Lee Mi-sook

In this Korean name, the family name is Lee .

Lee Mi-sook
Lee Mi-sook in February 2019
Born	(1960-04-02) April 2, 1960 (age 64) Danyang-gun, Chungcheongbuk-do, South Korea [1]
Education	Korea University - Graduate School of Journalism and Mass Communication [2]
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1979–present
Agent	Hunus Entertainment
Spouse	Hong Sung-ho ​ ​ (m. 1987;div. 2007)​
Children	2
Korean name
Hangul	이미숙
Hanja	李 美 淑
Revised Romanization	I Mi-suk
McCune–Reischauer	Yi Misuk

Lee Mi-sook (born April 2, 1960) is a South Korean actress. One of the best-known actresses of 1980s Korean cinema, Lee's most famous films from this era include Bae Chang-ho's Whale Hunting and The Winter That Year Was Warm, Lee Doo-yong's Mulberry and Eunuch , and Kwak Ji-kyoon's Wanderer in Winter. She retired from film after getting married in 1987, though she still appeared on television in dramas such as How's Your Husband? (1993). Then a decade later, Lee made her comeback with an award-winning leading role in E J-yong's feature debut An Affair (1998). She has since remained active in film and television, notably in the May–December romance Solitude (2002), the Dangerous Liaisons adaptation Untold Scandal (2003), the mockumentary Actresses (2009), the family dramas Smile, Mom (2010), and Queen of Tears (2024).

Career

Lee Mi-sook debuted in film at the age of twenty in Thoughtless Momo in 1979. By the mid-1980s she had become one of the best-known actresses of her era. Together with Lee Bo-hee and Won Mi-kyung, they dominated the screen and were referred to as the "Troika of the 1980s." Her most famous films from this era include Bae Chang-ho's Whale Hunting and The Winter That Year Was Warm, Lee Doo-yong's Mulberry and Eunuch , and Kwak Ji-kyoon's Wanderer in Winter. Her early career lasted until the film Love Triangle in 1987, and then she retired from the cinema after getting married. ^{[3] [4]}

Over ten years later, in 1998, Lee returned with a widely praised role in E J-yong's award-winning film An Affair , about a woman who falls in love with her sister's fiancé. Using this film as a springboard, she re-launched her career. ^[3]

In 2000, Lee was cast in the high-profile project The Legend of Gingko , which was considered to be production company Kang Je-gyu Film's followup to the successful Shiri (even though Kang himself was not directing). However the film proved to be a critical and commercial disappointment. Lee's next two films, Kiss Me Much and Oh! Lala Sisters, were also more or less ignored by audiences. In contrast, her appearances in TV dramas such as Solitude (2002) were more successful. ^[3]

However, 2003 was one of Lee's best years,^{[ citation needed ]} with her highly praised role in E J-yong's Untold Scandal , a retelling of the novel Dangerous Liaisons set in the Joseon period, and her role as a single mother in Lee Eon-hee's well-received melodrama ...ing . ^[3]

Lee next starred in Hellcats , a 2008 romantic comedy that traces the lives and loves of three characters at different stages of womanhood. ^{[5] [6]} Then in 2009 Lee reunited with E J-yong in Actresses , a semi-improvisational mockumentary featuring six actresses each playing themselves. ^{[7] [8] [9] [10]}

In 2011, Lee launched her own lingerie line Starit, which was sold on home shopping channels. ^{[11] [12]} This would've been virtually unheard of in previous years with the fashion industry's historically narrow focus on young women. But since 2008 the sophisticated and stylish image of actresses such as Lee, Choi Myung-gil and Kim Hee-ae became aspirational for middle-aged women in Korea, and brands specifically targeting women in their 40s and 50s have increased. ^[13] Lee remains a favorite in editorial spreads in fashion magazines, notably a 2010 Elle Korea feature opposite pop star TOP. ^[14]

Lee continued to act on television, giving a vulgar, selfish, but human spin to her role as the stepmother in Cinderella's Sister , a ratings hit in 2010. ^{[15] [16]} 2012's Love Rain , a Yoon Seok-ho melodrama that jumps between the 1970s and the present, ^[17] inked overseas distribution deals, ^[18] but was unsuccessful domestically. ^[19]

After a judging stint on reality acting talent program Miracle Audition, Lee hosted the cable talk show Bad Scene, which featured celebrities who reveal bad or embarrassing scenes from their past. ^[20]

In August 2022, she left SidusHQ and signed with new agency Hunus Entertainment. ^[21]

Lawsuit

In 2012, Lee was embroiled in a controversy when she was sued by her former agency, The Contents Media, after she moved to a new agency, Hoya Spotainment. ^[22] The Seoul High Court ruled that Lee was guilty of breach of contract and ordered her to pay ₩120 million (US$110,604) in damages. However, The Contents Media filed an appeal, stating that the agency was owed at least double the amount. They alleged that Lee had been involved in a romantic relationship with a man 17 years her junior in 2006, whom they claimed to have paid off in millions of won to keep him from talking to the press and tarnishing Lee's image. ^{[23] [24]} Lee counter-sued The Contents Media and the two reporters who broke the story for defamation. ^[25] Lee lost her appeal in February 2013, and the Seoul High Court ruled for her to pay the amount in the original ruling. ^[26]

In August 2013, she signed with another agency, SidusHQ. ^{[27] [28]}

Personal life

In 2007, Lee and her husband Hong Sung-ho, a plastic surgeon, divorced after 20 years of marriage. They have a son and a daughter. ^[29]

Filmography

*Note; the whole list is referenced. ^[30]

Year	English title	Korean title	Romanization	Role	Director
2018	Ode to the Goose	군산: 거위를 노래하다	Gunsan: Geowileul Nolaehada		Zhang Lü
2015	The Exclusive: Beat the Devil's Tattoo	특종: 량첸살인기	Teukjong: Ryangchensalingi	News bureau head Baek	Roh Deok
2013	Horny Family	배꼽	Bae Kkop	Hye-kyung	Park Bo-sang
2009	Actresses	여배우들	Yeobaeudeul	Lee Mi-sook	E J-yong
2008	Hellcats	뜨거운 것이 좋아	Ddeu-geo-woon Geot-e Jo-a	Kim Young-mi	Kwon Chil-in
2003	...ing	아이앤지	Ai-en-ji	Mi-sook	Lee Eon-hee
	Untold Scandal	스캔들 - 조선남녀상열지사	Seukaendeul: Joseon-namnyeo-sangnyul-jisa	Lady Cho	E J-yong
2002	Oh! LaLa Sisters	울랄라 씨스터즈	Ulralra Siseuteojeu	Jo Eun-ja	Park Jae-hyun
2001	Kiss Me Much	베사메무쵸	Besame Mucho	Young-hee	Jeon Yoon-soo
2000	The Legend of Gingko	단적비연수	Danjeokbiyeonsu	Soo	Park Jae-hyun
1998	An Affair	정사 정사	Jeongsa	Seo-hyun	E J-yong
1987	The Home of Two Women	두 여자의 집	Du yeoja-ui jib	Yoo-kyung	Kwak Ji-kyoon
	Affection	유정	Yujeong		Kim Ki
	A Street Musician	거리의 악사	Geori-ui aksa	Seo-ha	Chung Ji-young
1986	Eunuch	내시	Naesi	Ja-ok	Lee Doo-yong
	Autumn After Love	가을을 남기고 간 사랑	Ga-eul-eul namgigo gan salang		Jung Jin-woo
	Wanderer in Winter		Gyeo-ul nageune	Da-hye	Kwak Ji-kyoon
	Mulberry	뽕	Bbong	An-hyeop	Lee Doo-yong
1985	Graduation Journey	졸업 여행	Jol-eob-yeohaeng	Mi-seon	Yoo Ji-hoeng
	When Tears Run Dry	그대 눈물이 마를 때	Geudae nunmul-i maleul ttae		Choi Dong-joon
	City of Fast	바람난 도시	Balamnan dosi		Kim Yang-duk
1984	The Winter That Year Was Warm	그 해 겨울은 따뜻했네	Geu hae gyeo-ul-eun ttatteushaessne	Oh-mok / Soo-in	Bae Chang-ho
	The Broken Night	밤이 무너질 때	Bam-i muneojil ttae		Go Yeong-nam
	Whale Hunting	고래사냥	Goraesanyang	Chun-ja	Bae Chang-ho
	Women Wet Men Like Rain		Yeojaneun bicheoreom namjareul jeoksinda		Lee Hyeok-su
	Sleeping Out	외박	Woebak		Go Yeong-nam
1983	Strange Relationship	이상한 관계	I-sanghan gwangye		Lee Doo-yong
	X		Ekseu		Hah Myung-joong
1982	I Loved	내가 사랑했다	Naega salanghaessda		Go Yeong-nam
	Wild Horse	야생마	Yasaengma	Lucia	Yoo Dong-hun
1981	Is There a Girl Like Her?	이런 여자 없나요	Ileon yeoja eobsna-yo	Yun Su-jin	Park Chul-soo
	With Passion and Heat	가슴깊게 화끈하게	Gaseumgipge hwakkeunhage	Doh Do-hae	Kim Su-hyeong
	An Embrace in the Dark Night	이 깊은 밤의 포옹	I gip-eun bam-ui po-ong		Song Yeong-su
1980	Flame Bird	불새	Bulsae	Eun-young	Lee Gyeong-tae
	Thoughtless Momo (aka An Innocent College Student)	모모는 철부지	Momoneun cheolbuji	Mal-ja	Kim Eung-chun

Television series

Year	English title	Korean title	Role	Notes
2024	Queen of Tears	눈물의 여왕	Mo Seul-hee	[31]
2023	Perfect Marriage Revenge	완벽한 결혼의 정석	Cha Yeon-hwa	[32]
	Family: The Unbreakable Bond	패밀리	Butterfly	[33]
2022	The Law Cafe	법대로 사랑하라	Lee Yeon-joo	Cameo [34]
	The Empire	디 엠파이어: 법의 제국	Ham Kwang-jeon	[35]
2018	Let Me Introduce Her	그녀로 말할 것 같으면	Min Ja-young	[36]
	Wok of Love	기름진 멜로	Jin Jung-hye / Kim Su-nyeo	[37]
2017	Money Flower	돈꽃	Jung Mal-ran	[38]
	Temperature of Love	사랑의 온도	Yoo Yeong-mi
2016	Don't Dare to Dream	질투의 화신	Kye Sung-sook
2014	Rosy Lovers	장미빛 연인들	Jung Shi-nae
	Blade Man	아이언맨	Madam Yoon
2013	Shining Romance	빛나는 로맨스	Jung Soon-ok
	Miss Korea	미스코리아	Ma Ae-ri
	You Are the Best!	최고다 이순신	Song Mi-ryung/Kim Kyung-sook
2012	Can We Get Married?	우리가 결혼할 수 있을까	Deul-ja
	Love Rain	사랑비	Kim Yoon-hee (2012)
2011	A Thousand Days' Promise	천일의 약속	Oh Hyun-ah
2010	Smile, Mom	웃어요, 엄마	Jo Bok-hee
	Cinderella's Stepsister	신데렐라 언니	Song Kang-sook
2009	Ja Myung Go	자명고	Wang Ja-shil
	East of Eden	에덴의 동쪽	Yang Choon-hee
2006	Great Inheritance	위대한 유산	Go Ah-ra
2005	Love and Sympathy	사랑공감	Kang Hee-soo
2002	Solitude	고독	Jo Kyung-min
1999	You Don't Know My Mind	남의 속도 모르고	Jeon Nam-ja
	Queen	퀸	Hwang Choon-bok
	Springtime	청춘 (青春)
1998	Crush	짝사랑	Young-ja
1997	Snail	달팽이	Yoon-joo
1995	Elegy	엘레지	Min Ji-sook
1994	The Goblin is Coming	도깨비가 간다	Min Kang-ji
1993	How's Your Husband?	댁의 남편은 어떠십니까?	Ahn Jung-sook
1992	Women's Room	여자의 방	Na Kyung-sun
1991	Humble Men	고개숙인 남자	Baek Jung-ran
1990	Emmy	에미	Mother
1989	Wound	상처	Ha-young
1988	The Land of Grace	은혜의 땅	Eun-hye
1987	Firebird	불새	Hyun-joo
1985	That's Right, You Bet	아무렴 그렇지, 그렇고 말고	Ok-som
1984	I Miss	그리워
	500 Years of Joseon: "The Ume Tree in the Midst of the Snow"	조선왕조 오백년 - 설중매 (雪中梅)	Jang Nok-su
	Spray	물보라	Jang-hee
1983	Sunflower in Winter	겨울 해바라기
	That Star is My Star	저 별은 나의 별
1982	Annals of Renunciation: "Yi Yong-ik"	거부실록 - 이용익
	Lingering Attachment	미련	Kang Yeon-hee
	Women's History: "Hwang Jin-yi"	여인열전 - 황진이	Hwang Jini
1981	Women's History: "Jang Hui-bin"	여인열전 - 장희빈	Jang Hui-bin
	Embrace	포옹
	Hello	안녕하세요	second daughter-in-law Eun-hee
1980	A Sweet Neighborhood	달동네
1979	A Lonely Relationship	고독한 관계
	Mapo Harbor	마포나루

Variety show

Year	English title	Korean title	Romanization	Role
2013	Miracle Korea	미라클 코리아		Host
2011-2012	Lee Mi-sook's Bad Scene	이미숙의 배드신		Host
2011	Miracle Audition	기적의 오디션		Judge
2017	Guesthouse Daughters			Permanent Cast (Mom)

Book

Year	English title	Korean title	Romanization	Notes
2003	Lee Mi-sook's DIARY: Dreaming of Deviation	이미숙의 DIARY 일탈을 꿈꾸며		with CD

Awards

Year	Award	Category	Nominated work
2017	MBC Drama Awards	Top Excellence Award, Actress in a Weekend Drama	Money Flower
2014	MBC Drama Awards	Golden Acting Award, Actress	Miss Korea , Shining Romance , Rosy Lovers
2013	KBS Drama Awards	Excellence Award, Actress in a Serial Drama	You Are the Best!
2011	SBS Drama Awards	Special Award, Actress in a Special Planning Drama	A Thousand Days' Promise
2008	MBC Drama Awards	Top Excellence Award, Actress	East of Eden
2003	23rd Korean Association of Film Critics Awards	Best Actress	Untold Scandal
2001	37th Baeksang Arts Awards	Most Popular Actress, Film category	The Legend of Gingko
1999	7th Chunsa Film Art Awards	Best Actress	An Affair
	19th Korean Association of Film Critics Awards
1998	34th Baeksang Arts Awards	Most Popular Actress, TV category	Snail
1993	SBS Drama Awards	Grand Prize (Daesang)	How's Your Husband?
1987	32nd Asia Pacific Film Festival	Best Actress	Love Triangle
	26h Grand Bell Awards	Special Jury Award
1986	31st Asia Pacific Film Festival	Best Actress	Mulberry
	6th Korean Association of Film Critics Awards
1984	4th Korean Association of Film Critics Awards		The Winter That Year Was Warm
	23rd Grand Bell Awards
	21st Baeksang Arts Awards
1982	MBC Drama Awards	Grand Prize (Daesang)	Jang Hui-bin
1980	17th Baeksang Arts Awards	Best New Actress	Flame Bird
1979	TBC Drama Awards	Best Newcomer	Mapo Harbor
1978	3rd Miss Lotte Pageant	Popularity Award

References

1. "Lee Mi-Suk (이미숙)". Cinefox (씨네폭스) (in Korean). Retrieved 2024-11-10.
2. "Lee Mi-Suk (이미숙)". Korea Tourism Organization . Archived from the original on 2020-01-18. Retrieved 2012-12-19.
3. "Actors and Actresses of Korean Cinema: Lee Mi-sook". Koreanfilm.org. Archived from the original on 2015-05-21. Retrieved 2012-12-19.
4. "Lee Mi-suk: Actors are More Susceptible to Shock". KBS Global. 25 February 2005. Archived from the original on 2 February 2014. Retrieved 2012-12-19.
5. Lee, Hyo-won (17 January 2008). "Hellcats Is Charmingly Off-Tune". The Korea Times . Archived from the original on 2014-02-01. Retrieved 2012-12-19.
6. Yang, Sung-jin (January 8, 2008). "Hellcats rejects men, holds girl-only party". The Korea Herald . Archived from the original on 2022-09-27. Retrieved 2012-12-19.
7. Lee, Ji-hye (23 November 2009). "Actresses is a miracle achieved, says Koh (Part 1)". Asiae. Archived from the original on 2014-02-03. Retrieved 2012-12-19.
8. Lee, Ji-hye (23 November 2009). "Actresses is a miracle achieved, says Koh (Part 2)". Asiae. Archived from the original on 2014-02-03. Retrieved 2012-12-19.
9. Lee, Hyo-won (17 November 2009). "Actresses to Present Off-Screen Personas Onscreen" Archived 2016-06-16 at the Wayback Machine . The Korea Times . Retrieved 2012-12-19.
10. Shin, Hae-in (1 December 2009). "(Movie Review) Fact and fiction merge as South Korea's leading ladies come together". Yonhap . Archived from the original on 2012-04-30. Retrieved 2012-11-20.
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34. Son, Bong-seok (September 27, 2022). "'법대로 사랑하라' 김영옥-이미숙, 관록의 라인업 출격" [Love according to the law’ Kim Young-ok and Lee Mi-sook, the lineup of Gwan-rok scrambled] (in Korean). Sports Kyunghyang. Archived from the original on September 27, 2022. Retrieved September 27, 2022– via Naver.
35. Kim, Ji-hye (August 25, 2022). "이미숙, '디 엠파이어'로 3년 만에 복귀…후너스와 새 출발" [Lee Mi-sook returns after 3 years with 'The Empire'... Hunus and a new start] (in Korean). SBS Entertainment News. Archived from the original on August 28, 2022. Retrieved August 28, 2022– via Naver.
36. [공식]이미숙 '그녀로 말할 것 같으면' 확정…남상미 잡는 재벌가 시어머니. Sports Chosun (in Korean). June 14, 2018. Archived from the original on January 5, 2022. Retrieved June 14, 2018.
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38. Kim, Seong-won (October 12, 2017). "돈꽃' 장혁X박세영X이순재X이미숙, 첫 대본리딩 현장 포착" [Money Flower' Jang Hyuk, Park Se-Young, Lee Soon-Jae, and Lee Im-Sook have their first script reading] (in Korean). Sports Chosun. Archived from the original on July 5, 2023. Retrieved July 5, 2023– via Naver.

External links

• Lee Mi-sook at SidusHQ (in Korean)
• Lee Mi-sook at the Korean Movie Database
• Lee Mi-sook at IMDb
• Lee Mi-sook at HanCinema