Lee Mi-sook

Quick Facts: Who was Lee Mi-sook?

Subject:

Lee Mi-sook

Known for:

Esteemed South Korean actress known for dominating 1980s cinema and enduring career resurgence.

Born:

1960-04-02

Century / Era:

1960s Historical Era Archive

Verified Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

Lee Mi-sook (Korean: 이미숙; born April 2, 1960) is a South Korean actress. One of the best-known actresses of 1980s Korean cinema, Lee's most famous films from this era include Bae Chang-ho's Whale Hunting and The Winter That Year Was Warm, Lee Doo-yong's Mulberry and Eunuch, and Kwak Ji-kyoon's Wanderer in Winter. She retired from film after getting married in 1987, though she still appeared on television in dramas such as How's Your Husband? Then a decade later, Lee made her comeback with an award-winning leading role in E J-yong's feature debut An Affair (1998). She has since remained active in film and television, notably in the May–December romance Solitude (2002), the Dangerous Liaisons adaptation Untold Scandal (2003), the mockumentary Actresses (2009), the family dramas Smile, Mom (2010), and Queen of Tears (2024).

Career & Major Achievements

Lee Mi-sook debuted in film at the age of twenty in Thoughtless Momo in 1979. By the mid-1980s she had become one of the best-known actresses of her era. Together with Lee Bo-hee and Won Mi-kyung, they dominated the screen and were referred to as the "Troika of the 1980s." Her most famous films from this era include Bae Chang-ho's Whale Hunting and The Winter That Year Was Warm, Lee Doo-yong's Mulberry and Eunuch, and Kwak Ji-kyoon's Wanderer in Winter. Her early career lasted until the film Love Triangle in 1987, and then she retired from the cinema after getting married. Over ten years later, in 1998, Lee returned with a widely praised role in E J-yong's award-winning film An Affair, about a woman who falls in love with her sister's fiancé.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

Using this film as a springboard, she re-launched her career. In 2000, Lee was cast in the high-profile project The Legend of Gingko, which was considered to be production company Kang Je-gyu Film's followup to the successful Shiri (even though Kang himself was not directing). However the film proved to be a critical and commercial disappointment. Lee's next two films, Kiss Me Much and Oh! Lala Sisters, were also more or less ignored by audiences.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1960 (1960-04-02): Birth of Lee Mi-sook — Esteemed South Korean actress known for dominating 1980s cinema and enduring career resurgence.
2. 1979: 1979 Milestone — Lee Mi-sook debuted in film at the age of twenty in Thoughtless Momo in 1979.
3. 1987: 1987 Milestone — She retired from film after getting married in 1987, though she still appeared on television in dramas such as How's Your Husband?
4. 1998: 1998 Milestone — Then a decade later, Lee made her comeback with an award-winning leading role in E J-yong's feature debut An Affair (1998).
5. 2000: 2000 Milestone — In 2000, Lee was cast in the high-profile project The Legend of Gingko, which was considered to be production company Kang Je-gyu Film's followup to the successful Shiri (even though Kang himself was not directing).
6. 2002: 2002 Milestone — She has since remained active in film and television, notably in the May–December romance Solitude (2002), the Dangerous Liaisons adaptation Untold Scandal (2003), the mockumentary Actresses (2009), the family dramas Smile, Mom (2010), and Queen of Tears (2024).

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Lee Mi-sook

True or False: “Lee Mi-sook's initial film debut occurred in the year 1980.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): She actually debuted in film at the age of twenty in 1979.

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Frequently Asked Questions about Lee Mi-sook