Iris

When discussing the dramas that helped bring Lee Byung Hun's name to the public's attention, it's impossible not to mention the TV blockbuster, Iris. The series not only received widespread attention in Asia, but it also served as a springboard for the actors' careers. Iris is a South Korean espionage television drama series that premiered in 2009, starring Lee Byung-hun, Kim Tae-hee, Jung Joon-ho, Kim Seung-woo, Kim So-yeon, and T.O.P (Choi Seung-hyun) from Big Bang. The plot revolves around two best friends from the 707th Special Mission Group who are recruited into the National Security Service, a secret South Korean black ops agency. As the two friends find their loyalties tested and forge new, unlikely alliances, the journey takes them from their home country to Hungary, Japan, and China where they find themselves at the center of an international conspiracy.

The series was a critical and commercial success, with an average viewership of more than 30% and consistently ranking as the top program every week after its debut. Lee Byung-hun plays Kim Hyun-jun South Korea, a soldier with the South Korean Special Forces, in this film. The series also won numerous awards at the 2009 KBS Drama Awards, including the Daesang Award for Lee Byung-hun.

Detailed information:
Directed by: Kim Kyu-tae, Yang Yun-ho
Starring: Lee Byung-hun, Kim Tae-hee, Jung Joon-ho, Kim Seung-woo, Kim So-yeon, Choi Seung-hyun
Release date: October 14, 2009