Lee Min Ho and his close friend, actor Jung Il Woo, were traveling together when their vehicle was struck head-on by another car. The group of friends were driving to Gangwon Province when a car crossing from the opposite lane after fleeing from a previous hit-and-run hit them head-on, destroying the hood and engine of their car.
Tragically, the two friends seated in the front seats lost their lives instantly, while Lee Min Ho and Jung Il Woo, who were in the back seats, sustained serious injuries. He was only 19 years old when it happened in August 2006. His acting career was put on hold due to the incident. Lee was severely injured and in a coma for a month, after which he spent several months bedridden. His injuries included broken ribs, thigh and ankle, along with a tear in his knee cartilage. As part of his treatment, a 46-centimeter metal pin was inserted in his thigh, leaving one of his legs shorter than the other. He still has metal pins in his leg today and sometimes experiences discomfort from them.
At first, the doctor said that Lee Min-ho might not be able to walk again. But, thanks to his perseverance, he healed despite having to have 46 cm iron plates planted in his right leg for 3 years. The iron plates in his right leg were removed in 2009 after he filmed the drama Boys Over Flowers. The incident details were shared by Jung Il-woo when he guessed on KBS2’s Happy Together in 2020.
Lee Min Ho became ambidextrous during his stay in the hospital for several months.
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