Actor You Need to Know: Lee Hye-ri

A 29-year-old actress, singer, and television sensation, Lee Hye-ri is South Korea’s “Nation’s Little Sister.” Her viral aegyo performance on the variety show Real Men (2014) shot her to notoriety as the “icon of aegyo” in her country. She soon rocketed to renown upon starring as Sung Deok-sun in the cult-hit rom-com coming-of-age drama Reply 1988 (2015). Since then, Hyeri’s commanding presence—which stems from her dynamic acting skills—remains. Still, her breakout moment was as the “maknae” (youngest member) of the 2010-formed girl band Girl’s Day. 

Hyeri appears to have been destined for success from a young age. Growing up in Gwangju, Gyeonggi, South Korea, where resources were scarce, Hyeri’s talent was first discovered at a middle school talent show. As a result, she was accepted into the band. Her natural star quality shone right off the bat, finding expression in her displays.

After that fateful point in time, Hyeri’s lively personality, charming idiosyncrasies, and innate talent for performing paved the way for her success. She continued to surpass expectations at every turn, debuting as the youngest of four sisters in the 2012 family comedy-romantic drama Tasty Life and launching her impressive acting career.

A string of subsequent representations in dramas such as Schoolgirl Detectives (2014) and Hyde, Jekyll, Me (2015), established her presence in the field. However, it was her portrayal of Deok-sun in Reply 1988 that truly made her a household name.

The show was praised for its exploration of Korean Confucianism, where Hyeri’s character stood out for her endearing, charming, and relatable nature. The drama’s nostalgic appeal resonated with the audience, propelling Hyeri to unprecedented fame and cementing her status as an accomplished actress in the industry.

Her impeccable comic timing stands out as one of her acting strengths, I believe. She pulls it off perfectly. Her entertaining abilities in the comedic realm are terrific. At the same time, she possesses an unusual fluidity to tackle other genres with comfort. The intricacies she injects into her characters bring them to life every time. It’s also amazing how sensitively she handles romantic characters.

Regardless of who she is romantically involved with on screen, she creates enduring scenes. Hyeri’s talents as an actor could thus be summed up in a single phrase: “all-around abilities.” She can be the best version of the character she’s playing and continuously break herself down in each given role.

In 2016, alongside actor Ji Sung and CNBLUE member Kang Min-hyuk, Hyeri had the lead role in the romantic comedy music drama Entertainer and was honored with the New Star Award at the SBS Drama Awards. The following year, she co-starred with Jo Jung-suk and Kim Seon-ho in the police comedy-drama Two Cops. Her big-screen debut as the female lead came with the historical action horror movie Monstrum (2018), premised in King Jungjong’s era when an epidemic was rife in Joseon and stories abound that an unidentified cruel beast, “Monstrum,” is shambling across the land.

Hyeri was cast in the boxing comedy-drama My Punch-Drunk Boxer thereafter that same year, which opened at the 20th Jeonju International Film Festival, and then in the 2019 comedy-drama Miss Lee, where she portrayed the eponymous role of a regular employee who unexpectedly ascends to the position of CEO at the company she works for.

Hyeri is known for her upbeat, vivacious personality. Her ability to adapt to various roles and her smooth synergy with her fellow actors have been frequently complimented and discussed by industry insiders. She’s an industry “blue chip,” a term for individuals who are considered valuable assets due to their positive impact on the project they are involved in. According to insiders, Hyeri’s disposition invigorates the spirit of the set and acts as an infusion of positivity. Her positive attitude is contagious and has a ripple effect on everyone around.

Her talent and attitude were on full display in her iconic role as Lee Dam in the drama series My Roommate Is a Gumiho (2021). She played a fun-loving college student who accidentally swallows a gumiho bead and ends up living with the gumiho (Jang Ki-yong) under duress. Her portrayal was praised for its energy, authenticity, and humor. Let alone the flaming chemistry between Hyeri and Jang.

Her perceptive portrayal increased Hyeri’s stature globally. Later in the year, she co-starred with Yoo Seung-ho in the period drama Moonshine (2021), set in a time when the Joseon Dynasty enforced the strictest alcohol prohibition. Hyeri took on the role of Kang Ro-seo, an impoverished aristocrat’s daughter who sustains her family.

She was last seen as Baek Dong-ju, a mortician who makes wish fulfillment possible for the deceased, in the fantasy rom-com drama series May I Help You (2022), alongside Lee Jun-young.