From Struggles to Stardom: The Inspiring Journey of Actress Lee Jung-eun

The story of an actress who rose to fame after enduring a challenging period is once again capturing attention online.

Recently, the tale of an actress who juggled various jobs to make ends meet during her early career has been revisited, drawing interest. Particularly, her perseverance through a time when her annual income was just 200,000 won is garnering attention.

This is the story of actress Lee Jung-eun. She has openly discussed her difficult times on various broadcasts. Lee once revealed, “When I was doing theater, I earned about 200,000 won a year,” highlighting the financial struggles of her early career. Despite her passion for acting, it was a time when surviving on acting alone was tough.

To make a living, she had to explore various options. She shared, “Theater actors can’t live on acting alone, so I also delivered juice,” recalling the multiple jobs she held alongside acting.

In another broadcast, she mentioned similar experiences, conveying the realistic hardships she faced. Since it was difficult to sustain herself solely through theater, she naturally had to engage in other work to maintain her daily life.

Her remarks about past part-time jobs have also resurfaced, drawing renewed attention.

In an interview with a magazine, Lee Jung-eun confessed, “I could work as a cashier at a mart again, or clean bathrooms. Even if people laughed at me, I could maintain the mindset of saying, ‘I’m okay.’” Her words are seen as embodying a philosophy and attitude towards life that resonates with many.

After enduring a long period of obscurity, she successfully debuted on television at a later age. She first became known to the public at 45 and has since established her presence in various works.

Lee Jung-eun stated, “I did part-time jobs until I was 40,” adding, “None of the time I spent working was wasted. I believe it was necessary for shaping the face of an actor.” Her reflections on her struggles have moved many.

Netizens have expressed various reactions, such as “I can’t imagine living on 200,000 won a year,” “It’s amazing she endured those times,” and “There’s a reason she’s reached her current position,” showing their empathy.

Her candid recounting of past hardships is why her story is gaining renewed attention.

Meanwhile, Lee Jung-eun has been active in numerous works, including the drama 'Mr. Sunshine' as Haman-daek, 'The Light in Your Eyes' as Hye-ja’s mother, and films like 'The Attorney,' 'A Taxi Driver,' and 'Okja,' earning the phrase “I don’t know her name, but I recognize her face.”

In 2019, she became a “trending actress.” She won the Best Supporting Actress award in the TV category at the Baeksang Arts Awards for 'The Light in Your Eyes' and walked the red carpet at Cannes for Bong Joon-ho’s film 'Parasite,' which surpassed 10 million viewers.

Lee Jung-eun is set to appear in the short drama 'Father’s Home-cooked Meal,' directed by Lee Joon-ik, scheduled for release in 2026. She has been cast as 'Soon-ae,' a character who, after being responsible for the family’s meals for a long time, suddenly forgets how to cook, causing a stir in the family’s ordinary life.

Na-yeon Cho, Ten Asia Reporter nybluebook@tenasia.co.kr