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Lee Chae-min: Verified Facts, Height, Relationship & Latest News

At 25, Lee Chae-min just had the kind of year most actors wait a decade for. He went from supporting roles in fantasy dramas to the crown of tvN’s “Bon Appétit, Your Majesty” — and along the way, the “190cm Doorframe Male Lead” confirmed a relationship with actress Ryu Da-in, then publicly acknowledged it in January 2026. This profile sorts the verified record from the rumor mill: his height, his dating timeline, his military-service status, and what’s actually next.

Born: September 15, 2000 ·
Nationality: South Korean ·
Breakout Role: King Yi in “Bon Appétit, Your Majesty” ·
Military Service: Not yet served (as of 2025) ·
Latest News: “Chaem-into You” fan meeting tour + relationship acknowledgment

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
  • Military service status — no public record
  • Family background — not documented
  • Agency — fan databases list VARO Entertainment, unconfirmed
  • English ability — no verified information
3Timeline signal
4What’s next
  • “Chaem-into You” fan meeting tour: Seoul (Oct 24–25), then Bangkok and Manila
  • Post-tour projects and schedule — not yet announced
  • Relationship now on the record as of January 2026

Nine data points, one theme: the verified part of Lee Chae-min’s life is short and specific; everything else is marked private.

Field Detail
Full Name Lee Chae-min
Date of Birth September 15, 2000 (IMDb (film and TV database))
Birthplace Jeongbalsan-dong, Ilsan, Goyang, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea (Fanplus (K-pop fan community platform))
Height About 190 cm (6’3″), per multiple reports (AsiaOne (Singapore-based news site))
Notable Work King Yi in “Bon Appétit, Your Majesty” (tvN, 2025)
Agency Not officially confirmed (fan databases list VARO Entertainment)
Residence Not public
Relationship Publicly dating Ryu Da-in; acknowledged January 2026
Military Service No public record of enlistment as of 2025

Is Lee Chae-min in a relationship?

Yes — and it’s the rare part of his personal life that’s actually on the record, not just fan speculation. Pinkvilla (entertainment news site) reported in March 2024 that Lee Chae-min and actress Ryu Da-in confirmed their relationship after dating rumors and paparazzi photos circulated. According to the same report, the two met through the tvN series “Crash Course in Romance” and began dating in early 2024.

The couple stayed quiet about it for the next two years. Then, on January 29, 2026, Star News Korea (South Korean entertainment outlet) reported that they publicly acknowledged their romance, saying they were “getting to know each other with good feelings while being colleagues.”

Are Lee Chae-min and Ryu Da-in still together?

  • March 2024 — relationship confirmed after rumors and photos (Pinkvilla)
  • January 29, 2026 — couple publicly acknowledges the relationship (Star News Korea)
  • Recent framing — “getting to know each other with good feelings” (Star News Korea)

Every recent signal points to “together.” No credible breakup report exists, and the January 2026 statement uses present-tense, getting-to-know-you language — not the language of a couple that has split.

Did Lee Chae-min get married?

The record

No verified report of a marriage appears in any source reviewed for this profile. The couple’s own framing — “getting to know each other” — describes dating, not marriage.

Marriage rumors follow any K-drama lead who wears a ring on screen, and Lee is no exception. The speculation, however, never graduated beyond fan chatter: no credible outlet has reported an engagement or a wedding. As of early 2026, the relationship status on the record is dating, not married.

Bottom line: The pattern: Lee Chae-min shares his work generously and his private life in narrow, controlled statements. The relationship with Ryu Da-in is one confirmed fact surrounded by a very tall wall of silence.

Is Lee Chae-min full Korean?

Yes. Every available source places his origins in South Korea, and no credible report mentions mixed heritage. Detik (Indonesian entertainment news) says he was born on September 15, 2000, in Jeongbalsan-dong, Ilsan, Goyang, Gyeonggi-do — a residential area in the Seoul metropolitan region. Fanplus (K-pop fan community platform) gives the same birth date and places his birth in Ilsandong-gu, Goyang, the district that contains Jeongbalsan-dong. The two accounts line up.

“Full Korean” is not a category the Korean entertainment press uses in official biographies, but the evidence is one-directional: a Korean name, a Korean birthplace, Korean-language productions, and no report of any non-Korean family line in any reviewed source.

What is Lee Chae-min’s family background?

  • Birthplace documented: Ilsan, Goyang, Gyeonggi-do (Detik)
  • Parents’ names and occupations: not publicly documented
  • Siblings: not publicly documented
  • Family statements: none found in reviewed sources

The scarcity is not unusual for a star two years into real fame. Korean agencies routinely keep family details off official profiles, and Lee’s camp has been notably tight-lipped. What the public record offers instead is geography: he grew up in Goyang, a city in Gyeonggi Province just outside Seoul. Everything beyond that — parents, schooling, upbringing — is unverified territory.

The implication: Lee’s nationality is confirmed, but his family story is a blank page. Treat any detailed account of his parents or upbringing as fan fiction until a credible source prints it.

How tall is Korean actor Lee Chae-min?

About 190 cm — roughly 6’3″ — is the number every source clusters around. IMDb (film and TV database) lists him at 6’2¾” (1.90 m), while Kpop Profiles (fan-edited celebrity database) puts him at 190.2 cm.

The most entertaining confirmation came from AsiaOne (Singapore-based news site): Lee and actor Byeon Woo-seok — both billed at 190 cm — publicly joked about which of them is actually shorter.

  • IMDb: 6’2¾” (1.90 m)
  • Kpop Profiles: 190.2 cm
  • AsiaOne: 190 cm, with Byeon Woo-seok

Is any of it official? Not exactly. No agency profile with a measured height has been published, which is why this profile says “about” 190 cm. When five unrelated sources land within two centimeters of each other, though, the round number is probably right.

Can Lee Chae-min speak English?

  • Verified interviews: Korean-language outlets only
  • Official statements: Korean, translated into English by media
  • English-language fan content: built on fan translations, not verified transcripts

The honest answer: no reviewed source documents his English ability either way. He has not done a verified English-language interview, and his fan-meeting materials are published for Korean and Southeast Asian markets, usually with translation support. Anyone claiming he is fluent — or that he cannot speak a word — is guessing.

Where does Lee Chae-min live?

Privacy check

Lee Chae-min’s current residence is held back from public records, a choice that aligns with the pattern of strict privacy around his personal life. Only his birthplace is on the record: Jeongbalsan-dong, Ilsan, Goyang, Gyeonggi-do.

Like most Korean celebrities, he almost certainly bases himself in or near Seoul for work — but “almost certainly” is an inference, not a fact. No outlet has reported where he lives, and no verified paparazzi report identifies his home. For a rising star whose agency is not even officially confirmed, that level of privacy is part of the package.

The pattern: “190cm” is the one personal statistic Lee’s career has turned into public property. Everything else about his body, his home, and his language skills remains unverified — and search results that claim otherwise are usually repeating each other.

Bottom line: Lee Chae-min is around 190 cm — the reporting cluster is consistent even though no official measurement exists. For casting directors and brands, treat 190 cm as the working number. For fans, treat any claim above 6’3″ as unverified.

The boundary the article draws is consistent: what the industry reports about his height holds weight, but what his agency does not confirm remains open territory for clarification.

Did Lee Chae Min serve in the military?

Not as far as any source records. As of early 2026, there is no public record of Lee Chae-min enlisting, and no Korean outlet has reported a service start date for him.

South Korean law requires every able-bodied male citizen to serve roughly 18 months of military duty, usually between the ages of 18 and 28. Born in September 2000, Lee is 25 — squarely inside the window where working actors routinely receive deferrals to finish projects.

The catch

“No public record” is not the same as “exempt.” Until the military or his agency announces a date, treat every draft rumor as unverified — including the confident ones about exemptions.

The takeaway: the enlistment calendar is one of the most-read pages in Korean celebrity news for a reason. Lee’s page is still empty, which means either a quiet deferral is already in place or a notice is coming. Neither scenario is confirmed.

What is Lee Chae-min’s most famous drama?

The answer changed in late 2025. Before “Bon Appétit, Your Majesty,” Lee was a recognizable supporting player; after it, Chosun English (English edition of South Korea’s Chosun Ilbo) called him the drama’s breakout star, crowned him the “190cm Doorframe Male Lead,” and reported that his weight climbed from about 68 kg at his 2021 debut to roughly 86 kg by 2025. As King Yi in the tvN historical romance, he moved from the edges of ensemble casts to the center of the frame.

His earlier résumé explains the jump. IMDb’s biography page (film and TV database) lists his best-known pre-breakout work as “Alchemy of Souls” (2022), “See You in My 19th Life” (2023), and “Hierarchy” (2024). Add “High Class” (2021) — his debut — and the pattern is a steady climb from supporting roles to a throne.

Is the show “Bon Appétit, Your Majesty” based on a true story?

  • Format: scripted tvN drama
  • Genre: historical romance
  • Lead character: King Yi — a fictional role

No. The drama is a scripted historical romance, not a true-story adaptation or a documentary. No credible source has linked its plot to documented historical events, and the “Yi” royal surname is a standard Joseon-dynasty flourish in Korean period fiction, not evidence of a real king’s biography. Chosun English covers the show strictly as entertainment programming, which is the right frame.

The catch: “inspired by history” gets mistranslated as “based on a true story” in fan forums all the time. For this drama, treat the romance as fiction — the verified facts are the cast, the channel, and the 2025 broadcast.

What is Lee Chae Min’s latest news?

Two developments define Lee Chae-min’s news cycle: a first-ever fan meeting tour, and a relationship finally acknowledged in his own words.

In late 2025, Lee announced “Chaem-into You,” a fan meeting tour that plays on his shortened first name. The Seoul stop ran October 24–25, with Bangkok and Manila legs following. Philippine outlet GMA News reported the Manila fan meeting on September 27, 2025, and fan communities across Southeast Asia quickly turned the tour into one of the region’s most anticipated K-drama events of the year.

  • Seoul: October 24–25, 2025
  • Bangkok: scheduled after Seoul
  • Manila: reported by GMA News, September 27, 2025

Then, on January 29, 2026, Star News Korea (South Korean entertainment outlet) reported that Lee and Ryu Da-in publicly acknowledged their relationship, saying they are “getting to know each other with good feelings while being colleagues” — the first time either actor had addressed the romance directly since the 2024 confirmation.

Why this matters: the tour proves Lee’s 2025 momentum is commercial, not just critical — fans will pay to see him in person. The January statement proves he can control a narrative when he chooses to. Both are useful signals for where his career goes next.

Lee Chae-min: key dates

Eight dates, one arc: from a birth in Goyang to a Seoul fan meeting in 25 years — with a very public relationship announcement at the end.

Date Event Reference
Born in Jeongbalsan-dong, Ilsan, Goyang, South Korea Detik
2021 Debut in “High Class” Chosun English
2022–2024 Notable roles in “Alchemy of Souls,” “See You in My 19th Life,” “Hierarchy” IMDb
March 2024 Relationship with Ryu Da-in confirmed Pinkvilla
Fall 2025 Breakout as King Yi in “Bon Appétit, Your Majesty” Chosun English
September 27, 2025 GMA News reports Manila fan meeting GMA News
October 24–25, 2025 “Chaem-into You” Seoul fan meeting Official tour announcement
January 29, 2026 Couple publicly acknowledges relationship Star News Korea

Confirmed facts vs. open questions

After sorting every claim in the research, here’s the line between verified and still-open.

Confirmed facts

  • Born September 15, 2000, in Goyang, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea
  • Height around 190 cm (6’3″), per multiple outlets (AsiaOne)
  • Breakout role as King Yi in “Bon Appétit, Your Majesty”
  • Dating Ryu Da-in, confirmed March 2024
  • “Chaem-into You” tour with Seoul, Bangkok, and Manila stops

Still unverified

  • Military service status or exemption
  • Agency contract with VARO Entertainment
  • Family members’ identities and backgrounds
  • English fluency
  • Exact residence
  • Marriage plans

The balance here matters: this is a low-documentation profile, so the unverified column is long by design, not by accident.

Quotes from the reporting

Two moments capture the Lee Chae-min story better than any paraphrase.

“…getting to know each other with good feelings while being colleagues.”

— Lee Chae-min and Ryu Da-in, via Star News Korea (South Korean entertainment outlet)

“190cm Doorframe Male Lead”

— Lee Chae-min’s nickname, coined by Chosun English (English edition of South Korea’s Chosun Ilbo)

The takeaway

Lee Chae-min’s public story is a study in contrasts: an actor with a highly visible 190 cm frame, a confirmed relationship, and a career curve that went vertical in a single season — yet almost no documented personal background behind it. The verified record is honest and short: born in Goyang in 2000, debuted in 2021, broke out in 2025, dating Ryu Da-in, and taking a fan tour through Southeast Asia. Everything else people search for — his agency, his family, his enlistment date — is still unwritten. For fans planning to see him, the choice is practical: catch the remaining “Chaem-into You” dates in Bangkok or Manila while they exist, or settle for clips — because the window where Lee Chae-min is this accessible, this early in his fame, will not stay open long.

Related reading: Lee Chae-min and Ryu Da-in confirm relationship · Lee Chae-min’s height and career as ‘190cm Doorframe Male Lead’

Frequently asked questions

What is Lee Chae-min’s age?

Born September 15, 2000, per Kpop Profiles (fan-edited celebrity database), he turned 25 in late 2025 and is in his mid-20s as of early 2026.

Where was Lee Chae-min born?

In Jeongbalsan-dong, Ilsan, Goyang, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea. Fanplus (K-pop fan community platform) also places his birth in Ilsandong-gu, Goyang.

What is Lee Chae-min’s zodiac sign?

Virgo. His September 15 birthday falls inside the Virgo window (August 23 – September 22).

Which talent agency represents Lee Chae-min?

Kpop Profiles (fan-edited celebrity database) lists him under VARO Entertainment, but no official confirmation has been published in the sources reviewed.

How did Lee Chae-min become an actor?

He debuted in “High Class” (2021), appeared in “Alchemy of Souls” (2022), “See You in My 19th Life” (2023), and “Hierarchy” (2024), then broke out in fall 2025 with “Bon Appétit, Your Majesty.”

Does Lee Chae-min have any official merchandise?

No official merchandise line has been announced in the sources reviewed. His main fan-facing product in 2025 was the “Chaem-into You” fan meeting tour, with Seoul, Bangkok, and Manila stops.



James Mitchell
James MitchellStaff Writer

James Mitchell is Editor-in-Chief at Southern Monitor, overseeing editorial standards, publication decisions and corrections.