If you have not watched Reply 1988, then what are you doing with your life? This family, romance television drama had become one of the highest rating series in Korean cable TV for a reason, you know?
Also, this is the drama that showed the world the Lee Hyeri is not just a Korean pop star (she is a member of the all-girl group Girl’s Day), she is a terrific actress in the making.
Now that she is continuously appearing in various television series ( she currently has a series airing now), let us look back at Hyeri became she became the go to leading actress in swoon worthy dramas. Here are the things you may not know about Lee Hyeri.
EARLY LIFE
Lee Hyeri was born on June 9, 2994 in Gwangju, Gyeonggi, South Korea and has a younger sister – Hyerim. Just like IU who grew up in poverty, Hyeri and her sister stayed with their grandmother in the countryside. Her mother had to take a job in a factory to support them.
When she moved to Seoul, she attended the Seoul School of Performing Arts. She then pursued higher education at the Konkuk University, majoring in Film.
CAREER BEGINNINGS
During her middle school, Hyeri was scouted in a talent show by an agent for Dream T Entertainment. After the exit of the original members Jiin and Jisun, Hyeri was introduced as the newest member of Girl’s Day in 2010.
Apart from her job as a singer, she joined the weekend drama Tasty Life where she played the youngest daughter in the family in 2012. Two years later, it was her 4 day long appearance on Real Men that catapulted her to stardom.
Her cuteness for her instructor was warmly received and the clip was viewed one million times in a single day. This feat has won her the Best Female Newcomer award at the MBC Entertainment Awards.
BREAKTHROUGH
It was in 2015 that she became truly a household name known for her impeccable acting skills and versatility. She was casted as the lead role in the drama Reply 1988 appearing besides Park Bo Gum, Go Kyung Pyo, Ryu Jun Yeol and Lee Dong Hwi. Her excellent portrayal of the lead protagonist had earned her acting awards from 5th APAN Star Awards, vN10 Awards, 6th Korean Wave Awards and 4th DramaFever Awards.
From this great achievement, more television series roles were offered to Hyeri. In 2016, she was casted in the drama Entertainer with Ji Sung and Kang Min Hyuk. This acting project again landed her an award – New Star Award at the 2016 SBS Drama Awards.
She debuted in the big screen with the film Monstrum in 2018. She went on to do another film in 2019 which is the My Punch Drunk Boxer.
CURRENT PROJECTS
Currently, she is appearing in the romance, comedy, fantasy drama My Roommate is a Gumiho, acting as the bead carrier, Lee Dam. The series is based on the webtoon of the same name. She acts besides Jang Ki Yong and Kang Han na.
Hyeri is also set to appear in the upcoming romance and historical drama When Flowers Bloom, I Think of The Moon. She will be working besides Yoo Seung ho, Byeon Woo Seok and Kang Mi na. The television series is set to air on the second half of the year.
I honestly love Hyeri in her series Reply 1988. As I currently watch her still airing drama, My Roommate is A Gumiho, I wonder, what can’t this girl do? She acts as if she has been acting for a long time and just warms the audiences’ hearts. I’m looking forward to her next drama!
