Lee Na-jeong

Lee Na-jeong was born in 1978. She graduated from Journalism Department of Sogang University. In 2005, Lee applied for the 31st Public Recruitment at KBS.^{[4][unreliable source?]} Lee started her career in KBS Drama Department as an assistant director.^[5]

Lee Na-jeong started her career as an assistant director for the drama It's Only You in 2011. In 2012, she served as an assistant director to Kim Jin-won for the drama The Innocent Man.^[6] Her breakthrough came when she took on the role of the main director for the KBS Drama Special - Yeonwoo's Summer in 2013.^[7]

In early 2014, Lee began planning the project Snowy Road in collaboration with writer Yoo Bo-ra.^[8] Set in 1944 during the final years of the Japanese colonial period, the story depicts the harrowing realities faced by two young women, Jong-bun (Kim Hyang-gi) and Young-ae (Kim Sae-ron), who were forced to be comfort women. Despite the weight of the subject matter, the principal photography was completed in just 17 days.^[9][10]

Although the project premiered as a two-part television special on KBS1 in 2015,^[11][12] KBS had envisioned it as a feature film from its inception. This dual-format strategy was intentional; while broadcasting content faced distribution hurdles in Japan, a theatrical version offered a pathway to international film festivals and human rights screenings. To facilitate this, the production utilized both broadcasting and film crews, and the script was developed collaboratively to suit both mediums. The goal was to maximize viewership and raise global awareness regarding the historical issue.^[8][13] The theatrical version debuted at the 16th Jeonju International Film Festival^[11][12] and received a nationwide release on March 1, 2017,^[8][13] a date chosen to coincide with South Korea's Independence Movement Day in South Korea, which commemorates the 1919 March First Movement.^[14] Snowy Road gained significant international recognition, notably winning the Prix Italia for TV Drama/TV Movie at the 67th Prix Italia Awards in 2016.^[15]

Following her departure from KBS, Lee joined the production company Studio Dragon. Her inaugural project at the studio was Love Alarm, based on the Daum webtoon of the same name by Chon Kye-young. Starring Kim So-hyun, Jung Ga-ram, and Song Kang, it gained distinction as the first Korean drama series confirmed for streaming on Netflix^[a] The series centers on a high school student navigating a society shaped by a mobile application that notifies users of nearby romantic interest. Starring first season premiered on August 22, 2019, and quickly became one of the platform's top releases, leading to its renewal in October 2019. While the second season, released on March 12, 2021, was helmed by a different director, the series maintained significant global popularity.^[16] In 2021, Love Alarm was ranked as the sixth most-watched K-drama worldwide on Netflix,^[17] and by 2022, it was the ninth most-searched Korean drama globally.^[18]

Director Lee Na-jeong said, "I wanted to portray the love and growth of three men and women who face the most ecstatic and exciting moments as well as the most painful and terrible moments while embodying the wonderfully well-crafted world of the original work. I want to share the deep emotion of the original work with more people."^[19]

In 2021, Lee collaborated with Writer Baek Mi-kyung on a drama centered around the theme of motherhood. Initially titled "Blue Diamond," Lee suggested changing the title to Mine, which Baek Mi-kyung gladly accepted. It explores the lives of wealthy family members and their servants, delving into the complexities of their relationships. Each women character defy societal prejudices to find their "truly mine."^[20][21] Mine made history as the first Korean drama to feature a lesbian character in a leading role, further expanding representation in the industry.^[22][23][24]

The series, starring Lee Bo-young, Kim Seo-hyung, Lee Hyun-wook, and Ok Ja-yeon,^[25] premiered on tvN on May 8, 2021. It aired every Saturday and Sunday at 21:00 (KST) until June 27, 2021.^[26] Netflix acquired the exclusive rights for international distribution.^{[27][28][unreliable source?][29]} The drama garnered substantial ratings throughout its run. With an average nationwide viewership of 8.208% and 9.078% in the metropolitan area, Mine attracted an average of 1.826 million viewers per episode. The drama's final episode recorded an average of 10.5% and 11.2% ratings for households nationwide and in the metropolitan area, respectively. These numbers surpassed its own previous highest ratings in both segments.^[30]

In 2021, Fine Cut, an overseas film distribution company, announced the news that Lee signed a deal with Brillstein Entertainment Partners in 2021, which has a number of production studios and Hollywood stars under its wing. She became the first Korean female TV director to have joined a U.S. management agency. Missy Malkin from Brillstain decided to signed Lee after watching tvN mystery thriller Mine (2021).^[31]

In March 2024, it was reported that Lee joined Studio Trii as a creator, alongside director Lee Yoon-jung.^[32] Studio Trii, established in June 2022 by CEO Kim Jin-yi, operates as a production label under Imaginus, a media firm founded by former Studio Dragon CEO Choi Jin-hee.^[33][34][35]