Lee Yo-won was a sophomore in high school when she won a modeling contest and first appeared as a
model in the November 1997 issue of fashion magazine Figaro. This led to commercials, then to minor roles in television series and movies. Though she started getting recognized by the public after the box-office success of anarchic comedy
Attack the Gas Station (1999), her first notable acting role was in controversial
TV drama Blue Mist (2001), where she played a young woman in her 20s who becomes romantically involved with a married man in his 40s. Critical darling
Take Care of My Cat (2001) followed shortly, for which she received several newcomer awards. In a later interview with
Elle Korea in 2009, she cited the film as her most memorable work. But after starring in a number of big-screen star vehicles that weren't received well by audiences and critics, Lee felt mentally and physically exhausted. Lee made a successful acting comeback in 2005, as the lead actress in period drama ''
Fashion 70's, which she chose because she wanted to work with TV director Lee Jae-gyu (who had previously directed Damo''), and because it was not a typical love story, but depicted a woman's success in life and career. A supporting role followed in romantic comedy
When Romance Meets Destiny. '' press conference in 2011. In 2007, Lee played the titular character in hit
medical drama/romance
Surgeon Bong Dal-hee, though her next series, melodrama
Cruel Love was less successful in the ratings. She then switched to more serious fare as part of the ensemble cast of
May 18, a film about the
Gwangju massacre and
one of the highest grossing Korean films of all time. Tired of playing fragile characters, Lee portrayed
Queen Seondeok of Silla in the massively popular period drama
Queen Seondeok (2009). Her follow-up, fantasy melodrama
49 Days (2011) in which she played
dual roles as a woman
possessed, also resonated with audiences. Afterwards she appeared in ''
The King's Doctor (2012) about a Joseon-era veterinarian turned royal physician, and Empire of Gold'' (2013) which revolved around a power struggle over a
chaebol. On the big screen, Lee said after her enjoyable experience working with
Jeong Jae-eun on
Take Care of My Cat, she wanted to work with other female
directors, so she starred in Anna Lee's romantic mystery
The Recipe (2010) and
Bang Eun-jin's crime thriller
Perfect Number (2012). In contrast, she was cast in the only female starring role in
Kang Woo-suk's
Fists of Legend (2013), about middle-aged men who join a televised
mixed martial arts tournament/
reality show. In 2016, Lee made a successful comeback to the small screen with the quirky romantic-comedy
My Horrible Boss. Her role as a hot-headed career woman was well-received, with many citing it as her "rediscovery role". She then participated in another film, titled
Yes, Family, playing a reporter who is the oldest among-st four siblings. Lee also starred in the MBC drama
Night Light, alongside
Jin Goo and
Uee. In 2017, Lee starred in the black comedy series
Avengers Social Club. In 2019, Lee starred in the espionage melodrama
Different Dreams and
The Running Mates: Human Rights. ==Personal life==