Lee Sang-yi’s rise to stardom: the MSG Wannabe member is set to star in K-drama Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha alongside Kim Seon-ho, and rose to fame with 2020’s Once Again

Jul 17 , 2021

K-drama’s Lee Sang-yi is one of the breakout stars of 2021 – here’s 5 things to know about him, from his showbiz friends to his love of fish. Photo: @leesangyi_/Instagram

He appeared in the Korean remake of Suits, When the Camellia Blooms and To. Jenny while his besties from university acted in Vincenzo, Goblin and Hospital Playlist

Korean reality show I Live Alone showed his love of keeping fish, while on Hangout with Yoo he was picked for MSG Wannabe, a spoof band with real chart success

It’s been quite the year for rising star Lee Sang-yi following his role in the 2020 drama, Once Again. With his rapidly increasing popularity, he has starred in several dramas and appeared on multiple Korean reality shows. That includes Hangout with Yoo, where the show’s host Yoo Jae-suk chose him to be a member of the project group MSG Wannabe.

MSG Wannabe, a group of actors and singers brought together on a TV show who have gone on to have chart success. Photo: @hangout_with_yoo/Instagram

Here are five things to know about Lee as his star continues to rise.

He rose to stardom through his role in Once Again

Lee Sang-yi starred in the drama When the Camellia Blooms, where he played the role of a baseball coach. Photo: @leesangyi_/Instagram

Lee was already famous in the music world before becoming a TV star, as he debuted in 2014 in a musical. He took on minor roles in K-dramas, including in the Korean remake of Suits, The Third Charm and, most notably, When the Camellia Blooms, which was one of the most popular K-dramas of 2019. He played the role of a junior school baseball coach.

Lee Sang-yi and Lee Cho-hee on the set of Once Again. Photo: @leesangyi_/Instagram

His popularity spiked after starring in Once Again, a family drama that aired in 2020. Playing Yoon Jae-seok, a pediatric dentist, Lee’s character begins the show adamant about not getting married, but he ends up developing feelings for Song Da-hee, played by actress Lee Cho-hee.