Lee made her debut as a model in 1991. After appearing in television commercials, she debuted as an actress in the 1993 drama How's Your Husband?, which won her Best New Actress at the
SBS Drama Awards.
In 2000, she starred in the mystery thriller film Joint Security Area, which became the highest-grossing Korean film at that time. She followed this with melodrama Last Present, where she received acclaim for her performance as a young woman facing the realities of an early death.[4] Lee reunited with director
Hur Jin-ho to star in his next film One Fine Spring Day, which won her Best Actress at the
Busan Film Critics Awards. She also starred in the TV series Fireworks, which introduced Lee to Taiwan audiences.[5]
Lee came to prominence in South Korea after starring in the historical drama Dae Jang Geum. It first aired from September 15, 2003, to March 23, 2004, on
MBC, where it was the top program with an average viewership rating of 46.3% and a peak of 57.8%, making it the 10th highest rated Korean drama of all time.[6] Lee won the Daesang (Grand Prize) award at the
MBC Drama Awards, as well as the Top Excellence award. The show was then aired overseas in 91 countries and became exceptionally popular in Asia.[7][8]
The fame of Dae Jang Geum launched Lee into pan-Asia stardom as one of the biggest
Hallyu stars.[9][10] She has been invited to visit mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore and Japan.[11][12]
In 2006, for the first time in 12 years,
NHK had to use the NHK Hall to host the NHK show due to her popularity; stamps featuring Lee were released in Japan.[13]
In 2006, Lee was invited sit on the jury bench of the
56th Berlin International Film Festival, becoming the first Korean actress to be selected as a jury member of the international film festival.[18]
In 2007, she received the Medal of Culture Merit for her contribution to the
Korean Wave from the South Korean government.[19]
In 2015, it was announced that Lee would be making her comeback to television in
SBS historical series Saimdang, Memoir of Colors. She would be playing dual roles as
Shin Saimdang, a famed Joseon-era artist and calligrapher as well as a modern-day Korean history lecturer.[20] The drama premiered in January 2017.[21]
In 2018, Lee was cast in the film Bring Me Home, returning to the big screen after 13 years.[22]
In 2023, she came back to the small screen with the leading role in
Maestra: Strings of Truth, playing Cha Se-Eum, a world-renowned orchestra conductor who keeps a big, dangerous secret. [24]
Other ventures
Philanthropy
Besides her acting career, Lee has been involved with several charities. In 1997, she went to Ethiopia as a
NGO Goodwill Ambassador. She went to Thar Desert in 1999 to do a
TV show about people in India's
lowest social caste. Later in 2001, she described these experiences in her autobiography "A Most Special Love"[25] with partial English and donated the income from the sale of the book to charity.
She was appointed a goodwill ambassador in 2004 by
UNICEF and has since held several charity posts. She has made many donations to schools and hospitals, including Chosun First Middle School in Harbin[26] and an elementary school in China that was later renamed Lee Young-Ae Elementary School.[27] In 2012, she served as the celebrity spokesperson for the "Love Donation" project, hosted by the magazine Woman Chosun. She made a donation to build a school in Myanmar.[28][29]
In 2012, Lee launched a business for organic and eco-friendly products for children in Seoul.[30]
In July 2014, Taiwanese media reported that Lee had privately assisted a pregnant Taiwanese woman vacationing with her husband in Seoul. The woman gave birth to a girl prematurely and the infant had several complications. Lee found out about the couple through her friend and decided to pay their medical bills of NT$4 million (US$134,000) because the infant required two surgeries and constant medical care after she was born.[31] Lee was subsequently given an award by Taiwan's Chou Ta-Kuan Cultural and Educational Foundation.[32] In 2016, she helped a Vietnamese girl who went to Korea to treat her brain tumor by donating 37 million won for the operation and other medical bills.[33]
In Sri Lanka, she is known as "Changumi" (
Sinhala: චංගුමී), and her popularity there led to the creation of the Sujatha Diyani Scholarship Fund in 2014, when she donated US$100,000. The fund aims at providing financial assistance to female students from low-income families.[34] Lee also became the first actress to join the "Chime for Change" campaign of
Gucci to "raise funds and awareness for projects promoting education, health, and justice for girls and women" around the world.[35]
In 2015, Lee was appointed special envoy by the UNESCO Korean Commission.[36] She promotes the commission's activities such as fundraising and a campaign to render educational support to underdeveloped countries.[37]
In March 2022, Lee donated 100 million won to Ukraine, which was damaged by the
Russian invasion, along with a letter of consolation to the people of Ukraine.[38]
On May 1, 2022, Lee donated 100 million won to the Sowon Foundation Office in Yangpyeong City Gyeonggi-do Province to assist patients who have difficulty getting out of the house due to childhood cancer or rare diseases.[39]
On August 19, 2022, Lee donated ₩100 million to help those affected by the
2022 South Korean floods through the Korea Foundation for the Disabled.[40]
On November 3, 2022, Lee made a donation to help the victims of the
Seoul Halloween crowd crush through donations to Korea Welfare Foundation for the Disabled.[41]
On January 22, 2023, Lee donated 50 million won to residents affected by the fire in Guryong Village, Gangnam District, Seoul.[42]
In September 2023, Lee donated 50 million won to Syngman Rhee, President of the Founder's Memorial Association to build a memorial to former president
Syngman Rhee.[43]
In November 2023, Lee donated ₩50 million to aid humanitarian efforts for children hurt in the
Israel-Hamas war, the
Korean Red Cross announced on 21.[44]
Endorsements
In 1991, Lee made her debut as a rookie model, became known through a TV commercial for Pacific Chemical's (now
Amore Pacific) cosmetics brand Mamonde. Her urban image with her raised hair and trench coat collar left a strong impression on viewers, and Lee Young-ae, who was studying "German Language and Literature" at
Hanyang University at that moment, rose to stardom with the modifier Oxygen Lady. At that time, Mamonde became the most successful brand in the history of
Pacific Chemical. The product Tropic Orange Makeup, which was released in March 1994, achieved a record of selling 1.5 million units in two months. Due to the popularity of Mamonde and Lee Young-ae, competitors also poured out advertisements with a similar concept in 1997. She had been the face of Mamonde for 10 years.[45]
Since 2007, Lee became the global ambassador of
LG Household & Health Care's super-premium beauty brand The History of Whoo until now.[46][47]
In February 2014, Lee became the cover face of the February issue of Marie Claire Korea magazine to promote the "Trinity", "Paris Nouvelle Vague", "Destinée" and "Caresse d'Orchidées de Cartier" collection of French luxury jewellery brand
Cartier.[48] In January 2017, Lee became the cover face of the February issue of Elle Korea magazine to promote the Spring - Summer 2017 collection of Italian luxury fashion house
Valentino.[49][50] In January 2021, she was the cover face of the February issue of Marie Claire Korea to represent the Spring - Summer 2021 collection of Spanish-French luxury fashion house
Balenciaga.[51] She appeared on the cover of Noblesse Magazine June 2021 Issue to present the
Van Cleef & Arpels's "Palmyre", "Treasure of Rubies", "the Snowflake", "Arche de Noé", "Pierres de Caractères" and "Les Ateliers Créations" high jewelry collection and the bag line for French luxury leather goods brand
Fauré Le Page.[52][53] In September 2021, she appeared on the cover of Dazed Korea Fall 2021 Edition Issue to present the Aria Fall/Winter 2021 collection and the Diana bag line for Italian luxury brand
Gucci.[54][55] She also appeared in
Vogue Korea's December 2023 issue to represent the
Fred Joaillier's The High Jewelry collections "Monsieur Fred Inner Light".[56] In the Arena Homme + Korea April 2024 issue, for which she was the cover star, Lee represented the
Bottega Veneta Spring/Summer 2024 ready-to-wear collection.[57]
In July 2022, she was selected as the model for the new product "Lifening Beauty Collagen Ampoule" of the inner beauty brand Lifening.[59]
Personal life
In 2009, Lee married Jeong Ho-young, a Korean-American businessman who was 20 years older than her.[60] On February 20, 2011, she gave birth to
fraternal twins, a boy and a girl.[61]
^Kang Min-kyung (September 23, 2022).
"[공식] 이영애·김상경, 제27회 BIFF '올해의 배우상' 심사위원" [[Official] Lee Young-ae and Kim Sang-kyung, judges of the 27th BIFF 'Actor of the Year Award']. Ten Asia (in Korean).
Naver.
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^Jeong Hye-jeong (March 1, 2022).
"이영애, 우크라에 1억 기부 "참전용사 가족으로 잔혹함 안다"" [Lee Young-ae, donated 100 million won to Ukraine "I know the cruelty of a war veteran's family"]. JoongAng Ilbo (in Korean).
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^Park Ah-reum (May 2, 2022).
"기부가 일상" 이영애, 소아암 환우 위해 1억 또 기부" [Donation is daily life" Lee Young-ae, another 100 million donation for children with cancer] (in Korean). Newsen.
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^Jo Yeon-kyung (August 19, 2022).
"이영애, 집중호우 피해 장애인 가족 위해 5000만원 기부" [Lee Young-ae donates 50 million won to the families of the disabled affected by the torrential rain] (in Korean).
JTBC.
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^Park Pan-seok (November 3, 2022).
"선행의 아이콘 이영애, 이태원 참사 러시아 유족 위해 기부 약속 지켰다" [Icon of good deeds, Lee Young-ae, kept her promise to donate to the Russian bereaved of the Itaewon disaster] (in Korean). Osen.
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^Woo Da-bin (January 23, 2023).
"이영애, 구룡마을 화재 이재민 위해 5천만 원 기부" [Lee Young-ae donates 50 million won for Guryong village fire victims] (in Korean).
Hankook Ilbo.
Archived from the original on January 27, 2023. Retrieved January 27, 2023 – via
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^"후의 상징 현대의 진정한 왕후 이영애" [The icon of the future, the true queen of modern times, Lee Young-ae]. The History of Whoo.
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^"이영애가 진짜 바라는 것" [What Youngae Lee really wants]. Elle Korea (in Korean). January 28, 2017.
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^"하나의 예술 작품을 완성한 배우 이영애와 포레르빠쥬" [Actress Lee Young-ae and Fauré Le Page completed a work of art.]. Noblesse Magazine (in Korean). June 2, 2021.
Archived from the original on March 21, 2024. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
^"꽃과 함께 한 폭의 그림이 된 배우 이영애" [Actress Lee Young-ae, who became a picture with flowers]. Noblesse Magazine (in Korean). May 25, 2021.
Archived from the original on March 21, 2024. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
^"<데이즈드> 코리아 폴 에디션 커버" [The cover for The 2021 Fall Edition Issue of DAZED KOREA.]. Dazed Korea (in Korean). September 2, 2021.
Archived from the original on March 21, 2024. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
^"구찌 이영애 데이즈드 폴에디션 '파격' 커버 ... DAZED & CONFUSED ~" [Gucci Lee Young-ae Dazed Fall Edition 'Unconventional' cover... DAZED & CONFUSED ~]. Korea DutyFreeNews (in Korean). September 2, 2021.
Archived from the original on March 21, 2024. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
^"독보적인, 이영애의 빛" [The unrivaled light of Lee Young-ae]. Vogue Korea (in Korean). November 21, 2023.
Archived from the original on March 21, 2024. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
^"<아레나> 4월호 커버를 장식한 배우 이영애" [Actress Lee Young-ae graces the cover of the April issue of <Arena>]. Arena Homme + Korea (in Korean). March 19, 2024.
Archived from the original on March 21, 2024. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
^"페라가모 픽, 이영애" [Ferragamo Pick, Lee Youngae]. W Korea. April 21, 2020.
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^Kang, Seo-jung (July 24, 2018).
[단독] 이영애, '내아이디는강남미인' 카메오 깜짝출연..'데뷔 후 처음' [[Exclusive] Lee Young-ae, 'My ID is Gangnam Man' Cameo Surprise Appearance..'For the first time since debut'] (in Korean). Osen.
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^Jang, Woo-young (April 8, 2021).
이영애, '모범택시' 목소리 특별 출연...복수대행 시발점 [Lee Young-ae makes a special appearance as the voice of 'Model Taxi'...The Beginning of Revenge Agency] (in Korean). Osen.
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^Kim, Myung-mi (February 16, 2023).
'모범택시2' 이영애, 시즌2에서도 목소리 특별 출연[공식] ['Model Taxi 2' Lee Young-ae to make a special appearance as a voice in Season 2 [Official]] (in Korean). Newsen.
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^Kim, Na-young (May 20, 2021).
이영애 복귀작 '구경이'·레드벨벳 조이 '한 사람만', JTBC 편성 확정 (공식) [Lee Young-ae's comeback film 'Spectacular' and Red Velvet Joy's 'Only One Person' confirmed for JTBC (Official)] (in Korean). MK Sports.
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^Kim, Yu-jin (November 21, 2022).
이영애, '마에스트라' 출연 확정...오케스트라 여성 지휘자 변신 [공식입장] [Lee Young-ae confirmed to appear in 'Maestra'...Orchestra female conductor transformation [official position]] (in Korean). Xports News.
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^Yeon, Hwi-seon (May 6, 2022).
"이영애, EBS 아동인권 다큐 내레이션...출연료 전액 기부 [공식]" [Lee Young-ae, EBS children's human rights documentary narration... Fully donated of the performance fee [Official]] (in Korean). Osen.
Archived from the original on May 6, 2022. Retrieved May 6, 2022 – via
Naver.
^"[포토]'3관왕' 이준기 "이영애와 같은 상, 너무 영광"" [[Photo] Lee Jun-ki, who won three awards, said, "It's such an honor to receive the same award as Lee Young-ae."]. StarNews Korea. July 21, 2006.
Archived from the original on March 21, 2024. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
^"이병헌-이영애, '백상예술대상' 최우수연기상" [Lee Byung-hun and Lee Young-ae, 'Baeksang Arts Awards' Best Actor Award]. BreakNews Korea. April 14, 2006.
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^Kim Hyun-rok (August 27, 2020).
"정유미vs이영애vs김희애vs전도연vs이주영...부일영화상 후보발표" [Jung Yu-mi vs. Lee Young-ae vs. Kim Hee-ae vs. Jeon Do-yeon vs. Lee Joo-young... Buil Film Awards nominations announced]. SPOTV NEWS (in Korean).
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^Im Soo-yeon, Kim So-mi and Bae Dong-mi (December 24, 2021).
"<씨네21>이 선정한 올해의 시리즈를 빛낸 감독, 배우, 스탭은?" [Who are the directors, actors, and staff who shined in this year's series selected by <Cine21>?] (in Korean).
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^Jeon Hyung-hwa (August 19, 2022).
"구경이' 이영애, 시리즈 부문 벡델리안 선정..'옷소매..' 백델초이스5" [Gukyungi' Lee Young-ae, selected as Bechdelian in the series category..'Clothes..' Baekdel's Choice 5] (in Korean). MT Star News.
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^Park, Seung-hyun (September 19, 2022).
"오겜' 이정재, 국회서 국가브랜드 대상 받는다" ['Ogem' Lee Jung-jae receives the national brand grand prize at the National Assembly] (in Korean). AtStyle.
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Naver.