Lee Chae-young | Today's AI Wiki

1. Overview

Lee Chae-young, born Lee Bo-young on April 29, 1986, is a prominent South Korean actress, model, and host. She began her career in the entertainment industry in 2003, making her debut as a model for Lotte Confectionery and appearing in the music video for the hip-hop group Turtles' song "Come On." Her acting debut came in 2007 with the SBS drama Witch Yoo Hee. Lee Chae-young's popularity significantly grew after her role as Sa Illa in the 2009 historical drama Empress Cheonchu and her tenure as a host on the KBS variety show Star Golden Bell. Throughout her career, she has showcased versatility across various television dramas, films, and entertainment programs, establishing herself as a recognizable figure in Korean media.

Lee Chae-young at a press conference for A Poem a Day in March 2018 — Lee Chae-young at a press conference for *A Poem a Day* in March 2018

2. Early Life and Education

Lee Chae-young's early life was rooted in Seoul, where she pursued her education before embarking on her professional career.

2.1. Birth and Family

Lee Chae-young was born Lee Bo-young on April 29, 1986, in Seoul, South Korea. She is the younger of two daughters born to Lee Ho-gyun and Kim Hwa-suk. Her older sister is actress Seo Seung-ah, born on December 18, 1983.

2.2. Education

Lee Chae-young attended Mirim Girls' High School during her youth. Following high school, she pursued higher education at Dankook University, where she majored in Film and Theater. She graduated with a bachelor's degree from Dankook University in 2014.

3. Career

Lee Chae-young's career spans various facets of the entertainment industry, from her early days as a model and music video performer to her extensive work as an actress and television host.

3.1. Debut and Early Career

Lee Chae-young made her initial foray into the entertainment world in 2003, debuting as a model for Lotte Confectionery's Lotte Sand advertisement. In the same year, she appeared in the music video for the hip-hop group Turtles' song "Come On." Her early music video appearances continued with roles in Rain's "I Do" in 2004, Air Rise's "Away" also in 2004, and Yoon Mi-rae's "Did You Forget It" in 2007. Her official debut as an actress came in 2007 with her role as Chef Marie in the SBS romantic comedy drama Witch Yoo Hee. Her public recognition significantly increased in 2009 when she was cast as Sa Illa in the historical drama Empress Cheonchu and simultaneously took on a hosting role for the Korean Broadcasting System (KBS) variety show Star Golden Bell.

3.2. Acting Career

Lee Chae-young has built a comprehensive acting career across both television and film, taking on diverse roles that showcase her range.

3.2.1. Television Dramas

Lee Chae-young has appeared in numerous television dramas, often taking on significant roles.

2007: Witch Yoo Hee as Chef Marie (SBS)
2007: Find My Son, Sam Man Ri as Song Hee-joo (SBS)
2009: Empress Cheonchu as Sa Il-la (KBS2)
2009: Soul Special as Min Se-hee
2009: Wife Returns as Min Yi-hyun (SBS)
2010: Legend of the Patriots as Dan-yeong (KBS1)
2011: Royal Family as Park Min-kyeong (MBC)
2012: The Birth of a Family as Ma Ye-ri (SBS)
2012: Standby as Ha Seok-jin and Ryu Gi-woo's high school classmate (MBC, special appearance)
2013: Drama Special: Devil - The Courier Runs to Hell as Seo-yeon (KBS2)
2014: Two Mothers as Lee Hwa-young (KBS2), a main villain and final boss of the drama.
2014: More Than a Maid as Ga Hee-ah (JTBC)
2017: The Emperor: Owner of the Mask as Mae Chang (MBC)
2018: A Poem a Day as Kim Yoon-joo (tvN)
2018: My Strange Hero as a bride (SBS, cameo in episode 1)
2019: Home for Summer as Joo Sang-mi (KBS1)
2020-2021: Man in a Veil as Han Yoo-ra (KBS2), a sub-female protagonist and main antagonist of the drama.
2023: Woman in a Veil as Joo Ae-ra / Jang Mi / Kim Hyun-jung (KBS2), a sub-female protagonist and main antagonist of the drama.
2023: Family: The Unbreakable Bond as Yoon Chae-ri (tvN)

3.2.2. Films

Lee Chae-young has also taken on various roles in films, spanning different genres and production scales.

2008: Life is Cool as Kim Mi-young
2008: Truck as Han Saet-byeol
2009: Flight as Soo-ah (lead role)
2011: Bicycle Looking for a Whale (also known as Miracle) as Yeong-chae. During a press conference for this film, a playful incident occurred where child actor Cheon Bo-geun tickled Lee Chae-young's armpit, leading her to accidentally spill coffee on the director and miss a blind date.
2012: The Grand Heist as Yoo Seol-hwa
2013: Secretly, Greatly as Ran (supporting role)
2013: The Devil Rider as Seoyeon
2015: The Mirror (Chinese production, lead role)
2016: Reversal as Ahn Chae-hee (supporting role)
2020: The Cursed Lesson (also known as Yoga Academy: Death's Kundalini) as Hyo Jung (lead role)
2021: Tomb of the River as Namgung Eun-seon (supporting role)
2021: Lady Gambler as Mimi (lead role)
2022: The Killer: A Girl Who Deserves to Die as Hyun-soo (supporting role)
2024: Punggi as Kang So-ra (lead role)

3.3. Broadcast and Other Activities

Beyond acting, Lee Chae-young has been active in various television programs, including variety shows, educational programs, and music videos.

3.3.1. Variety and Educational Programs

Lee Chae-young has participated in and hosted a range of non-drama television programs.

2009: Star Golden Bell (KBS2) as MC (April 25, 2009 - May 8, 2010)
2010: Wonder Woman (MBC) as MC (May 14, 2010 - October 29, 2010)
2010: A Guy Who Reads Baseball (MBC) as MC (July 5, 2010 - May 30, 2011)
2011: Show Show Show (tvN) as a cast member (June 28, 2011 - October 23, 2011)
2014: Radio Star (MBC) as a guest (November 12, 2014)
2015: Star Golden Bell (KBS2) as a cast member (February 19, 2015)
2015: I Am a Movie Director Too (Channel CGV) as a cast member (June 11, 2015 - July 2, 2015)
2016: Real Men (MBC) as a cast member (February 21, 2016 - April 10, 2016)
2017: Unfinished Project Boutique (DongA TV) as a cast member (April 20, 2017 - August 3, 2017)
2017: SNL Korea Season 9 (tvN) as a host (September 16, 2017)
2017: Flying Girls (MBN) as a cast member (October 23, 2017 - November 27, 2017)
2017: Humanities in a Backpack (TV Chosun) as a cast member (November 21, 2017 - January 8, 2018)
2018: Happy Together 3 (KBS2) as a guest (March 1, 2018)
2018: Way to Paris (KBS2) as a cast member (November 16, 2018 - November 23, 2018)
2018: You Are the One (KBS2) as a guest (December 18, 2018)
2019: King of Mask Singer (MBC) as a participant (November 17, 2019)
2020: Battle Trip (KBS2) as a guest (January 10, 2020 - January 17, 2020)
2021: Korea's Chicken Battle (SBS FiL, MBN) as a cast member/judge (November 5, 2021 - January 21, 2022)
2021: Cooking - The Birth of a Cooking King (JTBC) as a contestant (November 17, 2021)
2022-present: Goal Girl (SBS) as a cast member (Season 3, from September 28, 2022)
2023: At Least One Year Younger (SBS FiL) as MC (November 1, 2023 - present)

3.3.2. Music Video Appearances

Lee Chae-young has been featured in numerous music videos for various artists, contributing to their visual storytelling.

2003: Turtles - "Come On"
2004: Rain - "I Do"
2004: Air Rise - "Away"
2007: Yoon Mi-rae - "Did You Forget It"
2008: Natural - "보내는 마음_{Boneun Maeum}^Korean" (Sending Heart)
2009: Lee Soo Young - "I Erase It"
2009: Hwayobi - "Once"
2009: K.Will - "사랑한단 말을 못해서_{Saranghandan Mareul Mothaeseo}^Korean" (Can't Say I Love You)
2010: Rumble Fish - "남잔 다 그래_{Namjan Da Geurae}^Korean" (Men Are All Like That)
2010: Kim Dong Hee - "죽을것같아_{Jugeulgeotgata}^Korean" (I Think I'm Dying)
2010: Homme - "I Was Able to Eat Well" (This music video depicted a love triangle, causing Lee Hyun and Changmin to fight over her.)
2011: Ocean Girls - "Ride Now" (Ocean Girls was a promotional group for Ocean World water park, featuring Lee Chae-young, Park Han-byul, Lee Tae-im, Jang Ji-eun, and Jun Eun-mi.)
2011: Homme - "Man Should Laugh" (This music video continued the love triangle theme from "I Was Able to Eat Well," showing it escalate into a serious fight.)

3.4. Endorsements and Modeling

Lee Chae-young has actively engaged in modeling and endorsement deals for various brands and products.

Commercials:**
- 2003: Lotte Confectionery (Lotte Sand, snacks)
- 2004: CJ CheilJedang (food)
- 2005: Lotte Hi-Mart (retail)
- 2008: Levi's (Levi's Strauss Signature, clothing, with Lee Chun-hee)
- 2008: SK Telecom (I Topping, mobile communication)
- 2009: Cuchen (Lihom, rice cooker)
- 2009: S-Board (kick scooter)
- 2011: Sonointernational (Vivaldi Park Ocean World, water park, with Park Han-byul, Lee Tae-im, Jang Ji-eun, Jun Eun-mi)
- 2012: K-Brands (Nix, Must Be, clothing, with Jo Seung-woo)
- 2021: Chase (Destroyer, mobile game)
Modeling:**
- 11th Street (online marketplace)
- Men's Health (magazine)
- Apple Hip (brand)
- DL1961 Premium Jeans
- Maxim (magazine)

3.5. Other Professional Activities

In addition to her work as an entertainer, Lee Chae-young has also taken on public roles.

2013: Served as an honorary ambassador for the 15th Seoul International Youth Film Festival.
2013: Served as an honorary ambassador for the 3rd Short Film Festival.

4. Awards and Nominations

Lee Chae-young has received recognition for her contributions to the entertainment industry.

Year	Award	Category	Work	Result
2009	KBS Entertainment Awards	Show/Entertainment Female Rookie Award	Star Golden Bell	Nominated
2010	SBS Drama Awards	Best Supporting Actress in a Serial Drama	Wife Returns	Nominated
2012	20th Korea Culture and Entertainment Awards	Best New Actress in Film	The Grand Heist	Won
2014	KBS Drama Awards	Best Supporting Actress	Two Mothers	Nominated
2020	KBS Drama Awards	Excellence Award, Actress in a Daily Drama	Man in a Veil	Won
2021	7th APAN Star Awards	Excellence Award, Actress in a Serial Drama	Man in a Veil	Won

5. Personal Life and Public Image

Lee Chae-young maintains a public image characterized by her personal interests and notable resemblances to other public figures.

5.1. Hobbies and Interests

Outside of her professional endeavors, Lee Chae-young enjoys various hobbies, including swimming and judo.

5.2. Nicknames and Public Perception

Lee Chae-young is sometimes referred to by the nickname "Little Jang." This moniker originated due to her notable resemblance to the late actress Jang Jin-young. Her public image is also shaped by her agency affiliations; she was represented by Snowball Entertainment from 2015 to 2018, and subsequently joined Sidus HQ in August 2018.