Kyeon Mi-ri () is a South Korean actress and singer. She is best known for her role as the antagonist Lady Choi in the hit period drama Jewel in the Palace (2003).
Career
Kyeon Mi-ri graduated from Seoul Traditional Arts High School in 1983, then studied Dance at Sejong University. She made her acting debut in 1984, and has since become active in television dramas, most notably as the arrogant and ambitious Lady Choi in the 2003 period drama Dae Jang Geum (or Jewel in the Palace), which was a hit not only in Korea but throughout Asia.
In 2009, she ventured into the music industry and released her first album titled Happy Women, consisting of mainly trot songs.
Personal life Kyeon married actor Im Young-gyu in 1987, and they divorced in 1993.
Kyeon remarried in 1998, to businessman Lee Hong-heon. They have one son, Lee Ki-baek. Lee Hong-heon legally adopted Kyeon's two daughters from her first marriage, and they took on his surname; Lee Yu-bi and Lee Da-in are both actresses. Kyeon is also a part of the Hwanggan Kyeon clan, which makes her a descendant of Kyŏn Hwŏn, who was the first king of the Hubaekje kingdom, during the Later Three Kingdoms of Korea.
In 2009, Kyeon was investigated for stock manipulation, with her husband Lee suspected of insider trading. She had bought 55,000 shares worth of the bioengineering startup FCBTwelve, then raked in up to , making her the fourth biggest stock holder among entertainment celebrities at the time. Kyeon denied any wrongdoing, saying she was simply an investor.
In April 2023, Kyeon will donate Lee Da-in's wedding congratulations as a donation for the disabled and vulnerable children through a partnership with the Korea Association for Information Technology for the Disabled as a token of appreciation for guests who attended and congratulated the wedding.
Filmography
Television
Year Title Role 1985 500 Years of Joseon:"Pungran" Jeong Nan-jeong's maid 1986 Naughty female college student1988 500 Years of Joseon:"Queen Inhyeon" Choi Suk-bin Famine in the City Soon-jung1989 Appointment Giant Seo Geum-ji 1991 Mudong's House Kang Ha-na1993 Han River Cuckoo MBC Best Theater:"Sundal, Byeonggu, and Okju" Ok-joo 1994 Han Myung-hoe Kim Chongsŏ's concubine1995 Tremble Korea Gate Lee Soon-ja Jang Hee-bin Queen Myeongseong West Palace LA Arirang Kyeon Mi-ri1996 Cute Lady Han Jung-ja Wonji-dong Blues 1997 Mr. Right 1998 Six Children Mimi's mother2000 Legends of Love All About Eve Yoon Hyung-chul's stepmother Aspen Tree younger daughter-in-law Ajumma (Housewife's Rebellion) Choi Yoo-mi2001 Tender Hearts Choi Young-joo Well Known Woman Han Young-sun2002 Who's My Love Park Kyung-joo To Be With You Soon-shim Daemang (The Great Ambition) Lady Yoo2003 Jewel in the Palace Choi Seong-geum A Million Roses Hyun-kyu's maternal aunt 2004 Dal-rae's House Kyeon Mi-ri2005 Love and Sympathy Yoon Ji-sook Goodbye to Sadness Han Sung-mi Sisters of the Sea Lee Geum-bok2006 As the River Flows Seo Ok-ran Jumong Queen Wonhu Kkam-geon's Mom Lee Do-soon2007 Golden Bride Yang Ok-kyung Lee San, Wind of the Palace Lady Hyegyeong 2010 Three Sisters Jang Ji-ae2011 Dear My Sister Yoon Jung-ae Just Like Today Lee Jae-kyung2012 Rooftop Prince Lady Jung (Buyong and Hwayong's mother) My Kids Give Me a Headache Shin Sae-rom2013 Hur Jun, The Original Story Ham Ahn-daek Wonderful Mama Kim Young-yi Shining Romance Lee Tae-ri2014 What Happens to My Family? Heo Yang-geum Dodohara Hong Ha-ra's mother (cameo) 2016Beautiful Gong Shim Yeom Tae-hee (Seok Joon-soo's mother) 2017Revolutionary Love Jung Yeo-jin (Byun Hyuk's mother) 2018Gangnam Scandal Jang Mi-ri 2020 Backstreet Rookie Kim Hye-ja (Yeon-joo's mother)2023Pandora: Beneath the ParadiseMin Young-hwi
Film Year Title Role 1988 Dangerous Scent (Married Couple) Ji-sook 1989 I Want to Cry 2009 Running Turtle Detective Jo's wife
Theater Year Title Role 1994 남편을 죽이는 서른가지방법
Discography Album informationTrack listingHappy Women Released: July 21, 2009 Label: LOEN Entertainment
Awards Year Award Category Nominated work1988 MBC Drama Awards Best New Actress Queen Inhyeon MBC Entertainment Awards Best Newcomer 2005 SBS Drama Awards Excellence Award, Actress in a Serial Drama Love and Sympathy 2007 Excellence Award, Actress in a Serial Drama Golden Bride 2008 42nd Tax Payer's Day Commendation (given by the Ministry of Strategy and Finance)
References
External links