Lee Do Hyun captured the hearts of the public with his undeniable charm and quintessential boy-next-door look with his breakthrough role in "18 Again" and "Hotel de Luna."

Since then, he has been appearing in countless endorsements and has been leading dramas left and right, alongside powerhouse actors and actresses.

There's no denying that the "Youth of May" star will be the next most sought-after actor and rising leading man to watch.

As he celebrates another milestone in his life and turns 26 on April 11, here are four unknown facts about Lee Do Hyun.

Sports Fanatic

Amid his delicate and mellow persona, the "Sweet Home" star is an avid sports fan.

In his interview for W Korea back in 2020, he revealed that he grew up in an athletic environment since his father was a former baseball player.

READ MORE: 'Youth of May' Star Lee Do Hyun Reportedly Considering the Upcoming Drama 'Melancholia'

He mentioned that he and his dad would spend a lot of time playing all sorts of sports. This made him love basketball, and used to be a point guard on his team.

Ironically, his father was against it and explained that since he was an athlete and "had experience in sports, he knows how difficult it is."

The "Sunflower" Effect

He then diverted his attention and time on acting and says that he even dreamed about being a celebrity.

During the interview with the publication, Lee Do Hyun revealed what made him decide to do acting instead of sports.

At the time, he mentioned that the 2006 action-drama "Sunflower," starring Kim Rae Won, piqued his interest.

For the 26-year-old actor, it was one of his "unforgettable films" and says that after watching the movie, he "ended up naturally drawn to acting."

Broke Up with His Girlfriend for "Hotel de Luna"

2020 was indeed the year for Lee Do Hyun despite the global pandemic brought by COVID-19.

This was when he starred in his most notable dramas to date, which includes "18 Again," where he played Hong Dae Young, Netflix's post-apocalyptic movie "Sweet Home," and his recent melodrama series "Youth of May," alongside Go Min Si and Geum Sae Rok.

With his remarkable roles, it is safe to say that Lee Do Hyun was truly passionate about his craft.

Interestingly, he had a surprising acting method and said that he "stays in character even off-camera."

During his interview with Esquire Korea, he shared that one of his "most prized roles" was the 2019 drama "Hotel Del Luna" together with IU, where he played Go Chung Myung's role.

At the time, he needed to break up with his then-girlfriend in order for him to embody his character. Lee Do Hyun, who was then around 21 and 22, admitted that at the time, he prioritized his work more than his relationship.

"I really don't know why I did that," he said, adding, "Of course, my girlfriend didn't understand. Anyway, after experiencing things like that, I think I've grown a lot."

Auditioned for Song Kang's Role in "Sweet Home"

Lee Do Hyun received international recognition after he officially joined the cast of the hit Netflix series.

However, little did we know that he originally auditioned for Cha Hyun-su, which was Song Kang's role.

According to a report, he revealed that he wanted to "play a dual character," but was chosen by the director Lee Eung Bok to play the role of the rational and unemotional Eun Hyuk.

Happy birthday, our favorite firefly, Lee Do Hyun!

IN CASE YOU MISSED: Upcoming Drama 'Youth of May' Unveils First Still Cuts Featuring Lee Do Hyun as Hwang Hee Tae

KDramastars owns this article.

Written by Geca Wills