ActorFantagio
Lee Se-young
Lee Se-young (이세영) is a South Korean actress born December 20, 1992, in Seocho District, Seoul. She began her career as a child actress in 1997, gaining early recognition in Dae Jang Geum (2003) and When I Turned Nine (2004). She attended Sungshin Women's University, graduating in Media Communications.
Her adult breakthrough came with The Gentlemen of Wolgyesu Tailor Shop (KBS, 2016), earning her the Baeksang Arts Award for Best New Actress (Television). She followed with the Hong sisters fantasy romance A Korean Odyssey (2017), portraying three distinct characters opposite Lee Seung-gi. The tvN historical drama The Crowned Clown (2019) cemented her as a period lead, and she pivoted into crime thriller with Memorist (2020).
The Red Sleeve (MBC, 2021) became a career peak. Directed by Jung Ji-in, it saw Lee play court lady Deok-im opposite Lee Jun-ho's Crown Prince. She earned the MBC Drama Awards Top Excellence Actress prize and the Best Couple award with her co-star. Forbes Korea subsequently listed her on its Power Celebrity 40. Further acclaimed work followed in The Law Cafe (KBS, 2022), The Story of Park's Marriage Contract (MBC, 2023), and What Comes After Love (MBC, 2024).
In September 2025, Lee signed an exclusive contract with Fantagio. She is cast as Rashta in The Remarried Empress, a Disney+ original fantasy drama based on the 2.7-billion-view webtoon by Alphatart. Rashta is a runaway slave who rises to become imperial concubine, co-starring Shin Min-a, Lee Jong-suk, and Ju Ji-hoon. Known as the Historical Drama Queen, she remains one of the most consistent leading actresses in Korean television.
1 articles9 creditsKorean
Gallery
Lee Se-young at Incheon International Airport, February 28, 2025 (CC BY 3.0)
Other Credits
2026
The Remarried Empress (Disney+)DRAMA
2024
What Comes After LoveDRAMA
2023
The Story of Park's Marriage ContractDRAMA
2022
The Law CafeDRAMA
2021
The Red SleeveDRAMA
2020
MemoristDRAMA
2019
The Crowned ClownDRAMA
2017
A Korean OdysseyDRAMA
2016
The Gentlemen of Wolgyesu Tailor ShopDRAMA
Fans Also Ask
What is Lee Se-young best known for?
Lee Se-young is best known for The Red Sleeve (MBC, 2021), which earned her the MBC Drama Awards Top Excellence Actress prize, and The Crowned Clown (tvN, 2019). She is nicknamed the Historical Drama Queen for her exceptional command of period roles across multiple acclaimed series.
What drama is Lee Se-young in next?
Lee Se-young is cast as Rashta in The Remarried Empress, a Disney+ original fantasy drama based on the 2.7-billion-view webtoon by Alphatart. Rashta is a runaway slave who rises to become imperial concubine alongside Empress Navier. The series co-stars Shin Min-a, Lee Jong-suk, and Ju Ji-hoon.
When did Lee Se-young start acting?
Lee Se-young began as a child actress in 1997. She appeared in the historical drama Dae Jang Geum (2003) and the films When I Turned Nine (2004) and Lovely Rivals (2004) before transitioning to adult roles in her early twenties.
Which agency does Lee Se-young belong to?
Lee Se-young is currently represented by Fantagio, having signed an exclusive contract with the agency in September 2025.
Has Lee Se-young won any acting awards?
Yes. She won the Baeksang Arts Award for Best New Actress (Television) in 2016 for The Gentlemen of Wolgyesu Tailor Shop. In 2021, she received the Top Excellence Actress award at the MBC Drama Awards for The Red Sleeve, along with the Best Couple award alongside Lee Jun-ho.
