Lee Yo-won

Lee Yo-won (; born April 9, 1980) is a South Korean actress. She is best known for her portrayal of Queen Seondeok in the eponymous hit period drama.

Career Lee Yo-won was a sophomore in high school when she won a modeling contest and first appeared as a model in the November 1997 issue of fashion magazine Figaro. This led to commercials, then to minor roles in television series and movies. Though she started getting recognized by the public after the box-office success of anarchic comedy Attack the Gas Station (1999), her first notable acting role was in controversial TV drama Blue Mist (2001), where she played a young woman in her 20s who becomes romantically involved with a married man in his 40s.

Critical darling Take Care of My Cat (2001) followed shortly, for which she received several newcomer awards. In a later interview with Elle Korea in 2009, she cited the film as her most memorable work.

But after starring in a number of big-screen star vehicles that weren't received well by audiences and critics, Lee felt mentally and physically exhausted.

Lee made a successful acting comeback in 2005, as the lead actress in period drama Fashion 70's, which she chose because she wanted to work with TV director Lee Jae-gyu (who had previously directed Damo), and because it was not a typical love story, but depicted a woman's success in life and career. A supporting role followed in romantic comedy When Romance Meets Destiny.

In 2007, Lee played the titular character in hit medical drama/romance Surgeon Bong Dal-hee, though her next series, melodrama Cruel Love was less successful in the ratings. She then switched to more serious fare as part of the ensemble cast of May 18, a film about the Gwangju massacre and one of the highest grossing Korean films of all time.

Tired of playing fragile characters, Lee portrayed Queen Seondeok of Silla in the massively popular period drama Queen Seondeok (2009). Her follow-up, fantasy melodrama 49 Days (2011) in which she played dual roles as a woman possessed, also resonated with audiences. Afterwards she appeared in The King's Doctor (2012) about a Joseon-era veterinarian turned royal physician, and Empire of Gold (2013) which revolved around a power struggle over a chaebol.

On the big screen, Lee said after her enjoyable experience working with Jeong Jae-eun on Take Care of My Cat, she wanted to work with other female directors, so she starred in Anna Lee's romantic mystery The Recipe (2010) and Bang Eun-jin's crime thriller Perfect Number (2012). In contrast, she was cast in the only female starring role in Kang Woo-suk's Fists of Legend (2013), about middle-aged men who join a televised mixed martial arts tournament/reality show.

In 2016, Lee made a successful comeback to the small screen with the quirky romantic-comedy My Horrible Boss. Her role as a hot-headed career woman was well-received, with many citing it as her "rediscovery role". She then participated in another film, titled Yes, Family, playing a reporter who is the oldest among-st four siblings. Lee also starred in the MBC drama Night Light, alongside Jin Goo and Uee.

In 2017, Lee starred in the black comedy series Avengers Social Club.

In 2019, Lee starred in the espionage melodrama Different Dreams and The Running Mates: Human Rights.

Personal life Lee married businessman and professional golfer Park Jin-woo on January 10, 2003. The couple have two daughters & one son (born in Dec 2003, May 2014 and May 2015). Lee is Catholic.

Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 1998 Scent of a Man young Eun-hye 1999 Attack the Gas Station Ggal-chi 2001 Take Care of My Cat Shin Hye-joo 2002 A.F.R.I.K.A. Lee Ji-won Surprise Party Wang Ha-young 2005 When Romance Meets Destiny Go Yun-kyung 2007 May 18 Park Shin-ae 2010 The Recipe Jang Hye-jin 2012 Perfect Number Baek Hwa-sun 2013 Fists of Legend Hong Gyu-min 2017 My Little Brother Oh Soo-kyung 2025 Galatea AI Mom 2025 The Beast (W/T) Do Mi-Ae

Television series Year Title Role 1998 I Hate You, But It's Fine Lee Bit-na 1999 March Jung Yo-won School 2 Kim Yeon-jin 2000 Tough Guy's Love Heo Ji-hye 2001 Blue Mist Lee Shin-woo Pure Heart Han Se-jin/Kang Hyun-joo 2002 The Great Ambition Yoon Yeo-jin 2005 Fashion 70s Han Deo-mi 2007 Surgeon Bong Dal-hee Bong Dal-hee Cruel Love Na In-jung 2009 Queen Seondeok Princess Deokman/Queen Seondeok 2011 49 Days Song Yi-kyung 2012 The King's Doctor Kang Ji-nyeong 2013 Empire of Gold Choi Seo-yoon 2016 My Horrible Boss Ok Da-jung Night Light Seo Yi-kyung 2017 Avengers Social Club Kim Jung-hye 2019 Different Dreams Lee Young-jin The Running Mates: Human Rights Han Yoon-seo 2022 Green Mothers' Club Lee Eun-pyo

Variety Year Title Episode 2008 tvN World Special "LOVE" Vietnam

Music video appearances Year Song title Artist 1998 "Please Baby Don't Cry" Deep "WAYO! WAYO! " O.P.P.A 1999 "Will You Forgive Me" A4 "To Her Lover" K2 2000 "I Love You" Position 2001ko|Joy Project - 1 Year of Love)" WHY 2002 "울고 싶어지는 오후" Ji Seo-ryeon 2006 "Liquor" Vibe 2007 "Love's Greeting" SeeYa "Ice Doll" 2009 "I'm Terrible in Love" Shin Seung-hun 2012 "Love Is All the Same" Yangpa

Discography Year Song title Notes 2009ko|A Sad Story)" Track from Queen Seondeok Special OST Part 2

Awards and nominations + Year presented, name of the award ceremony, category, nominated work and the result of the nomination Year Award Category Nominated work Result 2001 KBS Drama Awards Popularity Award Blue Mist 9th Chunsa Film Art Awards Best Actress Take Care of My Cat 22nd Blue Dragon Film Awards Best New Actress 4th Director's Cut Awards Best New Actress 2002 38th Baeksang Arts Awards Best New Actress (Film) SBS Drama Awards New Star Award 2005 Excellence Award, Actress in a Special Planning Drama Fashion 70's Top 10 Stars 2007 27th Blue Dragon Film Awards Best Leading Actress May 18 SBS Drama Awards Top Excellence Award, Actress Surgeon Bong Dal-hee Netizen Popularity Award Best Couple Award Top 10 Stars KBS Drama Awards Top Excellence Award, Actress Cruel Love 2009 22nd Grimae Awards Best Actress Queen Seondeok 10th Korea Visual Arts Festival Photogenic Award MBC Drama Awards Top Excellence Award, Actress Best Couple Award 2010 Asia Model Awards Special Award for Asian Drama 2011 SBS Drama Awards Top Excellence Award, Actress in a Drama Special 49 Days Producers' Award, Actress Top 10 Stars 2012 MBC Drama Awards Top Excellence Award, Actress in a Special Project Drama The King's Doctor 2013 6th Korea Drama Awards Top Excellence Award, Actress Empire of Gold SBS Drama Awards Top Excellence Award, Actress in a Drama Special Top 10 Stars 2019 MBC Drama Awards Top Excellence Award, Actress in a Monday-Tuesday Miniseries Different Dreams

Listicles + Name of publisher, year listed, name of listicle, and placement Publisher Year Listicle Placement Forbes 2010 Korea Power Celebrity 22nd