ENTERTAINMENT
Actress Lee Seung-yeon Reflects on Past Controversies and Career Resurgence
Actress Lee Seung-yeon recently opened up about her past controversies involving propofol use and a nude photo shoot themed around comfort women.
On the 23rd, a video titled 'Actress Lee Seung-yeon's Housewarming in Yeonhui-dong (Behind the Scenes of the Entertainment Industry)' was posted on the YouTube channel 'A-grade Jang Young-ran.'
Jang Young-ran visited Lee Seung-yeon's home in Yeonhui-dong, expressing admiration for the view and the house itself. Lee Seung-yeon shared how she began her career in the entertainment industry, stating, 'My first role was in MBC's 'Our Paradise,' where I played the senior in the sculpture department whom the male lead, Jang Dong-gun, had a crush on. The positive reception led me to become the main MC for 'Saturday, Saturday is Fun.'' Following this, Lee Seung-yeon appeared in SBS's drama 'Sandglass' and MBC's 'Hotel,' both of which were highly popular. Reflecting on that time, she said, 'From then on, every interview I did was about how I just wanted to sleep. The most sleep I got in a week was seven hours. I was young and didn't realize how hard it was, so I endured.' Lee Seung-yeon also starred in KBS's drama 'First Love.'
She recalled, 'I didn't like running around in a school uniform with pigtails at the age of my late twenties.' She added, 'Before 'First Love' ended, I was cast in MBC's 'Cinderella.' What I liked about 'Cinderella' was that I didn't have to wear makeup. I could just come down from my house and shoot the drama.' In 1998, Lee Seung-yeon hosted the talk show 'Lee Seung-yeon's Say Say Say.' She said, 'I was asked to do a talk show, but I didn't realize how big the role was. I still remember it being fun because all the guests were celebrities. I asked them questions I was curious about, and it became a hit. Even Kim Gun-mo, Park Jin-young, and Cho Yong-pil appeared.' When Jang Young-ran asked how many months the show ran, Lee Seung-yeon candidly replied, 'I did it for six months before an incident occurred, and I was fired from the program.' She had to leave the show after it was revealed she had illegally obtained a driver's license. After a hiatus, Lee Seung-yeon made a comeback in the 2002 drama 'Who’s My Love.'
However, in 2003, she was embroiled in a propofol scandal, and in 2004, she faced backlash for a nude photo shoot themed around comfort women. Lee Seung-yeon confessed, 'I was given another chance to work, and just when I was doing well in dramas and receiving love, I made a huge mistake.' She continued, 'A lot of chaos ensued. No matter how much time passes, the only way forward is to show myself as a better person.' She admitted, 'I actually considered ending my life back then. You don't turn to death when hard times come; you turn to it when you're exhausted. When strong stress comes, you overcome it, but when you find yourself alone after some time, the sense of loss and helplessness can lead to thoughts of death.' Lee Seung-yeon mentioned that she spent some time at a temple, saying, 'I cried my heart out for about three days and four nights. One morning, while eating scorched rice and sitting on a rock at Unmunam, looking at the clouds, I thought, 'I haven't lived everything yet.
There are still days to live.' A younger friend suggested starting a business, so we opened a clothing store in Dongdaemun Market. I made clothes, and my friend made accessories, and we hit it big.' Later, Lee Seung-yeon received a casting offer from writer Kim Soo-hyun for 'Love and Ambition.' She shared, 'When I got a call from Kim Soo-hyun, I asked, 'Can I do it?' and he said, 'Be quiet.' I thought my job was to do my best as much as people sought me out. I decided to live a new life.'
Reported by Kim Ji-won, TenAsia bella@tenasia.co.kr
On the 23rd, a video titled 'Actress Lee Seung-yeon's Housewarming in Yeonhui-dong (Behind the Scenes of the Entertainment Industry)' was posted on the YouTube channel 'A-grade Jang Young-ran.'
Jang Young-ran visited Lee Seung-yeon's home in Yeonhui-dong, expressing admiration for the view and the house itself. Lee Seung-yeon shared how she began her career in the entertainment industry, stating, 'My first role was in MBC's 'Our Paradise,' where I played the senior in the sculpture department whom the male lead, Jang Dong-gun, had a crush on. The positive reception led me to become the main MC for 'Saturday, Saturday is Fun.'' Following this, Lee Seung-yeon appeared in SBS's drama 'Sandglass' and MBC's 'Hotel,' both of which were highly popular. Reflecting on that time, she said, 'From then on, every interview I did was about how I just wanted to sleep. The most sleep I got in a week was seven hours. I was young and didn't realize how hard it was, so I endured.' Lee Seung-yeon also starred in KBS's drama 'First Love.'
She recalled, 'I didn't like running around in a school uniform with pigtails at the age of my late twenties.' She added, 'Before 'First Love' ended, I was cast in MBC's 'Cinderella.' What I liked about 'Cinderella' was that I didn't have to wear makeup. I could just come down from my house and shoot the drama.' In 1998, Lee Seung-yeon hosted the talk show 'Lee Seung-yeon's Say Say Say.' She said, 'I was asked to do a talk show, but I didn't realize how big the role was. I still remember it being fun because all the guests were celebrities. I asked them questions I was curious about, and it became a hit. Even Kim Gun-mo, Park Jin-young, and Cho Yong-pil appeared.' When Jang Young-ran asked how many months the show ran, Lee Seung-yeon candidly replied, 'I did it for six months before an incident occurred, and I was fired from the program.' She had to leave the show after it was revealed she had illegally obtained a driver's license. After a hiatus, Lee Seung-yeon made a comeback in the 2002 drama 'Who’s My Love.'
However, in 2003, she was embroiled in a propofol scandal, and in 2004, she faced backlash for a nude photo shoot themed around comfort women. Lee Seung-yeon confessed, 'I was given another chance to work, and just when I was doing well in dramas and receiving love, I made a huge mistake.' She continued, 'A lot of chaos ensued. No matter how much time passes, the only way forward is to show myself as a better person.' She admitted, 'I actually considered ending my life back then. You don't turn to death when hard times come; you turn to it when you're exhausted. When strong stress comes, you overcome it, but when you find yourself alone after some time, the sense of loss and helplessness can lead to thoughts of death.' Lee Seung-yeon mentioned that she spent some time at a temple, saying, 'I cried my heart out for about three days and four nights. One morning, while eating scorched rice and sitting on a rock at Unmunam, looking at the clouds, I thought, 'I haven't lived everything yet.
There are still days to live.' A younger friend suggested starting a business, so we opened a clothing store in Dongdaemun Market. I made clothes, and my friend made accessories, and we hit it big.' Later, Lee Seung-yeon received a casting offer from writer Kim Soo-hyun for 'Love and Ambition.' She shared, 'When I got a call from Kim Soo-hyun, I asked, 'Can I do it?' and he said, 'Be quiet.' I thought my job was to do my best as much as people sought me out. I decided to live a new life.'
Reported by Kim Ji-won, TenAsia bella@tenasia.co.kr