Lee Sung Kyung: From Model To Actress Extraordinaire

With her acting chops and musical talent, this actress is definitely shaking up the entertainment scene in South Korea.

- Hidayah Idris

The transition from idol to actor is not the only popular trend in South Korea. For the last few years, more and more models have made a name for themselves in the acting arena.

And while we’ve witnessed the rise of Kim Woo Bin, Lee Jong Suk and Nam Joo Hyuk, it’s not just the tall and lanky male models who have crossed over.

Repping the women is Lee Sung Kyung, who is known for her baby face and vivacious personality.

The 27-year-old started her journey as a model in 2008 after competing in the 17th Super Model Contest. After bagging awards in various modelling contests and becoming a runway favourite – she walked in more than 10 A/W ’14 shows for Seoul Fashion Week – she decided to pursue her other love: acting.

Lee Sung Kyung made her acting debut in It’s OK, That’s Love as a high school student who was enamoured of Lee Kwang Soo’s character. Despite it being her first foray into acting, she received compliments for her performance, with netizens and critics in disbelief over her rookie status.

And that was just the beginning of her journey.

The rise

Not long after, she acted in Queen’s Flower, which earned her the Best New Actress awards at two awards shows and the Best Actress in a Special Project Drama trophy at the MBC Drama Awards in the same year.

Since then, Sung Kyung seems to have developed an acute instinct for choosing roles in dramas that will hit the jackpot. From Cheese in the Trap to Doctors, her charm has shone through in role after role.