20200706150412294) Police booked him without detention on charges of forcible molestation and special threats and forwarded the case to the Seoul Eastern District Prosecutors' Office.[12](https://zetawiki.com/wiki/%EC%9D%B4%EC%84%9C%EC%9B%90) When the indictment became known in May 2018, he left the tvN drama *About Time*, on which he had been cast, and stepped down as *Music Bank* MC; his agency Blossom Entertainment said there was no room for excuses, and he withdrew from social media and suspended all activities.[1](https://www.ajunews.com/view/20200706150412294) • [13](https://m.en.seoul.co.kr/news/2018/05/17/20180517500124) In court his side acknowledged most of the charges while asking for leniency on the grounds of diminished mental capacity.[14](https://www.kmib.co.kr/article/view.asp?arcid=0012517437)
While his trial was pending, Lee received an enlistment notice; because attending trial is not a legal ground for deferring military service under South Korean law, he enlisted on November 20, 2018, and his case was transferred to a military court.[6](https://enews.imbc.com/Tpl/View/287249?progcode=0) • [15](https://www.starnewskorea.com/star/2018/11/22/2018112200261359733) The military court sentenced him to one year in prison, suspended for two years.[6](https://enews.imbc.com/Tpl/View/287249?progcode=0) He was discharged on June 30, 2020, and reports at the time noted that he had no agency.[1](https://www.ajunews.com/view/20200706150412294) • [6](https://enews.imbc.com/Tpl/View/287249?progcode=0) Blossom Entertainment denied reports in November 2018 that it had terminated his contract, saying he remained signed but was not in a position to work.[10](https://www.namu.moe/w/%EC%9D%B4%EC%84%9C%EC%9B%90)
## Namesakes
The name Lee Seo-won is shared by other public figures, including Lee Seo-won (formerly Lee Hyang-sook), a former member of the girl group Two Ize who discussed her group's finances on a 2024 YouTube program; the two are different people.[16](https://www.xportsnews.com/article/1920289)
## References
1. [이서원 누구? '드라마 송곳, 병원선 등 출연' 6월 30일 만기전역, 아주경제](https://www.ajunews.com/view/20200706150412294)
2. [이서원, '함부로 애틋하게'가 발견한 또 하나의 원석 [인터뷰], 다음/연예](https://v.daum.net/v/iQlM6NeES0?f=p)
3. [[그녀는 거짓말을 너무 사랑해 OST Part 7] 크루드플레이 (CRUDEPLAY) - In Your Eyes, YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H_dBOYnYkpk)
4. [병원선 강민혁·이서원 출연 확정… 하지원과 호흡, 텐아시아](https://www.tenasia.co.kr/article/2017070420474)
5. [[루키인터뷰:얘 어때?①] 이서원 "I.O.I와 합동무대, 흑역사? 연습했는데..", 다음/연예](https://v.daum.net/v/nlgwcaCHXr)
6. [이서원 근황, 여자 연예인 성추행→입대→집행유예→전역, iMBC연예](https://enews.imbc.com/Tpl/View/287249?progcode=0)
7. [`성추행` 이서원 누구? 수지 동생役 인기...블로썸 기대주였는데, 국제신문](https://www.kookje.co.kr/news2011/asp/newsbody.asp?code=0500&key=20180516.99099007552)
8. ['그녀는 거짓말을 너무 사랑해' 이현우 "사랑하자 즐기자 죽이자" 박력, 아시아경제](https://www.asiae.co.kr/realtime/sokbo_viewNew.htm?idxno=2017040407490776623)
9. [[D-인터뷰] 이서원 "'병원선', 꿈꾼 기분…잊지 못할 추억", 데일리안](https://www.dailian.co.kr/news/view/672667/D-%EC%9D%B8%ED%84%B0%EB%B7%B0-%EC%9D%B4%EC%84%9C%EC%9B%90-%EB%B3%91%EC%9B%90%EC%84%A0-%EA%BF%88%EA%BE%BC-%EA%B8%B0%EB%B6%84%EC%9E%8A-2017)
10. [이서원, 나무위키](https://www.namu.moe/w/%EC%9D%B4%EC%84%9C%EC%9B%90)
11. [파릇파릇 90년대생 신예들…"드라마 볼 맛 나네", 동아일보](https://www.donga.com/news/Entertainment/article/all/20170905/86183922/4)
12. [이서원, 제타위키](https://zetawiki.com/wiki/%EC%9D%B4%EC%84%9C%EC%9B%90)
13. [이서원 '어바웃타임' 하차 이어 SNS도 탈퇴..모든 활동 중단, 서울신문](https://m.en.seoul.co.kr/news/2018/05/17/20180517500124)
14. [이서원 측 "강제추행·협박 인정하지만 많이 취해있었다", 국민일보](https://www.kmib.co.kr/article/view.asp?arcid=0012517437)
15. ['강제추행 혐의' 이서원 입대, 4차 공판 불출석.."군사법원 이송"[종합], 스타뉴스](https://www.starnewskorea.com/star/2018/11/22/2018112200261359733)
16. [이서원 "투아이즈 활동 당시 수익 '0'…해체, 불화 때문 NO" (근황올림픽), 엑스포츠뉴스](https://www.xportsnews.com/article/1920289)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen people and creators › Screen actors of East and Southeast Asia › South Korean actors, 2000s onward › Surnames L*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Sep 19, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 18, 2026; Sep 19, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
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