Lee Young-ae Biography: Awards, Husband, Age, Net Worth, Parents, Children, Siblings, Height, Films, Nationality

Lee Young-ae is a South Korean actress celebrated for her captivating performances in film and television, most notably her iconic role as Geum-ja in Sympathy for Lady Vengeance (2005) and as Dae Jang Geum in the historical drama Jewel in the Palace (2003-2004).

Renowned for her elegance and emotional depth, she became a global ambassador of the Hallyu wave, particularly through Jewel in the Palace, which gained massive popularity across Asia and beyond.

Her selective yet impactful roles have solidified her as one of South Korea’s most respected actresses.

Profile

• Full Name: Lee Young-ae
• Stage Name: Lee Young-ae
• Born: January 31, 1971
• Age: 54 years old
• Birthplace: Seoul, South Korea
• Nationality: South Korean
• Occupation: Actress
• Height: 1.65m
• Parents: Lee Chung Seok, Yoon Taehwi
• Siblings: Lee Boo-shin, Lee Woo-shin
• Spouse: Jung Ho-young (m. 2009)
• Children: Jeong Seung-kwon, Jeong Seung-bin
• Relationship: Married
• Net Worth: $20 million

Early Life and Education

Lee Young-ae was born on January 31, 1971, in Seoul, South Korea, to Lee Chung Seok and Yoon Taehwi. She grew up alongside her siblings, Lee Boo-shin and Lee Woo-shin.

She pursued her education at Hanyang University, earning a Bachelor’s degree in German Language and Literature. She later obtained a Master’s degree in Theater and Film from the Graduate School of Arts at Chung-Ang University. Her early interest in modeling led to her discovery by a talent agency. Her ethnicity is Korean, and her religious beliefs are Christian.

Career

Lee Young-ae began her career as a model in the early 1990s, appearing in commercials for brands like LG and Lotte. Her acting debut came in 1993 with the drama How’s Your Husband?, but she gained significant recognition with her role in Romance (1996).

Her breakthrough came with the film Joint Security Area (2000), directed by Park Chan-wook, where her performance as a Swiss-Korean officer earned critical praise and marked her as a rising star.

Her role in One Fine Spring Day (2001) further showcased her ability to portray nuanced, emotional characters. Her career reached new heights with Jewel in the Palace (2003-2004), a historical drama where she played Dae Jang Geum, a royal cook who rises to become a physician.

The series became a cultural phenomenon, achieving over 50% viewership in South Korea and gaining a massive following in Asia, the Middle East, and the Americas, earning her the Presidential Medal of Culture Merit.

She followed this with her iconic role in Park Chan-wook’s Sympathy for Lady Vengeance (2005), the final film in his Vengeance Trilogy, which won her Best Actress at the Blue Dragon Film Awards and solidified her international acclaim.

After a 14-year hiatus from television, Lee returned with Saimdang, Memoir of Colors (2017), playing dual roles as a historical figure and a modern-day professor, demonstrating her enduring appeal. Her recent projects include the thriller Inspector Koo (2021) and the film Find Me (2020), where she portrayed a mother searching for her missing child.

Her selective approach to roles, combined with her philanthropy, including donations to children’s hospitals and disaster relief, has cemented her legacy as a cultural icon in South Korea and a global Hallyu ambassador.

Social Media

• Instagram Handle: @leeyoungae0824
• Facebook Handle: Unknown
• Twitter Handle: Unknown

Personal Life

Lee Young-ae married Jung Ho-young, a Korean-American businessman, in August 2009 in a private ceremony in Hawaii. They have twins, a son, Jeong Seung-kwon, and a daughter, Jeong Seung-bin, born in 2011, and reside in Seoul.

Lee maintains a private lifestyle, rarely sharing personal details, but is known for her dedication to her family and her elegant, minimalist fashion sense.

Filmography

• Inshallah (1997)
• Joint Security Area (2000)
• One Fine Spring Day (2001)
• Last Present (2001)
• Jewel in the Palace (2003-2004)
• Sympathy for Lady Vengeance (2005)
• Saimdang, Memoir of Colors (2017)
• Find Me (2020)
• Inspector Koo (2021)

Net Worth

Lee Young-ae has an estimated net worth of $20 million. Her wealth primarily comes from her successful acting career in high-rated dramas and critically acclaimed films, complemented by lucrative endorsement deals with brands such as LG, AmorePacific, and Swarovski.

Her real estate investments in Seoul and her role as a cultural ambassador for South Korea, including her involvement in tourism campaigns, also contribute significantly to her financial success.