The year he turned 23, he was picked fifth in the second round of the KBL rookie draft by Seoul Samsung. In 2012, he held Yang Dong-geun to 1 point in the first half against Mobis, helping Samsung to a home win. In 2014, after the 2013–14 season, he enlisted in Sangmu.
He was discharged and returned to Samsung in January 2016, and joined the Philippine Basketball Association in the summer. In the 2017–18 season he posted the best numbers of his pro career, and that December he scored 20 or more in three straight games. In 2018–19 he averaged 16.4 points in 43 games.
In 2020, he re-signed with Samsung as a free agent. In 2021, he was traded from Samsung to LG and signed a four-year contract with LG in May.
The breakthrough yearThe year he turned 35, he appeared on Netflix’s Single’s Inferno 3 as a basketball player. Ilgan Sports writes that his Instagram followers later grew from 25,000 to 800,000.
In 2024, he played in the All-Star Game, and in June he was traded from LG to DB. In 2025, he passed 5,200 career points, and in June he returned to Samsung after four years.
In 2026, he played in the last KBL game at Jamsil Gymnasium and appeared on Wavve’s Game of Blood X. In July he made his relationship public.
Lee Kwan-hee was picked by Seoul Samsung in the KBL rookie draft on Jan 31, 2011, the year he turned 23, and became known when episodes 1–3 of Netflix’s Single’s Inferno 3 were released on Dec 12, 2023, the year he turned 35. In 2021, the year he turned 33, he was traded to LG.
Ages are by calendar year (the year minus the birth year), birthdays aside.
02 / QUICK ANSWERS
Q & AFrequently asked
- How old was Lee Kwan-hee when he became a pro basketball player?
- In 2011, the year he turned 23. He was picked fifth in the second round of the KBL rookie draft by Seoul Samsung on Jan 31, 2011.
- How old was Lee Kwan-hee when he became famous?
- In 2023, the year he turned 35, when he appeared on Netflix’s Single’s Inferno 3. Jumpball, relaying a March 2024 interview with the EASL CEO, reports that his social media followers went from about 8,000 in 2018 to about 830,000 after the appearance.
- How old was Lee Kwan-hee when he moved to LG?
- On Feb 4, 2021, the year he turned 33, he was traded from Samsung to LG. On Jun 4, 2024, the year he turned 36, he moved from LG to DB, and in 2025, the year he turned 37, he returned to Samsung as a free agent.
- When did Lee Kwan-hee do his military service?
- He enlisted in Sangmu on Apr 28, 2014, the year he turned 26, and was discharged on Jan 27, 2016, the year he turned 28.
- How old is Lee Kwan-hee?
- Born in 1988, he turns 38 in 2026. His birthday is not known, so his age in years is 37 to 38 (as of Oct 3, 2026).