Lee Na-young: Profile and Career
Career:
Lee Na-young began her modeling career in a Jambangee Jeans TV commercial in 1998, and then made her acting debut that same year. She then appeared in several dramas in Korea and Hongkong. Following supporting roles in 1999 television dramas “Did We Really Love?”, “KAIST” and “Queen”, Lee Na-young starred in the tepidly received 2000 Hong Kong sci-fi action film “Dream of Warrior” starring Leon Lai. She also appeared in the 2001 music video for “Catherine’s Wheel” by band Rialto. She rose to fame in 2002 with the critically acclaimed series “Ruler of Your Own World”. She played an indie rock musician who unexpectedly falls for a terminally ill grifter. In the drama, she was praised for her realistic, nuanced acting. She later reunited with “Ruler of Your Own World” screenwriter In Jung-ok for Ireland, a 2004 drama about a Korean adoptee who journeys to her homeland, but its reception was less positive. During this time, Lee Na-young had become one of the top-ranked and highest-paid commercial models, endorsing diverse products such as cosmetics (notably Laneige and Lancôme), electronics, clothing lines, beverages, food, telecommunications, and construction companies. But unlike her graceful and glamorous public persona in advertisements, her image in film has been the opposite, with Lee choosing to portray women who are awkward and eccentric. She often played role as quirky and introverted role. In 2002, she starred in the cyber romance “Who R. U.?” as an introverted character. She then played a quirky, English-challenged civil servant in Kim Sung-su’s comedy film “Please Teach Me English” 2003 and the harmless stalker of a struggling baseball player in Jang Jin’s romantic comedy “Someone Special” in 2004. She won several Best Actress prizes for “Someone Special”, notably from the prestigious Blue Dragon Film Awards. She then again drew praise for her portrayel for darker personality roles. In 2006, this time for her dramatic chops in “Maundy Thursday”, Song Hae-sung’s film adaptation of Gong Ji-young’s novel Our Happy Time about a suicidal rape victim who develops a close bond with a death row inmate. She next played an emotionally tormented sleepwalker in “Kim Ki-duk’s Dream” 2008 when she nearly died while filming a scene where her character hangs herself. She is considered to have one of the most beautiful and idealized faces in Korea. She later became the first Korean to appear on the cover of fashion magazine W Korea, for its November 2009 issue. She has the total net worth of $18 million dollars. When Lee Na-young’s contract with talent agency KeyEast expired in 2011 (she had signed with KeyEast in 2006, and with the William Morris Agency in 2009), she joined Eden 9 Entertainment. Then in 2012, she starred in Yoo Ha’s suspense thriller “Howling”, about a veteran detective (played by Song Kang-ho) who teams up with a female rookie to solve a series of murders involving a mysterious wolfdog. Her recent drama is “Beautiful Days”, which was released in 2018.
Lee Na-young’s Husband and Marriage
Lee Na-young married her long time boyfriend, Won Bin, on May 30, 2015. She and her spouse have one child, and are living happily. Both Lee Na-young and Won Bin are from same Eden 9 agency and started their affair from August 2012. The marriage took place on May 30, the couple saying their vows of married in a small private ceremony near Won Bin’s home town of Jeongseon, Gangwon-do. The agency said, “Won Bin and Lee Na-young are now one, after saying their vows under the clear May skies with the blessings of their parents.” That statement was released along with several photos from the wedding. Their small weddings have become extremely popular ever since, and now the location where Won Bin and Lee Na-young held their wedding has turned into a tourist spot. There are even a sign that reads, ‘Wedding Hall of Won Bin ♥ Lee Na-young 300 meters to the left’. There also a photo zone for he tourist who want to recreate Lee Na-young and Won Bin wedding.
