Lee Min-jung

Lee achieved widespread recognition for her leading role in the romantic comedy Cyrano Agency (2010). She also starred in Wonderful Radio (2012), Big (2012), Cunning Single Lady (2014), and Come Back Mister (2016). In 2020, she starred and gained recognition in the KBS weekend drama, Once Again.

• Name — Lee Min-jung • Born — 16 February 1982 • Birthplace — Seoul, South Korea • Education — Sungkyunkwan University (Theater) • Occupation — Actress • Agent — MS Team Entertainment (2008–present) • Children — 2 • Years Active — 2004–present

• Illustration — Lee at the Smile, You press conference in 2009 Lee began her career in playwright/filmmaker Jang Jin's stage plays, then appeared in the Christian-themed indie Pruning the Grapevine, while doing minor roles on film and television. She became a household name in 2009 through her supporting role in the popular high school series Boys Over Flowers, which then landed her first leading role in the weekend drama Smile, You. The same year, she won the Best New Actress award at the Korean Association of Film Critics Awards for her performance in the mystery thriller White Night. Lee's breakout role was in romantic comedy Cyrano Agency in 2010, where she swept Best New Actress awards at various local award-giving bodies. • Illustration — Lee at the LG Tromm Love Hands Talk Concert in 2012 Commercials and endorsements flooded in, and Lee gained a "goddess" label in the press. One of the challenges of her next film Wonderful Radio, was to strip her of that image. She successfully carried the film, with one review praising her as "expertly swinging from girly ditz, through self-centered pop diva (with memorable temper tantrums), to serious singer-songwriter." Co-star Lee Jung-jin said her actual personality is similar to the character's - "really upbeat and outgoing." After playing a disillusioned fiancée to an ambitious fund manager in Midas, Lee returned to the romantic comedy genre in the body-swapping TV series Big written by the Hong sisters. In 2013 she starred in another rom-com series All About My Romance, about a secret relationship between two politicians of rival parties. This was followed by Cunning Single Lady in 2014, in which she played the titular character who schemes to win her ex-husband back now that he's rich and successful. Lee made her acting comeback after three years in the SBS drama Come Back Mister with Rain. The series began airing in February 2016, and Lee won positive reviews for her performance. In 2018, Lee returned with a SBS weekend drama Fates & Furies. She re-united with her former co-star Joo Sang-wook from Cunning Single Lady as main leads. In 2020, Lee gained widespread recognition portraying the role of Song Na-hee alongside actor Lee Sang-yeob in the weekend drama, Once Again.

Her maternal grandfather was renowned painter Park No-soo, who led the first generation of modern traditional Korean ink painters which emerged after the country's liberation from Japanese rule. Park died on February 25, 2013, at the age of 86. Lee married actor Lee Byung-hun on August 10, 2013, at the Grand Hyatt Seoul. The couple had briefly dated in 2006, then resumed their relationship in 2012. She gave birth to their first child, Lee Joon-hoo, a boy, on March 31, 2015. On August 4, 2023, it was confirmed that she was expecting her second child. She gave birth to her second child, a daughter, on December 21, 2023.

• Year — Title — Role • 2005 — Love and Sympathy — Kim Young-joo • 2006 — Love Me When You Can — Ha Jung-hwa • 2007 — Kimcheed Radish Cubes — Lee Min-do • 2008 — Who Are You? — Yang Ji-sook • 2009 — Boys Over Flowers — Ha Jae-kyung • Smile, You — Seo Jung-in • 2010 — Sunday Drama Theater: "Lunch Box" — Hee-young • 2011 — Midas — Lee Jung-yeon • 2012 — Big — Gil Da-ran • 2013 — All About My Romance — Noh Min-young • 2014 — Cunning Single Lady — Na Ae-ra • 2016 — Come Back Mister — Shin Da-hye / Han Hong-nan • 2018–2019 — Fates & Furies — Goo Hae-ra • 2020 — Once Again — Song Na-hee • 2026 — OK! Let's Get Divorced — Baek Mi-young

• Year — Title — Role — Ref. Reference(s) • 2025 — Villains — Han Soo-hyun

• Year — Title — Role — Ref. Reference(s) • 2019 — The Barber of Seville — Cast member • 2021 — Up Grademyself — MC • 2021 Peace Concert - Heart, Connect — Host • 2023 — Oh Eun-young Game

• Year — Song title — Artist • 2005 — "널 지켜줄게" — Player • 2006 — "Like a Man" — Fly to the Sky • 2008 — "Violin + Miss You" — Zia • "Doll + A Man's Love" • 2009 — "Girls Like Bad Boys" — December • "I Don't Care" — 2NE1

• Year — Title — Role • 2004 — Taxi Driver — Hwa-yi • Clumsy People — Yoo Hwa-yi • 2007 — The Game of Love and Chance — Silvia

Name of publisher, year listed, name of listicle, and placement • Publisher — Year — Listicle — Placement — Ref. Reference(s) • Forbes — 2011 — Korea Power Celebrity — 29th • 2012 — 29th • 2013 — 37th

• Illustration — Lee at the 2010 Director's Cut Awards 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. Reference(s) • APAN Star Awards — 2021 — Top Excellence Award, Actress in a Serial Drama — Once Again • Popular Star Award, Actress • Baeksang Arts Awards — 2010 — Best New Actress – Television — Smile, You • 2011 — Best New Actress – Film — Cyrano Agency • InStyle Fashionista Award — Lee Min-jung • Blue Dragon Film Awards — 2010 — Best New Actress — Cyrano Agency • Cine21 Film Awards — 2010 — Best New Actress • Director's Cut Awards • Grand Bell Awards — 2010 • Popularity Award, Actress • Herald Donga TV Lifestyle Awards — 2012 — Style Icon Award — Lee Min-jung • KBS Drama Awards — 2012 — Excellence Award, Actress in a Miniseries — Big • 2020 — Top Excellence Award, Actress — Once Again • Excellence Award, Actress in a Serial Drama • Netizen Award, Actress • Best Couple Award (with Lee Sang-yeob) • Korean Association of Film Critics Awards — 2010 — Best New Actress — White Night • Korea Jewelry Awards — Ruby Award — Lee Min-jung • Korea First Brand Awards — 2026 — Celebrity YouTuber (Female Category) • MBC Drama Awards — 2014 — Top Excellence Award, Actress in a Miniseries — Cunning Single Lady • SBS Drama Awards — 2009 — New Star Award — Smile, You • 2011 — Excellence Award, Actress in a Special Planning Drama — Midas • 2019 — Top Excellence Award, Actress in a Mid-length Drama — Fates & Furies • Style Icon Awards — 2010 — Style Icon - Movie Actress — Cyrano Agency • University Film Festival of Korea — Best New Actress

Name of country, year given, and name of honor • Country or Organization — Year — Honor or Award — Ref. Reference(s) • Sungkyunkwan University — 2021 — Sungkyun Artist Award