Don Lee’s wife, Ye Jung Hwa, has long been a beloved presence in the Marvel star’s life, standing by him through struggles and triumphs.
More than just the partner of South Korea’s action superstar Don Lee, also known as Ma Dong-seok, Ye Jung Hwa has built her own career in entertainment while maintaining a private personal life.
Although she keeps a low profile on social media, she remains well-known among fans — not only for her work but also for the unwavering support she has given Don throughout his rise to international fame.
Don Lee’s Wife Works in Entertainment
Ye Jung Hwa is a health trainer and television personality under Big Punch Entertainment. She began her career in fitness and gradually expanded into acting and variety.
She appeared in films such as “The Outlaws” (2017), playing an airport officer, and “The Soul-Mate” (2018), portraying a passerby. In dramas, she took on her first main role as the “sexy eater” in “Girls’ Love Story” (2015) before making guest appearances in “Thumping Spike 2” (2016) and “We Are Peaceful Brothers” (2017).
Alongside acting, Ye Jung Hwa established herself in variety shows. She became a regular member of Slimmy Lunch Box Season 2 (2015) and later joined programs like Thanks for the Food (2016), My Little Television (2015), No Way I’m an Adult (2015), and I Live Alone (2013).
She also appeared on popular long-running shows such as “Radio Star” (2007) and “Vitamin” (2003), further strengthening her presence in the industry.
Don Lee’s Wife Has an Active Lifestyle
Ye rarely shares her life on social media; the last post she shared on Instagram was in 2017. Despite her inactivity, she has given her 300,000 followers glimpses of her active lifestyle.
Her posts highlight her love for sports and the outdoors, from surfing at the beach to playing golf, along with travel moments and behind-the-scenes snapshots from her entertainment career. She appears to be private with her personal life, especially with her marriage to Don.
What We Know About Don Lee’s Marriage to Ye Jung Hwa
Don, 54, and Ye, 37, went public with their relationship in 2016 after meeting through their agency, Big Punch Entertainment. They reportedly bonded over a shared passion for fitness.
The couple registered their marriage in 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic, but postponed their ceremony. Their marriage became public in 2022 when Don acknowledged Ye as his “biggest supporter and wife” while accepting the SACF Artist of the Year Award.
In May 2024, three years later, they celebrated their union with a private wedding in Seoul, attended by close family and friends.
Don Lee Opens up About the Role His Wife Played in His Success
During an appreciation event for “The Roundup: Punishment” in April 2024, Don grew emotional as he reflected on his career. He thanked audiences, the production team, and his co-actors before turning to his personal life.
He recalled about Ye, “When I first met my wife, I was very poor. I used to plan movies in a small room covering the walls with 40 to 50 sheets of A4 paper. She probably must have thought I was a strange person.”
Despite his struggles, Ye supported him and took care of his well-being. He added, “After that, it wasn’t long before I gained fame and my situation improved. I’m grateful to my wife who stood by me since the time I was poor, gave me ideas, and helped me.”
Don Lee’s Career and Global Breakthrough
Don Lee has come a long way since his early days in the industry. Now an established actor, writer, and producer, he divides his time between Korea and the U.S., building a career that bridges both markets.
With his commanding screen presence and larger-than-life charisma, he is often compared to Hollywood action star Dwayne Johnson — a moniker he accepts with humility.
He first rose to international recognition with his breakout role in “Train to Busan” (2016), which set the stage for a string of box office hits in Korea, including “Badland Hunters” and “The Bad Guys: The Movie.”
His Hollywood breakthrough came in Marvel’s “Eternals” (2021), where he played Gilgamesh alongside a star-studded cast that included Angelina Jolie, Salma Hayek, Richard Madden, Gemma Chan, and Barry Keoghan.
Don’s real-life experiences shaped his career. In a 2022 Deadline interview, he shared that he discovered boxing at 15 after watching “Rocky” and dreamed of becoming a professional boxer.
When his family faced financial hardship, he moved to Montana, where he worked many jobs — from janitor and busboy to bartender, bouncer, and personal trainer. He credits these struggles, along with his boxing training, for shaping the discipline and authenticity he brings to action films.
As his career grew, Don expanded into producing, driven by a desire to create opportunities for new talent. Many of his most successful projects, including “The Outlaws” and “The Roundup” series, were directed by first-time or emerging filmmakers whom he supported early on.
He believes teamwork and good character matter as much as skill, and he is committed to fostering creativity and professionalism in every project.
Reflecting on the global appeal of Korean content, Don has often said that Korean cinema has long been known for its originality, with streaming platforms only recently helping international audiences discover its richness.
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As his own fame has grown worldwide, fans have even dubbed him the “Korean Dwayne Johnson,” a comparison that he finds flattering. Don has praised the Hollywood star, saying Johnson is taller, more handsome, and an accomplished wrestler as well as a great actor.
He said, “I am a big fan of his and got to say hello to him at Comic-Con a few years back. So to be called the ‘Korean Dwayne Johnson’ is a very generous compliment, but at the end of the day, I’m simply Don Lee.”
