If you’ve spent any time on the internet lately, you’ve probably seen the name Lee Jung-jae everywhere. Since Squid Game basically ate the world in 2021, and now with The Acolyte bringing him into the Star Wars galaxy, people are obsessed with his life. Naturally, fans want to know the personal stuff. The big question that keeps popping up: does Lee Jung-jae have a child?
Honestly, the answer is a bit more nuanced than a simple yes or no, mostly because of who he’s dating.
The Short Answer: No Biological Children
Let’s clear the air immediately. Lee Jung-jae does not have any biological children. He’s never been married, which is a fact that tends to surprise people given he’s in his early 50s and has been in the public eye for decades. In the South Korean entertainment industry, where "idol" culture often demands a squeaky-clean or perpetually single image, Lee has always been remarkably open—yet fiercely private—about his long-term relationship.
It’s easy to see why people get confused.
If you Google him, you’ll often see photos of him at high-end events like the Emmys or the LACMA Art + Film Gala with a very elegant woman on his arm. That’s Lim Se-ryung. She isn't just a celebrity's girlfriend; she’s the Vice Chairwoman of Daesang Group and a genuine "chaebol" heiress. Because they've been together since 2015, many fans just assume they're married with a house full of kids.
They aren't. Not officially, anyway.
The "Step-Parent" Dynamic and Lim Se-ryung
This is where the "does Lee Jung-jae have a child" question gets a little tricky for the algorithms. While Lee himself has no kids, his partner, Lim Se-ryung, actually has two.
She was previously married to Lee Jae-yong, the Executive Chairman of Samsung Electronics. Yeah, the Samsung. They divorced back in 2009, but they share a son and a daughter.
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- Lee Ji-ho (the son, born around 2000)
- Lee Won-joo (the daughter, born around 2004)
Because Lee Jung-jae and Lim Se-ryung have been a solid unit for over a decade, Lee is often associated with these children in the eyes of the public. However, he has been incredibly careful about how he speaks—or rather, doesn't speak—about them.
Why the Privacy?
Lee Jung-jae once mentioned in an interview that he wanted to protect Lim Se-ryung’s privacy because she is a mother. He’s very aware that being a "non-celebrity" (even a billionaire one) makes her family fair game for tabloids if he isn't careful. He treats his role in her life with a lot of gravity. You won't find him posting "family" photos on Instagram.
That just isn't his style.
Why People Think He Has a Daughter
There was a weird rumor floating around a while back—partly fueled by some poorly translated AI articles—that Lee Jung-jae had a secret daughter from a past relationship.
Total nonsense.
People likely confused him with other actors or misread reports about Lim Se-ryung’s daughter, Lee Won-joo. Won-joo has occasionally trended on TikTok and Korean forums because of her fashion sense and her status as a "Samsung Princess," and because she's linked to Lim, the search results for "Lee Jung-jae daughter" often get tangled up.
Also, his Squid Game character, Seong Gi-hun, has a daughter in the show. Sometimes people forget that the guy on the screen isn't the guy in real life. In the show, he’s a struggling dad. In reality, he’s a bachelor who likes fine wine, interior design, and running his massive talent agency, Artist Company, with his best friend Jung Woo-sung.
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Living the "Gold Bachelor" Life
In South Korea, Lee is often referred to as a "Gold Bachelor." This isn't a slight; it’s a nod to his success, his looks, and his choice to remain unmarried while still being in a committed partnership.
It’s a very modern setup.
They aren't rushing to the altar. They aren't trying to start a "new" family. They seem perfectly content traveling to Cannes or St. Barts and supporting each other’s massive careers. Honestly, considering he’s busy filming Squid Game Season 2 and Season 3 (and whatever else Disney throws at him), he doesn't seem like a guy with a lot of diaper-changing time on his hands.
Key Facts About Lee Jung-jae’s Personal Life
- Marital Status: Never married.
- Partner: Lim Se-ryung (since 2015 officially, rumored since 2010).
- Biological Kids: Zero.
- Past Relationships: He famously dated actress Kim Min-hee for about three years in the early 2000s.
- Main Focus: Acting, directing (he directed Hunt in 2022), and his business ventures.
What You Should Know Moving Forward
If you see a headline claiming Lee Jung-jae just welcomed a baby or is hiding a family, take it with a massive grain of salt. He has been under the microscope of the Korean press—specifically the outlet Dispatch—for thirty years. If he had a child, the world would have known about it a long time ago.
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The reality is that Lee Jung-jae represents a shift in how we view "family" in the celebrity world. You can be in a dedicated, decade-long partnership without a marriage license or biological children and still have a very full personal life.
Actionable Insights for Fans:
If you want the most accurate updates on Lee Jung-jae, follow his official Instagram account (@actor_jungjaelee), though don't expect much beyond behind-the-scenes film shots and the occasional selfie with a co-star. For news regarding his personal life, reputable Korean outlets like The Korea Herald or Yonhap News are your best bet. Avoid the "gossip" YouTube channels that use AI-generated voices; they are almost always wrong about family details.
The man is a legend for his acting, and for now, that’s the legacy he’s building—not a nursery.