Lee Jung-eun Biography: Ethnicity, Movies, Net Worth, Age, Height, Parents, Awards, Religion

Lee Jung-eun is a South Korean actress who rose from decades of theater and supporting film roles to global recognition in 2019 with her unforgettable performance as Moon-gwang in Bong Joon-ho’s Oscar-winning Parasite.

She has since become one of the most sought-after character actresses in Korean film and television, earning broad critical acclaim across both mainstream and independent projects.

Profile

• Full Name: Lee Jung-eun
• Stage Name: Lee Jung-eun
• Born: 23, January 1970
• Age: 55 years old
• Birthplace: Seoul, South Korea
• Nationality: South Korean
• Occupation: Actress
• Height: 1.65 m
• Parents: Unknown
• Siblings: Unknown
• Spouse: Not married
• Children: None
• Relationship: Not married
• Net Worth: $4 million to $6 million

Early Life and Education

Lee Jung-eun was born on January 23, 1970, in Seoul, South Korea. Very little has been shared publicly about her family or childhood, as she has always maintained a private personal life.

She developed an early interest in acting and studied Theater and Film at Hanyang University, one of Korea’s most prestigious performing-arts programs, graduating in 1992.

After university she immersed herself in theater, spending nearly two decades honing her craft on stage before transitioning to screen work. She is ethnically Korean and has not publicly discussed religious beliefs.

Career

Lee Jung-eun began her professional career in theater shortly after graduation, becoming a respected figure in Seoul’s theater scene throughout the 1990s and 2000s.

She appeared in countless stage productions while occasionally taking small television roles starting in the late 1990s. Her screen breakthrough came relatively late: after years of minor parts, she landed noticeable supporting roles in dramas such as WTMP (2011) and films like The Attorney (2013), Mother (2009), and A Taxi Driver (2017).

Critics and audiences slowly began to recognize her remarkable ability to bring depth and humanity to even the smallest characters.

Everything changed in 2019 with Bong Joon-ho’s Parasite. Her chilling, heartbreaking, and hilarious performance as the former housekeeper Moon-gwang earned universal praise and helped the film win four Academy Awards, including Best Picture — making Lee part of the first non-English-language cast to win the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Ensemble.

Overnight, she became an international name and household name in Korea. She followed Parasite with leading and major supporting roles in hit series such as Law School (2021), Our Beloved Summer (2021–2022), Juvenile Justice (2022), and Daily Dose of Sunshine (2023), as well as films like Hommage (2022) and Miss Fortune (2023) and Aema (2024).

Lee Jung-eun continues to work at an extraordinary pace across film, television, and the occasional stage return. She has collected dozens of awards, including multiple Baeksang Arts Awards nominations, Blue Dragon Film Awards, and the prestigious Wildflower Film Award for her independent work.

Admired for her humility and versatility, she is now regarded as one of the finest and most reliable actresses of her generation in South Korea, with an ever-growing global fan base.

Social Media

• Instagram Handle: @leejungeun70

Personal Life

Lee Jung-eun is famously private and has never publicly confirmed being married or having children. In interviews she has spoken warmly about her parents but has chosen not to share names or details.

She lives quietly in Seoul, enjoys reading and cooking, and is known among colleagues for her kindness and professionalism. She has repeatedly said that acting is her entire life and that she has no plans to slow down.

Filmography

• Mother (2009)
• The Attorney (2013)
• A Taxi Driver (2017)
• Parasite (2019)
• The Book of Fish (2021)
• Hommage (2022)
• Miss Fortune (2023)
• Aema (2024)
• WTMP (2011)
• Reply 1988 (2015–2016)
• The Light in Your Eyes (2019)
• When the Camellia Blooms (2019)
• Law School (2021)
• Our Beloved Summer (2021–2022)
• Juvenile Justice (2022)
• Daily Dose of Sunshine (2023)

Net Worth

Lee Jung-eun has an estimated net worth of between $4 million and $6 million as of 2025. The majority of her wealth comes from acting fees in major films and high-rating television dramas, commercial endorsements, and theater residuals.