Lee Jung-hyun, the multitalented actress and singer, offered a deeply personal look into her past during the 26th Jeonju International Film Festival. At the press conference for her spotlight program “Programmer of the Year: Lee Jung-hyun,” held on May 2 at the Jeonju Jungbu Vision Center, she reflected on the paradox of her fame-filled but emotionally taxing twenties.
“I received the most spotlight during my 20s as a singer,” Lee began. “Fans would follow me everywhere I went, but that was the most miserable time of my life.”
The pop icon-turned-actress revealed that she was like a “singing machine,” working up to 11 schedules a day, barely breathing under the weight of her popularity. It wasn’t until she reached her 40s and began pursuing acting more seriously that she finally found peace.
Recalling her early college years, she admitted, “I was active as a singer back then too, but my perspective was narrow and I was immature.” Now a mother, Lee said that motherhood and age have enriched her worldview—so much so that she felt inspired to return to storytelling.
That inspiration led her to direct the 28-minute short film “Toe-Tapping Tunes” (꽃놀이 간다), in which she also starred and produced. Describing the demanding process, Lee shared, “I was the director, lead actress, the youngest staff member on the production team, the assistant director, and even part of the costume department. I’d be ironing costumes for supporting actors and suddenly run off when someone called.”
Through the experience, she gained a profound appreciation for the many unsung heroes behind the camera. “I came to truly understand how much effort goes into making just one film,” she said.
Born in 1980, Lee Jung-hyun made her debut with the 1996 film A Petal. In 1999, she shot to fame as a pop singer with the hit track “Wa”. She later transitioned into a successful film career, starring in works like Night Fishing, Alice in Earnestland, The Battleship Island, and Peninsula.
Now, Lee stands not just as a performer, but as a creative force—one who has found her true voice beyond the spotlight.