Lee Jung-jae reveals year-long skin condition, plans cosmetics brand launch

Actor Lee Jung-jae has revealed that a serious skin condition kept him from working for about a year, and said he has since ventured into the cosmetics business.

In a short video posted to his SNS on Friday, Lee said he had hoped to stay busy with films and drama series this year, but that his skin had deteriorated sharply starting in the fall of last year. "The situation got so serious that I was simply unable to film," he said. "I was forced to take a break this year."

The unexpected hiatus gave him the foundation for a new business idea.

Lee said he developed a cosmetics line "that people who struggle with skin problems, just like I did, can use together," and announced that he is set to launch the brand this month.

He went on to say: "With only a few days until the launch, I feel quite nervous — just like I would before a film opening. It feels like a long time since I've been waiting for something to share with everyone, and I really have missed this feeling."

Lee also said he is still weighing whether to publicly share photos of his skin at its worst. "People might wonder, 'Why is Lee Jung-jae suddenly launching a cosmetics brand?' so our staff suggested releasing old photos," he said. "But I absolutely refused."

He explained his reluctance: "I felt like if people saw how bad my skin looked, they would all leave. It made me uncomfortable, and I had a strong aversion to it."

Still, Lee hinted that he might reconsider. "Thinking it over, I thought it could be an opportunity to give hope and courage to people whose skin was as bad as mine — showing that it can get better," he said.

Meanwhile, Lee rose to global fame last year through the Netflix series "Squid Game," but quietly stepped back from public activity after the drama series "Nice to Not Meet You" wrapped in December of that year.