The release of XO, Kitty season two has made one thing clear: fans are eagerly awaiting the moment Kitty Song Covey and Min-ho finally get together. While many are rooting for this ship to sail, another thing that got everyone talking is—Min-ho, played by Sang Heon Lee, who has captured everyone’s attention. From the moment he entered Netflix’s XO, Kitty universe, he made his mark on the popularity charts.
Although Lee doesn’t play the boyfriend in the first season, he portrays the best friend of the boyfriend, Dae. However, the transition from his “so-called playboy” image to becoming the sweetest and most reliable guy for Kitty has fans eagerly anticipating Season 3 to see the two finally together.
His character initially seems to perpetually annoy Kitty, yet, by the end of season 2, the rich, handsome, and funny Min-ho proves himself to be the leading man everyone has been waiting for. So much so that even Peter Kavinsky (the main lead from To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before and Kitty’s elder sister’s boyfriend) approves of him. Both Kavinsky and Min-ho share the trademark of calling their love interest by their last name—Covey.
But who is Min-ho in real life?
Sang Heon Lee, the ultimate heartthrob all have been talking about, was born on May 21, 1996, in Seoul, South Korea. He has an older sister, actress Gia Kim, who also stars in XO, Kitty.
Due to his father’s work in the construction industry, Lee spent much of his childhood and teenage years in Hong Kong. His interest in acting began during his school years when he took drama classes, which eventually led him to pursue a degree in Drama at the University of Northampton in England. After graduating in 2016, he returned to South Korea to complete his mandatory two-year military service.
Before breaking into major acting roles, Lee worked as a model and appeared in background roles and reenactments for documentaries. It was his sister, Gia, who encouraged him to submit an audition tape for XO, Kitty, which marked his first official audition for a significant acting role.
Lee made his film debut in 2023 with a small role in Gran Turismo, a biographical film about Jann Mardenborough’s life as a professional race car driver, released on August 11, 2023. He also starred in the 2024 romantic series Secret Ingredient.
Outside of acting, Lee is a passionate rock climber and a self-proclaimed foodie. He said he taught himself how to cook by watching YouTube videos of Gordon Ramsay during his time studying in England.
Sang Heon Lee’s net worth
As of 2025, the actor’s net worth is estimated to be around $1.5 million, with expectations that it will continue to rise due to his thriving acting career, modeling opportunities, and brand endorsements.
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