Before becoming one of South Korea’s most respected actresses, Lee Bo-young faced numerous setbacks early in her career. Ironically, the opportunity that transformed both her professional and personal life came after another actress stepped away from a project.

Lee Bo-young made her entertainment debut as a commercial model in 2002 before gradually building her acting résumé through television dramas and films. However, success did not come immediately. One notable disappointment came during the casting process for SBS’s hit drama All In. Lee auditioned for the role of Seo Jin-hee, which ultimately went to actress Park Sol-mi, leaving her without one of the year’s biggest projects.

A year later, fate intervened. In 2004, actress Han Ye-seul was originally cast as Yoon Soo-jin in SBS’s romantic drama Save the Last Dance for Me, but she eventually withdrew from the project. With production already underway, the drama urgently searched for a replacement and selected Lee Bo-young.

The production had already faced several casting changes. Actors Jo In-sung and Jo Han-sun had both been considered for the male lead, Kang Hyun-woo, before Ji Sung ultimately accepted the role. The female lead, Ji Eun-soo, also went through multiple casting discussions before Eugene was confirmed. With Lee Bo-young joining shortly before filming, the production overcame its casting hurdles just in time.

The gamble paid off. Following its premiere, Save the Last Dance for Me steadily gained popularity through strong word of mouth. Due to rising ratings, SBS expanded the series from its originally planned 16 episodes to 20 episodes. The drama became another successful SBS melodrama following blockbuster hits like Lovers in Paris and What Happened in Bali, further cementing the network’s dominance in the genre.

Beyond boosting her acting career, the series completely changed Lee Bo-young’s personal life. During filming, she worked alongside actor Ji Sung. Although they initially remained colleagues, the pair continued staying in touch after production wrapped.

After Ji Sung completed his mandatory military service, he actively pursued Lee Bo-young, and the two eventually began dating. After approximately six years of publicly dating, the couple married in 2013 and have since become one of Korea’s most beloved celebrity couples. They now have a son and a daughter while continuing to support each other’s acting careers.

Lee Bo-young continued building an impressive career with a series of acclaimed performances. She gained nationwide popularity through My Daughter Seo-young, followed by another career-defining role in I Can Hear Your Voice, where she portrayed Jang Hye-sung. Her performance earned her the Grand Prize (Daesang) at the SBS Drama Awards.

She later demonstrated her versatility through acclaimed dramas including Mother, Mine, Agency, Hide.

Despite her success, Lee Bo-young has revealed that there was a period when relentless filming schedules left her physically and emotionally exhausted. She even considered leaving the entertainment industry altogether and struggled with depression, rarely leaving her home. During that difficult time, her then-boyfriend Ji Sung and her family became her biggest source of support, helping her regain both her confidence and passion for acting.

Recently, Lee Bo-young returned to MBC dramas for the first time in approximately 13 years with Mary Kills People, portraying emergency physician Woo So-jung, a role that showcased another dramatic transformation in her acting career.

Meanwhile, Ji Sung is preparing to greet viewers again with his upcoming drama Apartment, scheduled to premiere on July 11, following the success of The Judge Returns earlier this year.

Sources: Daum | 나우무비