Lee Jung-eun (actress)

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 (2013), 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 were to study literature and marry. 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. Lee and her friend wore black ribbons to mourn Lee Han-yeol's death, leading to her friend's expulsion and Lee's reflection letter. This event sparked a rebellion against the older generation, prompting Lee to reconsider her path. She remembered her love for performing and entertainment, leading her to switch her academic focus to a theater and film major just two months before her college entrance exams, with the goal of studying directing. She was accepted into the Department of Theater and Film at Hanyang University, class of 1988.

Early career
After graduating in 1992, Lee began her career as a theater play assistant director, making her debut with the production of A Midsummer Night's Dream in 1991. 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 Subway Line 1 (Korean musical) with Sol Kyung-gu. Subway Line 1 was her first musical. Lee Jung-eun appeared as the generous Gombo Halmae.

In the 2000s, in addition to her theater work, Lee also made a living as an acting teacher. Among her pupils were the actresses Ye Ji-won and Lee Eun-joo. On the recommendation of Professor Lee Hye-kyung, the head of the Department of Theater and Film at Kookmin University, Lee was introduced to Lee Hyo-ri and became an acting teacher for her SBS drama role.

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-gu, Seoul.

She reprised her role in Laundry from 2012 to 2017. Apart from her work in Laundry, Lee collaborated with director Choo Min-joo on reading performances of House with Fig Trees and Scars, as well as the musical Good Morning School.

Lee, who had gained a reputation in the musical field, decided to venture into film projects once again. She made her return to the screen in 2009 with the film If You Were Me 4. Costume designer Choi Se-yeon, who was also the producer of the musical Laundry, recommended her for an audition, which led to her landing a minor role in Bong Joon-ho's 2009 film Mother. This marked her first collaboration with director Bong Joon-ho.

She faced numerous challenges during her years of living in obscurity. Before the age of 40, she had to support herself through various part-time jobs, such as being an academy instructor, working at a supermarket, and selling green juice. It wasn't until she reached the age of 45 that she finally made her debut on television.

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.

Her big break came in 2015. After a minor role in the KBS2 school series Who Are You: School 2015, she landed a supporting role in the tvN drama series Oh My Ghost (2015) where she portrayed the Shaman of Seobinggo-dong. Lee gained widespread recognition for her performance in the drama. In 2016, Lee starred in Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-joo as Jung Jun-hyung's (Nam Joo-hyuk) mother. In that same year she won Best Acting at the Seoul Theatre Festival for her role in play Feast with Hanyang Repertory Theater.

Okja and Mr. Sunshine
In 2017, director Bong Joon-ho, who had previously worked with Lee on Mother (2009), offered her the role of the voice actor for a genetically modified pig named Okja in the action-adventure film Okja. Lee accepted the role and dedicated herself to researching it by visiting a pig farm. This marked her second collaboration with director Bong Joon-ho. Okja featured an international cast that included 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 at its end. 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, In the KBS2 drama Fight for My Way, written by Lim Sang-choon, Lee played the role of Geumbok, the loving and doting mother of Baek Seol-hee (played by Song Ha-yoon). Her performance as the mother who whipped up delicious side dishes for her daughter's prospective in-laws touched many viewers, especially with the line "Please just be pretty to our Seolhee".

In 2018, Lee appeared in the historic drama Mr. Sunshine, written by acclaimed screenwriter Kim Eun-sook. Kim had previously been impressed by Lee's performance in the film The Battleship Island and recognized her from her role in Oh My Ghost. The two later happened to meet at a restaurant, where Kim expressed her admiration for Lee's work. Lee was subsequently cast in the supporting role of Ham-an-daek in Mr. Sunshine, the careful and attentive assistant to the character Ae-shin Ae-gi (played by Kim Tae-ri). Originally envisioned as a minor supporting role, Lee's nuanced performance helped evolve the character into a more prominent maternal figure, filling the absence of the female lead's parents. Her portrayal of this character was praised for adding both laughter and warmth to the show.

In that same year, Lee also acted in tvN drama Familiar Wife, Lee delivered a passionate performance as the mother of the main character, Seo Woo-jin (played by Han Ji-min). Her portrayal of Seo Woo-jin's mother, who was suffering from dementia, was widely acclaimed for its authenticity. Lee received the Korean Culture and Entertainment Awards 2018 Excellence Award for Actress in a Drama for her roles in Mr. Sunshine and Familiar Wife.

International recognition
In 2019, actress Lee had a highly successful year. Lee starred in several acclaimed projects. In the JTBC drama Light in Your Eyes, Lee 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 in this drama, which showcased both dark and warm aspects, was recognized with the Best Supporting Actress Award at the Baeksang Arts Awards.

In the OCN series Strangers from Hell, Lee played the role of a boarding house owner who becomes increasingly cold and chilling, adding to the sense of terror in the series.

Lee also reunited with director Bong Joon-ho for the black comedy thriller film Parasite. She played the supporting character of Gook Moon-gwang, the housekeeper of Park family, who also worked for the house's architect and previous owner. Her performance was widely recognized, earning her numerous awards, primarily in the supporting actress category, including the Busan Film Critics Association Award, Buil Film Award, Chunsa Film Award, and Blue Dragon Film Award. She and her co-stars made history by winning 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 in the KBS2 drama When the Camellia Blooms. In this drama, Lee showcased her range by delivering thrilling and emotional moments as the mother of the lead character, Dong-baek. Her performance in was widely applauded by viewers for its nuance and power. She won Excellence Award, Actress in a Mid-length Drama in 2019 KBS Drama Awards.

In 2020, Lee stars as Kang Cho-yeon in the KBS2 family weekend drama series Once Again, which aired from March 28 to September 13, 2020, every Saturday and Sunday. She portrays the character of Young-dal's long-lost younger sister, Song Young-sook, who is also the owner of Sister's Kimbap store. Lee's performance in the series earned her the KBS Drama Award for supporting actress in the mid-length drama category.

In that same year, Lee Jung-eun starred in Park Ji-wan's directorial debut film The Day I Died: Unclosed Case as Suncheondaek, along with Kim Hye-soo. In the following year, she received Best Supporting Actress nominations 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 Seohak scholar Jeong Yak-jeon (1758–1816), played by Sol Kyung-gu, who was exiled to Heuksan Island. Based on a true story, the film features historical materials meticulously researched by director Lee Joon-ik. Lee's performance earned her a nomination for Best Supporting Actress at 30th Buil Film Awards.

In 2021, Lee collaborated with director Kim Seok-yoon for the drama Law School, her third project with him. She portrayed Kim Eun-sook, a former judge and civil law professor.

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.

In the end of 2022, Lee appeared in Missing: The Other Side Season 2 as Kang Eun-sil, a captain with 30 years of experience who now resides in a mysterious village inhabited by spirits. Despite her past, she is known for her roaring laughter and enigmatic background. 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.

Lee stars 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.