Lee Sung-kyung
South Korean actress and model (born 1990)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Lee Sung-kyung[2] (Korean: 이성경; born August 10, 1990) is a South Korean model, actress and singer. She is best known for her roles in television series Cheese in the Trap (2016), The Doctors (2016), Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-joo (2016), and the second and third seasons of Dr. Romantic (2020–2023).
- Actress
- model
- singer
Lee Sung-kyung | |
|---|---|
Lee in March 2025 | |
| Born | August 10, 1990 Goyang, South Korea |
| Other name | Lee Sung-kyoung |
| Alma mater | Dongduk Women's University |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 2008–present |
| Agent | Fantagio |
| Height | 175 cm (5 ft 9 in)[1] |
| Awards | Full list |
| Korean name | |
| Hangul | 이성경 |
| RR | I Seonggyeong |
| MR | I Sŏnggyŏng |
| Website | fantagio.kr |
| Signature | |
 | |
Early life and education
Lee was born on August 10, 1990, in Goyang, South Korea.[3] On February 22, 2016, Lee graduated from Dongduk Women's University.[4]
Career
2008–2013: Beginnings as a model
Lee began her entertainment career as a model where she competed at the local Super Model Contest in 2008.[3][5] In 2013, The Papers collaborated with Lee with the single "I Love You".[6]
2014–2017: Acting and singing debut
In 2014, Lee made her acting debut with a supporting role in television drama It's Okay, That's Love, being the first model-actress promoted under YG KPlus, the joint venture of YG Entertainment and K-Plus.[7][8] This was followed by weekend drama, Flower of Queen in 2015.[9] She won "Best New Actress" in a Special Project Drama at the MBC Drama Awards for her role.[10]
In January 2016, Lee featured in tvN's college romance series, Cheese in the Trap.[11] On April 28, 2016, Lee released a collaboration single with Eddy Kim, which is a cover of Sharp's "My Lips like Warm Coffee".[12] Lee then starred in the SBS' prime-time medical drama, The Doctors as a neurosurgeon.[13]
The same year, she took on her first leading role in Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-joo, a youth sports drama inspired by the real-life story of Olympic weightlifting champion Jang Mi-ran.[14][15][16][17] In 2017, Lee dubbed the film Trolls alongside Park Hyung-sik.[18] She was also cast in the romance film Love+Sling, directed by first-time director Kim Dae-woong.[19] She was also featured in Psy's 4×2=8 with the single "Last Scene".[20]
2018–present: Rising popularity
In 2018, Lee starred in the fantasy melodrama About Time.[21] In 2019, She starred in the action comedy film Miss & Mrs. Cops released on May 9, 2019, alongside Ra Mi-ran.[22][23][24] In 2020, Lee starred in the second season of the hit medical drama Dr. Romantic, playing Cha Eun-jae, a skilled cardiothoracic surgeon with Ahn Hyo-seop as her leading man.[25][26][27]
In 2022, Lee starred in the tvN drama Shooting Stars alongside Kim Young-dae.[28] In 2023, Lee starred in Disney+ Original drama Call It Love.[29] and returning in season three of the medical drama Dr. Romantic replaying the role of Cha Eun-jae.[30] On December 13, she released her first song "Eat Sleep Live Repeat" with Lee Chan-hyuk from AKMU.[31]
In 2024, Lee was chosen to play the role of Princess Jasmine in the Korean-adaption of the 2011 musical Aladdin and it is her first musical debut career.[32] On August 20, iQIYI announced Lee will be participate in the International Boy Group Talent Show, Starlight Boys as an MC.[33]
In June 2025, after YG Entertainment announced it would end its actor management division, Lee signed an exclusive contract with Fantagio.[34] Lee starred in JTBC's romance drama The Nice Guy opposite Lee Dong-wook where she played an ambitious aspiring singer.[35][36][37]
In 2026, Lee starred in the MBC TV romance drama In Your Radiant Season opposite Chae Jong-hyeop.[38][39]
Philanthropy
On August 12, 2022, Lee donated ₩100 million to help those affected by the 2022 South Korea floods through the Hope Bridge Korea Disaster Relief Association.[40] At the end of 2023, Lee donated ₩50 million to the Comprehensive Support Center for Seniors Living Alone.[41] On January 15, 2024, Lee donated ₩100 million to Dankook University Hospital. This donation was made in response to Lee's appearance in the SBS drama Dr. Romantic 3.[42]
Filmography
Musical theatre
Discography
Singles
| Title | Year | Peak chart position | Album | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gaon [44] | ||||||
| As featured artist | ||||||
| "My Lips like Warm Coffee" (내 입술 따뜻한 커피처럼) (Eddy Kim feat. Lee Sung-kyung)[12] |
2016 | 3 | Non-album single | |||
| Collaborations | ||||||
| "I Love You" (사랑의 단상) (with The Papers)[citation needed] |
2013 | — | 랑의 단상 Chapter 4: You and Me Song | |||
| "Love" (러브) (with Loco)[45] |
2021 | 25 | Duet Mate | |||
| "Eat Sleep Live Repeat" (잘 먹고 잘 살아) (with Lee Chan-hyuk)[46] |
2023 | — | Non-album single | |||
| Soundtrack appearances | ||||||
| "True Colors" (세로라이브) (with Park Hyung-sik)[47][48] |
2017 | — | Trolls OST (Korean version) | |||
| "Get Back Up Again"[49] | — | |||||
| "My Only One Person" | 2018 | — | About Time OST Musical Special[50] | |||
| "I Am What I Am" | — | |||||
| "Tomorrow will be a better day! " | — | |||||
| "Show Time" (with Ra Mi-ran)[51][52] |
2019 | — | Miss & Mrs. Cops OST | |||
| "Thank You for the Memories" (고마워 추억이 되어줘서) (with Dr. Romantic 3 Cast)[53] |
2023 | — | Dr. Romantic 3 OST Part 10 | |||
| "Let the Star Shine Us Again" (이별이 다시 우릴 비춰주길) (with Lim Seul-ong)[54][55] |
2024 | — | Transit Love 3 OST Part 7 | |||
| "Unspoken" (아무 말 하지 마요) |
2025 | — | The Nice Guy OST[56] | |||
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that region. | ||||||
Other charted songs
Ambassadorship
| Year | Organization | Title | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Korea Brand & Entertainment Expo (KBEE) | Tokyo Hallyu Honorary Ambassador | [59] |
Accolades
Awards and nominations
| Award ceremony | Year | Category | Nominee / work | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| APAN Star Awards | 2015 | Best New Actress | Flower of Queen | Nominated | [60] |
| 2020 | Excellence Award, Actress in a Miniseries | Dr. Romantic 2 | Nominated | [61] | |
| 2023 | Top Excellence Award | Dr. Romantic 3 | Won | [62] | |
| Seoul League Actors Award | Won | ||||
| Asia Artist Awards | 2018 | Artist of the Year | Lee Sung-kyung | Won | [63] |
| Best Emotive | Won | ||||
| 2020 | Best Actress Award | Dr. Romantic 2 | Won | [64] | |
| Asia Model Awards[a] | 2020 | Model Star Award | Lee Sung-kyung | Won | [66][67] |
| Asia Pacific Super Model Contest | 2009 | Unix Hair New Style Prize | Won | [68] | |
| Asia Star Entertainer Awards | 2026 | Best Character (Actress) | Won | [69] | |
| Baeksang Arts Awards | 2016 | Best New Actress (TV) | Queen's Flower | Nominated | [70] |
| CFDK Fashion Awards | 2014 | Best Female Fashion Model of the Year | Lee Sung-kyung | Won | [71][72] |
| Chunsa Film Art Awards | 2019 | Special Popularity Award | Miss & Mrs. Cops | Won | [73] |
| Korea Drama Awards | 2015 | Best New Actress | Flower of Queen | Nominated | [74] |
| Korea Musical Awards | 2026 | Best New Actress | Aladdin (알라딘) | Won | [75] |
| Max Movie Awards | 2016 | Rising Star Award | Lee Sung-kyung | Won | [76] |
| MBC Drama Awards | 2015 | Best New Actress in a Special Project Drama | Flower of Queen | Won | [10] |
| Popularity Award, Actress | Nominated | [77] | |||
| Best Couple Award | Flower of Queen (with Yoon Park) | Nominated | [78] | ||
| 2016 | Excellence Award, Actress in a Miniseries | Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-joo | Won | [79] | |
| Best Couple Award | Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-joo (with Nam Joo-hyuk) | Nominated | |||
| SBS Drama Awards | 2016 | Special Award, Actress in a Genre Drama | The Doctors | Nominated | [80] |
| 2020 | Excellence Award, Actress in a Miniseries Action Drama | Dr. Romantic 2 | Won | [81] | |
| Best Couple Award | Dr. Romantic 2 (with Ahn Hyo-seop) | Nominated | [82] | ||
| 2023 | Top Excellence Award, Actress in a Seasonal Drama | Dr. Romantic 3 | Won | [83] | |
| Best Supporting Team | Won | ||||
| Best Couple Award | Dr. Romantic 3 (with Ahn Hyo-seop) | Nominated | [84] | ||
| Super Model Contest | 2008 | Lex Prize | Lee Sung-kyung | Won | [85] |
Listicles
| Publisher | Year | Listicle | Placement | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Korean Film Council | 2021 | Korean Actors 200[b] | Included | [86][87] |
