Lee Soo-kyung is a South Korean actress and model who began her career in show business by modeling for commercials. She eventually ascended the success ladder within a few years of her debut. Lee Soo-kyung, dubbed “beauty with brains,” has chosen her scripts intelligently thus far. In the early 2000s, she began appearing in supporting roles in television series such as ‘Span Drama Lovers’ and ‘Dear Heaven,’ and it was only a matter of time before her acting talent was recognized. The creators of 2006 sitcom ‘Soulmate’ were the first to notice her immense talent, and she soon landed her first lead role in the sitcom. The sitcom was a success, and Lee established her acting ability! Finally, after starring in the 2007 drama series ‘The Golden Age of Daughters-in-Law,’ she reached the pinnacle of her acting career. She won the KBS Drama Award for Best New Actor that year, and after assuming larger roles in films and television series, she is now hailed as one of the most talented actresses of her generation.
Childhood & Adolescence
Lee Soo-kyung was born into an upper-class family in Seoul, South Korea’s capital, on 13 March 1982. Since her youth, she has been drawn to fitness and a balanced diet. That was partly due to her family, which placed a high premium on fitness.
Throughout her middle and high school years, she recognized the value of her appearance, and her interest in performing arts contributed significantly to her decision to pursue a career as an actress.
In high school, she performed in theatres and developed into a skilled actress. Following completion of her secondary education, she enrolled in Dongduk Women’s University, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in Broadcasting and Entertainment. She began modeling during her college years and has since appeared in several magazines and posed for numerous other publications.
Despite initial struggles with self-confidence, the acting bug compelled her to begin auditioning. However, she persevered through this phase, and after a few failed attempts, she began to receive her opportunities. She was blessed with a good start and continued to take on roles, no matter how minor they were.
Career of Lee
Her early years as a professional actor were spent in supporting roles on television dramas such as ‘You’ll Find Out’ and ‘Dear Heaven’ in the mid-2000s.
This was also the period during which she made her film debut, appearing in a minor role in the 2005 film ‘Wet Dreams 2’. Although the roles she received during this phase of her career were small, her confidence grew, as did her industry contacts, which aided her in gaining more attention.
She starred in the 2006 film ‘Tazza: The High Rollers’. Though her role was minor in the film, it was noticeable, as was her acting ability.
Lee’s big break came in 2006, when he was cast as the lead in the sitcom ‘Soulmate.’ She presented herself as the ideal blend of serious and comic characters, which resulted in the show gaining more viewers and eventually being declared a success. The majority of the credit was due to the cast members’ performances, which were led by Lee.
Fortunately, Lee did not have to wait much longer for another career-defining role. The following year, she starred as one of the series’s lead characters in ‘The Golden Age of Daughters-in-Law’.
Lee portrayed an independent, innocent young woman who marries young and has lofty ambitions for her life and career. Lee won the Best New Actress award at that year’s KBS Drama Awards, as well as the Best Couple Award with Kim Ji-hoon.
She later appeared in a pivotal role in the 2007 crime thriller ‘Rainbow Eyes’. Though the film was a failure, Lee’s performance garnered positive reviews.
In 2009, she starred as the lead in the romantic comedy film ‘Triangle,’ a co-production between Japan and South Korea about a humorous love triangle. Following that, she landed the lead female role in the emotionally charged television drama ‘Loving you a Thousand Times’.
This time, she portrayed a wife who is unable to conceive a child. The versatility and maturity she demonstrated while transitioning from one distinct role to another is one of the primary reasons she gained widespread acclaim.
Lee joined the cast of the television series ‘Big Thing’. The series was successful due to its highly contentious subject matter and its lighthearted portrayal of life’s complexities.
The series, which was based on the popular South Korean comic ‘Daemul,’ held the top spot in its timeslot for 11 consecutive weeks. Following that, she appeared as a guest star on the romantic comedy drama series ‘Can’t Lose’.
She began 2013 with the romantic family drama ‘Pots of Gold,’ which delves into the complexities of love, marriage, and the quirkiness that pervades the average South Korean middle class family. The series was universally adored by both domestic and international audiences.
She followed this up with another romantic comedy series, ‘Let’s Eat,’ which followed a group of corporate employees who are brought together by a shared passion for food.
She had a busy year in 2016, appearing in three dramas consecutively. She began the year with a lead role in the romantic comedy series ‘My Little Baby’ and followed that with a horror mystery series titled ‘Hey Ghost, Let’s Fight,’ which was based on a popular webtoon of the same name.
She concluded the year with the drama ‘Father, I will look after You,’ which examined the relationship between elderly parents and their children. All of the series performed well in the ratings and received favorable reviews from critics.
Lee has also been quite active in the field of variety shows over the years. Previously, she starred in the films ‘Real Romance Love Letter’ and ‘Family Outing’. These shows enabled her to connect with her fans, which she accomplished by shredding her celebrity persona.
As a result of her frequent appearances on variety shows, she became a household name in South Korea, and given the increasing popularity of South Korean shows and films in Japan, she amassed a sizable fan base there as well.
Recent television appearances include ‘Let’s Eat Dinner Together,’ ‘Knowing Bros,’ and ‘Please Take Care of My Refrigerator.’
Private Life of Lee
In May 2006, Lee Soo-kyung revealed that she was in a relationship. She never revealed her partner’s name but stated that he was not famous and worked as a regular employee for a large company. Apart from that, she has occasionally been linked to her co-stars, but she has always denied such allegations.
Lee sparked outrage in January 2015 after being caught drunk during a press conference. Nobody noticed until she began laughing excessively and insulting a reporter. She also irritated her co-stars and faced considerable backlash from her fans and the media before the matter was resolved.
Estimated Net Worth
Lee is one of the wealthiest actors and is ranked as one of the most popular actors. Lee Soo-net kyung’s worth is estimated to be around $5 million, based on our analysis of Wikipedia, Forbes, and Business Insider.