Rising Korean Star Lee Min-jae Debuts in Lead Role with ‘Boy in the Pool’

South Korea’s rising actor Lee Min-jae has landed his first lead role in the newly released film Boy in the Pool, which premiered on June 14. This genre-blending coming-of-age tale weaves fantasy elements with emotional realism, capturing audiences both visually and emotionally.

Set alternately in 2007 and 2013, the film follows the story of Seok-young (played by Hyowoo), a girl passionate about swimming, and Woo-joo (Lee Min-jae), a mysterious boy born with webbed fingers. Woo-joo becomes a swimming prodigy thanks to his unique gift but slowly falls into a slump as his webbing diminishes over time—leading to deep teenage angst and confusion.

Though swimming wasn’t his passion initially, Woo-joo is led by Seok-young into the sport and eventually surpasses expectations, awakening tension and even jealousy in their friendship. As both characters grow into adolescence, Woo-joo’s “specialness” fades, allowing space for empathy, reconnection, and self-discovery.

To deliver a convincing performance, Lee Min-jae reportedly underwent rigorous swimming training, corrected his physical posture, and studied teenage emotional patterns to portray Woo-joo’s inner turmoil with nuance. His performance reflects the complexity of adolescence—painful self-realization, vulnerability, and healing—as his secret identity is gradually exposed.

Lee Min-jae’s portrayal showcases an impressive range and sensitivity, igniting excitement over his future as an actor. Known for strikingly versatile roles, he previously stole scenes as Seo Geon-hu in Crash Course in Romance and as the hot-blooded Ko Hyun-tak in Weak Hero Class 2 on Netflix. With each project, he continues to demonstrate depth and presence, heralding his rise not only domestically but also internationally.

Boy in the Pool is currently screening in Korean theaters, while Weak Hero Class 2 is available for streaming on Netflix.