ONA
Description
Jooheon Lee, also known as Lee Joo Heon, is a supporting character in True Beauty and the father of Lee Suho. He is a famous actor who works in both Korea and Japan, and his career largely defines his life and his family's circumstances. He is a widower; his late wife Yuko was a Japanese woman, and together they had two children: Suho and his older sister Selena Lee, who grows up to become a well-known makeup artist. Physically, Jooheon is described as a very handsome man with ash-brown hazel eyes and a striking jawline, and he closely resembles his son, who inherits many of his features.
In personality, Jooheon is presented mainly through the lens of his celebrity status and the emotional distance it creates between him and his family. His dedication to his career and his desire to protect his public image lead him to make choices that deeply hurt Suho. The most significant of these occurs when Suho walks in on his father with another woman, an incident that coincides with a personal crisis in Suho's life involving his friend Seyeon. Suho, already burdened by guilt, becomes resentful toward his father, and the affair becomes a central wound in their relationship. Jooheon's attempts to manage the fallout from his scandal further strain the bond, as his actions appear cold and self-serving to his son.
His motivations revolve largely around reputation, success, and, eventually, reconciliation. As an actor with a career spanning two countries, he is driven by the demands and pressures of fame, and at several points he prioritizes his professional standing over his family's emotional needs. Later in the story, however, his perspective shifts, and his motivation becomes the rebuilding of trust with Suho.
In the story, Jooheon functions as a key source of Suho's backstory and emotional conflict. His indiscretion is indirectly tied to the tragedy surrounding Suho's friend Seyeon, and the lingering anger Suho carries toward him shapes much of Suho's guarded personality. A confrontation between father and son at a hospital is one of the most intense moments of the narrative, with Suho's long-suppressed emotions finally erupting in anger and tears. Jooheon also faces a period of incapacitation due to a coma, and his eventual recovery marks the beginning of his redemption.
His relationship with Suho is the most important part of his arc, moving from tension and misunderstanding to warmth and acceptance. He also maintains a bond with his daughter Selena, and as the story progresses he shows kindness toward Lim Jugyeong, Suho's love interest, accepting her warmly and even referring to her as his future daughter-in-law. Through this later behavior, Jooheon reveals a gentler side that had been obscured by his earlier choices.
As for abilities, Jooheon's prominence as an actor grants him fame, wealth, and considerable influence in the entertainment industry. His professional life also explains the family's international background, with Suho growing up within both Korean and Japanese cultural contexts. Beyond his career, his most notable trait is the strength of his eventual change, as he moves from a figure associated with betrayal and neglect to one who genuinely supports his son's happiness.
In personality, Jooheon is presented mainly through the lens of his celebrity status and the emotional distance it creates between him and his family. His dedication to his career and his desire to protect his public image lead him to make choices that deeply hurt Suho. The most significant of these occurs when Suho walks in on his father with another woman, an incident that coincides with a personal crisis in Suho's life involving his friend Seyeon. Suho, already burdened by guilt, becomes resentful toward his father, and the affair becomes a central wound in their relationship. Jooheon's attempts to manage the fallout from his scandal further strain the bond, as his actions appear cold and self-serving to his son.
His motivations revolve largely around reputation, success, and, eventually, reconciliation. As an actor with a career spanning two countries, he is driven by the demands and pressures of fame, and at several points he prioritizes his professional standing over his family's emotional needs. Later in the story, however, his perspective shifts, and his motivation becomes the rebuilding of trust with Suho.
In the story, Jooheon functions as a key source of Suho's backstory and emotional conflict. His indiscretion is indirectly tied to the tragedy surrounding Suho's friend Seyeon, and the lingering anger Suho carries toward him shapes much of Suho's guarded personality. A confrontation between father and son at a hospital is one of the most intense moments of the narrative, with Suho's long-suppressed emotions finally erupting in anger and tears. Jooheon also faces a period of incapacitation due to a coma, and his eventual recovery marks the beginning of his redemption.
His relationship with Suho is the most important part of his arc, moving from tension and misunderstanding to warmth and acceptance. He also maintains a bond with his daughter Selena, and as the story progresses he shows kindness toward Lim Jugyeong, Suho's love interest, accepting her warmly and even referring to her as his future daughter-in-law. Through this later behavior, Jooheon reveals a gentler side that had been obscured by his earlier choices.
As for abilities, Jooheon's prominence as an actor grants him fame, wealth, and considerable influence in the entertainment industry. His professional life also explains the family's international background, with Suho growing up within both Korean and Japanese cultural contexts. Beyond his career, his most notable trait is the strength of his eventual change, as he moves from a figure associated with betrayal and neglect to one who genuinely supports his son's happiness.