Lee Jung-eun

Lee Jung-eun (; born January 23, 1970) is a South Korean actress. She debuted onstage in 1991 and also played minor roles in films. She went on to appear in acclaimed films like The Attorney, A Violent Prosecutor (2015), and festival favorites such as A Girl at My Door (2014) and The Wailing (2016). Lee landed more significant roles in A Taxi Driver (2017), Miss Baek (2017), and Another Child (2018). Known for her work with Bong Joon-ho, starting with the 2009 film Mother, as the voice of the pig Okja in the film Okja, she is best known internationally for her role as the housekeeper Moon-gwang in the film Parasite, which won four Academy Awards and became the first non-English language film to win the award for Best Picture.

Early life Lee Jung-eun was born on January 23, 1970, in Seoul and grew up in a neighborhood near Hanyang University. She attended Hanyang Girls' High School, where societal expectations for female students emphasized studying literature and preparing for marriage. However, Lee defied these norms and pursued a career in acting. Her decision was influenced by the student protests she witnessed during high school and the tragic death of activist Lee Han-yeol in 1987. After mourning Lee Han-yeol's death by wearing black ribbons, her friend was expelled, which led to Lee reflecting on her circumstances. This event prompted a rebellion against the older generation and encouraged Lee to reconsider her path. Recalling her love for performing and entertainment, she switched her academic focus to a theater and film major just two months before her college entrance exams, aiming to study directing. She was accepted into the Department of Theater and Film at Hanyang University, class of 1988. She remained active on stage throughout the 1990s and 2000s. In 2000, she made her film debut with a minor role in the film A Masterpiece In My Life, followed by another small part in the 2001 film Wanee & Junah. However, these early cinematic experiences left her feeling traumatized by camera fright, and she decided to return to the stage.

At the end of 1997, Lee appeared in with Sul Kyung-gu. Subway Line 1 was her first musical. Lee Jung-eun appeared as the generous Gombo Halmae.

Breakthrough as a musical actor, resume film career, debut in television Lee's breakthrough as an actress came in the 2008 musical Laundry, which is considered one of the representative creative musicals in South Korea. In the production, Lee portrayed multiple roles, including a master, a grandmother, and an employee, performing until 2009. Her performance in the musical earned her the 1st Young Drama Award, with a prize of 3 million won. This award was established by the cultural arts support forum "Alpha", which is composed of around 60 domestic CEOs, including Samsung Electronics CEO Kwun Oh-hyun. The award ceremony was held on September 19, 2008, at Shinhan Art Hall in Yeoksam-dong, Gangnam District, Seoul.

In 2013, Lee appeared on television for the first time in The Queen's Classroom and had minor roles in Blue Tower, Royal Villa, and Shining Romance (2013–2014). Lee also appears in the film The Attorney, which attracted 10 million viewers. She appeared as the old house owner of the main character Song Woo-seok (played by Song Kang-ho) and showed off her witty acting. When Song Kang-ho asked her to sell the house because he would pay more than the market price, she said, "Oh my, would you like some 'jussi'?" in a dialect and acted cutely. The following year, she was featured in television dramas Cunning Single Lady, Beauty Parlor Boss, High School King of Savvy, My Lovely Girl, and Only Love. In that same year, she won Best Acting at the Seoul Theatre Festival for her role in the play Feast with Hanyang Repertory Theater. This marked her second collaboration with Bong Joon-ho. Okja featured an international cast, including Tilda Swinton and Paul Dano. The film had its world premiere at the 2017 Cannes Film Festival on May 18, 2017, where it received a four-minute standing ovation. It was later released on Netflix on June 28, 2017, and in July 2022, it was released on Blu-ray and DVD as part of The Criterion Collection.

In the same year, Lee played the role of Geum-bok, the loving and doting mother of Baek Seol-hee (played by Song Ha-yoon), in the KBS2 drama Fight for My Way, written by Lim Sang-choon. Her performance as the mother who prepared delicious side dishes for her daughter's prospective in-laws resonated with many viewers, particularly with the line, "Please just be pretty to our Seolhee."

2019–2021: Parasite In 2019, Lee starred in several notable projects. In the JTBC drama The Light in Your Eyes, she took on the dual roles of the mother of the main character, Hye-ja (played by Han Ji-min), and the daughter-in-law of Hye-ja (played by Kim Hye-ja). Her performance earned her the Best Supporting Actress Award at the 55th Baeksang Arts Awards. In the OCN series Strangers from Hell, Lee played the role of Eom Bok-soon, the owner of Eden Dormitory. She appears friendly, but she harbors a dark secret.

Lee also reunited with director Bong Joon-ho for the black comedy thriller film Parasite, where she portrayed Gook Moon-gwang, the housekeeper of the Park family. Her performance garnered several awards in the supporting actress category, including the Busan Film Critics Association Awards, Buil Film Awards, Chunsa Film Awards, and Blue Dragon Film Awards. She and her co-stars won Best Ensemble at the Screen Actors Guild Awards for a non-English language film.

Towards the end of 2019, Lee reunited with writer Lim Sang-choon again in the KBS2 drama KBS2 drama When the Camellia Blooms. In this drama, she portrayed the mother of the lead character, Dong-baek, earning praise for her nuanced performance. She won the Excellence Award for Actress in a Mid-length Drama at the 2019 KBS Drama Awards.

In 2020, Lee starred as Kang Cho-yeon in the KBS2 family weekend drama series Once Again, which aired from March 28 to September 13, 2020. She played Young-dal's long-lost younger sister, Song Young-sook, the owner of Sister's Kimbap store. Her performance in the series earned her the KBS Drama Award for Best Supporting Actress in the mid-length drama category.

In the same year, Lee starred in Park Ji-wan's directorial debut film The Day I Died: Unclosed Case as Suncheondaek, alongside Kim Hye-soo. The following year, she received nominations for Best Supporting Actress at the Baeksang Arts Awards, Blue Dragon Film Awards, and Chunsa Film Art Awards for her performance in the film.

In 2021, Lee appeared in Lee Joon-ik's black-and-white film The Book of Fish, portraying the role of Gageo of Heuksan Island, the concubine of scholar Jeong Yak-jeon (1758–1816), played by Sul Kyung-gu. The film is based on a true story, featuring historical materials researched by director Lee Joon-ik. Lee's performance earned her a nomination for Best Supporting Actress at the 30th Buil Film Awards. That same year, Lee collaborated with director Kim Seok-yoon for the drama Law School, marking her third project with him, where she portrayed Kim Eun-sook, a former judge and civil law professor.

2022–present: First titular role and recent projects In 2022, she starred in Netflix's original series Juvenile Justice as Judge Na Geun-hee. Directed by Hong Jong-chan, the series focuses on characters at a district juvenile court handling cases involving young offenders. Lee's character clashes with elite judge Shim Eun-seok (Kim Hye-soo) due to their differing approaches to the cases. This collaboration marks the second time Lee and Kim have worked together. Lee's performance in Juvenile Justice earned her a nomination for Excellence Award, Actress in an OTT Drama at the 2022 APAN Star Awards, as well as Best Supporting Actress at the 2022 Asian Academy Creative Awards and 2022 Blue Dragon Series Awards.

In that same year, Lee took on her first titular role in 30 years in Shin Su-won's film Hommage. She portrayed a middle-aged film director experiencing a slump who time travels while restoring the film The Female Judge, created by Hong Eun-won, the second Korean female director in the 1960s. The film premiered at the 23rd Jeonju International Film Festival on April 28, 2022. On December 15, 2022, she won Best Actress at The 23rd Women's Film Awards held at Cinecube Gwanghwamun in Seoul.

After winning the Best Jury Prize at the 20th Florence Korea Film Festival, Hommage was officially invited to the Viewpoints section of the 21st Tribeca Film Festival. Lee has also received international recognition, including The Best Actor Award at the 7th London East Asia Film Festival. The jury selected Lee for this award based on her portrayal of desire, frustration, and the courage displayed by a middle-aged woman whose dreams were delicately and realistically depicted in Hommage. Lee also won the Best Performance Award at the 15th Asia Pacific Screen Awards. The second season is moved from OCN to tvN from December 19, 2022 to January 31, 2023, every Monday and Tuesday at 20:50 (KST).

In 2023, Lee joined the cast of Netflix's original series Daily Dose of Sunshine as Song Hyo-shin, the chief nurse of the Psychiatric Department. Lee also appeared in the TVING original A Bloody Lucky Day alongside Lee Sung-min and Yoo Yeon-seok. The series is based on a webtoon of the same name by Aporia, originally published on Naver. A Bloody Lucky Day aired on tvN starting November 20, 2023, with episodes airing every Monday and Tuesday.

In 2024, Lee starred in JTBC's new romantic comedy Miss Night and Day alongside Jung Eun-ji. The show revolves around Lee Mi-jin, a woman who has been preparing for a civil service exam for eight years. One day, a strange incident causes her to age into a 50-year-old during the daytime. Despite this, she manages to work as a senior intern with her older appearance and continues her studies at night. Throughout her journey, she encounters prosecutor Gye Ji-woong, portrayed by Choi Jin-hyuk.

Filmography Film +List of films Year Title Role Notes English Korean 2000 A Masterpiece In My Life 불후의 명작 Jin-won's wife A Taxi Driver 택시운전사 Hwang Tae-sool's wife Yakiniku Dragon Go Young-soon 2018 Adulthood Judge Miss Baek 미쓰백 Massage shop owner Hello Short film 2019 Mal-Mo-E: The Secret Mission 말모이 Jeju teacher Cameo Another Child 미성년 Breakwater middle-aged woman Parasite 기생충 Gook Moon-gwang The Day I Died: Unclosed Case 내가 죽던 날 Woman from Suncheon 2021 The Book of Fish 자산어보 Woman from Gageo Bechdel Day 2021 벡델데이 2021 Photographer 2022 House of Blessing Insurance Take Care of Mom 말임씨를 부탁해 Senior employee of the insurance company Special appearance Good Morning 안녕하세요 Nurse friend at the fishing grounds Hommage 오마주 Kim Ji-wan Independent film Woman in the White Car Hyeon-joo It premiered at the 26th BIFAN 2023 Dr. Cheon and Lost Talisman 천박사 퇴마 연구소: 설경의 비밀 Madame Special appearance 2025 My Daughter Is a Zombie 좀비딸 Kim Bam-sun Gyeongju Travelogue 경주기행 Ok-sil

Television series +List of television series Year Title Role Note English Korean 2013 The Queen's Classroom여왕의 교실 Seon-yeong's mother Blue Tower푸른거탑Ostrich farm owner/grandmother Blue Tower ZERO 푸른거탑 제로 Jong-hoon's mother Royal Villa시트콩 로얄빌라Lee Jung-eun 2013–2014 Shining Romance빛나는 로맨스 2014 Cunning Single Lady앙큼한 돌싱녀 Beauty parlor boss Cameo High School King of Savvy고교처세왕 Soo-yeong's mother My Lovely Girl내겐 너무 사랑스러운 그녀 Mr. Jung's wife Cameo (episode 3) Only Love사랑만 할래 Park Soon-ja 2015 Who Are You: School 2015 후아유: 학교 2015 Yeong-eun's mother Cameo (episode 2–3) Oh My Ghost오 나의 귀신님 Shaman in Seobinggo-dong My Fantastic Funeral나의 판타스틱한 장례식 Mi-soo's aunt Songgot: The Piercer송곳 Kim Jeong-mi 2015–2016 Remember리멤버 – 아들의 전쟁 Yeon Bo-mi 2016 Pied Piper피리부는 사나이 Oh Ha-na Bring It On, Ghost싸우자 귀신아 Apartment chairwoman Don't Dare to Dream질투의 화신 Doctor Cameo The Gentlemen of Wolgyesu Tailor Shop월계수 양복점 신사들 Geum Chon-daek Drama Special:"Noodle House Girl"KBS 드라마 스페셜 - 국시집 여자 Ok-sim One-act drama 2016–2017 Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-joo역도요정 김복주 Joon-hyeong's mother 2017 Tomorrow, with You내일 그대와 Cha Boo-sim Ice Bing-gu빙구 Lee Jeong-eun Bad Thief, Good Thief도둑놈, 도둑님 Kwon Jeong-hee Fight for My Way쌈 마이웨이 Geum-bok Someone Who Might Know알 수도 있는 사람 Kim Jin-yeong Cameo While You Were Sleeping당신이 잠든 사이에 Jae-chan's mother Drama Special:"Buzz Cut's Date"KBS 드라마 스페셜 - 까까머리의 연애 Yeong-hee One-act drama Drama Stage:"Assistant Manager Park's Private Life"드라마 스테이지 - 박대리의 은밀한 사생활 2018 Nice Witch착한마녀전 Chief Cameo Ms. Hammurabi미스 함무라비 Couple manager Mr. Sunshine미스터 션샤인 Go Ae-shin's loyal maid Familiar Wife아는 와이프 Woo-jin's mother My Strange Hero복수가 돌아왔다 Mother of a Your Request client Cameo (episode 4) 2019 The Light in Your Eyes눈이 부시게 Moon Jung-eun Welcome to Waikiki 2으라차차 와이키키 2 Kimbap Heavenly owner Cameo (episode 3) When the Devil Calls Your Name악마가 너의 이름을 부를 때 Cameo Hell Is Other People타인은 지옥이다 Eom Bok-soon When the Camellia Blooms동백꽃 필 무렵 Jo Jung-sook 2020 My Holo Love나 홀로 그대 So-yeon's mother Cameo Hi Bye, Mama!하이바이, 마마! Shaman in Seobinggo-dong Cameo (episode 4 & 10) A Piece of Your Mind반의 반 Kim Min-jung Once Again한 번 다녀왔습니다 Kang Cho-yeon 2021 Law School로스쿨 Kim Eun-sook Monthly Magazine Home월간 집 Lee Soo-jung Cameo Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha갯마을 차차차 Kim Yeon-ok 2022 Juvenile Justice소년 심판 Na Geun-hee Soundtrack #1사운드트랙 #1 Eun Su-mo Our Blues우리들의 블루스 Jeong Eun-hee Yonder욘더 Siren Little AmericaSook-jaSeason 2 – (Ep. 1: Mr. Song) 2022–2023 Missing: The Other Side미씽: 그들이 있었다 Kang Eun-sil Season 2 2023A Bloody Lucky Day운수 오진 날Hwang Soon-gyu Daily Dose of Sunshine정신병동에도 아침이 와요Song Hyo-shin 2024 Miss Night and Day 낮과 밤이 다른 그녀 Lim-soon / older Lee Mi-jin Main lead The Frog아무도 없는 숲속에서Yoon Bo-min The TrunkKwon Do-damSupporting RoleLight Shop조명가게Jung Yu-hee 2025 Heavenly Ever After 천국보다 아름다운 Lee Young-ae 2026 Doctor X: Age of the White Mafia 닥터X: 하얀 마피아의 시대 Jang Hee-sook Knock-Off 넉오프 Park Ae-ja

Stage Musical

Theater

Accolades Awards and nominations

State honors + Name of country, year given, and name of honor Country Year Honor South Korea 2021 Prime Minister's Commendation 2025 Presidential Commendation

Listicles + Name of publisher, year listed, name of listicle, and placement Publisher Year Listicle Placement Korean Film Council 2021 Korean Actors 200