ActorGood People Entertainment
Lee Young-ae
Lee Young-ae (이영애) is South Korea's most internationally recognized actress of her generation. Born January 31, 1971 in Seoul, she holds a BA from Hanyang University and an MA from Chung-Ang University. She began as a model in 1991 before transitioning to acting, winning Best New Actress at the SBS Drama Awards for her 1993 debut How's Your Husband? Her career shifted into a higher gear with the mystery thriller Joint Security Area (2000), which became the highest-grossing Korean film of its time, and Hur Jin-ho's romantic film One Fine Spring Day (2001). But it was Dae Jang Geum (Jewel in the Palace, 2003) that transformed her into a pan-Asian phenomenon. The MBC historical epic averaged 46.3% national viewership and aired in 91 countries, launching Lee as one of Hallyu's first true international stars. Park Chan-wook cast her in Lady Vengeance (2005), earning her Best Actress at the Sitges Film Festival and the Baeksang Arts Awards. After a 12-year hiatus, she returned with Saimdang, Light's Diary (2017) and has since maintained a steady presence: A Wonderful Sight (2021), Maestra: Strings of Truth (2023-2024), and the KBS2 crime thriller Walking on Thin Ice (2025). In March 2026, she was confirmed for Jae Yi's Young In opposite Yoo Ji-tae, reuniting with her One Fine Spring Day co-star for the first time in 25 years. She is managed by Good People Entertainment.
1 articles10 creditsDebut: January 1, 1993South Korean
Gallery
티비텐 / CC BY 3.0
Filmography
2022
Bring Me HomeFilm
Jung-yeon
2005
Sympathy for Lady VengeanceFilm
Lee Geum-ja
2001
One Fine Spring DayFilm
Lee Eun-soo
2000
Joint Security AreaFilm
Sophie
Other Credits
2026
Jae Yi's Young InDrama
Lead
2025
Walking On Thin IceDrama
Kang Eun-soo
2023
Maestra: Strings of TruthDrama
Cha Se-eum
2021
A Wonderful SightDrama
Koo Kyeong-yi
2017
Saimdang Memoir of ColorsDrama
Shin Saimdang
2003
Jewel in the PalaceDrama
Jang-geum
Fans Also Ask
What is Lee Young-ae most famous for?
Lee Young-ae is most famous for Jewel in the Palace (Dae Jang Geum, 2003), the MBC historical drama that averaged 46.3% viewership in Korea and aired in over 91 countries, making her one of the first Hallyu stars with genuine pan-Asian recognition. She is also acclaimed for Lady Vengeance (2005), directed by Park Chan-wook.
What awards has Lee Young-ae won?
Lee Young-ae has won the MBC Drama Awards Daesang for Jewel in the Palace (2003), and Best Actress at the Sitges Film Festival, 26th Blue Dragon Film Awards, and 42nd Baeksang Arts Awards for Lady Vengeance (2005). She also won Best New Actress at the 1993 SBS Drama Awards.
What is Lee Young-ae's most recent drama?
Lee Young-ae starred in Walking on Thin Ice (KBS2, 2025), a crime thriller in which she plays a housewife drawn into the world of drug trafficking. In March 2026, she was confirmed for the upcoming drama Jae Yi's Young In, reuniting with One Fine Spring Day co-star Yoo Ji-tae for the first time in 25 years.
Why did Lee Young-ae take a 12-year acting hiatus?
Lee Young-ae stepped back from acting after Lady Vengeance (2005) to focus on her personal life. She married businessman Jeong Ho-yeong in 2009 and gave birth to twins. She returned to the screen in 2017 with the historical drama Saimdang, Light's Diary.
Is Lee Young-ae returning to acting in 2026?
Yes. Lee Young-ae was confirmed in March 2026 to star in the drama Jae Yi's Young In alongside Yoo Ji-tae, produced by I Will Media and scheduled to begin production in 2026. This marks the first project the two actors have shared since One Fine Spring Day (2001).
