Known for her deer-like eyes and elegant aura, actress Lee Min-jung has long been loved for her gentle yet charismatic presence on screen. But behind her bright smile lies a deeply personal family story that remained unknown to the public until now.
Lee Min-jung first debuted in 1998 through the music video for Player’s “I’ll Protect You.” After choosing to retake her college entrance exams, she was admitted to Sungkyunkwan University’s Department of Acting Arts in 2001.
Originally majoring in directing, Lee Min-jung caught the attention of her academic advisor and began participating in theater productions. This unexpected turn ultimately led her down the path of acting. She officially debuted as a film actress through director Jang Jin’s Someone Special, before landing her first leading role in Min Byung-hoon’s Flying Boys (also known as Cut the Grapevine), where she impressed audiences by portraying two characters in a dual role.
Despite her strong performance, the independent nature of the film meant it did not bring her immediate mainstream success.
Her career took a dramatic turn in 2009 when she appeared as Ha Jae-kyung, the fiancée of Gu Jun-pyo (played by Lee Min-ho), in the hit drama Boys Over Flowers. The role propelled her into stardom, earning her explosive popularity and widespread recognition.
Since then, Lee Min-jung has steadily built an impressive filmography, appearing in dramas such as Smile, You, Midas, Big, All About My Romance, Come Back Alive, Fates & Furies, and Villains, consistently showcasing her stable and refined acting skills.
Recently, however, the actress drew attention not for a new project, but for a deeply emotional revelation shared through a content interview. It was disclosed that Lee Min-jung had an older sibling who passed away before she was born.
Her mother carefully shared, “There was a child who passed away before Min-jung was born.”
Hearing this, Lee Min-jung reflected on her childhood, saying that whenever she received injections as a child, she would see her mother crying and believed it was because of her. Only later did she come to understand the deeper grief her mother carried.
Despite this painful family history, Lee Min-jung overcame sorrow and went on to achieve remarkable success as an actress. In 2013, she married fellow actor Lee Byung-hun, and the couple built a warm and loving family together.
Balancing her career with her role as a devoted mother, Lee Min-jung continues to show grace both on and off screen. Many believe that the hardships of her past shaped her into the strong, compassionate person she is today.
Fans and the public alike are now sending messages of support, hoping that her future will be filled only with happiness and peace.
Sources: Daum