# Lee Yong-yi

Lee Yong-yi (Korean: 이용이; born July 30, 1958) is a theater, television and movie actress. She is known for her role as Nomo both in theater play and film Welcome to Dongmakgol (2005) and tvN series Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha (2021).

## Career

After graduating from Seoul Institute of the Arts, in 1979, Lee joined Theatre Company Minye where she made her acting debut in the play Broken Jar by Heinrich von Kleist.
In 1986, Lee joined Theater Company Michu and participated in several notable productions. One of her notable performances was the role of Hyeong-bang in Madangnori Chunhyangjeon (1987–1992). She also performed in play Dung Dung Nakrang Dung (둥둥 낙랑둥) as King Bang Sook in July 12 to 24, 1996, at Towol Theater, Seoul Arts Center.
In 1991, Lee Yong-yi acted in Park Kwang-soo's film I Want to Go to That Island. She played the character Ne Eop-sun, a shaman who lived on the island with her husband. Interestingly, her real-life husband, actor Kim Il-woo, portrayed the role of the shaman's husband in the movie. The movie was released in 1993, So the year officially became her first big screen debut.
In 1995 Lee Yong-yi cast as Gwibone in play That Woman's Novel, adapted from the novel "Little Grandmother!" by playwright Um In-hee. It was a refinement of a work published in 1989 by the writer Um In-hee in Another Cultural 3rd Collection. The play, directed by Kang Young-geol, was performed at the 19th Seoul Theater Festival in June 1995 at the Arts Center Small Theater. Lee Yong-yi received the 19th Seoul Theater Festival Female Acting Award for her portrayal.
In 1998, Lee became leader of the theater company Hyun Bin (玄牝) which was established by her husband, actor and theater director Kim Il-woo. Their first production was an adaptation of Lee Moon-yeol's original novel, "Choice."
Since 2017, Lee Yong-yi has been under an exclusive contract with Liyan Entertainment. She later moved to High Entertainment.

## Other activities

In addition to her acting career, Lee also possesses musical talent. She studied Gyeonggi folk songs under the guidance of the master pansori singer Ahn Bok-sik (1926–97). Furthermore, she served as a lecturer on music and acting at Sungkyunkwan University Social Education Center.

## Personal life

Lee Yong-yi's late husband was Kim Il-woo, an actor and theater director. They met while they were both attending Seoul Institute of the Arts, where he was her senior in the theater department. They had two children together. Sadly, he passed away in 2004 due to stomach cancer.
Lee Yong-yi's older brother, Lee Dae-geun [ko], is also an actor. He appeared in productions such as 'The Third Republic' and 'The Fourth Republic'. However, he has not been active in the industry since his appearance in 'Fermented Family'.

## Filmography
### Film

| Year | Title | Role |
| 1993 | I Want to Go to That Island | |
| 1997 | Barricade | mother |
| 1998 | Hyun Bin | |
| 2000 | Bongja | kimbap restaurant owner |
| 2002 | Don't Ask Family My Nike | mother |
| 2004 | Bride Lessons | Super Grandmother |
| 2005 | The Big Family | Soon-Im |
| 2005 | Welcome to Dongmakgol | Nomo |
| 2005 | Leave when you applaud | shaman |
| 2006 | The Elegant World | old woman |
| 2006 | Son's Things | Grandmother |
| 2006 | Righteous Ties | Chi Seong-mo |
| 2007 | The Miracle of 1st Avenue | Seon Joo Mo |
| 2007 | The Court Lady | Cheon Sang-gung |
| 2007 | Let's Live Right | Do Man Mo |
| 2008 | The Little Prince | Sister Director |
| 2008 | Our School E.T. | Mo Eun-sil |
| 2008 | I Need Courage | |
| 2008 | Accompanying | mother |
| 2008 | Mundi | mother |
| 2009 | Good Morning President | Nomo |
| 2009 | Operation | Hyun Soo-mo |
| 2009 | Chungdam Bodhisattva | Seung Wono |
| 2009 | Bean Pods in My Eyes | Sojoo Mo |
| 2010 | How to travel with a cow | mother of choice |
| 2011 | Romantic Heaven | old man Kim Boon In |
| 2011 | Mr. Idol | Rikimo |
| 2011 | The Guitar Laughs | Lee Gap-soon |
| 2011 | Bob, Sang | mother |
| 2013 | The Five | Jeong Ha-mo |
| 2013 | Perfectly Precious Love | Sarang Grandmother |
| 2014 | The Tenor – Lirico Spinto | Bae Jae-cheol's mother |
| 2015 | C'est Si Bon | aunt |
| 2015 | Salt Star | |
| 2015 | Barter Exchange | |
| 2016 | Missing: The Missing Woman | a caregiver grandmother |
| 2017 | Fabricated City | So Hyeon-Jeong Mo (voice) |
| 2017 | A Taxi Driver | Hong Yong-pyo Mo |
| 2018 | Herstory | a grandmother Yu, Inuk |
| 2018 | Whisper Whisper | |
| 2019 | Jurors 8 | Kang Doo-shik Mother |
| 2019 | Let Us Meet Now Hello - | Youngshin |
| 2019 | Long Live the King- | Mokpo Restaurant owner's grandmother (special appearance) |
| 2019 | The Missing Woman | Tazza Grandma |
| 2020 | The Day I Died: Unclosed Case | Grandmother Hwang |
| 2021 | Angels Are Viruses | Grandmother on Knees |
| 2024 | The Firefighters | Shin Yong-tae's mother |

### Television series

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2002 | Pure Youth Park Jong-cheol | Jong-cheol's mother | |
| 2004 | Tell Me That You Love Me | Governor | |
| 2007 | New Heart | Patient | Cameo |
| 2009 | Temptation of an Angel | the director of a nursery school | |
| 2012 | A Gentleman’s Dignity | Lee Mi-kyung | |
| 2013 | Prime Minister & I | Lee Dal-ja | |
| 2013 | The Eldest | wife of the village mayor | Cameo |
| 2014 | You're All Surrounded | owner of a food stall | Cameo |
| 2014 | Endless Love | Mrs. Ahn | |
| 2014 | Sweden Laundry | Grandmother | |
| 2014 | Tears of Heaven | Yoon Eun-ja | |
| 2015 | Warm and Cozy | Noh Bok-nyeo, haenyeo of Sorang Town | |
| 2015 | My Fantastic Funeral | grandmother living upstairs | |
| 2015 | It's Okay Because I am a Mom | Cha Ye-soon | TV movie |
| 2015 | Bubble Gum | patient | |
| 2015 | Sweet and Bloody Family | | |
| 2016 | My Lawyer, Mr. Jo | Mal-sook | |
| 2016 | Uncontrollably Fond | | |
| 2016 | Drinking Solo | Min Jin-woong's mother, Kim Mi-kyung | |
| 2016 | Dr. Romantic | mother of a patient who came in after drinking pesticides | |
| 2017 | Ms. Perfect | Goo Jung-hee's mother | |
| 2017–2018 | A Korean Odyssey | Jin Seon-mi's grandmother | |
| 2018 | Sunny Again Tomorrow | Hwang Dong-seok's mother | |
| 2018 | My Only One | Geum-ok | |
| 2018 | The Ghost Detective | Seon Woo-hye's mother | |
| 2019 | Chocolate | Sookja's grandmother | |
| 2019 | Chief of Staff | Yu's Grandmother | |
| 2019 | When My Love Blooms | convenience store owner | |
| 2021 | Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha | Lee Mat-yi | |
| 2021–2022 | Let Me Be Your Knight | Chorong | |
| 2022 | The Veil | Lee Choon-gil's aunt | |

## Stage
### Hyunbin Troupe

Theater play performances with Hyunbin Troupe :
| Year | Title | Title | Role | Theater | Date | Ref. |
| Year | English | Korean | Role | Theater | Date | Ref. |
| 1998 | (1998) Seoul International Theater Festival, Choice | (1998) 서울국제연극제-선택 | Manshin, a female shaman | Arts and Culture Center | August 31 to October 15 | |
| 1998–1999 | Choice - Lee Yong-yi Goodnori Play | 선택 - 이용이 굿놀이 연극 | Manshin, a female shaman | Hakjeon Blue Small Theater | June 9 to February 21 | |
| 1998–1999 | Choice - Lee Yong-yi Goodnori Play | 선택 - 이용이 굿놀이 연극 | Manshin, a female shaman | Daehakro Theater | November 26 to January 10 | |
| 1999 | Choice - Lee Yong-yi Goodnori Play | 선택 - 이용이 굿놀이 연극 | Manshin, a female shaman | Arts and Culture Center Small Theater | February 5 to 21 | |
| 2001 | (2001) SPAF Seoul Performing Arts Festival: Princess Bari | (2001) SPAF 서울공연예술제: 바리공주 | Giri | Sejong Center for the Performing Arts | October 12 to 15 | |
| 2002 | (2002) SPAF Seoul Performing Arts Festival: Happy House | (2002) SPAF 서울공연예술제: 행복한 집 | Wife | Hakjeon Blue Small Theater | May 9 to 19 | |
| 2002 | Specialised in Raw Meat | 생고기전문 | — | Daehak-ro Small Theater rhythm space | October 3 to 27 | Producer |
| 2005 | Hyun Bin's Goodnori play 'Choice' | 극단 현빈의 굿놀이 연극 '선택' | Manshin, a female shaman | Inaso Theater | Nov 5 to 11 | |
| 2005 | Hyun Bin's Goodnori play 'Choice' | 극단 현빈의 굿놀이 연극 '선택' | Manshin, a female shaman | Jeongmiso, Daehangno Installation Theater | Nov 25 to Dec 4 | |
| 2006 | The Richness | 부유도 | — | National Theater Sky Theater | October 25 to 29 | Artistic Director |
| 2008 | Dangun Bonpuri | 단군본풀이 | Dangun | Korean Music Hall | January 29 to February 3 | |
| 2010 | There is Nothing Wrong with the Chair | 의자는 잘못 없다 | — | Daehangno Theater | August 24 to 26 | producer |

#### Musical

List of Musical Play(s) :
| Year | Title | Title | Role | Theater | Date | Ref. |
| Year | English | Korean | Role | Theater | Date | Ref. |
| 1999 | Beautiful autographs - delightful chatter of women who committed suicide! | 아름다운 사인(死因) - 자살한 여인들의 유쾌한 수다! | Kim Gwi-in | Seoul Arts Center CJ Towol Theater | November 4 to 24 | |

#### Theater

List of Stage Play(s) with other Theater Troupe :
| Year | Title | Title | Role | Theater | Date | Ref. |
| Year | English | Korean | Role | Theater | Date | Ref. |
| 1986 | Oh Dad, Poor Dad, Mamma's Hung You in the Closet and I'm Feelin' So Sad | 엄마가 아빠를 옷장속에 매달아 놓았어요 그래서 나는 너무나 슬퍼요!! | mother | Arts and Culture Center Grand Theater | 6.24—6.30 | |
| 1997 | Taxi Driver - Where are you going? | 택시 드리벌 - 당신은 어디까지 가십니까? | passenger | Arts and Culture Center Small Theater | February 27–March 18 | |
| 1997 | (21st) Seoul Theater Festival: Taxi Driver - Where are you going? | (제21회) 서울연극제: 택시 드리벌 - 당신은 어디까지 가십니까? | passenger | | October 10–15 | |
| 1999 | Three Tall Women | 키 큰 세여자 | C | Yonkang Hall | 6.8 ~ 6.20 | |
| 2000 | Lady in the Pine House 101st Theater Company Constellation Performance | 소나무집 여인아 | Jin Woo-hee | Dongsung Art Center Dongsung Hall | 6.29 ~ 7.9 | |
| 2000 | (12th) Geochang International Theater Festival; Lady in the Pine House | (제12회) 거창국제연극제 ; 소나무집 여인아 | Jin Woo-hee | Wicheon Theater | 8.1 ~ 8.2 | |
| 2002 | Welcome to Dongmakgol | 웰컴 투 동막골 | Nomu | | | |
| 2009 | 3 Days 2 Nights with My Mother's | 친정엄마와 2박3일 | Mrs. Choi | Lee Hae-Rang Arts Theater | 01.17 ~ 03.08 | |
| 2009 | 3 Days 2 Nights with My Mother's | 친정엄마와 2박3일 | Mrs. Choi | Changwon Seongsan Art Hall Grand | 05.02 ~ 05.03 | |
| 2009 | Unhyeongung Brother (2009) (10th) Okrang Drama Award Winner | 운현궁 오라버니 | Han Sang-gung | Namsan Arts Center | 12.4 ~ 12.13 | |
| 2010 | Theater Heated Battle 3 - The Most Beautiful Goodbye in the World | 연극열전3 - 세상에서 가장 아름다운 이별 | Sangju-daek | Daehak-ro T.O.M. Hall 1 | 04.23 ~ 07.18 | |
| 2011 | The Most Beautiful Goodbye in the World | 세상에서 가장 아름다운 이별 | Sangju-daek | Taebaek Culture and Arts Center Grand Performance Hall | 02.19 ~ 02.19 | |
| 2014 | The Sea of Eomong | 어멍의 바다 | Superwoman | Uniplex Hall 1 (Grand Theater) | 12.17 ~ 12.18 | |
| 2016 | Smile Deokgu | 웃어요 덕구씨 | wife | Masterpiece Theater 2 (Former Fox Star Theater) | 09.03 ~ 10.02 | |

### National Theater

List of Stage Play(s) with National Theater :
| Year | Title | Title | Role | Theater | Date | Ref. |
| Year | English | Korean | Role | Theater | Date | Ref. |
| 1995 | Bull | 불 | Bun-yi-eo-meom | National Theater Small Theater | Mar 29-Apr 4 | |
| 1995 | Bull | 불 | Bun-yi-eo-meom | Myeongdong Theater | Sep 01–07 | |
| 2012 | It's a Flower | 꽃이다 | geomne | National Theater Company Baek Baek Hee Jang Minho Theater | Sep 22-Oct 7 | |

### Theater Company Michu and Minye
#### Theater

List of Stage Play(s) with Minye Trope :
| Year | Title | Title | Role | Theater | Date | Ref. |
| Year | English | Korean | Role | Theater | Date | Ref. |
| 1981 | Baenggi Good The 60th Minye Theater Troupe Theater Performance | 배뱅이 굿 | Samwol-i | National Theater Small Theater | 10.23 ~ 10.28 | |
| 1983 | Puppet Nooreum - Park Cheomji Nori | | a great man | Minye Theater | 3.1 ~ 3.15 | |
| 1983 | Hannah's Ascension | 한네의 승천 | sadang-pae | Arts and Culture Center Grand Theater | 6.25 ~ 6.30 | |
| 1985 | Rice — The 87th performance | 쌀 | Woman | Arts and Culture Center Small Theater | 8.29 ~ 9.3 | |
| 1986 | Muldori-dong | 물도리동 | Shaman | Arts and Culture Center Grand Theater | September 1–5 | |
| 1993 | The 111th Regular Performance Disengagement - Portrait of a seeker | 脫俗 - 어느 구도자의 초상 | Gwibunne | Arts and Culture Center Small Theater | 3.18 ~ 3.31 | |
| 1993 | 20th anniversary commemorative performance Disengagement - Portrait of a seeker | 脫俗 - 어느 구도자의 초상 | Gwibunne | Hakjeon Small Theater | 6.4 ~ 6.30 | |
| 1993 | Disengagement - Portrait of a seeker | 脫俗 - 어느 구도자의 초상 | Gwibunne | Hakjeon Small Theater | 8.31 ~ 9.19 | |
| 1995 | That Woman's Novel (Original Title: Little Grandmother) the 22nd anniversary of the founding of the theater company Minye Theater | (제19회) 서울연극제: 그 여자의 소설 | Jag Eun-Daegu | Arts and Culture Center Small Theater | June 3 to 15 | |
| 1995 | That Woman's Novel (Original Title: Little Grandmother) the 19th Seoul Theater Festival in 1995 | (제19회) 서울연극제: 그 여자의 소설 | Jag Eun-Daegu | Arts and Culture Center Small Theater | September 19 to October 1 | |
| 1995 | That Woman's Novel (Original Title: Little Grandmother) | (제19회) 서울연극제: 그 여자의 소설 | Jag Eun-Daegu | Arts and Culture Center Small Theater | Nov 1–Dec 31 | |
| 1996 | Arirang Jeongseon - The sound of life, the sound of love | 아리랑 정선 - 삶의 소리, 사랑의 소리 | mother | Arts and Culture Center Small Theater | April 26to May 8 | |
List of Stage Play(s) with Michu Trope :
| Year | Title | Title | Role | Theater | Date | Ref. |
| Year | English | Korea | Role | Theater | Date | Ref. |
| 1986 | Muldori-dong | 물도리동 | Shaman | Arts and Culture Center Grand Theater | 9.1 ~ 9.5 | |
| 1991 | Shadow of Time - Trilogy | 시간의 그림자 - 3부작 | mother | Arts and Culture Center Grand Theater | June 25–30 | |
| 1989 | Shin Yi Gukgi | 신이국기 | Seoul | Arts and Culture Center Grand Theater | May 9–15 | |
| 1996 | Dung Dung Nakrang Dung | 둥둥 낙랑 둥 | King Bang Sook | Seoul Art Center CJ Towol Theater | July 12–24 | |

#### Musical

List of Musical Play(s) with Michu Troupe :
| Year | Title | Title | Role | Theater | Date | Ref. |
| Year | English | Korean | Role | Theater | Date | Ref. |
| 1990 | Make a Hero | 영웅만들기 | executive | Arts and Culture Center Grand Theater | Mar 27–Apr 2 | |

## Awards

List of Award(s) :
| Award | Year | Category | Works | Result | Ref. |
| 19th Seoul Theater Festival Acting Award | 1995 | Best Actress | That Woman's Novel (Original Title: Little Grandmother) | Won | |
| 4th Hiseo Theater Award | 1999 | Best Actress | Lee Yong-yi | Won | |