Lee Hye-young (actress, born 1971)

Quick Facts: Who was Lee Hye-young (actress, born 1971)?

Subject:

Lee Hye-young (actress, born 1971)

Known for:

South Korean actress, singer, and businesswoman known for fashion influence.

Born:

1971-12-22

Century / Era:

1971s Historical Era Archive

Verified Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

Lee Hye-young (Korean: 이혜영; born December 22, 1971) is a South Korean actress, singer and businesswoman. As a singer in the 1990s, Lee released two dance music albums each with 1730 and Coco, and one album as a solo artist. When she switched to acting, Lee starred in television series such as Premonition (1997), Dal-ja's Spring (2007) and Queen of Housewives (2009), and also founded the fashion brand Miss Dorothy. Lee Hye-young made her entertainment debut as a singer performing dance music. In 1992, she became part of the three-member K-pop group 1730 alongside Kim Joo-hoon and Hwang Ho-young; 1730 released two albums then disbanded.

Career & Major Achievements

Lee and Yoon Hyun-sook (from another defunct group ZAM) then formed the duo Coco in 1994, which also released two albums. Following two soundtrack contributions, she released her first album as a solo artist, Her First Sense in 2000, and a Christmas single in 2008. Lee began acting in 1995, and went on to star in television dramas such as First Love (1996), Premonition (1997), Can't Help Being Born Well (2001), Dal-ja's Spring (2007) and Kimchi Cheese Smile (2008), as well as the films If (2000) and How the Lack of Love Affects Two Men (2006). Lee notably drew praise in the role of a high school geek-turned-glamorous leader of an elite clique of corporate spouses in ratings hit Queen of Housewives, for which she won an Excellence Award at the 2009 MBC Drama Awards. Lee soon built a reputation for being one of trendiest and most fashionable Korean celebrities (pre-stardom, she previously worked as a stylist for the band Chakra).

Enduring Legacy & Impact

She parlayed this to another successful career when she launched the clothing and accessories brand Miss Dorothy in 2004. Sold through the CJ home shopping TV channel and online shopping mall MD Story-net, Miss Dorothy recorded high sales of ₩15 billion in its first year and ₩40 billion by its third year in operation, making it the best-selling fashion brand owned by a Korean celebrity for eight consecutive years. More than just a model and endorser for Miss Dorothy, as CEO Lee oversaw the brand's product design and development, marketing and promotion; she also became a director for lingerie company M Corset when it merged with Miss Dorothy in 2007. Once she entered her forties, Lee felt that her age would be incompatible with Miss Dorothy's target demographic of women in their twenties and thirties, so she left the company and sold her shares in 2012, then donated all the proceeds to charity. Lee also wrote the books The Beauty Bible and The Fashion Bible in 2009, and hosted fashion-focused talk shows on cable, such as Style Magazine (2008–2009) and Women& (2012).

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1730: 1730 Milestone — As a singer in the 1990s, Lee released two dance music albums each with 1730 and Coco, and one album as a solo artist.
2. 1971 (1971-12-22): Birth of Lee Hye-young (actress, born 1971) — South Korean actress, singer, and businesswoman known for fashion influence.
3. 1992: 1992 Milestone — In 1992, she became part of the three-member K-pop group 1730 alongside Kim Joo-hoon and Hwang Ho-young; 1730 released two albums then disbanded.
4. 1994: 1994 Milestone — Lee and Yoon Hyun-sook (from another defunct group ZAM) then formed the duo Coco in 1994, which also released two albums.
5. 1995: 1995 Milestone — Lee began acting in 1995, and went on to star in television dramas such as First Love (1996), Premonition (1997), Can't Help Being Born Well (2001), Dal-ja's Spring (2007) and Kimchi Cheese Smile (2008), as well as the films If (2000) and How the Lack of Love Affects Two Men (2006).
6. 1997: 1997 Milestone — When she switched to acting, Lee starred in television series such as Premonition (1997), Dal-ja's Spring (2007) and Queen of Housewives (2009), and also founded the fashion brand Miss Dorothy.
7. 2000: 2000 Milestone — Following two soundtrack contributions, she released her first album as a solo artist, Her First Sense in 2000, and a Christmas single in 2008.
8. 2004: 2004 Milestone — She parlayed this to another successful career when she launched the clothing and accessories brand Miss Dorothy in 2004.
9. 2007: 2007 Milestone — More than just a model and endorser for Miss Dorothy, as CEO Lee oversaw the brand's product design and development, marketing and promotion; she also became a director for lingerie company M Corset when it merged with Miss Dorothy in 2007.
10. 2009: 2009 Milestone — Lee notably drew praise in the role of a high school geek-turned-glamorous leader of an elite clique of corporate spouses in ratings hit Queen of Housewives, for which she won an Excellence Award at the 2009 MBC Drama Awards.
11. 2012: 2012 Milestone — Once she entered her forties, Lee felt that her age would be incompatible with Miss Dorothy's target demographic of women in their twenties and thirties, so she left the company and sold her shares in 2012, then donated all the proceeds to charity.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Lee Hye-young (actress, born 1971)

True or False: “Lee Hye-young's initial foray into the entertainment industry was through acting roles in major dramas like Queen of Housewives.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): She initially debuted as a singer performing dance music before transitioning to acting.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Abd El-Razzak El-Sanhuri — Contemporary (Died in 1971) (1971): Pioneering Egyptian jurist, celebrated for authoring the revised Civil Code of 1948.
• Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi — Contemporary (Born in 1971) (1971): Iraqi militant leader and founder of the Islamic State (IS)
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• Al-Nawawi — Shared historical date (12-22 · Died) (1278): Influential Syrian Shafi'ite jurist and renowned hadith scholar.
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• Adriano Giannini — Historical peer (Born in 1971) (1971): Italian actor known for dubbing and roles in film and television.
• Ahn Jae-wook — Historical peer (Born in 1971) (1971): Acclaimed South Korean actor and singer known for his dramatic stage presence.
• Alexander Suvorov — Historical peer (Born in 1730) (1730): Brilliant Russian general whose victories defined military prowess in the late 18th century.
• Charles Messier — Historical peer (Born in 1730) (1730): Pioneering French astronomer known for the Messier catalogue of nebulae and star clusters.
• Adriana Caselotti — Historical peer (Died in 1997) (1997): American actress and singer, famed for voicing Snow White in the first Disney feature.
• 1971 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1971
• December 22 (12-22) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on December 22

Frequently Asked Questions about Lee Hye-young (actress, born 1971)