Lee Hanee (; born March 2, 1983), also known as Honey Lee, is a South Korean actress, model, classical musician as well as

beauty pageant A beauty pageant is a competition that has traditionally focused on judging and ranking the physical attributes of the contestants. Pageants have now evolved to include inner beauty, with criteria covering judging of personality, intelligence, ...

titleholder where she represented her country at

Miss Universe 2007 Miss Universe 2007 was the 56th Miss Universe pageant, held at the Auditorio Nacional in Mexico City, Mexico on May 28, 2007. At the end of the event, Zuleyka Rivera of Puerto Rico crowned Riyo Mori from Japan as Miss Universe 2007. It is Jap ...

. She has acted in several films and television series.

Early life

Lee Hanee is the middle child of three, and has an older sister and a younger brother. Her father Lee Sang-eob was a high-ranking official with the National Intelligence Service. Her mother Moon Jae-suk has a PhD in Korean music history and is a professor at

Ewha Womans University Ewha Womans University () is a private women's university in Seoul founded in 1886 by Mary F. Scranton under Emperor Gojong. It was the first university founded in South Korea. Currently, Ewha is one of the world's largest female educational ins ...

as well as music director of Gimhae City Gayageum Orchestra. Her sister is

Lee Seul-gi Lee may refer to: Name Given name * Lee (given name), a given name in English Surname * Chinese surnames romanized as Li or Lee: ** Li (surname 李) or Lee (Hanzi ), a common Chinese surname ** Li (surname 利) or Lee (Hanzi ), a Chinese ...

, a member of the KBS Orchestra of Traditional Korean Music. Lee's maternal uncle is politician

Moon Hee-sang Moon Hee-sang (Korean: 문희상; Hanja: 文喜相; born 3 March 1945) is a South Korean politician. He has a bachelor's degree in law from Seoul National University. He is a member of the National Assembly, and was the interim leader of the New ...

(currently Speaker of the National Assembly). Lee graduated from

Seoul National University Seoul National University (SNU; ) is a national public research university located in Seoul, South Korea. Founded in 1946, Seoul National University is largely considered the most prestigious university in South Korea; it is one of the three "S ...

with high honors in traditional Korean music. She received her master's degree from the same university.

Career

Beauty pageant

Lee won the 2006

Miss Korea Miss Korea ( ko, 미스코리아) is a national beauty pageant in South Korea. Lee Seung-hyeon won the title on October 26, 2022. History The first Miss Korea competition took place in 1957 and was sponsored by the Korean newspaper Hankook I ...

pageant and represented South Korea in the

. She managed to break into the Top 5 and was placed 3rd runner-up;

Riyo Mori (born December 24, 1986) is a Japanese actress, dancer, model and beauty queen who was crowned Miss Universe 2007 in Mexico City. Personal life An only child, Riyo Mori began dancing at the age of 4. She has studied at Quinte Ballet School of ...

from Japan was crowned Miss Universe that year. Lee was also named Miss Grand Slam 2007.

Music

Lee is a professional

gayageum The ''gayageum'' or ''kayagum'' (in Korean 가야금, 伽倻琴 in Chinese characters) is a traditional Korean plucked zither with 12 strings, though some more recent variants have 18, 21 or 25 strings. It is probably the best known traditional K ...

player, a Korean music instrument. She was named a gayageum prodigy by the Kumho Art Center, the most prestigious musical foundation in Korea. She has released four CDs and played in more than 25 countries, including concerts at Carnegie Hall in New York City. In 2017, she participated in the largest-ever mass performance of the gayageum as part of the two-day Uijeongbu International Gayageum Festival. Lee performed at the closing ceremony of the

2018 Winter Olympics , nations = 93 , athletes = 2,922 (1,680 men and 1,242 women) , events = 102 in 7 sports (15 disciplines) , opening = , closing = , opened_by = President Moon Jae-in , cauldron = Kim Yun-a , stadium = Pyeongchang Olympic Stadium , winte ...

, where she reinterpreted '춘앵무(Chunaengmu)', one of the royal dances of the

Joseon dynasty Joseon (; ; Middle Korean: 됴ᇢ〯션〮 Dyǒw syéon or 됴ᇢ〯션〯 Dyǒw syěon), officially the Great Joseon (; ), was the last dynastic kingdom of Korea, lasting just over 500 years. It was founded by Yi Seong-gye in July 1392 and re ...

. Lee appeared in the music video For

Dynamic Duo (South Korean duo) Dynamic Duo ( ko, 다이나믹듀오) is a South Korean hip hop duo that consists of rappers Choiza and Gaeko. They rose to fame with their 2004 debut album, ''Taxi Driver'', which became the best-selling Korean hip hop album ever. They are sign ...

's song "Jam". Presumably Lee plays a Honeybee in the video which is a pun on the honeybee themed video.

Film and television

Lee Hanee co-hosted Real Time TV Entertainment, on the national TV network SBS, a 12-year-old show focusing on show business, beginning July 18. In 2008, she made her acting debut in the musical ''Polaroid'' which opened at PMC Daehangno Jayu Theater in

Hyehwa-dong Hyehwa-dong is a '' dong'' (neighborhood) of Jongno-gu in Seoul, South Korea. It is adjacent to the Seoul National University Hospital. Attractions * PMC Daehangno Jayu Theater - musical ''Polaroid'' were played from 3 to 24 August 2008, starri ...

Jongno-gu Bosingak bell pavilion Jongno District () is a district () in central Seoul, South Korea. It takes its name from a major local street, Jongno, which means "Bell Road". Characteristics Jongno District has been the center of the city for 600 yea ...

. She has since starred in musicals ''

Legally Blonde ''Legally Blonde'' is a 2001 American comedy film directed by Robert Luketic in his List of directorial debuts, feature-length directorial debut, and scripted by Karen McCullah, Karen McCullah Lutz and Kirsten Smith (writer), Kirsten Smith from ...

'', playing Elle Woods and ''

Chicago (''City in a Garden''); I Will , image_map = , map_caption = Interactive Map of Chicago , coordinates = , coordinates_footnotes = , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name ...

'', playing Roxie Hart. In 2009, Lee starred in her first television series ''The Partner'', playing a femme fatale attorney. She next starred in the romantic comedy series ''

Pasta Pasta (, ; ) is a type of food typically made from an unleavened dough of wheat flour mixed with water or eggs, and formed into sheets or other shapes, then cooked by boiling or baking. Rice flour, or legumes such as beans or lentils, are som ...

'' (2010), playing a celebrity chef. Lee won her first acting accolade at the

MBC Drama Awards The MBC Drama Awards () is an awards ceremony presented by Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) for outstanding achievements in Korean dramas aired on its network. It is held annually in December. Unlike its counterparts in KBS and SBS, MBC ...

, the Best Newcomer award for her performance in the family drama ''Iron Daughters-in-law'' (2011). In 2011, Lee was cast in her first big screen role in action film, ''Hit''. She also featured in the disaster film '' Deranged'' and period comedy ''

I Am a King ''I Am the King'' (, also known as ''I Am a King'') is a 2012 South Korean historical comedy film, starring Ju Ji-hoon, Park Yeong-gyu, Baek Yoon-sik, Byun Hee-bong and Kim Su-ro. Inspired by Mark Twain's 1881 novel ''The Prince and the Pauper'', ...

'' (2012). After appearing in E J-yong's ensemble mockumentary ''Behind the Camera'' (2013), Lee starred in the gambling film '' Tazza: The Hidden Card'' (2014), playing a rich widow. She also appeared in a comedy drama in 2014 called Mondern Farmer which is about a rock band called "Excellent Souls." The band consists of Lee Min-Ki (Lee Hong-Ki), Kang Hyeok (Park Min-Woo), Yoo Han-Cheol (Lee Si-Un) and Han Ki-Joon (Kwak Dong-Yeon). The band decides to move to the countryside. There, the drama series follows their dreams, loves and friendships. Lee then played Queen Daemok in the 2015 historical drama ''

Shine or Go Crazy ''Shine or Go Crazy'' () is a 2015 South Korean television series based on the novel of the same name by Hyun Go-woon about the romance between a Goryeo prince and a Balhae princess. Starring Jang Hyuk, Oh Yeon-seo, Lee Hanee and Lim Ju-hwan, it ...

'', which depicts a fictional romance between a cursed

Goryeo Goryeo (; ) was a Korean kingdom founded in 918, during a time of national division called the Later Three Kingdoms period, that unified and ruled the Korean Peninsula until 1392. Goryeo achieved what has been called a "true national unificati ...

prince and the last princess of

Balhae Balhae ( ko, 발해, zh, c=渤海, p=Bóhǎi, russian: Бохай, translit=Bokhay, ), also rendered as Bohai, was a multi-ethnic kingdom whose land extends to what is today Northeast China, the Korean Peninsula and the Russian Far East. It wa ...

. The same year, she starred in the science fiction film ''Sori: Voice From The Heart''. In 2016, Lee starred in the comedy drama ''

Please Come Back, Mister ''Come Back Mister'' () is a 2016 South Korean television series starring Rain, Oh Yeon-seo, Kim In-kwon, Kim Soo-ro, Lee Min-jung, Lee Ha-nui, Choi Won-young and Yoon Park, based on the Japanese novel published in 2002, ''Mr. Tsubakiyama's Sev ...

''. Lee was praised for her chemistry with co-star

Oh Yeon-seo Oh Yeon-seo (, born Oh Haet-nim []; June 22, 1987), is a South Korean actress, singer and model and is best known for her roles in television dramas '' My Husband Got a Family'' (2012), '' Jang Bo-ri is Here!'' (2014), ''Shine or Go Crazy'' (201 ...

, whom she has acted with in her previous project ''Shine or Go Crazy''. In 2017, Lee played famous gisaeng

Jang Nok-su Royal Consort Suk-yong (, died 1506), of the Heungdeok Jang clan, was the consort of Yeonsangun of Joseon. She is often compared with Jang Hui-bin and Jeong Nan-jeong, two other women of the Joseon dynasty. After the overthrow of Yeonsangun, ...

in the historical drama '' The Rebel''. She won critical praise for her portrayal, and won several acting awards. The same year, she featured in crime thriller '' Heart Blackened'' and action comedy film ''

The Bros ''The Bros'' is a 2017 South Korean comedy-drama film directed by Chang You-jeong. The film stars Ma Dong-seok, Lee Dong-hwi and Lee Hanee. Plot Seok-bong is a penniless history teacher who dreams of discovering lost treasure. His younger brothe ...

''. In 2019, Lee starred in the comedy film ''

Extreme Job ''Extreme Job'' () is a 2019 South Korean action comedy film directed by Lee Byeong-heon, starring Ryu Seung-ryong, Lee Hanee, Jin Seon-kyu, Lee Dong-hwi and Gong Myung. The film was released on January 23, 2019. The film has become a major box ...

'' as a narcotics detective. The film became the second-most successful Korean film ever with 16 million tickets sold. The same year, she starred in comedy crime drama ''

The Fiery Priest ''The Fiery Priest'' () is a 2019 South Korean television series starring Kim Nam-gil, Kim Sung-kyun, Lee Hanee, Go Jun, and Keum Sae-rok. It was the first drama to air on SBS's Fridays and Saturdays timeslot, airing from February 15 to April ...

'' as a prosector. The drama was a commercial success with over 20% in ratings. Both projects proved Lee's versatility and contributed to her rise in popularity. In 2021, Lee starred another SBS drama ''

One the Woman ''One the Woman'' () is a 2021 South Korean television series directed by Choi Hyeong-hun and written by Kim Yoon. It stars Lee Hanee in a dual role, Lee Sang-yoon, Jin Seo-yeon, and Lee Won-geun. The drama premiered on SBS TV on September 17, ...

'' with

Lee Sang-yoon Lee Sang-yoon (; born August 15, 1981) is a South Korean actor. He is best known for his starring roles in '' My Daughter Seo-young'' (2012), '' Angel Eyes'' (2014), ''Liar Game'' (2014), '' On the Way to the Airport'' (2016), '' Whisper'' (2017 ...

, Jin Seo-yeon and

Lee Won-keun Lee Won-geun (born June 27, 1991) is a South Korean actor. He made his acting debut in the 2012 popular historical television drama ''Moon Embracing the Sun'' (2012) and is best known for starring in the high school drama ''Cheer Up! (TV series), ...

, making a small screen comeback in two years. She played dual roles as Jo Yeon-joo, a smart but corrupted prosecutor (which is similar to her previous drama ''

'') and Kang Mi-na, an illegitimate daughter of a chaebol who is abused by her family and her husband's family. The drama was a hit with the last episode achieving 3.2 million viewers and a rating of 17.8%. For her successful portrayal of dual character with polar opposite personality, she earned a top excellence award and daesang nomination at 2021 SBS Drama Awards.

Personal life

Lee has been actively involved in voluntary work for several organizations such as

UNICEF UNICEF (), originally called the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund in full, now officially United Nations Children's Fund, is an agency of the United Nations responsible for providing Humanitarianism, humanitarian and Devel ...

, Compassion and World Vision. She serves as the Goodwill Ambassador for Beauty Mind Charity and Korea Green Foundation. Lee holds a third degree black belt in Taekwondo, and is a scuba diver and a competitive skier. She is of Christian faith and once followed a vegetarian diet. But she began eating meat and fish for her own freedom according to her.

Relationship and marriage

On November 8, 2021, it was confirmed that Lee was dating a non-celebrity boyfriend. They have been dating since early 2021. On December 21, 2021,

Saram Entertainment Saram Entertainment () is an entertainment company in South Korea, founded by Lee So-young in 2006 and partakes in artist management and film production. Current artists Actors * Byun Yo-han * Cho Jin-woong * Choi Min-young * Choi Soo-young ...

confirmed that Lee has married that day, and the wedding ceremony was held in Seoul where only family members attended. According to Lee’s agency, her husband is a

Korean-American Korean Americans are Americans of Korean ancestry (mostly from South Korea). In 2015, the Korean-American community constituted about 0.56% of the United States population, or about 1.82 million people, and was the fifth-largest Asian Americans ...

office worker. In January 2022, Lee's agency announced that Lee was 4 months pregnant with her first child. On June 20, 2022, she gave birth to a daughter at a hospital in Seoul.

Filmography

Film

Television series

Television shows

Theater

Awards and nominations

State honors

Listicles

Notes

References

External links

Lee Hanee
at Saram Entertainment
Lee Hanee
at

website {{DEFAULTSORT:Lee, Hanee 1983 births Living people People from Seoul King Kong by Starship artists Miss Korea winners Miss Universe 2007 contestants South Korean female models South Korean television actresses South Korean film actresses South Korean musical theatre actresses 21st-century South Korean actresses Seoul National University alumni Ewha Womans University alumni