Lee Yo-won

Lee Yo-won (Korean: 이요원; born April 9, 1980) is a South Korean actress. She is best known for her portrayal of Queen Seondeok in the eponymous hit period drama.

Career

Lee Yo-won was a sophomore in high school when she won a modeling contest and first appeared as a model in the November 1997 issue of fashion magazine Figaro. This led to commercials, then to minor roles in television series and movies. Though she started getting recognized by the public after the box-office success of anarchic comedy Attack the Gas Station (1999),^[2] her first notable acting role was in controversial TV drama Blue Mist (2001), where she played a young woman in her 20s who becomes romantically involved with a married man in his 40s.^[3]

Critical darling Take Care of My Cat (2001) followed shortly, for which she received several newcomer awards. In a later interview with Elle Korea in 2009, she cited the film as her most memorable work.^[4]

But after starring in a number of big-screen star vehicles that weren't received well by audiences and critics, Lee felt mentally and physically exhausted.^[5] After finishing the historical drama Daemang (lit. "The Great Ambition", 2002), she made the surprising announcement that she was temporarily retiring from the entertainment scene.^[6]

Lee made a successful acting comeback in 2005, as the lead actress in period drama Fashion 70's, which she chose because she wanted to work with TV director Lee Jae-gyu (who had previously directed Damo), and because it was not a typical love story, but depicted a woman's success in life and career.^[7] A supporting role followed in romantic comedy When Romance Meets Destiny.^[5]

In 2007, Lee played the titular character in hit medical drama/romance Surgeon Bong Dal-hee,^[8] though her next series, melodrama Cruel Love was less successful in the ratings.^[9] She then switched to more serious fare as part of the ensemble cast of May 18, a film about the Gwangju massacre and one of the highest grossing Korean films of all time.^[10][11]

Tired of playing fragile characters, Lee portrayed Queen Seondeok of Silla in the massively popular period drama Queen Seondeok (2009).^[12] Her follow-up, fantasy melodrama 49 Days (2011) in which she played dual roles as a woman possessed, also resonated with audiences.^[13][14] Afterwards she appeared in The King's Doctor (2012) about a Joseon-era veterinarian turned royal physician,^[15] and Empire of Gold (2013) which revolved around a power struggle over a chaebol.^[16][17]

On the big screen, Lee said after her enjoyable experience working with Jeong Jae-eun on Take Care of My Cat, she wanted to work with other female directors, so she starred in Anna Lee's romantic mystery The Recipe (2010)^[18][19] and Bang Eun-jin's crime thriller Perfect Number (2012). In contrast, she was cast in the only female starring role in Kang Woo-suk's Fists of Legend (2013), about middle-aged men who join a televised mixed martial arts tournament/reality show.^[20]

In 2016, Lee made a successful comeback to the small screen with the quirky romantic-comedy My Horrible Boss. Her role as a hot-headed career woman was well-received, with many citing it as her "rediscovery role".^[21] She then participated in another film, titled Yes, Family, playing a reporter who is the oldest among-st four siblings.^[22] Lee also starred in the MBC drama Night Light, alongside Jin Goo and Uee.^[23]

In 2017, Lee starred in the black comedy series Avengers Social Club.^[24]

In 2019, Lee starred in the espionage melodrama Different Dreams and ^[25] The Running Mates: Human Rights.

Personal life

Lee married businessman and professional golfer Park Jin-woo on January 10, 2003.^[26][27] The couple have two daughters & one son (born in Dec 2003, May 2014 and May 2015).^{[28][29][30][unreliable source?][31][unreliable source?]} Lee is Catholic.^[32]

Filmography

Film

Television series

Variety

Music video appearances

Discography

Awards and nominations

Listicles

References

1. ^ "ko:이요원" (in Korean). Marie Claire Korea. Retrieved November 26, 2023.
2. ^ "ko:스타데이트 이요원 <탤런트>" (in Korean). The Korea Economic Daily. March 22, 2001. Archived October 22, 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved January 10, 2019.
3. ^ Shin, Yong-ho (June 10, 2001). "Lee Transforms, Playing Vixen or Angel". Korea JoongAng Daily. Archived from the original on July 23, 2012. Retrieved November 18, 2012.
4. ^ Yoon, Tae-hee (December 15, 2009). "ko:'선덕여왕' 이요원, 패션화보도 '여왕포스'" (in Korean). Ten Asia. Archived March 19, 2014 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved March 19, 2014.
5. ^ "ko:Lee Yo-Won Talks 광식이 동생 광태 (When Romance Meets Destiny)". Film2.0 via Twitch Film. December 2, 2005. Archived from the original on July 22, 2012. Retrieved November 18, 2012.
6. ^ "ko:<연합인터뷰>SBS「대망」의 이요원" (in Korean). Yonhap News Agency. October 10, 2002. Archived January 10, 2019 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved January 10, 2019.
7. ^ Suh, Jung-bo (May 12, 2005). "Weekend Date: Lee Yo-won". The Dong-A Ilbo. Archived March 30, 2012 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved November 18, 2012.
8. ^ "Dr. Drama". The Dong-A Ilbo. January 4, 2007. Archived December 8, 2015 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved July 30, 2013.
9. ^ "Lee Yo-won to costar Kwon Sang-woo in Bad Love". HanCinema. Broasia. October 22, 2007. Archived January 11, 2019 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved January 10, 2019.
10. ^ "Lee Yo-won Conjures the Spirits of May 18". The Chosun Ilbo. July 25, 2007. Archived December 18, 2013 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved November 18, 2012.
11. ^ Lee, Hyo-won (July 10, 2007). "May 18 Remembers Heroes of Gwangju". The Korea Times. Archived December 13, 2013 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved December 17, 2012.
12. ^ Han, Sang-hee (May 9, 2009). "New Epic Drama to Bring Rivalry, Love to TV". The Korea Times. Archived November 3, 2013 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved November 18, 2012.
13. ^ Lee, Ga-on (June 8, 2011). "INTERVIEW: Actress Lee Yo-won - Part 1". Ten Asia. Archived June 13, 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved November 18, 2012.
14. ^ Lee, Ga-on (June 8, 2011). "INTERVIEW: Actress Lee Yo-won - Part 2". Ten Asia. Archived November 3, 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved November 18, 2012.
15. ^ Nam, Woo-jeong (September 25, 2012). "Horse Doctor Lee Yo Won talks about her relationship with Cho Seung Woo". StarN News. Archived from the original on January 10, 2015. Retrieved March 19, 2014.
16. ^ Cho, Suyoun (January 24, 2013). "Heroine of a hit series Empire of Gold Lee Yo won meets fashion magazine ELLE". BNTNews. Archived from the original on March 19, 2014. Retrieved March 19, 2014.
17. ^ "Ko Soo, Lee Yo-won to Struggle for Power and Money in New TV Series". Ten Asia. May 24, 2013. Archived from the original on March 28, 2014.
18. ^ "Lee Yo-won said that she became more muscular thanks to her husband". HanCinema. October 18, 2010. Archived November 13, 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved January 10, 2019.
19. ^ "Ryoo Seung-bum, Lee Yo-won cast in new movie". Ten Asia. December 2, 2011. Archived April 9, 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved January 10, 2019.
20. ^ Hong, Lucia (May 16, 2012). "Lee Yo-won to play a producer in Kang Woo-suk's new film". Ten Asia. Archived December 28, 2013 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved March 19, 2014.
21. ^ "Lee Yo-won plays hard-headed career woman in drama". Korea JoongAng Daily. March 25, 2016. Archived December 10, 2017 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved December 10, 2017.
22. ^ "Practice has made perfect for Lee Yo-won's career: The actress returns to the silver screen with 'My Little Brother'". Korea JoongAng Daily. February 23, 2017. Archived December 10, 2017 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved December 10, 2017.
23. ^ "New MBC series 'Night Light' depicts world ruled by power, money and greed". Kpop Herald. November 18, 2016. Archived August 14, 2017 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved December 10, 2017.
24. ^ "Lee Yo-won to lead star in "Buam-dong Avengers"". HanCinema. August 15, 2015. Archived December 10, 2017 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved December 10, 2017.
25. ^ "ko:[공식]유지태X이요원, '이몽' 출연 확정...내년 상반기 방송" (in Korean). Sports Chosun. August 15, 2018. Archived March 29, 2019 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved August 15, 2018.
26. ^ "Lee Yo-won said that she became more muscular thanks to her husband". The Dong-A Ilbo via Hancinema. October 18, 2010. Archived April 14, 2013 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved November 18, 2012.
27. ^ "Actress Lee Yo-won ties knot with businessman" (in Korean). Naver. January 10, 2003. Archived November 27, 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved April 22, 2014.
28. ^ "Lee Yo-Won and Family First Time Appearance Captured by Media Camera after 9 Years Marriage" (in Korean). Dispatch. August 9, 2011. Archived from the original on August 8, 2014. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
29. ^ "Actress Lee Yo-won gives birth to her 2nd child". Aju Business Daily. July 25, 2014. Archived August 9, 2014 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved August 12, 2014.
30. ^ "Actress Lee Yo Won belatedly revealed to have given birth to her second child". Allkpop. July 25, 2014. Archived July 29, 2014 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved July 26, 2014.
31. ^ "Actress Lee Yo Won revealed to have given birth to her third child". Allkpop. May 19, 2015. Archived May 21, 2015 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved May 19, 2015.
32. ^ "ko:이요원 "이런 '된장같은' 반응은 없어야 할텐데" (인터뷰①)". Newsen. October 19, 2010.
33. ^ "ko:드라마·영화 종횡무진 배우 이요원 "예쁜척？ 싫어． 내숭？ 더 싫어！"" (in Korean). Kukmin Ilbo. August 29, 2011. Archived January 10, 2019 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved January 10, 2019.
34. ^ "ko:영화 '서프라이즈'주연 이요원 "나만의 연기로 인정받고 싶어"" (in Korean). Kukmin Ilbo. July 4, 2002. Archived January 10, 2019 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved January 10, 2019.
35. ^ Nam, So-young (August 20, 2017). "ko:광식이 동생 광태, '섹시녀'와 바람둥이 동생 그리고 소심한 형...김주혁, 봉태규, 이요원, 김아중" (in Korean). Gyeonggi-do Min Ilbo. Archived July 9, 2021 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved July 2, 2021.
36. ^ Cho, Byung-kwan (July 24, 2007). "ko:이요원, '화려한 휴가'서 광주 아픔 상징적 대변 박신애 열연" (in Korean). Sports Chosun. Archived July 9, 2021 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved July 2, 2021.
37. ^ Lee, Ye-ji (May 17, 2019). "ko:'된장' 류승룡-이요원-이동욱 출연, 미스터리 영화...'줄거리는?'" (in Korean). 톱스타뉴스. Top Star News. Archived July 9, 2021 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved July 2, 2021.
38. ^ Kim, Yang-so (June 19, 2020). "ko:류승범X이요원 '용의자X', 日소설 '용의자X의 헌신' 영화화...155만 관객 동원" (in Korean). Joy News24. Archived July 9, 2021 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved July 2, 2021.
39. ^ Park, Min-kyung (March 28, 2013). "ko:이요원, '전설의 주먹' 기자회견 불참 "'마의' 종방연"" (in Korean). Segye. Archived July 9, 2021 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved July 2, 2021.
40. ^ Choi, Song-hee (February 23, 2017). "ko:[아주스타 #데일리룩] '그래, 가족' 이요원, '화이트 룩'으로 시크한 매력 UP" (in Korean). Ajou Economic Daily. Archived July 9, 2021 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved July 2, 2021.
41. ^ "ko:[연예]이요원, 성숙함과 풋풋함의 절묘한 조화" (in Korean). The Dong-A Ilbo. May 1, 2001. Archived January 10, 2019 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved January 10, 2019.
42. ^ "ko:[방송]류진-이요원 KBS 미니시리즈 '순정' 남녀주연 캐스팅" (in Korean). The Dong-A Ilbo. July 16, 2001. Archived January 10, 2019 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved January 10, 2019.
43. ^ "Lee Yo-won and Choo Ja-hyun in "Green Mothers Club"". HanCinema. May 27, 2021. Archived October 7, 2021 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved September 12, 2021.
44. ^ "KBS 연기대상에「태조왕건」최수종" (in Korean). Yonhap News Agency. January 1, 2002. Archived January 11, 2019 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved January 10, 2019.
45. ^ "ko:「봄날은 간다」,청룡영화상 최우수 작품상" (in Korean). Yonhap News Agency. December 12, 2001. Archived November 12, 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved January 10, 2019.
46. ^ "ko:감독들이 뽑은 올해의 배우와 감독" (in Korean). Cine21. January 2, 2002. Archived January 10, 2019 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved January 10, 2019.
47. ^ "ko:[제38회 백상예술대상 영화부문 최우수연기상] 조재현 (나쁜 남자)" (in Korean). JoongAng Ilbo. March 13, 2002. Archived January 10, 2019 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved January 10, 2019.
48. ^ "ko:전도연, '2005 SBS 연기대상' 대상 수상 (종합)" (in Korean). My Daily. January 1, 2006. Archived November 11, 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved January 10, 2019.
49. ^ "2007 Year-end Korean drama awards round-up". HanCinema. Star Money. January 7, 2007. Archived September 27, 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved January 27, 2018.
50. ^ "So Ji-sup, Lee Yo-won Named Best Actors". The Korea Times. December 10, 2009. Archived December 5, 2018 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved December 10, 2017.
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56. ^ "Celebrity List" (in Korean). JoongAng Ilbo. February 23, 2010. Archived May 24, 2021 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved May 24, 2021. – via Joins.