Lee Jin-uk sparks debate with bold Chrome Hearts street style

Actor Lee Jin-uk has showcased a style vastly different from his usual polished image, featuring high-end fashion items and daring accessories. As he revealed a look that blends street fashion with his signature refined persona, mixed reactions emerged online, with some calling the look "hip" while others debated his so-called "Young Forty" style.

Recently, a video of Lee attending an opening event for a franchise store in the United States went viral on social media. In the footage, Lee appeared relaxed, naturally posing for photos and smiling brightly with attendees.

His fashion, however, was the main attraction. Lee wore a Chrome Hearts long-sleeve shirt, reportedly worth over 10,000,000 won, layered with multiple silver necklaces. He completed the heavy metallic look by wearing several rings on both hands. He further emphasized comfort over formality by wearing a hoodie with the hood up while taking photos with fans.

This styling marks a significant departure from the image Lee has portrayed in his various works. He has long cultivated a sense of restrained masculinity by pulling off neat suits and natural casual wear. Even in genre-crossing projects such as "My Mister," "Voice," "Sweet Home," and "Bulgasal: Immortal Souls," he has established his presence by emphasizing an actor's expression and character depth rather than excessive external ornamentation.

In particular, Lee's fashion goes beyond simply wearing luxury brands; it connects to recent generational shifts in men's fashion. The phenomenon where men in their 40s move away from traditional age-appropriate styles to actively embrace jewelry, streetwear, and bold brand items is linked to the "Young Forty" culture. As a consumer culture that prioritizes personal taste and self-expression over age spreads, the boundaries between age and style have loosened.

Lee appears to have actively embraced this trend. However, because of his strong, sophisticated image, some feel the extent of this transformation is particularly jarring.

Netizens reacted to the video with varied opinions, with some commenting, "He looks like a Young Forty because of the accessories," or "He looks like an older version of himself," while others noted, "His face is so classically actor-like that this hip style doesn't quite suit him." Conversely, many praised him for attempting the fashion he desires without being constrained by age.

These mixed evaluations ultimately raise the question of whether the traditional standard of "fashion suited to one's age" remains valid today. For famous actors, whose public image is often tied to specific roles, attempting new styles often becomes a major talking point.

After gaining significant attention with the 2006 drama "Era of Love," Lee expanded his range through works such as "Spy Myung-wol," "Nine: Nine Time Travels," "The Time I Loved You," "Voice," and "Return." In film, he has built a diverse filmography with titles including "The Beauty Inside," "Vanishing Time: A Boy Who Returned," and "High Society."

Ultimately, the buzz surrounding Lee is less about whether the fashion was a success or a failure, and more about the collision between a familiar star image and new self-expression. For an actor, fashion is a language used to curate oneself outside of a script. By moving away from the neat "Actor Lee Jin-uk" to embrace a bold street sensibility, he has demonstrated that he can reinvent his image whenever he chooses.