Sang Heon Lee has had the internet smitten ever since he starred in XO, Kitty, the series spinoff to Netflix’s hit To All the Boys franchise. Sang Heon plays Minho on the show, an hoity toity student with flawless skin and a famous mom. Of course, much like any of our favorite second leads, Min Ho soon trades his snark for soft, secret looks when he develops a crush on the titular character, Kitty Song Covey (played by Anna Cathcart).
If you loved Minho on the show, then there’s no point escaping your brewing crush on Sang Heon himself. Get to know the actor better and keep scrolling!
10 Things You Need to Know About Sang Heon Lee
1. He's a Gemini
Sang Heon was born on May 21, 1996 in South Korea, before moving to Hong Kong to study in an international school. He then earned an undergraduate degree in Drama at the University of Northhampton in England (That explains his accent, people.)
2. Gia Kim from "XO, Kitty" is his real-life sibling
They may have different last names, but Sang Heon and Gia Kim a.k.a. Yuri on XO, Kitty are actually brother and sister! In fact, it was Gia who convinced Sang Heon to try out for the show.
“My sister sent me an Instagram post [about the audition call] so I thought, OK, I should go for this,” he revealed during an interview. Funnily enough, the rest of the cast weren't aware of this until Sang Heon mentioned it in a group chat with Anna Cathcart and Choi Min Young.
3. He made his acting debut in "XO, Kitty"
XO, Kitty was not only Sang Heon's breakout role, it was also his first acting gig. Talk about hitting the ground running! Prior to acting, Sang Heon tried out modeling before eventually taking the former profession seriously after he graduated from his university.
4. He initially didn't want to become an actor
In an exclusive interview with Preview, Heon Lee shares that he initially didn't see himself becoming an actor. "I think any Korean kid, at one point, wanted to become an idol or a celebrity," he says in an episode of 10 Things.
He revealed that he picked up acting after a career counselor disapproved of his plans to pursue dance. His love for film, with titles such as The Dark Knight and Green Book as some of his faves, also influenced him to eventually dive into the industry.
5. He's completed his military service in South Korea
Fans of the actor won't have to worry about missing him for two years in the future. Sang Heon finished his mandatory military service right after he came home from studying in England.
6. He made his movie debut on "Gran Turismo"
2023 was definitely a big year for Sang Heon acting-wise. After the success of XO, Kitty, fans saw him Gran Turismo, a sports drama based on the video game of the same name. This marked his big screen debut as Joo Hwan-lee, a Korean student driver and race candidate.
7. He starred in a Viu series alongside Julia Barretto
Come 2024, Sang Heon took part in the Viu series Secret Ingredient, a multi-national production between Indonesia and the Philippines. In the gastronomically-themed show, he portrays Ha-joon, a Korean chef who searches for his childhood friend from the Philippines.
The friend in question is Maya, who was played by our very own Julia Barretto! The two spent months filming the series in the Philippines, where Sang Heon got to sample our local fare.
8. He's visited the Philippines
During their period of filming Secret Ingredient, Sang Heon was able to explore Manila and sample more of our culinary delights. He went viral online when he was spotted poking at some kwek-kwek by a street.
On one of his days away from set, he also visited the Daranak Falls in Rizal, much to the amusement of netizens. In his episode of 10 Things, he told Preview that he's interested in checking out more of the country's natural sights.
9. He loves to cook
Much like Minho and Ha Joon, Sang Heon also knows a thing or two about cooking, a skill he learned by watching YouTube videos during his stay in England.
“I’m not trying to brag here, but I can make a really good steak with a side of asparagus and some caramelized onions,” he was quoted saying in 2023. “Also, an original carbonara, no cream, just using eggs.”
10. He loves rock climbing
If you just can't get enough of Sang Heon, the good news is he has two Instagram accounts! The second one is dedicated to his rock climbing activities. He picked up the sport in 2021 after an invite from a friend. Ever since then, Sang Heon tries to go rock climbing at least four times a week! His second Insta's handle is @climb_nice.
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