Lee Sung-kyung

Lee Sung-kyung

Lee Sung-kyung (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).

Early life and education

Lee Sung-kyung

Lee was born on August 10, 1990, in Goyang, South Korea. On February 22, 2016, Lee graduated from Dongduk Women's University.

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. In 2013, The Papers collaborated with Lee with the single "I Love You".

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. This was followed by weekend drama, Flower of Queen in 2015. She won "Best New Actress" in a Special Project Drama at the MBC Drama Awards for her role.

In January 2016, Lee featured in tvN's college romance series, Cheese in the Trap. On April 28, 2016, Lee released a collaboration single with Eddy Kim, which is a cover of Sharp's "My Lips like Warm Coffee". Lee then starred in the SBS' prime-time medical drama, The Doctors as a neurosurgeon.

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. In 2017, Lee dubbed the film Trolls alongside Park Hyung-sik. She was also cast in the romance film Love+Sling, directed by first-time director Kim Dae-woong. She was also featured in Psy's 4×2=8 with the single "Last Scene".

2018–present: Rising popularity

Lee in 2019

In 2018, Lee starred in the fantasy melodrama About Time. In 2019, She starred in the action comedy film Miss & Mrs. Cops released on May 9, 2019, alongside Ra Mi-ran. 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.

In 2022, Lee starred in the tvN drama Shooting Stars alongside Kim Young-dae. In 2023, Lee starred in Disney+ Original drama Call It Love. and returning in season three of the medical drama Dr. Romantic replaying the role of Cha Eun-jae. On December 13, she released her first song "Eat Sleep Live Repeat" with Lee Chan-hyuk from AKMU.

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. On August 20, iQIYI announced Lee will be participate in the International Boy Group Talent Show, Starlight Boys as an MC.

In June 2025, after YG Entertainment announced it would end its actor management division, Lee signed an exclusive contract with Fantagio. Lee starred in JTBC's romance drama The Nice Guy opposite Lee Dong-wook where she played an ambitious aspiring singer.

In 2026, Lee starred in the MBC TV romance drama In Your Radiant Season opposite Chae Jong-hyeop.

Philanthropy

Lee Sung-kyung

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. At the end of 2023, Lee donated ₩50 million to the Comprehensive Support Center for Seniors Living Alone. 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.

Musical theatre

Lee Sung-kyung

Year	Title	Role	Date	Ref.
2024–2025	Aladdin (알라딘)	Jasmine	November 22, 2024 – July 2025

Discography

Singles

<table><thead><tr><th>Title</th><th>Year</th><th>Peak chart position</th><th>Album</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Gaon</td></tr><tr><td>As featured artist</td></tr><tr><td>"My Lips like Warm Coffee" (내 입술 따뜻한 커피처럼) (Eddy Kim feat. Lee Sung-kyung)</td><td>2016</td><td>3</td><td>Non-album single</td></tr><tr><td>Collaborations</td></tr><tr><td>"I Love You" (사랑의 단상) (with The Papers)</td><td>2013</td><td>—</td><td>랑의 단상 Chapter 4: You and Me Song</td></tr><tr><td>"Love" (러브) (with Loco)</td><td>2021</td><td>25</td><td>Duet Mate</td></tr><tr><td>"Eat Sleep Live Repeat" (잘 먹고 잘 살아) (with Lee Chan-hyuk)</td><td>2023</td><td>—</td><td>Non-album single</td></tr><tr><td>Soundtrack appearances</td></tr><tr><td>"True Colors" (세로라이브) (with Park Hyung-sik)</td><td>2017</td><td>—</td><td>Trolls OST (Korean version)</td></tr><tr><td>"Get Back Up Again"</td><td>—</td></tr><tr><td>"My Only One Person"</td><td>2018</td><td>—</td><td>About Time OST Musical Special</td></tr><tr><td>"I Am What I Am"</td><td>—</td></tr><tr><td>"Tomorrow will be a better day! "</td><td>—</td></tr><tr><td>"Show Time" (with Ra Mi-ran)</td><td>2019</td><td>—</td><td>Miss & Mrs. Cops OST</td></tr><tr><td>"Thank You for the Memories" (고마워 추억이 되어줘서) (with Dr. Romantic 3 Cast)</td><td>2023</td><td>—</td><td>Dr. Romantic 3 OST Part 10</td></tr><tr><td>"Let the Star Shine Us Again" (이별이 다시 우릴 비춰주길) (with Lim Seul-ong)</td><td>2024</td><td>—</td><td>Transit Love 3 OST Part 7</td></tr><tr><td>"Unspoken" (아무 말 하지 마요)</td><td>2025</td><td>—</td><td>The Nice Guy OST</td></tr><tr><td>"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that region.</td></tr></tbody></table>

Other charted songs

<table><thead><tr><th>Title</th><th>Year</th><th>Peak chart position</th><th>Album</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Gaon</td></tr><tr><td>"Last Scene" (마지막 장면) (Psy feat. Lee Sung-kyung)</td><td>2017</td><td>13</td><td>4X2=8</td></tr></tbody></table>

Ambassadorship

Lee Sung-kyung

<table><thead><tr><th>Year</th><th>Organization</th><th>Title</th><th>Ref.</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>2024</td><td>Korea Brand & Entertainment Expo (KBEE)</td><td>Tokyo Hallyu Honorary Ambassador</td><td></td></tr></tbody></table>

Accolades

Awards and nominations

<table><thead><tr><th>Award ceremony</th><th>Year</th><th>Category</th><th>Nominee / work</th><th>Result</th><th>Ref.</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>APAN Star Awards</td><td>2015</td><td>Best New Actress</td><td>Flower of Queen</td><td>Nominated</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2020</td><td>Excellence Award, Actress in a Miniseries</td><td>Dr. Romantic 2</td><td>Nominated</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2023</td><td>Top Excellence Award</td><td>Dr. Romantic 3</td><td>Won</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Seoul League Actors Award</td><td>Won</td></tr><tr><td>Asia Artist Awards</td><td>2018</td><td>Artist of the Year</td><td>Lee Sung-kyung</td><td>Won</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Best Emotive</td><td>Won</td></tr><tr><td>2020</td><td>Best Actress Award</td><td>Dr. Romantic 2</td><td>Won</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Asia Model Awards</td><td>2020</td><td>Model Star Award</td><td>Lee Sung-kyung</td><td>Won</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Asia Pacific Super Model Contest</td><td>2009</td><td>Unix Hair New Style Prize</td><td>Won</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Baeksang Arts Awards</td><td>2016</td><td>Best New Actress (TV)</td><td>Queen's Flower</td><td>Nominated</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>CFDK Fashion Awards</td><td>2014</td><td>Best Female Fashion Model of the Year</td><td>Lee Sung-kyung</td><td>Won</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Chunsa Film Art Awards</td><td>2019</td><td>Special Popularity Award</td><td>Miss & Mrs. Cops</td><td>Won</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Korea Drama Awards</td><td>2015</td><td>Best New Actress</td><td>Flower of Queen</td><td>Nominated</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Max Movie Awards</td><td>2016</td><td>Rising Star Award</td><td>Lee Sung-kyung</td><td>Won</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>MBC Drama Awards</td><td>2015</td><td>Best New Actress in a Special Project Drama</td><td>Flower of Queen</td><td>Won</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Popularity Award, Actress</td><td>Nominated</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Best Couple Award</td><td>Flower of Queen (with Yoon Park)</td><td>Nominated</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2016</td><td>Excellence Award, Actress in a Miniseries</td><td>Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-joo</td><td>Won</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Best Couple Award</td><td>Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-joo (with Nam Joo-hyuk)</td><td>Nominated</td></tr><tr><td>SBS Drama Awards</td><td>2016</td><td>Special Award, Actress in a Genre Drama</td><td>The Doctors</td><td>Nominated</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2020</td><td>Excellence Award, Actress in a Miniseries Action Drama</td><td>Dr. Romantic 2</td><td>Won</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Best Couple Award</td><td>Dr. Romantic 2 (with Ahn Hyo-seop)</td><td>Nominated</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2023</td><td>Top Excellence Award, Actress in a Seasonal Drama</td><td>Dr. Romantic 3</td><td>Won</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Best Supporting Team</td><td>Won</td></tr><tr><td>Best Couple Award</td><td>Dr. Romantic 3 (with Ahn Hyo-seop)</td><td>Nominated</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Super Model Contest</td><td>2008</td><td>Lex Prize</td><td>Lee Sung-kyung</td><td>Won</td><td></td></tr></tbody></table>

Listicles

Publisher	Year	Listicle	Placement	Ref.
Korean Film Council	2021	Korean Actors 200	Included