Lee Yeon-hee

In this Korean name, the family name is Lee.

Lee Yeon-hee
Lee in January 2019
Born (1988-01-09) January 9, 1988 (age 36)
Haenam-gun, Jeollanam-do, South Korea[1]
OccupationActress
Years active2001–present
AgentSaram Entertainment
Spouse
Unknown
​
(m. 2020)​
Children1
Korean name
Hangul
이연희
Revised RomanizationI Yeonhui
McCune–ReischauerI Yŏnhŭi

Lee Yeon-hee (Korean: 이연희; born January 9, 1988) is a South Korean actress. She is most known for her work in the television series East of Eden (2008), Phantom (2012), Miss Korea (2013), The Package (2017); and in the films A Millionaire's First Love (2006), M (2007) and Detective K: Secret of the Lost Island (2015).

Early life

Lee was born on January 9, 1988, in Haenam-gun, Jeollanam-do, South Korea.[2][3] In 2002, Lee successfully signed a contract with SM after she won the category of "Best Feature" in the SM Entertainment Best Youth contest.[4] For the contest, she acted out a monologue, singing to Dana "Until the End of the World" and also did freestyle modeling poses.[citation needed] After she joined the company, she began intense training lessons on acting, singing, and dancing.[citation needed]

Career

2002–2006: Beginnings

Soon after she joined SM,[when?] Lee began her career by starring in music videos for SM artists, such as boy band TVXQ, Moon Hee-jun, Kangta, Shinhwa, and Fly to the Sky, overtaking SM artists Kim Bomi (of M.I.L.K.) and Lee Jiyeon (commonly known as CSJH The Grace's Lina) as "The SM music video girl".[5]

Though Lee had relatively steady work between modelling in magazines, commercial ads and appearing in music videos, she did not officially debut until November 2004 where she starred as the younger version of the main character in the hit historical drama Emperor of the Sea, and appeared in the latter episodes of the daily drama My Lovely Family.[6][7] Lee had her first major role in television in MBC's mini-series One Fine Day (2006).[8]

2007–2012: Rising popularity & acting criticism

In 2007, Lee starred in romance melodrama A Millionaire's First Love alongside Hyun Bin.[9] She also made her singing debut for the film, singing "Do-Re-Mi" from The Sound of Music and Insa for the film's original soundtrack. Lee's innocent image in the film earned her the title of "Nation's First Love" in Korea.[10][11] Lee followed this with moderately successful film, M alongside Kang Dong-won; and starred alongside So Ji-sub in the short film, U-Turn.[12][13]

In 2008, she starred as one of the main cast in 47th MBC Anniversary Project East of Eden.[14] Despite the drama's success, her acting in the series received overwhelming negative criticism about her vocalization, unexpressive facial expressions, and unnatural emotional expression as problems in portraying her character.[15] Lee returned to film, starring in Hello, Schoolgirl opposite Yoo Ji-tae. The story is based on the manhwa Soonjeong Manhwa by Kang Pool.[16]

In 2011, Lee starred opposite Jang Dong-gun, Joe Odagiri and Fan Bing-bing in Kang Je-gyu's big budget historical film My Way,[17] and in romance comedy series Paradise Ranch by S.M. Entertainment alongside label-mate Shim Chang-min of boy band TVXQ.[18][19] In 2012, Lee reunited with U-Turn co-star So Ji-sub in the crime thriller Phantom.[20][21] Both Lee and So were named promotional ambassadors for cyber crime prevention by the National Police Agency in 2012.[22]

2013–present: Career resurgence and continued success

In 2013, Lee made a special appearance in the historical drama Gu Family Book, where she received compliments for her improvement in acting.[23][24] She next starred in romantic comedy film Marriage Blue, which tells the story of an engaged couple who experience last-minute jitters and cold feet just a week before their wedding ceremony.[25] Lee closed the year with television series Miss Korea to positive reviews, with many considering her role as her best performance to date.[26]

Lee further challenged herself with a provocative role as the mysterious and seductive Japanese geisha Hisako in the historical comedy Detective K: Secret of the Lost Island in 2015.[27][28] She then starred in MBC's 54th anniversary drama, Splendid Politics.[29]

In 2017, Lee starred in SBS's fantasy romance drama Reunited Worlds alongside Yeo Jin-goo.[30] She then starred in JYP Entertainment's travel romance drama The Package opposite Jung Yong-hwa,[31] and was complimented for her performance as a tour guide.[32]

In 2020, Lee starred in mystery drama The Game: Towards Zero, reuniting with Ok Taec-yeon with whom she starred in the 2013 film Marriage Blue.[33][34] However she was criticized for her bad acting skills by viewers.[35]

In 2020, Lee signed a contract with Vast Entertainment after her contract with SM expired.[36]

In January 2024, Lee signed with new agency Saram Entertainment after her contract with Vast Entertainment expired.[37]

Personal life

On June 2, 2020, Lee married her non-celebrity boyfriend in a private ceremony.[38] On June 7, 2024, Lee announced that she was pregnant after four years of marriage.[39] Lee gave birth to her first child, a daughter, on September 11.[40]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Ref.
2006 A Millionaire's First Love Choi Eun-hwan [9]
2007 M Mi-mi [12]
My Love So-hyeon [41]
2008 U-Turn Yeon-hee [13]
Hello, Schoolgirl Han Soo-young [16]
2011 My Way Kim Eun-soo [17]
2013 Marriage Blue So-mi [25]
2015 Detective K: Secret of the Lost Island Hisako [27]
2021 New Year Blues Jin Ah [42]

Television series

Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2004 Emperor of the Sea young Jung-hwa [43]
My Lovely Family Yeon-ji [44]
2005 Resurrection Kang Shin-young [45]
2006 One Fine Day Goo Hyo-joo [8]
2008 East of Eden Gook Young-ran/Grace [14]
2011 Paradise Ranch Lee Da-ji [46]
2012 Phantom Yoo Kang-mi [20]
2013 Gu Family Book Yoon Seo-hwa Special appearance [23]
Miss Korea Oh Ji-young [26]
2015 Splendid Politics Princess Jeongmyeong [29]
2017 Reunited Worlds Jung Jung-won [30]
The Package Yoon So-so [31]
2020 The Game: Towards Zero Seo Jun Young [47]
SF8 To Sun-ho Episode: "Manxin" [48]

Web series

Year Title Role Ref.
2022 Welcome to Wedding Hell Kim Na-eun [49]
2023 Race Park Yoon-jo [50]

Television shows

Year Title Role Ref.
2018 Island Trio 2 Cast member [51]

Music video appearances

Year Song title Artist Ref.
2001 "Alone" Moon Hee-joon [52]
"Our Story" Moon Hee-joon feat. Oh Sang-eun
"Thanks God" Kangta
2002 "Condition of My Heart" Fly to the Sky
"Hero" Shinhwa
"Memories" Kangta
"Pine Tree"
"Propose"
2003 "Habit" Fly to the Sky
2004 "My Little Princess" TVXQ
"The Way U Are"
2005 "Persona" Kangta
"One" TVXQ
2006 "Timeless" Zhang Liyin feat. Xia [53]
2008 "Star Wish (I Will)" Zhang Liyin
"The Left Shore of Happiness"
"M-net Love Song 2008"
2009 "Wizard Of Oz" Clazziquai
2010 "Miss You" S.M. The Ballad [54]

Theater

Year Title Role Ref.
2021 King Lear (리어왕) Cordelia / stupid clown [55]

Discography

Title Year Album
"Club No.1"[56]
(Super Junior featuring Lee Yeon-hee) 		2009 Sorry, Sorry

Awards and nominations

Name of the award ceremony, year presented, category, nominee of the award, and the result of the nomination
Award ceremony Year Category Nominee / Work Result Ref.
Asia Model Awards 2012 Fashionista Award Lee Yeon-hee Won [57]
Baeksang Arts Awards 2008 Baeksang Arts Award for Best New Actress – Film M Nominated
2009 Baeksang Arts Award for Best New Actress – Television East of Eden Nominated
Golden Cinematography Awards 2008 Best New Actress M Won [58]
KBS Drama Awards 2005 Best Young Actress Resurrection Nominated
Korean Film Awards 2006 Best New Actress A Millionaire's First Love Nominated
2007 M Nominated
Korean Film Actors' Guild Awards 2015 Popularity Award Detective K: Secret of the Lost Island Won [59]
Max Movie Awards 2008 Best New Actress M Won [60]
MBC Drama Awards 2008 Best Couple Award Lee Yeon-hee (with Song Seung-heon)
East of Eden 		Won [61]
Best New Actress East of Eden Won [62]
Popularity Award, Actress Won [63]
2013 Excellence Award, Actress in a Miniseries Gu Family Book Nominated
2014 Popularity Award, Actress Miss Korea Nominated
Top Excellence Award, Actress in a Miniseries Nominated
2015 Excellence Award, Actress in a Special Project Drama Splendid Politics Nominated
Popularity Award, Actress Nominated
SBS Drama Awards 2012 Excellence Award, Actress in a Drama Special Phantom Nominated
Netizen Popularity Award, Actress Nominated
2017 Top Excellence Award, Actress in a Wednesday-Thursday Drama Reunited Worlds Nominated [64]

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