Lee Se-young
Lee Se-young is a South Korean actress. She debuted as a child actress in 1997 and was best known for her roles in Dae Jang Geum, When I Turned Nine, Lovely Rivals, and The Wonder Years. She is best known for her leading roles in The Crowned Clown, The Red Sleeve, The Law Cafe, The Story of Park's Marriage Contract, and What Comes After Love.
Lee has received multiple awards and has been featured multiple times in Forbes magazine's Forbes [Korea Power Celebrity 40|Korea Power Celebrity 40] list. She is referred to as a "Historical Drama Queen" due to her prominent roles in several successful historical drama.
Early life and education
Lee Se-Young was born on December 20, 1992 in Bangbae-Dong Seocho District, Seoul, South Korea. Lee reportedly revealed on MBC's Radio Star that her parents put her into acting because they feared she would be kidnapped due to her appearance. During the early 1990s, there were many child-kidnapping incidents that shook South Korea. Lee's parents got her into the Entertainment Industry hoping that if she became well-known it would deter kidnappers.Lee Se-Young attended Seoumun girl's middle school and high school. Lee attended Sungshin Women's University majoring in Media Communications where she was named Queen of Campus.
Career
Beginnings
Lee began her career as a child actress; and was best known for the films When I Turned Nine, Lovely Rivals, and The Wonder Years.As she entered her early twenties, Lee also appeared in the television series Puberty Medley, Missing You and Goddess of Marriage, as well as films Horror Stories 2 and Hot Young Bloods. Lee got increasingly larger roles in music romance drama Lovers of Music and fantasy mystery thriller The Vampire Detective.
2016–present: Rising popularity
Lee's popularity increased after starring in the family drama The Gentlemen of Wolgyesu Tailor Shop, where she received favourable reviews. She and co-star Hyun Woo were dubbed as "The Ahchoo Couple" by fans. Lee also won the Best New Actress award in the television category at the Baeksang Arts Award for her performance.In 2017, Lee starred in her first leading role in free-to-air TV station with KBS2's youth drama Hit the Top. Lee then starred in the fantasy romantic comedy drama A Korean Odyssey by the Hong sisters, and was praised for her portrayal of three different characters.
In 2018, Lee played her first big-screen leading role in the comedy film Duck Town.
In 2019, Lee starred in the tvN historical drama The Crowned Clown, based on the 2012 Korean historical film Masquerade, where she played the role of Queen Yoo So-woon. The same year, she appeared in the horror film Lingering and the medical drama Doctor John.
In 2020, Lee starred in the mystery thriller Memorist as a genius profiler. She then reunited with Shin Sung-rok, whom she previously worked with in Lovers of Music, for the MBC drama Kairos.
In 2021, Lee played the role of Sung Deok-im in MBC hit historical romance drama The Red Sleeve, co-starring alongside Lee Jun-ho.
In 2022, Lee made a special appearance as a cinema employee in the film Seoul Vibe. Lee also played the lead role as a lawyer named Kim Yu-ri in KBS romantic comedy drama The Law Cafe, reuniting with A Korean Odyssey co-star Lee Seung-gi.
In November 2023, she also appeared in the time-traveling historical fantasy drama titled The Story of Park's Marriage Contract.
In September 2025, Lee left her agency Prain TPC, which she had been with for 11 years, and signed an exclusive contract with Fantagio.
Other ventures
Ambassadorship
In 2005, Lee was appointed as an Honorary Space Ambassador by Korea Aerospace Research Institute, Ministry of Science and Technology.Lee was appointed as the first ambassador of Seoul Teen Women's Festival by the Seoul Metropolitan Government in 2008 to help promote and create a safe Seoul for teenage girls.
In June 2011, Lee was appointed as a Public Relations Ambassador for Energy Citizen Solidarity to promote the importance of energy conservation practice and protecting the environment.
In 2018, Lee was appointed as a Crime Prevention Ambassador by Seoul Gangdong Police Station, Seoul [Metropolitan Police Agency].
Endorsements
In 2008, Lee became the first model and endorser for Nana's B, a cosmetic brand for teenagers by LG H&H.In 2012, she was appointed as an exclusive model for Samchuly, the most well-known bicycle company in Korea.
In 2013, Lee was named as an executive model for Clean & Clear.
From 2017 to 2019, Lee became a model and endorser for the cosmetic brand Tony Moly
and a French dessert company and the world's largest franchise brand of yogurt Yoplait from 2017 to 2020.
In 2020, She was named as the new ambassador of a cosmetic brand The Face Shop new line Yehwadam by LG H&H. In 2022, Lee re-appeared as an ambassador for Yoplait,
became the first Cetaphil brand ambassador in Korea, an exclusive model for Italian luxury brand Versace fragrances, and the first brand ambassador for eco-friendly fashion brand Joseph and Stacey.
In 2023, Lee became an exclusive model for sunglasses brand Vedi Vero. In 2024, she became an exclusive model for the fermented milk product Dr. Capsule 100 by Binggrae and an exclusive model and endorser for home aesthetic brand Vanav. In 2025, Lee became an exclusive model for clothing brand SOUP known for its romantic and feminine mood, became friends of the house Japanese luxury brand Shiseido, and brand ambassador for French luxury hair care Rene Furterer by Laboratoires Pierre Fabre. In August 2025, Lee become an exclusive model for a contemporary Korean fashion brand with a Parisian sensibility Merci Anne S.