Lee is the only grandson of the late businessman Kim Jong-jin, who served in executive positions at POSCO and Dongkuk Steel.[2][3] In August 2013, he admitted he had been in a relationship with Gong Hyun-joo for half a year and affection began when they were colleagues in the same agency. In August 2016, the agency announced they broke up due to personal reasons. They changed agencies respectively after their break-up.[4]
^Park Pan-seok (February 23, 2021). "이상엽, '미치지 않고서야' 주연 확정..정재영" [Lee Sang-yeop confirmed for the lead role in 'Only Without Going Crazy'..Jung Jae-young]. Osen (in Korean). Retrieved February 23, 2021 – via V.daum.
^Ha Ji-won (November 9, 2021). "[단독] 이상엽, 차기작은 '이브의 스캔들'…열일 이어간다" [[Exclusive] Lee Sang-yeop's next project is 'Eve's Scandal'... ten days to go] (in Korean). Xports News. Retrieved November 9, 2021 – via Naver.
^[‘무확행’첫방] “이혼 13년, 혼밥 익숙”...이상민, ‘맛요정’ 된 이유 [['Muchakhaeng' first episode] "13 years of divorce, I'm used to eating alone"...Lee Sang-min, the reason why I became a 'Taste Fairy']. mk.co.kr (in Korean). Retrieved 2018-09-17.
^Sun Jin-ah (March 10, 2021). "차태현·장혁·이상엽·현주엽·안정환·김태균, '전국방방쿡쿡' 출연 확정(공식)" [Cha Tae-hyun, Jang Hyuk, Lee Sang-yeop, Hyun Joo-yeop, Ahn Jung-hwan, and Kim Tae-gyun confirmed to appear in 'Nationwide Bang Cook Cook' (official)]. MK Sports (in Korean). Retrieved March 10, 2020 – via Naver.
^Yoon Hyo-jung (April 21, 2021). "[단독] 이상엽, '식스센스2' 고정 합류…유재석·제시와 재회" [[Exclusive] Lee Sang-yeop, 'Six Sense 2' fixed joining... Reunion with Yoo Jae-suk and Jessi] (in Korean). News1. Retrieved April 25, 2021 – via Naver.
^Baek Sung-hoon (November 19, 2021). "김희애·이상엽, '어린이에게 새 생명을' MC 확정" [Kim Hee-ae and Lee Sang-yeop confirmed as MCs for 'Giving Children New Life] (in Korean). iMBC. Retrieved November 19, 2021 – via Naver.
^Lee Min-ji (December 22, 2020). "2020 KBS 연기대상' 도경완 조보아 이상엽 MC 확정(공식)" [2020 KBS Drama Awards' MC confirmed by Do Kyung-wan, Jo Bo-ah, and Lee Sang-yeop (official)]. newsen (in Korean). Retrieved December 22, 2020 – via naver.
^Kim, Yang-soo (October 26, 2020). "APAN어워즈', 방탄X임영웅X현빈X주원…인기상 후보 공개 '뜨거운 경합" [APAN Awards', BTS X Young-woong Lim X Hyun Bin X Joo Won... Popularity Award nominees revealed 'hot competition]. joynews24 (in Korean). Daum. Retrieved October 26, 2020.
^Kim Myung-mi (November 13, 2020). "APAN STAR AWARDS' 우수상 후보 공개, 박보검부터 지창욱까지" [APAN STAR AWARDS' Excellence Award nominees revealed, from Park Bo-gum to Ji Chang-wook]. naver (in Korean). Newsen. Retrieved November 13, 2020.
^Lee Ho-yeon (January 23, 2021). "2020 APAN 어워즈' 강하늘·이민정·이상엽·김희선, 흥행작 이끈 최우수상 영예" [2020 APAN Awards' Kang Ha-neul, Lee Min-jung, Lee Sang-yeop, and Kim Hee-sun, the grand prize for leading the box office]. hankookilbo (in Korean). Retrieved January 23, 2020.
^Kim Hyun-sik (January 1, 2021). "[2020 KBS 연기대상] 이장우·이상엽·이정은·진기주 장편드라마 우수상" [[2020 KBS Drama Awards] Lee Jang-woo, Lee Sang-yeop, Lee Jung-eun, Jin Ki-joo Excellence Award in Feature Drama]. edaily (in Korean). Retrieved December 31, 2020.
^Sun Jin-ah (December 31, 2020). "김영대·이상엽·조보아 인기상 "팬 투표로 받은 상, 무게 느껴져" [KBS 연기대상]" [Kim Young-dae, Lee Sang-yeop, Jo Bo-ah Popularity Award "I feel the weight of the award received by fan vote" [KBS Acting Awards]]. mksports (in Korean). Retrieved December 31, 2020.
^"2020 KBS 연기대상] '한다다' 이상이·이초희 천호진·이정은 이민정·이상엽 베스트커플상" [2020 KBS Drama Awards] Lee Sang, Lee Cho-hee, Cheon Ho-jin, Lee Jung-eun, Lee Min-jung, Lee Sang-yeop Best Couple Award for 'Handada']. 이데일리 (in Korean). 2021-01-01. Retrieved 2021-06-30.
^"191129 이상엽/윤소이 - 문화연예대상 드라마부문 남여최우수상" [191129 Lee Sang-yeop / Yoon So-yi - Culture and Entertainment Awards Best Male and Female Drama]. Korean Pop Culture YouTube Channel (in Korean). 3 December 2019.
^"[SBS 연기대상]이상엽·남지현, 수목극 부문 우수상" [[SBS Acting Awards] Lee Sang-yeop and Nam Ji-hyun, Excellence Award in Wed-Thurs Drama]. Ilgan Sports (in Korean). 31 December 2017.
^Jeong Hee-yeon (January 1, 2021). "주지훈-김서형, '2020 SBS 연기대상' 미니시리즈 장르/액션 최우수연기" [Joo Ji-hoon and Kim Seo-hyung, Best Performance in a Miniseries Genre/Action at the '2020 SBS Drama Awards'상]. sports.donga (in Korean). Retrieved December 31, 2020.