Kyeon Mi-ri (born January 27, 1965) 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).

Kyeon Mi-ri
Born (1965-01-27) January 27, 1965 (age 59)
Seoul, South Korea
Alma materSejong University – Department of Dance[1]
Occupation(s)Actress, singer
Years active1984–present
Spouse(s)Im Young-gyu (1987–93; divorced)
Lee Hong-hun
(m. 1998)
FamilyLee Yu-bi (daughter)
Lee Da-in (daughter)
Lee Ki-baek (son)
Lee Seung-gi (son-in-law)
Korean name
Hangul
견미리
Hanja
甄美里
Revised RomanizationGyeon Mi-ri
McCune–ReischauerKyŏn Miri

Career

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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.[2]

In 2009, she ventured into the music industry and released her first album titled Happy Women, consisting of mainly trot songs.[3]

Personal life

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Kyeon married actor Im Young-gyu in 1987, and they divorced in 1993.[4]

Kyeon remarried in 1998, to businessman Lee Hong-heon.[5] 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.[6][7] 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 ₩900 million of the bioengineering startup FCBTwelve, then raked in up to ₩4.59 billion, making her the fourth biggest stock holder among entertainment celebrities at the time.[8] Kyeon denied any wrongdoing, saying she was simply an investor.[9][10]

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.[11]

Filmography

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Television

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Cutout depicting Kyeon Mi-ri as Lady Choi on display at the Dae Jang Geum Theme Park.
Year Title Role
1985 500 Years of Joseon:
"Pungran"
Jeong Nan-jeong's maid
1986 Naughty female college student
1988 500 Years of Joseon:
"Queen Inhyeon"
Choi Suk-bin
Famine in the City Soon-jung
1989 Appointment
Giant Seo Geum-ji
1991 Mudong's House Kang Ha-na
1993 Han River Cuckoo
MBC Best Theater:
"Sundal, Byeonggu, and Okju"
Ok-joo
1994 Han Myung-hoe Kim Jongseo's concubine
1995 Tremble
Korea Gate Lee Soon-ja
Jang Hee-bin Queen Myeongseong
West Palace
LA Arirang Kyeon Mi-ri
1996 Cute Lady Han Jung-ja
Wonji-dong Blues
1997 Mr. Right
1998 Six Children Mimi's mother
2000 Legends of Love
All About Eve Yoon Hyung-chul's stepmother
Aspen Tree younger daughter-in-law
Ajumma (Housewife's Rebellion) Choi Yoo-mi
2001 Tender Hearts Choi Young-joo
Well Known Woman Han Young-sun
2002 Who's My Love Park Kyung-joo
To Be With You Soon-shim
Daemang (The Great Ambition) Lady Yoo
2003 Jewel in the Palace Choi Seong-geum
A Million Roses Hyun-kyu's maternal aunt
2004 Dal-rae's House Kyeon Mi-ri
2005 Love and Sympathy Yoon Ji-sook
Goodbye to Sadness Han Sung-mi
Sisters of the Sea Lee Geum-bok
2006 As the River Flows Seo Ok-ran
Jumong Queen Wonhu
Kkam-geon's Mom Lee Do-soon
2007 Golden Bride Yang Ok-kyung
Lee San, Wind of the Palace Lady Hyegyeong
2010 Three Sisters Jang Ji-ae
2011 Dear My Sister Yoon Jung-ae
Just Like Today Lee Jae-kyung
2012 Rooftop Prince Lady Jung (Buyong and Hwayong's mother)
My Kids Give Me a Headache Shin Sae-rom
2013 Hur Jun, The Original Story Ham Ahn-daek
Wonderful Mama Kim Young-yi
Shining Romance Lee Tae-ri
2014 What Happens to My Family? Heo Yang-geum
Dodohara Hong Ha-ra's mother (cameo)
2016 Beautiful Gong Shim Yeom Tae-hee (Seok Joon-soo's mother)
2017 Revolutionary Love Jung Yeo-jin (Byun Hyuk's mother)
2018 Gangnam Scandal Jang Mi-ri
2020 Backstreet Rookie Kim Hye-ja (Yeon-joo's mother)
2023 Pandora: Beneath the Paradise Min Young-hwi[12]

Film

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Year Title Role
1988 Dangerous Scent (Married Couple) Ji-sook
1989 I Want to Cry
2009 Running Turtle Detective Jo's wife

Theater

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Year Title Role
1994 남편을 죽이는 서른가지방법

Discography

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Album information Track listing
Happy Women[13]
Track listing
  1. 행복한 여자
  2. 내 하나의 사람은 가고
  3. 몰래한 사랑
  4. 사랑밖엔 난 몰라
  5. 얄미운 사람
  6. 갈색추억
  7. 동반자
  8. 애인
  9. 행복한 여자 (Inst.)
  10. 행복한 여자 (MR)

Awards

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Year Award Category Nominated work
1988 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

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  1. ^ 견미리 탤런트, 가수. Naver Profiles (in Korean). Retrieved August 6, 2011.
  2. ^ "Daejanggeum fever in China spawns events covering tourism, Korean cuisine". The Korea Times via Hancinema. September 30, 2005. Retrieved July 3, 2013.
  3. ^ 견미리, 성공적인 데뷔 무대 꾸려! [Kyeon Mi-ri, Earning a Successful Debut!]. Kyunghyang Sports (in Korean). August 16, 2009. Retrieved December 31, 2010.
  4. ^ 임영규, 견미리와 이혼→사업실패→알코올 치매→폭행사건 악순화…눈물의 심경고백 [Im Yeong-gyu, Kyeon Mi-ri's ex → Divorce → Business Failure → Confesses in Tears about his Alcoholic Stupor]. Newsen (in Korean). July 6, 2010. Retrieved January 31, 2011.
  5. ^ 두살연하 총각사업가와 4월 결혼발표 견미리 "아이들이 예뻐서 저랑 결혼한대요" [Bachelor Businessman who is Two Years Younger than Kyeon Mi-ri Announces April Wedding "He's marrying my pretty kids and me"]. The Dong-a Ilbo (in Korean). April 11, 1998. Archived from the original on February 8, 2005. Retrieved January 31, 2011.
  6. ^ "Mom's Shoes May Not Be Too Big to Fill for Actress Lee Yu-bi". The Chosun Ilbo. November 16, 2012. Retrieved April 16, 2013.
  7. ^ Lee, Hye-ji (August 2, 2013). "Lee Yubi's Sister Signs with KEYEAST". 10Asia. Archived from the original on August 10, 2014. Retrieved August 3, 2013.
  8. ^ "Yang Soo-kyung, Kyun Mi-ri Boost Stock Wealth". The Chosun Ilbo. September 8, 2009. Retrieved July 3, 2013.
  9. ^ Kwon, Mee-yoo (October 30, 2009). "Entertainers Investigated Over Stock Price Manipulation". The Korea Times. Retrieved July 3, 2013.
  10. ^ "Lee Soo-man Tops Entertainment Rich List". The Chosun Ilbo. March 23, 2010. Retrieved July 3, 2013.
  11. ^ Cha, Yoo-chae (April 10, 2023). "용서 구하는 마음" 견미리, 이승기♥이다인 축의금 기부" [The heart of seeking forgiveness" Gyeon Mi-ri, Lee Seung-gi ♥ Da-in donated congratulatory money] (in Korean). Money Today. Retrieved April 18, 2023 – via Naver.
  12. ^ Lee Min-ji (January 17, 2023). "'판도라' 이지아X이상윤, 김순옥표 복수극으로 만났다…대본리딩 현장" ['Pandora' Lee Ji-ah X Lee Sang-yoon and Kim Soon-ok met in a revenge play... Script reading site]. Newsen (in Korean). Retrieved January 17, 2023.
  13. ^ 견미리 1집 – 행복한 여자. ManiaDB (in Korean). Retrieved July 3, 2013.[permanent dead link]
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