LEE YO WON

KOREAN STARS

LEE YO WON

PROFILE

Name: 이요원 / Lee Yo-won

Profession: Actress

Birthdate: 1980-Apr-09

Birthplace: Seoul, South Korea

Height: 170cm

Weight: 48kg

Star sign: Aries

Blood type: B

Family: Husband/professional golfer Park Jin Woo and one daughter, cousin/

actor Lee Joong Moon

Talent agency: J&H Film

Lee Yo-Won was born on April 4, 1980 in Seongnam City, Gyeonggi Province, South Korea. In 1997, during

her sophomore year in high school, Lee Yo-Won applied for a modelling contest and was picked as the winner.

After the contest she debuted in the monthly fashion magazine "Figaro" (휘가로) for its November issue. In 

1998, Lee Yo-Won made her acting debut in the film "Scent of a Man ". While acting for her first movie,

Lee Yo-Won sometimes teared up because staff members only applauded the other actors for their work.

Then some staff members noticed her tears and mentioned she was good at tearing up. That was the first time she positive words about her acting. With her confidence building and gaining more attention from the staff members Lee Yo-Won realized she wanted to pursue acting as a profession. For her second film, Lee Yo-Won played gas station attendent Galchi in the hit movie "Attack the Gas Station! " - which sold 2.4 million tickets. Thanks to the popularity of that film Lee Yo-Won started to gain recognition from the public. Lee Yo-Won then acted in several television dramas.

In 2001, Lee Yo-Won's big breakthrough came in the KBS TV drama " Blue Love" (Pureun Angae). For the first time Lee Yo-Won played the lead character in a TV drama and the series became a big hit. The drama itself contained a controversial (for its time) storyline involving a woman in her early 20's becoming involved romantically with a married man in his 40's. In the same year, 2001, Lee Yo-Won acted as one of the three 

main characters in the critically praised indie film "Take Care of My Cat " directed by female director Jeong 

Jae-Eun . The film was chosen as one of the 5 best films of 2001 by "Cine Seoul" magazine. Lee Yo-Won would also mentioned in a 2009 interview with "Elle Korea" fashion magazine that "Take Care of My Cat " was her

most memorable work. 

In 2003, at the age of 22, Lee Yo-Won made the surprising announcement that she will marry. By the end of January, Lee Yo-Won married professional golfer & businessman Park Jin-Woo. Lee Yo-Won temporarily put her acting career on hold while she went to the U.S. with her husband to study. In 2004, Lee Yo-Won had her first child. In an interview with TV show "Section TV - S Diary" on MBC, Lee Yo-Won mentioned that at the time of her marriage she was tired of acting and the demands placed on her. 

In 2005, Lee Yo-Won made her acting comeback in the SBS drama series " Fashion 70's ". She chose the role for three reason: because it was a historical drama, that it was directed by Lee Jae-Kyu (who previously directed popular female oriented detective drama "Damo: The Legendary Police Woman") and that it dealt with a woman's career and success rather than a pure love story. 

After "Fashion 70's ," Lee Yo-Won acted in various drama and movies. In 2009, Lee Yo-Won performed in another smash-hit television series, this time in the MBC historical drama "The Great Queen Seondeok ". Lee Yo-Won played main characer Queen Seondeok, who possessed extraordinary intelligence and strength.

 In an interview with "Star News," Lee Yo-Won stated she was tired of playing woman who were fragile and 

weak and eagerly took the role of Queen Seondeok because of this. 

In 2010, Lee Yo-Won's next film " The Recipe " was released in late October. She appeared at the world premiere for " The Recipe " during the Pusan International Film Festival (in which AsianMediaWiki attended). During the question and answer session Lee Yo-Won stated she chose the film, because she wanted to

work with another female director due to her great experience with " Take Care of My Cat ." Although she was initially relunctant to take on another role of a "fragile woman," the movie's producer Jang Jin and movie director Lee Seo-Goon convinced her this would be the right role for her.

TV Dramas

49 Days | 49 Il (SBS / 2011) - Song Yi-Kyung

The Great Queen Seondeok | Seondeok Yeowang (MBC / 2009) - Queen Seondeok

Cruel Love | Motdoen Sarang (KBS2 / 2007-2008) - Na In-Jung

Surgeon Bong | Uikwauisa Bongdalhee (SBS / 2007) - Bong Dal-Hee

Fashion 70's | Paesun 70's (SBS / 2005)- Du-Mi

Great Ambition | Daemang (SBS / 2002-2003) - Yoon Yeo-Jin

Blue Love | Pureun Angae (KBS / 2001)

Pure Heart | Sunjeong (KBS2 / 2001)

/k Tough Guy's Love | Kkokji (KBS / 2000)

School 2 | Hak Kyo 2 (KBS / 1999)

Movies

Legend Punch | Jeonseolui Joomeok (2013) - main PD

Perfect Number | Wonjeonhan Sarang (2012) - Suk-Go

The Recipe | Doenjang (2010) - Jang Hye-Jin

May 18 | Hwa-ryo-han Hyoo-ga (2007) - Park Shin-Ae

When Romance Meets Destiny Gwangshiki dongsaeng gwangtae (2005) - Ko Yun- kyung

Surprise Party Seopeuraijeu (2002) - Wang Ha-yeong

Afrika (2002) - Yo-won

Take Care of My Cat Goyangileul butaghae (2001) - Hye-ju

Attack the Gas Station! Juyuso seubgyuksageun (1999) - Ggal-chi

Scent of a Man Namjaui hyanggi (1998)

Awards

2011 SBS Drama Awards: PD Award (49 Days)

2011 SBS Drama Awards: Top 10 Stars (49 Days)

2010 Indosiar Mania Awards: Most Favorite Asian Actress

2010 Asia Model Festival Awards: Special Award for Asian Drama

2009 Korea Visual Arts Festival: "Photogenic" Award

2009 MBC Drama Awards: Best Couple Award (with Kim Nam-gil for Queen Seondeok)

2009 MBC Drama Awards: Female Top Excellence Award (Queen Seondeok)

2009 Grime Awards: Best Actress (Queen Seondeok)

2007 SBS Drama Awards: Top Excellence Award (Surgeon Bong Dal-hee)

2007 SBS Drama Awards: Popularity Award for (Surgeon Bong Dal-hee)

2007 SBS Drama Awards: Netizens' Choice Award (Surgeon Bong Dal- hee)

2007 SBS Drama Awards: Top 10 Stars (Surgeon Bong Dal-hee)

2007 SBS Drama Awards: Best Couple Award (with Lee Beom-soo for Surgeon Bong Dal-hee)

2005 SBS Drama Awards: Best Actress, Special Project (Fashion 70s)

2005 SBS Drama Awards: Top 10 Stars (Fashion 70s)

2002 SBS Drama Awards: New Star Award (Daemang)

2001 KBS Drama Awards: Most Popular Actress

2001 Blue Dragon Film Awards : Best New Actress (Take Care of My Cat)

2001 Baeksang Arts Awards : Best New Actress (Take Care of My Cat)

2001 Chunsa Film Art Awards : Best Actress (Take Care of My Cat)