Can Lee Je-hoon Win Another Grand Prize Award?

Lee Je-hoon's Unstoppable Year Explained

Let's be real for a second: Lee Je-hoon is having the kind of year that every actor dreams about. This isn't just about getting one hit drama. This is about dominating the entire 2025 entertainment landscape with back-to-back critical and commercial successes.

His latest project, Model Taxi 3, just hit 15.2% viewership ratings on Nielsen Korea, which is absolutely massive for Korean television. For context, that's basically sitting right next to this year's biggest phenomenon, Tyrant Chef, which hit 20%. This isn't accidentally good. This is the result of consistently delivering what audiences want to watch.

Why Model Taxi 3 Stands Out

Here's what makes this drama special: it's proven that the episodic K-drama season format can actually work long-term. Three successful seasons with the same title and core concept is genuinely rare in Korean television. Most shows try to repeat the magic and fail. Model Taxi keeps finding fresh angles.

The secret sauce? Lee Je-hoon's performance as the main character Kim Do-gi, the taxi driver who takes revenge on behalf of victims. But here's the clever part that fans are obsessed with: each season, he goes up against different antagonists played by different actors. This creates what fans are calling his "sub-character performance" showcase.

In this season alone, he's played disguised versions of a teacher, a hustler, and an entertainment manager. This kind of range keeps the show from feeling repetitive. Audiences keep tuning in because they're curious about what character transformation he'll pull off next.

The Award Show Question Everyone's Asking

Here's where things get interesting for fans following the awards conversation: Lee Je-hoon already won the SBS Drama Award for Best Actor with Model Taxi 2. Can he actually win the Grand Prize again with Model Taxi 3? That would be genuinely historic.

The competition is legit fierce though. Park Hyung-sik from the first-half hit Treasure Island and Go Hyun-jung from Praying Mantis are both strong contenders. These aren't weak competitors. Both delivered memorable performances in shows that captured real attention this year.

Why This Moment Matters for Fans

What's actually impressive about Lee Je-hoon's current position isn't just that one drama succeeded. It's that he's released multiple double-digit viewership hits in a single calendar year. Before Model Taxi 3, he was in The Art of Negotiation, which also cleared the double-digit threshold.

This kind of consistent success changes how the industry sees an actor. He's not just talented. He's proven he can carry franchises. He can sustain viewer interest across multiple seasons. He can deliver both the dramatic depth that wins critical praise and the commercial appeal that keeps millions of people watching week after week.

For younger fans discovering his work, it's a reminder that patience and consistency matter. Lee Je-hoon didn't suddenly become incredible. He's been building toward this moment through years of smart role choices and dedicated craft.

What Happens Next

The SBS Drama Awards air on December 31st, which means we're getting close to the actual announcement. Whether Lee Je-hoon takes home the Grand Prize or not, the conversation itself shows something important: he's genuinely part of the conversation for the biggest honor in Korean television awards.

That's the kind of position that changes careers. That's the kind of year that people talk about for decades in the industry.