Lee Si-young

Quick Facts: Who was Lee Si-young?

Subject:

Lee Si-young

Known for:

South Korean actress and former amateur boxer known for versatile roles.

Born:

1982-04-17

Century / Era:

1982s Historical Era Archive

Verified Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

Lee Si-young (Korean: 이시영; born April 17, 1982) is a South Korean actress and former amateur boxer. Born Lee Eun-rae in Cheongwon County, North Chungcheong Province, South Korea), her family moved to Seoul when she was 9 years old. Lee majored in Fashion Design at Dongduk Women's University, and later changed her name to Lee Si-young. Lee made her acting debut in 2008 in a guest appearance on season 3 of the Super Action TV procedural Urban Legends Deja Vu, followed by the historical drama "The Kingdom of The Winds". In 2009 Lee began to gain attention with several high-profile supporting roles.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

In the smash hit Boys Over Flowers, Lee played the character of Sakurako Sanjo in the source manga Hana Yori Dango, who was mercilessly teased for being homely as a young girl, then undergoes extensive plastic surgery and becomes a backstabbing frenemy to win the heart of her tormentor. Lee then played the mistress of a married man in the surrogacy melodrama Loving You a Thousand Times. Five Senses of Eros was an omnibus film from five different directors, and in the segment "Believe in the Moment" three teenage couples decide to swap partners for 24 hours, played by Lee and her fellow up-and-coming actors Kim Dong-wook, Song Joong-ki, Shin Se-kyung, Jung Eui-chul and Lee Sung-min. In the comedy Descendants of Hong Gil-dong (also known as The Righteous Thief), Lee played the love interest of Lee Beom-soo, whose character is the 18th descendant of Hong Gil-dong, a Joseon-era Robin Hood whose family for generations has passed down the tradition of stealing only from the rich and giving to the poor while keeping their actions secret. In 2009, she rose to mainstream popularity when she joined the cast of We Got Married, a reality show about fake married couples, and was paired with Jun Jin of the boy band Shinhwa.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

Called the "Gundam couple" by fans for their mutual love of the anime, Lee and Jun Jin began dating off-screen, making them the first couple to officially have a real relationship outside the show. However, after dating for 6 months, they broke up in September 2009. In 2010, she began hosting Entertainment Relay (also known as Entertainment Weekly), the longest-running entertainment news show on Korean television (her stint ended in 2012). Then in Birth of the Rich (also known as Becoming a Billionaire), Lee was the standout in the cast and was praised for her portrayal of a spoiled, Paris Hilton-esque chaebol heiress, despite mixed reviews for the series itself. Later that year, she starred in Playful Kiss, another series adapted from a manga (in Itazura na Kiss, her character is Sasuiko, a haughty paragon of perfection who becomes the heroine's rival in love).

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1982 (1982-04-17): Birth of Lee Si-young — South Korean actress and former amateur boxer known for versatile roles.
2. 2008: 2008 Milestone — Lee made her acting debut in 2008 in a guest appearance on season 3 of the Super Action TV procedural Urban Legends Deja Vu, followed by the historical drama "The Kingdom of The Winds".
3. 2009: 2009 Milestone — In 2009 Lee began to gain attention with several high-profile supporting roles.
4. 2010: 2010 Milestone — In 2010, she began hosting Entertainment Relay (also known as Entertainment Weekly), the longest-running entertainment news show on Korean television (her stint ended in 2012).

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Lee Si-young

True or False: “Lee Si-young's initial acting debut was in a major historical drama like 'The Kingdom of The Winds'.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): Her actual acting debut was much earlier, appearing as a guest star in the procedural show Urban Legends Deja Vu.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• 1982 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament — Contemporary (Born in 1982) (1982): The 44th annual NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament.
• Ahmed al-Sharaa — Contemporary (Born in 1982) (1982): Syrian statesman who led opposition forces, establishing the Syrian Salvation Government.
• Ahmed Hassan al-Bakr — Contemporary (Died in 1982) (1982): Iraqi military officer and politician who served as the fourth President of Iraq (1968–1979).
• Adam František Kollár — Shared historical date (04-17 · Born) (1718): Pioneering Slovak jurist, historian, and coiner of the term ethnology.
• Adam McKay — Shared historical date (04-17 · Born) (1968): Acclaimed American filmmaker known for satirical comedies and high-profile adaptations.
• Ahn Si-ha — Historical peer (Born in 1982) (1982): South Korean actress known for roles in dramas like Moonshine and All of Us Are Dead.
• Ai Otsuka — Historical peer (Born in 1982) (1982): Japanese singer-songwriter known for hits like "Sakuranbo" and her extensive career.
• Ahn Jae-hwan — Historical peer (Died in 2008) (2008): South Korean actor known for roles in films like Beautiful Temptation and Show Show Show.
• Aimé Césaire — Historical peer (Died in 2008) (2008): Afro-Martinican poet, politician, and founder of the Négritude movement.
• Aage Bohr — Historical peer (Died in 2009) (2009): Pioneering Danish nuclear physicist, Nobel laureate for atomic structure theory.
• 1982 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1982
• April 17 (04-17) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on April 17

Frequently Asked Questions about Lee Si-young